Ep. 8 - Kevin Cranston: Head Director, Reading Junior High
The Band Director's Survival Guide Podcast
Release Date: 02/11/2021
Ep. 8 - Kevin Cranston: Head Director, Reading Junior High
The Band Director's Survival Guide Podcast
My guest today is Kevin Cranston, a 25 year band director who is a shining example of humility, leadership, and enthusiasm. He consistently pushes his and program to excellence, achieving a coveted performance spot at the Midwest Clinic in 2014. He maintains discipline, musicality, and fun in his band hall simultaneously. About Kevin Cranston: Originally from Clarence, New York, Kevin Cranston is pleased to be a band director at Antoinette Reading Junior High School in Lamar Consolidated Independent School District. Mr. Cranston was a 4 year member of the Clarence...
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Ep. 7 - Dr. Brad Meyer and Juan Ramirez - On Holistic Health and Wellness for Musicians and Educators
The Band Director's Survival Guide Podcast
Juan, Brad, and Melissa will be presenting on Holistic Health at TMEA February 12 at 7 PM CST About Dr. Brad Meyer: Dr. Brad Meyer (www.Brad-Meyer.com) is a percussion educator, artist, and composer with an extensive and diverse background. Currently, Meyer is the Associate Professor of Percussion at Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, TX) where he is the private lesson teacher and director of the percussion ensemble. Meyer frequently tours universities and high schools both nationally and internationally to present recitals, workshops, masterclasses, and clinics on various...
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Ep. 6 - Ryan Johnstone - On building great young musicians
The Band Director's Survival Guide Podcast
BDSG Links: ------------------- About Ryan Johnstone: Ryan is a renowned educator and clinician at the state and national level. Prior to his position at Rouse, Mr. Johnstone served as head band director at Canyon Vista Middle School in Austin, Texas, head band director of the Aledo Middle School, and as an associate director at Aledo High School. His bands at Canyon Vista and Aledo Middle School advanced to the Texas Music Educator Association’s State Honor Band Competition three times under his direction, placing 4th in 2011, 2nd in 2013, and 6th in 2015 (his first year...
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Ep. 5 - Chelsea Frazier - On building a successful band culture, mentorship, asking for help
The Band Director's Survival Guide Podcast
Chelsea Frazier is the Assistant Band Director at Reading Junior High in Richmond, TX. She runs a highly successful program with Head Director Kevin Cranston and Director Erin Hicks. Chelsea is also the president of Young Band Directors of Texas, an organization founded to provide holistic support to members in the developing years of their career, with a focus on web-based resources and personal connections. YBDT functions as a link between Texas Young Band Directors and the resources available to help them. ----------
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Ep. 4 - Amy Allison - On Hybrid Teaching, Balance, and Music Education
The Band Director's Survival Guide Podcast
------- About Amy Allison Amy Allison has been the Head Band director at Canyon Ridge Middle School since the opening of the school in 2004. In addition to this position, Allison is also an active flutist and clinician. Ms. Allison received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where she studied education under Fred J. Allen and flute under Helen Blackburn. She is currently in her 23th year of band directing and has had numerous UIL sweepstakes bands throughout the years. Under her direction the CRMS Honor Band placed 10th...
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Ep. 3 - Mike Tetreault - On Teaching, Practice, and Purpose
The Band Director's Survival Guide Podcast
About Band Director's Survival Guide: Gift for Podcast listeners - use promo code BDSGPODCAST for 30% off any order for our workshops or advancement programs. ---------------------------------------------------------------- About Mike Tetreault: Mike Tetreault is a Professional Musician, University Professor, Guide with the and Founder of ‘The Marinus Project’. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY and a Master of Music Degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London, UK. Michael is currently Principal Timpanist of the Central City Opera,...
