Special Projects

Our chapters uphold and maintain the values of Phi Beta Mu through various special projects and initiatives. Mentorship and collaboration, commissioning new works and outreach are dominant themes that run through all of the projects presented this year. These ideas and initiatives have direct impact on our profession, on our communities – and beyond our borders.

Special Projects chair Lois Wiggins is always interested in receiving information regarding chapter Special Projects. Please take time to share the goals and projects that your chapter has embarked upon this year.

Thank you for sharing your plans and Special Projects with us. We hope you are inspired!

2019  |  2018  |  2017  |  2016  |  2015  |  2014  |  2013


Chapter Special Projects 2019

  • Alpha [Texas] | Website
    Alpha Chapter continues to offer the Band Director’s Support Network to assist band directors by providing consultant services, professional development workshops, podium coverage, and peer mentoring.
    Alpha also hosts the Texas Bandmasters Hall of Fame ceremony and sponsors clinics at the Texas Bandmasters Association conference.
  • Alpha Chi [Virginia]
    Alpha Chi focuses on mentorship with the Young Band Directors Forum and creates opportunities for young band directors to seek advice from experienced directors.

    Members lead state committees to better ensure inclusion for all students in music education, and continues to be sought out for adjudication panels and guest conducting.

  • Gamma [Indiana] | Website
    Gamma Chapter continues to invest resources in a strong mentoring program and currently has six mentors working with 17 young teachers. Gamma took advantage of the collaborative project between Conn Selmer and Phi Beta Mu International and sponsored two young teachers to the 2019 clinic.

  • Kappa Theta [Minnesota] | Website
    Kappa Theta Chapter coordinates a mentorship program in partnership with the Minnesota Band Directors Association. It is a thriving partnership that connects young band directors with a mentor that assists with specific challenges and provides a listening and encouraging ear. The program, founded in 2011, is an effective way to make connections between successful band directors and young and energetic new colleagues.

  • Kappa Zeta [Arizona]
    In partnership with the Arizona Band Directors Association, Kappa Zeta continues to mentor new directors in monthly meetings with established directors/mentors.

    Kappa Zeta is in the process of helping to acquire instruments for bands forming in Africa.

  • Mu Alpha [Alberta, Canada] | Website
    Mu Alpha Chapter continues to offer funding for students to attend the National Youth Band of Canada, and supports our members’ outreach efforts in other countries.
  • Nu [Pennsylvania] | Website
    Nu Chapter is focusing on initiatives aimed at creating a professional band director network across the state. It will host two clinics at the 2020 PMEA State Conference to facilitate open communication and professional connections for sharing of resources and mentoring.
    It also continues to award a $500 Future Band Director Scholarship to a high school senior who is nominated by members.
  • Rho Chapter [Alabama]
    Rho Chapter continues to publish articles Tips that Click in the state journal Ala Breve and has raised $1,000 towards their Composer Commissioning Project.

Chapter Special Projects 2018

  • Gamma [Indiana] | Website
    Congratulations! Gamma Chapter celebrates their 65th Anniversary. The December meeting hosted International President Keith Bearden and had 14 of 16 living Past Presidents and 16 of 20 living Hall of Fame inductees in attendance.

    The ongoing Podium Exchange facilitates mentoring and professional development for band directors.

  • Kappa Zeta [Arizona] | Website
    Kappa Zeta chapter has been very busy this first year as an active chapter.  Members are involved in planning clinics and guest artists for the Arizona Music Educators Conference, and are mentoring new band directors in numerous ways. Three new members were inducted in 2018. Kappa Zeta looks forward to making their chapter the best it can be.
  • Lambda [Missouri] | Website
    Lambda chapter continues to sponsor and select the winner of the Claude T. Smith Memorial Composition Contest. The intent of this contest is to encourage young composers of band music, and is held every three years. This year the $5,000 prize was awarded to Chandler Comer for his winning composition, Key West Overture.
  • Mu Alpha [Alberta, Canada] | Website
    In addition to the Mu Alpha Chapter National Youth Band Scholarship and ongoing outreach projects, Mu Alpha awarded their first Special Projects Grant. $500 was awarded to Tuba Christmas, which was made up of both students and community band members from all over Alberta.
  • Nu [Pennsylvania] | Website
    Nu Chapter recently commissioned a jazz work titled Such Sweet Thunder, arranged by Mike Kamuf. It is a Grade 3 piece that is accessible to high school jazz bands.
  • Omicron [Arkansas]
    Omricon chapter continues to utilize their network of members as mentors for young directors, and recognizes a young band director each year through an Outstanding Young Director Award. In addition, financial support is given to the Ray & Ruth Brandon Scholarship for new teachers. Omicron sponsors a clinic at the Arkansas Bandmaster Association each year.

