On Thursday, October 24th, Madison Scouts Education Coordinator, Susan Smith, presented “Successful Design and Implementation for a Small or New Marching Band," in a session sponsored by Forward Performing Arts. The session was attended by a mixture of college students/future music educators and current teachers both new and experienced in the profession.
Susan, a 25-year veteran music educator, specifically called on her decade of experience as the Director of Bands at Saint James School (Montgomery, AL) to provide expert insight into design and educational considerations for directors leading small marching bands.
"It was such a pleasure to present at the Wisconsin State Music Conference. I hope the educators and collegiates in attendance took away some ideas to help their band programs flourish," said Smith.
Andrew Smits, who is in his second year as Band Director at Durand High School, was in attendance. "Susan led an incredibly informative, energetic, and enlightening session. It was inspiring to learn from a Director who has had success with a program so similar to mine."
"We at the Madison Scouts want to do all we can to support music education in Wisconsin." - Susan Smith
Susan L. Smith has taught general, choral, and instrumental music at the elementary through collegiate level in Florida, Virginia and Alabama and has served as an author, clinician, conductor, and adjudicator across the United States. She is currently CEO/President of the RWS Music Publishing Company and Education Coordinator for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. Her previous position was as Assistant Professor of Music Education at Troy University, serving as the faculty advisor for the Troy NAfME Collegiate Chapter and conductor the Troy Symphonic Band. She is the Southern Division President of the National Association of Music Education and Past President of the Alabama Music Educators Association. Susan serves as an Educational Consultant for Music for All. She is responsible for the Student Workshop portion of the Music for All National Concert Band Festival and a Co-Executive Producer for the Mind the Gap series of webinars and podcasts developed to support the young and developing music educator during and after the pandemic. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Music Education at Auburn University and holds degrees from James Madison University and Troy State University.
Susan served as Director of Bands at the Saint James School in Montgomery AL. Mrs. Smith was responsible for teaching the Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Bands as well as Guitar, Jazz Band, and Music Technology. The Saint James Band consistently received Superior ratings in Concert, Jazz and Marching Band events including the Alabama Music Performance Assessment, Smokey Mountain Music Festival and Bands of America Super Regionals and Grand National Championships. She served as the Alabama Bandmasters Association District VI Vice Chairman for 1 year and Chairman for 2 years.
Smith has presented clinics at many state conventions including AMEA, TMEA, FMEA, IMEA, VMEA, GMEA and National and Regional NAfME conferences. Smith has presented at the Midwest Clinic three times and performed as a member of the Alabama Winds, an adult community band comprised of Alabama music educators. The Alabama Winds performed most recently at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington and Susan serves as Assistant Conductor of the Alabama Winds.
Her professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, Phi Beta Kappa and the National Band Association. She is also an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma. Smith is in demand as a clinician, conductor and adjudicator throughout the country. She has evaluated and conducted University Honor Bands and District Honor Bands in Australia, Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky and West Virginia.
