Everything Band: Episode 87 - Gail Buckman

Sister Gail Buckman has been teaching in the St. Louis are since 1968, and I recently had a chance to visit Sister Gail in her band room at St. Gabriel the Archangel School. Here is my conversation with this truly remarkable music educator.

Topics:

• Sister Gail’s early career and influences.
• The importance of always trying to learn from others and the value of mentors.
• “No one rises to low expectations”
• A brief conversation about fundraising.
• A discussion of classroom management and tips for regaining control if it’s been lost.
• Why music is the one of the few things that parents can’t help their students with and why that, and the need for practice is so valuable for kids.
• Why having students name their instruments can be a valuable teaching strategy.

 Links:

• St. Gabriel the Archangel School
• De Haan: Yellow Mountains

Biography:
Sister Gail Buckman is in her 50th year of teaching and has taught music in the St. Louis/St. Charles area for the past 47 years. For the past 23 years she has, and is currently teaching instrumental music at St. Gabriel the Archangel School in St. Louis. She teaches students in grades four through eight in Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, and Jazz Bands. Sister Gail is a member of St. Louis District 8 of MMEA, and currently serves as Secretary for that District. Sister Gail is active in many facets of Music education: she is Assistant Director with the St. Charles Municipal Band; she is a staff member at the Viking Band Camp in Hillsboro, MO; she is a staff member with Missouri Ambassadors of Music European Tours; and has served as adjudicator/clinician around Missouri and Illinois. Sister Gail received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Notre Dame College in St. Louis, and a Master Degree in Music Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. She holds affiliations in National Association of Music Educators, Catholic Educators Association, National Catholic Band Association, Missouri Music Educators’ Association, Missouri Bandmasters Association (MBA), and is a member of Phi Beta Mu. Sister Gail belongs to the religious community of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.