Session Proposals

Logan Banister is a classical and jazz saxophonist, composer, and educator. As a classical saxophonist, Logan has given performances around the world at the World Saxophone Congress, North American Saxophone Alliance Conferences, and at Steinway Hall in New York City. As a jazz and commercial musician, Logan has performed throughout the United States and Europe with world-renowned artists including Ingrid Jensen, Andy Middleton, Keith Anderson, and BEATBoX Saxophonist Derek Brown.

Logan serves as Assistant Professor of Saxophone at Lamar University where he teaches applied saxophone and directs the Lamar Cardinal Jazz Orchestra. He maintains an active schedule as a clinician for local high schools, honor groups, and at universities around the country. Logan holds degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder (DMA Saxophone Performance and Pedagogy), Baylor University (MM Saxophone Performance), and Oklahoma Christian University (BME).

Music educators often find themselves asked to teach jazz rhythm section instruments with limited formal training or direction. In many music education degree programs, jazz pedagogy or methods coursework is limited or absent altogether. Likewise, many educators’ primary instruments are outside of the rhythm section. These gaps in instruction and firsthand performance experience, in addition to the inherent challenges of playing these instruments in an authentic jazz style, can leave educators feeling overwhelmed and underprepared.

This presentation aims to address this need for resources, providing practical and accessible strategies that educators can use to confidently teach their rhythm section students of all ages and abilities. Attendees will explore methods for crafting walking basslines, developing chord grips and voicings on piano and guitar, and helping drummers to play grooves, hits, and fills. The presentation will also explore the function of each of the rhythm section instruments within a combo and big band, offering techniques that directors can immediately implement in rehearsal to help their rhythm section play as a cohesive unit and support the band’s horn sections.

Attendees will receive access to a resource packet to supplement the presentation, containing sample voicings, basslines, grooves, and more, as well as a curated list of additional resources to empower rhythm section students toward success.

• Band - Middle School
• Band - Secondary
• Collegiate