WILLIAM J. EARVIN, ED.D.

Dr. William J. Earvin is currently the Educational Support Manager for the Southeast Region at Conn-Selmer, Inc. in the Division of Education. He also coordinates the HBCU Collective Community, a program engaging Music Educators associated with the 107 institutions categorized as Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Dr. Earvin later pursued his graduate studies at Mississippi Valley State University where he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Education (2006) earned his Doctor of Education degree from Northcentral University specializing in Higher Education Leadership (2019). 

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Under the baton of Dr. Earvin, ensembles consistently earned Superior and Excellent Ratings at GMEA and LMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations.  The groups have also been selected to perform at numerous regional and national performances.  Dr. Earvin has been honored as an “Outstanding Music Educator” by the Berklee College of Music (2009) and a “Distinguished Music Educator” by the Yale University School of Music (2013).

Dr. Earvin most recently served as the Interim Coordinator of Professional Development for the City of Baker School System, after a successful tenure as Director of Bands at Baker High School in Baker, LA.  At Baker High School, notable performances included the “WorldStrides OnStage” Festival in Dallas, TX, and the Music for All Affiliate - Louisiana Concert Band Invitational in Lafayette, LA. In 2018, the Baker High School Symphonic Band performed in the National Band and Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall.  Dr. Earvin was also recognized as Teacher of the Year at Baker High School in 2018.  

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Dr. Earvin’s career includes tenures in Higher Education as an Academic Advisor (MDCC) and as an Outreach Recruiter/Advisor for the TRiO Educational Talent Search Program at Southern University (SUBR).  He currently serves as a part-time faculty member for the TRiO Upward Bound Programs at SUBR.  Dr. Earvin recently worked as the Vice President of Education Programs and Development for the Devmusic Company, LLC and is one of the founders of REACH Through Music, Inc. His music business and sales background also include management tenures at Mars Music, Inc. and the RadioShack Corporation.  Dr. Earvin has presented numerous professional development sessions and in-services.  He facilitates workshops in his local school district as well as districts throughout the country.  Notably, he has presented at the Louisiana Association for Student Assistance Programs Conference, The Midwest Clinic and the Music for All Summer Symposium.

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While maintaining a loving family environment, career goals, and a passion for music and educational research, Dr. Earvin is actively involved in numerous civic and professional organizations; the Louisiana Association for Student Assistance Programs, the Louisiana Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, the National Band Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a charter member of the Louisiana Music Adjudicators Association, and is a member of the Music for All Urban Education and Advocacy in Action Advisory Committees. He is also a founding member of the Minority Band Directors National Association.  In 2020, Dr. Earvin was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi and The Golden Key Honor Societies. He was also selected as the Band Instruction Lead for the Country Music Association Foundation’s United Voices for Music Education initiative. Dr. Earvin and his lovely wife Tamesha are the proud parents of four talented children.

Session Titles

Recruitment and Retention: Building and Maintaining a Successful Program as a TEAM– 
With a concentration on areas with limited resources, this presentation provides insight on building a program that ALL student will want to be a member of.  Special attention is given to improving recruitment efforts, implementing effective student leadership and developing a safe and successful culture.

The Exponential Power of Exposure –
Perhaps there is some “osmosis” in Music Education! Exposing your students and parents to the arts is more than half the battle. During this session, we will discuss building the artistic minds of all stakeholders through concerts, modeling, cross-curriculum arts participation, and more!

The Stage –
This workshop explores all details needed to get a band from the rehearsal to the performance stage with minimal student and director stress. Participants will engage in interactive discussion and activities focused on music selection, rehearsal strategies, attire, etiquette, and more.

Collaboration is Key! – 

We will take a look at innovative ways for teachers and students to collaborate to increase personal musical growth, stakeholder communication, lesson planning, goal setting, data analysis, and more.

You Are What You Eat!: A Look Into A Healthy Band Diet – 

A clinic for new and veteran educators: this session seeks to provoke discussion and provide the necessary ingredients for being a great music educator, examine unique experiences of a comprehensive music program regardless of geography or socioeconomic status, share innovative techniques, and consider what’s needed to continue the on-going process of developing yourself professionally as a teaching artist. Participants will leave with a “grocery list” of ideas that can immediately be implemented in their programs.

Planning and Assessments for the School Music Teacher – 

Participants will leave this session with attainable instructional planning goals that facilitate effective teaching and learning in the music classroom.  From building lesson and unit plans, to developing informal, formal and even virtual assessments, participants will leave with a network of collaborators that will work together throughout the academic year.