2024 Drum Major Clinic
High School marching band students will receive instruction from past and present Million Dollar Band Drum Majors about marching band leadership and conducting in this two-day workshop on Wednesday, June 5 – 6, 2024.
Registration will open January 1, 2024
Information
Drum Major Camp costs $125
2024 ALABAMA DRUM MAJOR CLINIC SCHEDULE
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
8:30 AM Check in at Million Dollar Band Lobby – Moody Music Building
9:00 AM Leadership Session
10:30 AM Conducting Session
12:00 PM Lunch (on your own)
2:00 PM Leadership Session
3:30 PM Conducting Session
5:00 PM Dinner (on your own)
7:00 PM Salutes and Field Presentation
9:00 PM Dismissed for the day
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
9:00 AM Leadership Session
10:30 AM Conducting Session
12:00 PM Lunch (on your own)
2:00 PM Leadership Session
3:30 PM Conducting Session
5:00 PM Parent Performance
5:45 PM Final dismissal
What to bring:
- Pencil and notebook
- Any scores you have for your upcoming marching season.
- Water and snack
- Drum Major Whistle
- Drum major white gloves
Concert Attire:
Students should wear khaki shorts and tennis shoes. Students will be given a summer camp shirt to wear for the performance.
Parking: Parking on the University of Alabama campus can be difficult unless you arrive in plenty of time prior to your commitment. We strongly encourage carpooling and recommend parking in the Capstone parking deck on 2nd Avenue across from Moody Music Building. The Capstone deck is $1 per hour and $10 per day.
About Our Guest Clinicians
Ty Parker received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from The University of Alabama and received his Masters in Music Education from Auburn University. While attending the University of Alabama, he was awarded a classical piano scholarship, served the prestigious Million Dollar Band as alto saxophone section leader during his sophomore year and as Drum Major during his junior and senior years. Along with his leadership responsibilities, Ty was selected as an undergraduate conducting competition winner and as the state-wide collegiate interview competition winner. Mr. Parker was an ambassador for the Million Dollar Band and the University Band department at University Student Government meetings, the Alabama All-State Band Festival, the Bands of America Regional Championship competition in Atlanta, and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Among his peers, Ty served as President of the University of Alabama’s Music Education Chapter during his junior and senior years. While earning his master’s degree at Auburn, Ty competed in the Rocketman Triathlon as an Auburn triathlete and placed top ten in the competition. Mr. Parker is an avid triathlete and has competed in Olympic distance, 70.3, and full ironman races. Ty is the pianist for Faith Baptist Church in Vinemont, Alabama. He loves his family and is very excited to be the Director of Bands for the Athens City School System.
Leigh Thomas is Director of Bands at Bob Jones High School in Huntsville, AL. She graduated from Winfield City High School in 2005 as salutatorian of her class, as well as an All- State percussionist. She received an undergraduate degree in 2010 and a graduate degree in 2012 from the University of Alabama. During her time at the University of Alabama, she participated in the Million Dollar Band percussion section and served as a drum major for three years. She also performed in the Wind Ensemble, Huxford Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Campus Band, Percussion Ensemble, Mallet Ensemble, Volleyball Pep Band, and Women’s Basketball Pep Band. Additionally, she has been a private conducting teacher, graduate teaching assistant, percussion instructor and arranger, and drill designer.
Ms. Thomas served as the Assistant Band Director for BJHS from 2012-2015, where she directed the competition marching band, indoor drumline, jazz band, and concert band. Ms. Thomas accepted the position of Director of Bands beginning fall 2015. She currently teaches the competition marching band, football marching band, jazz band, wind ensemble, and assists with color/winter guard, marching/winter percussion, concert band, and the Discovery Middle School band program. The Bob Jones High School band program has had many prestigious performance opportunities recenty, including the 2017 Alabama Music Educators Association Conference (Wind Ensemble), the 2019 Alabama Music Educators Association Conference (Percussion Ensemble), and the 2019 University of Alabama Honor Band Festival (Wind Ensemble).
She currently performs with the Alabama Winds, an adult band based in Birmingham, AL. This prestigious group is a two-time guest ensemble at the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference (2015 & 2019) and also a feature performing group at the 2017 Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic.