Brownfield ISD Head Band Director Dusty Balderas knows how to build a program. The band has grown each year since Dusty’s arrival and it just keeps getting better. Last year the BHS Spirit of the Plains Marching Band made it to the Regional Finals and just missed a trip to State. Dusty and his crew work hard to make sure the music selections are just the right ones and they really play to the band’s strengths.
Dusty was recently asked to speak at the Annual Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio, earlier this month. He was asked to speak on the subject of how to keep a band growing. Specifically, “Recruitment and Retention: Large Results in Small Rural Schools.” Clearly, his work at BISD has been recognized among his peers. Dusty stated, “I am doing what my director always did. I am just trying to do what I was taught by my mentors.” There were about 200 music educators in attendance for Dusty’s lecture.
As far as the band program goes, work never stops. Dusty stated, “People just assume that when marching season is over, we just coast until the end of the year. This is not true. We simply shift gears for the next competition.” The band just finished All Region Competition and will be participating in the Solo and Ensemble Competition on Saturday, February 22nd. At last year’s Solo and Ensemble Competition, BISD qualified several for State, and Dusty is hoping for the same results this year. BHS and BMS will be sending 55 – 60 students to this competition.
“This is a great event for our kids. We will have every student playing at their highest level for this competition,” stated Dusty. To move on to State, a Class I music selection must be played and a Division I must be scored.
Work has already begun on the Marching Program for next year. And, Dusty is hoping for an even bigger band next year. “We have 94 in the BHS Band right now. We will graduate six, but there are 45 eighth graders coming up. We should be over 100 by marching season.” Dusty stated that through the years, he has learned that not all eighth graders will continue to pursue band in high school, but he and his crew are working hard to retain as many of those students as they can.
Dusty is also excited about the new BHS building currently under construction. “I have gotten to have some input in the design of the new Band Hall, and they are building it large enough to handle at least 140 band students.”
The band program is growing and there is excitement in the air. It is definitely a great time to be a Cub!
