Texas Bandmasters
Association Convention/Clinic + Student Day
OPPORTUNITY: In 2012, Drum Corps International (DCI) and the Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA) scheduled their events back-to-back in San Antonio, Texas. Having worked with both organizations in the past, we collaborated creating a series of sessions that would build a co-sponsored opportunity to help Texas music educators and their students kick start the school year.
RESULTS: Fran presented his Kick Start Your Season with DCI in the Alamodome during the Drum Corps International Southwestern Championship. The next day he kicked off the opening keynote session at the TBA Student Day with Frank Troyka followed by three repeated student leadership sessions. Fran also presented a clinic for educators entitled: “Developing a Student Leadership Program that Works for You” which provided Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit to participating teachers. It was a collaborative win-win-win for everyone involved (students, teachers, and organizations) as well as the 2012 TBA Patron Sponsor Marching Show Concepts.
UPDATE: We co-created this again every year from 2013 to 2023 co-sponsored in part with the Texas Bandmasters Association, Drum Corps International, and Music for All—including virtual Student Day presentations in 2020 and 2021. In 2024, Fred J. Miller Inc. co-sponsored both the TBA Student Day and a director session entitled: “Building Better Communication WITH Students, Parents, and Peers.”
TEXAS BANDMASTERS STUDENT DAY PROMOTIONAL VIDEO (2020)
TEXAS BANDMASTERS STUDENT DAY OPENING VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SAMPLES (2020)
TEXAS BANDMASTERS STUDENT DAY CLOSING VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SAMPLES (2020)
ARTICLE: “Developing BOTH Better Leadership AND Smarter Followership in Band” (September 2023) was written to follow up the director session Fran Kick presented at the 2023 TBA Convention/Clinic. In addition, Fran shared his podcast interview with Sharna Fabiano.
ARTICLE: “Balancing Your Band WITH Your Personal Life” (September 2019) was written to follow up the director session Fran Kick presented at the 2019 TBA Convention/Clinic. In addition to the article, Fran updated two videos used to illustrate the challenges and share some ideas and solutions on how to stay married and still be a successful band director.
ARTICLE: “Balancing Your Band and Your Life” (September 2014) was written to follow up the director session Fran Kick presented after speaking at the TBA Spouses Luncheon in July of 2014.
ARTICLE: “Pay Attention and Respond Appropriately: Band Teaches Both!” (September 2020)
ARTICLE: “Infusing Student Leadership All Year Long: It’s All About the Follow Up!” (September 2018)
ARTICLE: “Female + Male Student Leadership in Band” (September 2017)
In total, over 19,000 students have attended the TBA Student Day! Each year this one-day event offers concerts, a college fair, breakouts on dozens of topics, composer meet-and-greet opportunities, and even student participation on stage with the featured band! Not even the pandemic could shut down Student Day. In fact in 2020, the first of two years we presented virtually, enrollment spiked the night before to over 3,000 students, causing us to change the online delivery platform within hours of going live to handle the added demand!
“I cannot imagine doing the Texas Bandmasters Student Day without Fran Kick!”
Frank Troyka, Texas Bandmasters Association Student Day Coordinator
In 2023, Fran Kick was presented with the Texas Bandmasters Association Music Industry Award. This prestigious honor is presented by the TBA Board of Directors to someone who has a long history of supporting music education and the Texas Bandmasters Association.