    A new award, the John Barabarotto Lifetime Service Award, highlights significant contributions to Arkansas Bands and involvement in civic, community, county, state or national service, and epitomizes what it means to be a Phi Beta Mu member.

  • Rho [Alabama]
    Rho chapter continues to publish Tips That Click in the state journal Ala Breve, and participates in the Alabama Bandmasters Association Mentoring Program. Rho chapter provides awards to Band Director of the Year, administers the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame, and provides annual scholarships to high school seniors pursuing instrumental music degrees.

    Rho also hosted All State Guest Directors at the annual business lunch meeting and facilitated the recording of the All State audition exercises.

  • Theta [South Carolina] | Website
    Theta chapter maintains a vibrant mentorship program that includes “Best Practices”, a forum for experienced and younger directors to share ideas and information. A Young Band Director Award is presented each year and includes a scholarship to the Conn-Selmer Institute.

    Theta continues various scholarship programs for high school seniors who will continue to take lessons and perform in college/university, as well as awarding Outstanding Bandsmen (High School) and Outstanding Young Bandsmen (Middle School) scholarships to Furman University summer band clinics.


Chapter Special Projects 2017

  • Delta [Mississippi] | Website
    Young Band Director Project
    Delta Chapter maintains a strong tradition of mentorship and has produced a series of teaching videos covering many aspects of the band director’s job. Topics covered include classroom discipline, warm-up procedures, handling required paperwork needed for participation in state music festivals, sight reading, rehearsal techniques, and communication strategies. We extend special thanks to Ted Burns and the members of Delta Chapter for sharing this excellent resource with us!
    View the video Concert Rehearsal The Warm Up
    Note:
    The entire series is available on the Mississippi Bandmasters website for viewing.
  • Eta [Tennessee]
    Continues to nominate and choose the conductor for the Tennessee All-State Band that performs at their annual Tennessee Music Educators Association Convention.
  • Gamma [Indiana] | Website
    Maintains several mentoring projects for young or new band directors and facilitates ongoing professional development for band directors with their Podium Exchange. Gamma Chapter continues to work to increase participation in both projects.
  • Kappa Zeta [Arizona]
    Congratulations! Kappa Zeta has been pinned and officially reinstalled as a Phi Beta Mu Chapter as of February 4, 2017. Special thanks to Keith Rudolph (Gamma) for laying the groundwork with Ray Laffin.
  • Mu Alpha [Alberta, Canada] | Website
    In addition to the Mu Alpha Chapter Scholarship and ongoing outreach projects, Mu Alpha will be piloting a new program in the form of three grants awarded to applicants in three regions of the province. These grants are designed to help fund new projects that do not receive funding from other sources. A Phi Beta Mu member must sponsor the project. The goal is to support school and community bands in Alberta as they strive to improve the skills and motivation of their members.
  • Nu [Pennsylvania]
    Continues to support and fund the Nu Chapter Scholarship that is awarded each year to a music education major. Nu chapter has finished the work to commission an arrangement for jazz band. They hope to see it premiered at the All State Jazz Concert in 2018.
  • Zeta [Georgia] | Website
  • Composer/educator Jay Bocook was commissioned by Zeta Chapter to compose a level five overture. This initiative, led by Brother Rich Bransco, was a collaborative effort of Zeta members and several band booster organizations. The Georgia Wind Symphony, an adult community band, conducted by Brother David Gregory, performed the premiere of Down by the River by Jay Bocook, at the Georgia Music Educators Annual Conference on Friday, January 27, 2017.

