Bill Webb Named Schmitt Music Band Director of the Year 2015
When a fresh group of fifth graders take their seats for their very first band rehearsal, Bill Webb doesn’t hear the squeaks and honks coming from the instruments of these new musicians. He only hears potential. “I hear that they are so close to getting it right,” Webb said.
His devotion to his students and commitment to teaching the joy of music has earned him an ovation as the Schmitt Music Director of the Year, an award announced at the Minnesota Music Educators Association conference last week. Webb is the first to receive this award, created this year by Schmitt Music to recognize band and orchestra directors in Schmitt’s upper Midwest service area who “go above and beyond, who contribute in and out of the classroom, and who are revered by students and community.” Webb was one of 41 directors nominated by other directors. A distinguished panel of college level music educators reviewed the nominations. Webb said he is thrilled to be chosen.
Webb began playing music as most of his students do, in grade school band. He was a trumpet player through college at the University of St. Thomas, and minored in French horn in graduate school at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. Webb credits many mentors who inspired him along the way. Now he seeks to inspire his own students.
For 24 years, Webb was the band director at Edina High School. Having helped launch band programs at some of the district’s elementary and middle schools, Webb made a full-time shift five years ago and left EHS to teach elementary band at Highlands, Cornelia and Concord schools. He felt it was time to pass the baton but he wasn’t quite ready to stop directing. “I loved directing at the high school, and I suppose I could have retired, but I would rather be doing this,” he said of directing the district’s youngest band students. “This grade level is such a powerful time in child development. This is the perfect window of opportunity for them to start learning to play music.”
While his sheer love of music is certainly at the heart of his work, there is so much more that energizes his teaching and directing. “I have a passionate belief that there is a part of our human psyche, our human spirit, our human brain that is reached through the arts,” he said. “I have seen it so many times.”
So in addition to teaching students their instruments and music, Webb teaches them about the physiological connections that are made between brain and muscles the more they practice. He talks about eye-hand coordination and the mathematical relationship with music. And he encourages them to “ride on the edge.”
“Right now we are working on playing the music faster,” Webb said. “The faster they go the more they are working that muscle memory and riding on the edge of what they know.” Sometimes the music gets away from them and they lose their place in the music, or perhaps their concentration lags and they slump in their chair. With a constant smile on his face, Webb gently corrects and redirects his students, always in a positive tone. “No, they are not in trouble for losing their place — everyone gets lot now and than,” he said. “And we all need reminders to sit up straight.”
When he is not teaching elementary students, Webb plays trumpet with and/or conducts many musical ensembles in the Twin Cities. He is a founding member of the Minnesota Symphonic Winds and the Lake Wobegon Brass Band, and in 2013 he was an interim band director at St. Olaf College, to name a few.
Of the Schmitt Music Director Award, Webb said he is thrilled that they chose to recognize an elementary band director, and humbled that they chose him. “Elementary band teachers often don’t get the accolades they deserve for doing the incredible work of laying a strong musical foundation for their students, so I hope that by receiving this award I can shine a light on them,” Webb said. “I am blessed to be able to combine my love of music with a love of people. The longer I teach the more passionate I feel.”
