Episode 138 - Keith Hodgson

Keith Hodgson joined the music education faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2016 after a 26 year teaching career. 

Topics:

• Keith’s background growing up learning the piano and then percussion and the important influences on his decision to pursue music as a career.
• Finding opportunities outside of your formal studies to learn more about being a band director.
• Keith’s high school teaching career, the lessons he learned in his first five years, and his program at Mainland High School.
• The music education program at the University of the Arts and the lessons that he tries to teach his students.
• The importance of community bands and commissioning music.

Links:

• Keith Hodgson
• University of the Arts
• South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble
• Whitacre: October
• Elder: The Heart’s Reflection

Biography:

Keith W. Hodgson is the Director of Music Education at the University of The Arts in Philadelphia, PA. He teaches graduate & undergraduate conducting, percussion methods, is Director of the Master of Arts in Teaching program (MAT), oversees the music education minor program, fieldwork experiences and supervises student teachers in their elementary and secondary field placements.

Mr. Hodgson currently serves as President to the Eastern Division of the National Association for Music Education, is a Past-President of the New Jersey Music Educator's Association, a National Board Certified Teacher, the recipient of the 2014 New Jersey Governor's Award in the Arts for Leadership in Music and was a Grammy Nominated Music Educator Quarter Finalist in 2014. Mr. Hodgson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from William Patterson University, NJ and his Masters Degree in School Leadership and Administration from Rowan University, NJ with Supervisor and Principal Certifications. Mr. Hodgson’s teaching career includes twenty-six years as a high school band director in New Jersey, the majority of which were as Director of Instrumental Music at Mainland Regional HS in Linwood, NJ. His experience with concert, jazz, marching, orchestra and chamber ensembles is
extensive.

Mr. Hodgson is the Conductor and Music Director for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble, an adult community band of music educators and professional musicians. Mr. Hodgson has held the principal conducting post of the SJAWE since its founding in 1997. Mr. Hodgson is also the Head Director of the American Music Abroad Gold Tour, an annual three week summer music tour of band and choral students performing in six countries throughout Europe. He has over 20 years experience in group travel and performing for European audiences.

Mr. Hodgson is an active guest conductor for high school honor bands, community bands and summer music camps; a band clinician, guest speaker and professional development presenter. He has presented in numerous state, regional and national conferences including the 2007 MidWest Clinic in Chicago. As a conductor, he has studied with many master conductor/teachers such as Ed Lisk, Stephen Melillo, Anthony Maiello and Mallory Thompson among others. His guest conducting appearances have included honors ensembles in NJ, CT, NY, PA, AK, AL and Europe. Mr. Hodgson is proud to be Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician and was honored as the recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Service Award by the New Jersey Music Educators Association and was
nominated to the 2016 Class of the American School Band Directors Association. He is also currently a WorldStrides Heritage Festivals Adjudicator and a contributor to a new edition of a GIA Band Curriculum Guide by the American School Band Directors Association

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