Chapter Special Projects 2016

  • Delta [Mississippi] | Website
    Young Band Director Project
    Delta Chapter maintains a strong tradition of mentorship and has produced a series of teaching videos covering many aspects of the band director’s job. Topics covered include classroom discipline, warm-up procedures, handling required paperwork needed for participation in state music festivals, sight reading, rehearsal techniques, and communication strategies. We extend special thanks to Ted Burns and the members of Delta Chapter for sharing this excellent resource with us!
    View the video Concert Rehearsal The Warm Up
    Note: The entire series is available on the Mississippi Bandmasters website for viewing.
  • Eta [Tennessee]
    Continues to nominate and choose the conductor for the Tennessee All-State Band that performs at their annual Tennessee Music Educators Association Convention.
  • Gamma [Indiana] | Website
    Maintains several mentoring projects for young or new band directors and facilitates ongoing professional development for band directors with their Podium Exchange. Gamma chapter is investigating starting a scholarship program.
  • Lambda [Missouri] | Website
    Continues to sponsor and select the winner of the Claude T. Smith Memorial Composition Contest. This year the $5,000 prize was awarded to Robert Langenfeld from Shawnee, Kansas, for his winning composition, Spark!
  • Mu Alpha [Alberta, Canada] | Website
    Sponsors an annual Mu Alpha Chapter Scholarship that supports a young band musician attending the Canadian National Youth Band. Members of Mu Alpha are also active in outreach and provide expertise, instruments, and cash donations to assist school band programs in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico and Dominica, West Indies.
  • Nu [Pennsylvania]
    Continues to support and fund the Nu Chapter Scholarship that is awarded each year to a music education major. Nu chapter is also preparing to commission a piece for jazz band.
  • Psi [Kentucky]
    Psi Chapter has established an annual Phi Beta Mu Concert Band Festival for High School and Middle School Bands. The festival aims to be a showcase for the finest concert bands in Kentucky. Four high school and two middle school bands from across the state were afforded the exciting opportunity to perform and work with Dr. Paula Crider, Professor Emeritus of Conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. This festival values the collaborative spirit as bands support and learn from each other as audience and workshop members.
  • Zeta [Georgia] | Website
    Composer/educator Jay Bocook was commissioned by Zeta Chapter to compose a level five overture. This initiative, led by Brother Rich Bransco, was a collaborative effort of Zeta members and several band booster organizations. The Georgia Wind Symphony, an adult community band, conducted by Brother David Gregory, performed the premiere of Down by the River by Jay Bocook, at the Georgia Music Educators Annual Conference on Friday, January 27, 2017.

Chapter Special Projects 2015

Over 12 chapters submitted details of their Special Projects:

  • We welcomed first-time communication from Alpha Chi [Virginia]; Iota [Kansas]; Lambda [Missouri]; Mu [Ohio], and hope to hear more from them in the future.

Common themes were:

  • Mentoring of young band directors
    • Experienced directors now travel to the schools and provide hands-on teaching during band rehearsals. [Until now, mentoring sessions only took place during conventions.] The direct feedback has proven to be very effective.
  • Fundraising [with goals beyond providing scholarships] by providing bands with funds to:
    • support young band directors and their programs
    • assist in replacing/repairing instruments, uniforms and music that were damaged by natural disasters
  • Involvement in state band Directors’ Halls of Fame
  • Commissioning new band compositions
  • Providing leadership for state music education conferences

Examples of some individual chapters’ Special Projects:

  • Delta [Mississippi] | Website
    Young Band Director Project
    Delta Chapter upholds a strong tradition of mentorship and has produced a series of teaching videos covering many aspects of the band director’s job. Topics covered include classroom discipline, warm-up procedures, handling required paperwork needed for participation in state music festivals, sight reading, rehearsal techniques, and communication strategies. We extend special thanks to Ted Burns and the members of Delta Chapter for sharing this excellent resource with us.
    View the video Communication Administration and Parents
    Note:
    The entire series is available on the Mississippi Bandmasters website for viewing.
  • Lambda Iota [Ontario, Canada]
    Lambda Iota continues to honor colleagues with induction as Honorary Lifetime Members and in this process discovered a direct connection to our founder, Colonel Earl D. Irons. Another initiative is the sharing of resources, repertoire, rehearsal techniques and personal philosophies of music education through an “open rehearsal” concept.
  • Phi [New Mexico]
    Phi Chapter maintains an ongoing assessment from each member to fund their commission program. Their last composition was El Symbolo de Zia by Dr. B.J. Brooks. It was performed at their All-State Convention in 2012.
  • Psi [Kentucky]
    Psi Chapter has established its first annual Phi Beta Mu Concert Band Festival for High School and Middle School Bands. The festival aims to be a showcase for the finest concert bands in Kentucky.
    Four high school and two middle school bands from across the state were afforded the exciting opportunity to perform and work with Ray Cramer, Emeritus Professor and Conductor of the Wind Ensemble from Indiana University. Bands support and learn from each other as audience/workshop members.

Chapter Special Projects 2014

Gamma [Indiana] | Website

  • This chapter holds podium exchanges between two directors, with each visiting the others’ rehearsals and providing suggestions to each other.

