NYSBDA Sessions at the NYSSMA Winter Conference

Paul Lavender

As Vice President of Instrumental Publications for Hal Leonard Corporation, Paul Lavender directs the product development and marketing of Hal Leonard's extensive catalog of performance publications for orchestra, concert band, marching band, and jazz ensemble, as well as instrumental books, collections and methods.

Paul supervises the creative work o many of the industry's most respected composers and arrangers, producing over 600 new instrumental publications each year. Recently, his association with renowned film composer John Williams has produced the prestigious John Williams Signature Series, featuring Williams' authentic film scores and concert music for professional orchestras.

Also a prolific writer, Paul has contributed more than 1000 arrangements and compositions to the educational and concert repertoire and continues to be one of the most widely played writers today. He is co-author and managing editor of the new Essential Elements 2000 method for beginning bands. His expertise in music preparation, technology, recording production, and computer system design contributes to Hal Leonard's continuing success as the leading music print publisher, recognized throughout the world.

Paul did both his undergraduate and graduate work in Music Theory and Composition at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, where he also served as a graduate assistant teaching music theory, sight singing, and ear training. During that time he began his writing career, providing arrangements for the famed CMU Marching Band under the direction of Norman Dietz and Jack Saunders

For the next few years he continued as freelance arranger, working for over 100 of the nation's top college and high school competitive bands. This national exposure led him to a newly formed publisher of educational music, Jenson Publications, which he joined in 1980. At Jenson, he became part of a team of prominent writers - John Higgins, Jay Bocook, Paul Jennings, James Curnow, and Claude T. Smith and soon after became the director of the company's instrumental publications.

In 1989, Jenson Publications became part of Hal Leonard Corporation, the world's largest music publisher, where Paul continued his role directing the industry's most successful catalog of instrumental publications.

Paul and his wife Cheryl, a music educator and author of classroom resources, live in Brookfield, Wisconsin with their three children, Eric, Branson, and Krista.

Clinic: Copyright Guidelines for Music Educators

This session will include helpful guidelines and information for teachers regarding real-world issues they face with performances, recording, web sites, music publishing, and more.

Clinic: Technology Learning Tools For Your Developing Band and Orchestra Students

Mr. Lavender will share many of the technology developments, along with learning, assessment, and motivational opportunities that are now available to instrumental music programs.

Paul Shewan

Intonation for Your Instrumentalists: The Simple Solution

This session will provide practical strategies that will incorporate singing in lessons and ensembles to improve intonation for instrumental students of all ages. Dr. Paul Shewan, associate professor of instrumental music at Roberts Wesleyan College, has worked with students ranging from elementary to college. His use of singing and silent singing as a teaching tool to achieve better intonation has produced excellent results.


Last reviewed November 10, 2007