UofSC Drum Major and Leadership Clinic

This intensive 3-day clinic is intended for rising 10th–12th grade students who will either serve as their band's drum major or other student leader in the fall.

The UofSC Drum Major and Leadership Clinic provides high school leaders with three days of instruction in basic conducting technique, score study, advanced musicianship, vocal commands, salutes, music and marching instruction and dynamic leadership.

Three specialized levels of small-group conducting allow participants to delve into intensive training equipping them to successfully lead their high school marching band. The three levels are determined by a short audition following registration on the first day of the clinic.

*New this Year: ALL students participate in leadership sessions that focus on motivation, conflict resolution, and enhanced teaching techniques. (There is no longer a “leadership track”)

Additionally, ALL students spend a morning session learning from the renowned leadership clinician and speaker, Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser.

Download the flyer here.

2019 General Schedule

Schedule subject to change; however, start and end times are fixed.

Thursday, June 20
8:15 a.m. - Registration and short conducting evaluation (2 minutes)
9:15 a.m. - Welcome and introductions / opening leadership and conducting activities
12:00 p.m. - Lunch (provided)
1:00 p.m. - Full group conducting / small group conducting / salutes / field instruction
6:00 p.m. - Dismiss

Friday, June 21
8:45 a.m. - Arrive
9:00 a.m. - Leadership session with Dr. Tim
12:00 p.m. - Lunch (provided)
1:00 p.m. - Small group conducting / full group conducting / leadership session
4:30 p.m. - College band information / Q&A session/ leadership session
6:00 p.m. - Dismiss

Saturday, June 22
8:45 a.m. - Arrive
9:00 a.m. - Full group conducting / small group conducting / salutes / leadership session
12:00 p.m. - Lunch (provided)
1:00 p.m. - Small group conducting review
1:30 p.m. - Exhibition dress rehearsal
3:00 p.m. - Exhibition – parents and families invited!
4:00 p.m. - Dismiss

2019 Drum Major Clinic and Registration

Thursday, June 20 – Saturday, June 22
Location: Copenhaver Band Hall, 326 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208
Lodging: Lodging is available at area hotels. Contact the USC Band Office for recommendations.
Price: $110 – includes all instruction and materials, t-shirt, daily lunch and clinch bag to hold all materials. (Lodging is not included in the camp price)
Lessons: $25- students can take optional one-on-one conducting lessons with our staff for extra instruction and experience. Lessons take place in the evenings after the regular sessions conclude.
For more information: uscbands@mozart.sc.edu, 803-777-4278.

Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Guest Leadership Clinician

Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser’s career involves 10 years of successful college band directing at Northern Michigan University, the University of Missouri and New Mexico State University. Dr. Tim has a long tradition at USC summer camps and is the industry’s leading motivational speaker, focusing on the area of positive attitude and effective leadership training.

Clinic Instructional Staff

Tonya Mitchell

Tonya Mitchell is the assistant director of bands and assistant director of athletic bands at the University of South Carolina where she assists with the Carolina Band, directs the women’s basketball band, and conducts the University Bands. Mitchell also teaches classes in the music education department. Prior to her appointment at USC, Mitchell served as interim Director of Athletic Bands at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA, where she directed the Blazin’ Brigade marching band, men’s and women’s basketball band, and conducted the concert band.

Jack A. Eaddy, Jr.

Jack A. Eaddy, Jr. is the band/music education instructor where he assists with the Carolina Band, other athletic bands and conducts the University Band. Mr. Eaddy also teaches classes in the music education department. Mr. Eaddy is an active adjudicator, drill writer, and arranger. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha, and Pi Kappa Lambda, Music Honor Society. Mr. Eaddy has contributed to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series, published by GIA Music.

Justyn “JP” Davis

Justyn “JP” Davis is the assistant director of bands at Mauldin High School in Greenville, SC. JP is in his 2nd year of teaching after completing his bachelor’s degree in music education along with a certificate of performance at UofSC in 2017. So far at Mauldin, he has helped the ensembles receive multiple superior ratings at concert and contest performances, appeared twice at the SCBDA 5A State Marching Band Finals Competition, and performed for the program’s first time at the 2019 SCMEA Professional Development Conference. While in school at UofSC, he performed in all the university’s concert ensembles and has been a featured soloist with the USC Wind Ensemble. In the university’s athletic bands, JP served as Drum Major of the Carolina Band for 3 years and played saxophone with the university’s pep bands. Professionally, JP is a member the National Association for Music Education, and both Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, where he has previously served as vice president of programs for the Southeast District of Kappa Kappa Psi and currently serves on the National Ritual Performance and Education Committee. JP is very passionate about leadership and spends his time contributing to leadership camps and workshops.

Ben Pouncey

Ben Pouncey is the band director at Ashley Ridge High School in Summerville, SC. Prior to Ashley Ridge, he was one of the band directors at DuBose Middle School. During that time, the DuBose Middle School Band consistently earned superior ratings at the SC Concert Performance Assessment and was a featured ensemble at the 2018 SC Music Educators’ In-Service Conference. Pouncey graduated magna cum laude in 2012 from UofSC with a bachelor’s degree in music / emphasis in music education. An alumnus of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, he served as the corps’ drum major from 2009 to 2011 after having been a member of the trumpet section in 2007 and 2008. The Cadets are 10-time Drum Corps International (DCI) World Champions, having won their most recent title in 2011. Ben was also the recipient of the 2011 DCI Jim Jones Leadership Award, given each year to one drum major from both the World and Open Class.