Lambda [Missouri] | Website

  • Their ‘Missouri Band Together Fund’ provides funds to bands that have experienced damage from natural disasters.
  • Lambda Chapter raises funds to support young band directors and new band programs.

Mu Alpha [Edmonton, Canada] | Website

  • Mu Alpha Dominica Project

    As of April 2014 members of the Mu Alpha team have initiated band programs in 15 secondary schools on the Island Dominion of Dominica. With the support of major donors The Bandstand and The Wind Shoppe, over 600 used instruments have been supplied and shipped to Dominica for use in the programs. Music Missions Dominica receives major support to transport the instruments by sea from the Rotary Club of Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada.

    Read more
    about this exciting outreach project that Mu Alpha in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is involved with.

Mike Townsend [2nd from left] and Don Lowry
[right] present instruments and method books
to the music teacher [far left] and the principal
[3rd from left] of Orion Academy in Dominica.
Dominica Scoutmaster Sammy Wyke and
troupe receive instruments distributed by
Music Missions International.
Adults [l to r]: Sammy Wyke
and MMI President Luther Kosowan

Omricon [Arkansas] | Website

  • This chapter raises funds to support young band directors and new band programs.

Chapter Special Projects 2013

Alpha [Texas] | Website

  • Sponsored a reception open to the public at the Texas Bandmasters Association conference in July to “Meet the Legends of Texas Bands.” It was a valuable opportunity for current band directors, former students, colleagues, and friends to connect with the icons of Texas bands.
  • In July 2013 a highlight of Celebrating Alpha Chapter’s 75th Anniversary was the premiere of Homage to the Dream, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech, performed by the Dallas Youth Wind Symphony and conducted by Nicholas Williams.
  • The Chapter sponsored a conductor’s Reading Band and a Teaching Woodwinds clinic at TBA.
  • Presented the Induction Ceremony of the Texas Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame of the 2013 class: Daniel Aleman, Keith Bearden, Robert C. Botello, Kenneth Capshaw, Robin Watson and Gary Wells.

Gamma [Indiana] | Website

  • Beginning first year of mentoring project. Although it only has a modest beginning, we believe this will grow into a significant resource for the young band directors.
  • The Chapter is continuing the tradition of guest conductor exchanges with a list of the many available conductors directors listed on our website.

Eta [Tennessee]

  • The Chapter annually votes and selects the All-State Band conductor for the TMEA State Music Conference. The All-State Band conductor is a guest and attends the annual Phi Beta Mu meeting held at the convention.
  • The Chapter revised criteria for membership and revised criteria for voting members of Eta Chapter.

Kappa Theta [Minnesota] | Website

  • The Chapter established a mentoring project in conjunction with the Minnesota Band Directors Association. We match up our experienced members with new band directors throughout the state. We are in the third year of this cooperative project and have many young band directors who are being advised by Phi Beta Mu members.

Mu Alpha [Edmonton, Canada] | Website

  • The Chapter held two meetings; one in November at the Provincial Music Conference and in June the Spring Social in Edmonton.
  • Provided scholarships to band members in Alberta who qualified for the Canadian National Youth Band.

Nu [Pennsylvania] | Website

  • The Chapter recently completed a By-Law and Constitution update and is working to fill the committees updated/created in the document.
  • We sponsor a scholarship for an outstanding senior planning to major in music education. Applicants will be accepted throughout the State of Pennsylvania.

Omicron [Arkansas] | Website

  • The Chapter provided financial support for the Raymond Brandon Scholarship given to a new band director each year in Arkansas.
  • Sponsorship of clinics at the Arkansas Bandmasters Convention. Presented the annual Young Band Director’s Award.
  • Provided upkeep for Arkansas Bandmasters Hall of Fame housed permanently at Hot Springs Convention Center.
  • The Chapter oversees a network of mentors to assist band programs across the state.

Rho [Alabama]

  • The Chapter published Tips that Click four times a year in State Journal, Ala breve.
  • It also provided an annual scholarship to a high school senior pursuing instrumental music degree from a college in Alabama.
  • Members volunteered to participate in AL Bandmasters Association Mentoring Program.
  • Hosted All-State Guest Directors at annual State business/lunch meeting.
  • Published New Band Director’s Handbook for national and state deadlines, forms, activities, and dates of band events.
  • Presented Band Director of the Year award and administered Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame.
  • Facilitated recording of all-state tryout exercises.