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Ep. 2 - Kat Grant: The Art of Unwinding
The Band Director's Survival Guide Podcast
Kat Grant: Co-Founder of Total Shift Yoga and Sound bath ----
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1. Recording.LA on Classical Music Recording and Best Recording Practices
The Band Director's Survival Guide Podcast
Recording.LA, an LA-based recording company that specializes in A/V recordings for classical musicians and ensembles, discusses the best recording practices, the best recording gear, and the best strategies and timelines for making a successful audition recording.
info_outlineMy guest today is Kevin Cranston, a 25 year band director who is a shining example of humility, leadership, and enthusiasm. He consistently pushes his and program to excellence, achieving a coveted performance spot at the Midwest Clinic in 2014. He maintains discipline, musicality, and fun in his band hall simultaneously.
About Kevin Cranston:
Originally from Clarence, New York, Kevin Cranston is pleased to be a band director at Antoinette Reading Junior High School in Lamar Consolidated Independent School District.
Mr. Cranston was a 4 year member of the Clarence Wind Ensemble at Clarence Central Senior High School under the direction of Ronald A. Sutherland. In the fall of 1987 he was selected for participation in the New York All State Band, and in the fall of 1988, he was selected for the New York All State Wind Ensemble. Subsequently, he was selected to perform as principal trombone in the MENC All Eastern Orchestra in the spring of 1989 in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Cranston was fortunate to have a full scholarship to the Hartt School of Music where he studied trombone with Dr. Ronald Borror, conducting with Gene Young, and took music education classes with Dr. Christopher Azzara and Dr. John Feierabend. Upon completion of a bachelor’s degree in music education, Kevin accepted a graduate assistantship in wind conducting at Eastern Illinois University where he studied with Dr. Bruce Moss and Dr. Joseph Manfredo. As a trombonist, Mr. Cranston has performed with the New Haven Symphony, Eastern Connecticut Symphony, Waterbury (CT) Symphony and the Danville (IL) Symphony. He served as principal trombone with the Danville Symphony for 5 of his 8 seasons with the orchestra. He has also been privileged to perform on Emmy Award winning soundtracks on the Callan Films productions of “Weathered Secrets”, “More Than A Game” and “A Time For Honor”. He enjoyed working as a narrator for the production of “An Uphill Climb” with Emmy Award Winning producer, composer and writer, Craig Lindvahl.
Kevin began his teaching career in 1995 at Teutopolis Junior High School in Teutopolis, Illinois. The bands in “T-Town” found success at region band festivals and annual performances of the “Star Spangled Banner” for the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. He received a “Cool School Teacher Award” in 2002; an award given by the I.E.A. to 16 Illinois teachers based on a student nomination/essay. Mr. Cranston also enjoyed success coaching the junior varsity baseball and varsity soccer teams at Teutopolis High School. In 2002, he received the Decatur Herald & Review Varsity Soccer Coach of the Year Award.
Mr. Cranston and his wife, Sarah, moved to the Houston Area in 2003 when Sarah won the principal horn position with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. At that time, Mr. Cranston was hired as band director at Lamar Junior High School in Lamar Consolidated I.S.D. After enjoying 7 years of growth and success with wonderful students at Lamar Junior High School, Mr. Cranston followed many students and band families to Antoinette Reading Junior High School when it opened in 2010. During the 17 years Mr. Cranston has been fortunate to teach in Lamar Consolidated I.S.D., his bands have received consecutive “Superior” ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contests. In 2010, Mr. Cranston was named Teacher of the Year at Lamar Junior High School. And in 2014, he was named Teacher of the Year at Antoinette Reading Junior High School and Secondary Teacher of the Year for Lamar CISD. The Honors Band at Antoinette Reading Junior High School performs the “Star Spangled Banner” annually for the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. All ARJH bands make an annual recording at Stude Hall at Rice University with Grammy Award Winning Producer, Andy Bradley.
Kevin lives in Sugar Land, TX with wife Sarah, their twin boys, Will and Tim, and daughter, Emma.
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