Band

Creswell Band Conservatory

Band Skills and Techniques

Students receive a comprehensive music education that builds both skill and confidence. Students learn proper tone production, note and rhythm reading, instrument care and maintenance, improvisation techniques, and explore music from a variety of genres and cultures.

Just as important, students have a voice in the classroom. The Band Conservatory is a supportive community where students are encouraged to share their ideas, take creative risks, and learn without fear of judgment—mistakes are welcomed as part of the learning process. Through daily collaboration, students refine their skills, perform solos, and read music in concerts, gaining confidence in how they present themselves on stage.

One of our guiding phrases is, “We are not nervous—we are excited.” Students are encouraged to carry this mindset with them beyond the band room and into all areas of life.

Strengthening Academics Through Music

At Creswell, learning through the arts is an essential part of teaching and learning. In the Band Conservatory, students strengthen academic skills every day by applying concepts from core subjects through music. Students naturally apply:

• Math: Counting rhythms, recognizing patterns, and working with timing and fractions to perform music accurately.
• Reading: Interpreting musical notation, rhythms, and symbols to build strong reading and comprehension skills.
• Science: Exploring sound, frequency, and vibration, and learning how sound waves and breath control affect tone and instrument quality.
• Social Studies: Studying the history of music, composers, and the time periods in which pieces were written, connecting music to historical events and cultural contexts.

Students also apply these subjects through performance pieces, including:

• The Tempest, which connects music to natural phenomena and storms
• Ele(mental), which explores both earth elements—Water, Earth, Fire, and Air—and emotional themes such as anxiety, anger, and joy, opening the door to discussions about science, emotions, and mental health

Through these experiences, students don’t just learn music, they use music to deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Sharing Music with the Community

Students have many opportunities to perform, create, and share their work at school and in the community in a variety of ensembles, including:

• Beginning Band
• Wind Symphony
• Pep Band
• Drumline
• Travel Band

Students perform regularly at school and beyond, including:

• School-day and after-school concerts
• Honor Bands
• Concert Performance Assessments
• Solo and Ensemble Assessments
• Performances at senior centers, churches, and community events

In addition to performing, students who are interested in improvisation and composition have opportunities to create their own music using musical notation, encouraging creativity and original expression.

Teaching with Heart and High Expectations

Dylan Wilson, a Grammy Award winner and alumnus of Tennessee State University, is dedicated to fostering musical talent and personal growth in his students. As a former member of the prestigious Aristocrat of Bands, he brings a wealth of experience and passion to the classroom. He is the band and music appreciation teacher at Creswell. Mr. Wilson is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity Inc, Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia of America Inc.