Sunday Spark - October 12, 2025

Teaching Jazz Improv Through Listening with Ryan Partin

Ryan Partin just completed his 15th year of teaching and is the Director of Bands at Garden City High School in Garden City, KS. He oversees the marching band, 3 concert ensembles, and 3 jazz bands. His previous assignment was teaching 5-12 band in Ulysses, KS.  Ryan was a nominee for Kansas Teacher of the Year in 2017 and was the recipient of the Outstanding Young Bandmaster award, presented by Phi Beta Mu and the Kansas Bandmasters Association in 2018. He is an active member of the Kansas Music Educators Association, serving in the previous positions of Southwest KMEA High School Band Chairperson and Southwest KMEA District President. He also serves on the Kansas High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Festivals Committee.  In addition to his role as an educator, Ryan is also an active musician. He has been a member of Julie Groom’s Flatland Big Band since 2012 and plays various small-group jazz engagements throughout the year.  Ryan graduated from Kansas State University in 2024 with a Master of Music and from Wichita State University in 2011 with a Bachelor in Music Education and a Bachelor in Jazz Studies.   Connect with Ryan Partin * E-mail:  rpartin@gckschools.com [rpartin@gckschools.com]

The Influence of Mentors with Kyle Smith

A graduate of South Portland High School, Kyle Smith has been the Band Westbrook High School in Westbrook, Maine since 2006. Prior to his appointment at Westbrook High School he was the Band Director at Biddeford High School. The Westbrook Music Department has received numerous awards and acknowledgments for the outstanding musicianship that the musicians show. Recent honors include performances by the Wind Ensemble at Merrill Auditorium with the University of Maine Symphonic Band, and  at the MMEA All State Conference (2009, 2011 with Mr. Samuel R. Hazo, and 2013 with Dr. Andrew Boysen.)  In 2013 the Westbrook High School Wind Ensemble was selected as one of two performing ensembles to perform at the National Association for Music Education's (NAFME) All Eastern Conference. Mr. Smith is the past Vice President of the Maine Band Directors Association, as well as the Instrumental Jazz Chair for the Maine Music Educators Association. He serves as a manager for jazz bands and concert bands for MMEA at the district and state levels. Kyle is host of the acclaimed weekly podcast called "The Growing Band Director Podcast." Mr. Smith received his Bachelors of Music in Music Education degree, by scholarship for musical excellence, from the University of New Hampshire. He earned a graduate degree scholarship and teaching assistantship for his masters degree in Music Education with a concentration in conducting from the university, studying under Dr. Andrew Boysen Jr. , Dr. William Kempster, and Dr. Thomas Keck. Kyle lives in Westbrook with his wife Krystle, Director of Bands at Westbrook Middle School, his daughter Addison and son Jack.   Connect with Kyle Smith * Email: Smithk@westbrookschools.org [Smithk@westbrookschools.org]   * The Growing Band Director Podcast * www.thegrowingbanddirector.com [http://www.thegrowingbanddirector.com] * https://youtube.com/@thegrowingbanddirectorpodc7296?si=D2x-uunmLb-XLAam [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg8yE0tT7HXVQW6vAyKXlSw]

Developing Band Culture with Dr. Adam Gumble

Dr. Adam J. Gumble is the Director of Athletic Bands at West Chester University. Dr. Gumble’s primary responsibilities include directing the 324-member “INCOMPARABLE” Golden Rams Marching Band, “Sixth Man” Basketball Band, and WCU Concert Band. Since his arrival at West Chester University, the WCU Marching Band has performed in featured exhibition at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, was named the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Sudler Trophy (the “Heisman Trophy” for collegiate marching bands), performed halftime shows at multiple NFL playoff and regular season football games, and hosted Championship events for both USBands and the Cavalcade of Bands Association. Prior to his appointment at West Chester University, Dr. Gumble taught for 13 years in the Pennsylvania public schools as the Director of Bands at Hempfield High School and Associate Director of Bands at Quakertown Community High School. Dr. Gumble has been a quarterfinalist for the GRAMMY Foundation’s Music Educator Award and has been nominated for “Who's Who Among America's Teachers” as well as multiple "Teacher Impact Awards" through Central Pennsylvania's NBC affiliate, WGAL. Dr. Gumble graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 2005, a Master of Music Education Degree from Boston University in 2007, a Master of Music Degree in Wind Conducting from West Chester University in 2016, and a Doctor of Education Degree from West Chester University in 2022.   Connect with Dr. Adam Gumble * Email: AGumble@wcupa.edu [AGumble@wcupa.edu] * Instagram: @wcugumble

Teaching Students How to Learn and How to Practice with Dr. Frank Pérez

Dr. Frank Pérez serves as Director of Instrumental Music at Gloria Willis Middle School in Kansas City, KS. He formerly served as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Baker University, where he conducted the Symphonic Winds, Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, taught low brass and music education courses. Dr. Pérez has conducted honor bands throughout Midwest and presented clinics and workshops for music educators nationally and internationally. As a trombonist, he has performed with the La Jolla Symphony, L.A. Guild Opera, Des Moines Big Band, De Soto Brass Band, and KC Bone Connection. He co-founded and co-conducts Trombone Christmas Kansas City. Dr. Pérez is Immediate Past-President of the Kansas Bandmasters Association, KMEA Representative for the Society for Music Teacher Education, and a Conn-Selmer and Denis Wick performing artist & clinician. Connect with Dr. Pérez * Website: https://www.frankperezmusic.com [https://www.frankperezmusic.com] * Photography: https://www.facebook.com/FrankPerezDigitalImages [https://www.facebook.com/FrankPerezDigitalImages] * Email: fperez@alumni.usc.edu [fperez@alumni.usc.edu]

Small Band, Big Sound with Chris DeVona

Chris DeVona is the Assistant Director of Bands at James Madison University, where he conducts the Symphonic Band, directs the basketball Pep Band, and works with the Marching Royal Dukes. In addition to his ensemble responsibilities, Chris also teaches conducting and marching band procedures courses. Prior to joining the band team at JMU, Chris was on faculty at Eastern University (PA), and he taught high school and middle school band/orchestra in his home state of Connecticut. In addition to his teaching, Chris’s works as an author span from educational literature to research in the wind band field. His recent textbooks include Small Band, Big Sound, a resource guide for music educators, as well as Expanding the Canon, a conducting excerpt book that foregrounds music by living composers. Chris’s research primarily addresses score interpretation and connections with contemporary music analysis; his articles are published in the Journal of Band Research and the journal of the International Conductor’s Guild. When not working with the JMU bands, Chris travels frequently as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for concert and marching ensembles. During the summer and fall seasons, Chris stays actively involved with marching band and drum corps, most recently serving in leadership roles on the staffs at the Blue Knights and Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps. Chris holds undergraduate degrees from the Hartt School and the University of Hartford in music theory and mathematics, and he completed his M.M. in conducting at West Chester University (PA).   Connect with Chris DeVona * Books * Small Band, Big Sound by Chris DeVona * https://giamusic.com/resource/small-band-big-sound-book-11191 [https://giamusic.com/resource/small-band-big-sound-book-11191] * Expanding the Canon by Andrew Yozviak and Chris DeVona * https://murphymusicpress.com/products/t-100 [https://murphymusicpress.com/products/t-100] *  Facebook * https://www.facebook.com/chris.devona.7 [https://www.facebook.com/chris.devona.7]