Session Proposals

John Ginocchio is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Southwest Minnesota State University where he conducts the Symphonic Chamber Winds, SMSU/Community Concert Band, and the SMSU Jazz Ensemble. He teaches conducting, orchestration, and instrumental music education courses and serves as chair of the Department of Fine Arts & Communication.
Dr. Ginocchio holds a Doctor of Arts degree in conducting and music education from Ball State University; a Master of Music degree in trombone performance from Ball State; and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. He previously served as a doctoral assistant director in the band department at Ball State University, and he taught instrumental music for the Adams Central Community Schools in Monroe, Indiana for ten years.
Active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Dr. Ginocchio has worked with bands of all levels throughout the Midwest and in Spain and has served on the jury for the Certamen Internacional de Bandas de Musica in Valencia, Spain. Research and writing interests include the music of the Festival of Moors and Christians, conducting, ensemble seating, wind chamber music, popular music in the classroom, and composition in the classroom. His articles have appeared in publications such as The Instrumentalist, Contributions to Music Education, and the Music Educators Journal. He has also contributed to the popular Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. In addition, he regularly presents sessions at state, national, and international conferences.

As ensemble directors seem to spend most of their time getting ready for the "next concert," it is very easy to become convinced that there simply isn't time for composition. This session includes practical ideas for introducing composition in ensemble classrooms in a way that can positively impact students while allowing the scheduling flexibility needed in many programs.

• Band - Middle School
• Band - Secondary
• Orchestra - Middle School
• Orchestra - Secondary
• Collegiate