Building a successful band or orchestra program takes more than strong instruction, it takes a strong support system. This session explores practical strategies for engaging parents as partners in your program, establishing clear roles and boundaries, and fostering positive, long-lasting relationships with families. Attendees will learn why parent involvement is essential, how to invite and organize help without losing instructional control, and how to lay the groundwork for a healthy parent booster organization. Topics include communication strategies, volunteer coordination, supporting marching and field show logistics, managing large-scale events and travel, and avoiding common pitfalls that lead to burnout. This session is designed for both new and experienced music educators looking to build sustainable, community-supported programs.
Target Audience
all conference participants
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Jeanne Christensen
Mira Mesa HS, CBDA President
Jeanne Christensen (San Diego, California) is the Director of Bands at Mira Mesa High School in San Diego, California. She has taught instrumental music in the San Diego Unified School District for the past 34 years. The Band program at Mira Mesa High School is the largest in the school district and one of the largest in Southern California. Her teaching duties include Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, various small ensembles, along with two winter guards.
In addition to teaching, Mrs. Christensen is a leader within the State of California. She is Past President of the Southern CA School Band & Orchestra Association, is currently President-Elect for the California Band Directors Association, and is a Past-President of the Southern Border Section of CMEA. Mrs. Christensen is an adjudicator and frequent guest conductor for multiple district and state-level ensembles.
Mrs. Christensen has been honored to receive numerous awards over the years, which include the NFHS Outstanding Music Educator Award for California in 2022, the John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor Award in 2019, “50 Directors that Make a Difference” in 2018, and received the CMEA Band Educator Award in 2016.
Going to National and International events with her students has been a highlight throughout Mrs. Christensen’s career. She has traveled with the Mira Mesa HS Band ensembles to perform in the Opening Ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games in Australia, represented the State of California in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C., worked at The Juilliard School with the conductor of the Metropolitan Opera, performed at the United Nations in New York City, performed with her wind ensemble at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Symphony Center, and won The Presidents Cup National Concert Band Festival. Mrs. Christensen was the first head female band director in California to march in the 2016 and 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.
Steve Acciani
Steven Acciani is the director of instrumental music and the coordinator of the Performing Arts Academy
at Diamond Bar High School, in Diamond Bar, California. After graduating from California State University,
Fullerton with a BA and Teaching Credential in Music Education, he began his career in the Walnut Valley
School District, opening South Pointe Middle School in 1989 with 17 band students. Six years later, he
had grown his program to over 600 students, a number that he has maintained in his role as director at
Diamond Bar High School. His students consistently receive the highest ratings at music festivals and
solo/ensemble competitions setting state records for numbers of students accepted into regional and
state honor groups.. Many students who have come through either South Pointe Middle School or
Diamond Bar High School have received music scholarships to nationally known Conservatories and
Universities and win national and international music competitions. Diamond Bar High School has also
been named twice as a Grammy Signature School.
In 1999, Mr. Acciani was chosen as one of three Teachers of the Year for Los Angeles County, and was a
finalist for California State Teacher of the Year. He was honored by NBC with a “Golden Apple” for his
work with students, and was invited to participate in “Unsung Heroes Week”. Acciani is a former Vice
President for High School and Junior High School Honor Groups in the Southern California School Band
and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA). He also spent 10 years as the SCSBOA liaison for the California
Band Director’s Association, and is an active clinician in the Southern California area. In 2001 he was
awarded a Masters Degree in Education Administration from Azusa Pacific University.
Jon Pwu
Jonathan Pwu is the Director of Bands at Dartmouth Middle School and is currently in his 13th
year teaching. The Dartmouth band program consists of five Concert Bands, Jazz Band,
Marching Band, and Color Guard and involves more than 360 students on campus. Prior to
directing the bands at Dartmouth MS, Jonathan was the Associate Instrumental Director at
Saratoga High School where his teaching responsibilities included band and orchestra. In his
time at Saratoga HS he helped bring the band to the 2012 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
and the 2016 Rose Parade.
Jonathan earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from U.C. Davis, where he was awarded a
Departmental Citation for Academic Excellence and Outstanding Musical Performance.
Jonathan has been involved with local and state music organizations including Santa Clara
County Band Directors Association (SCCBDA) as Librarian, CBDA as a Band Manager, and
CMEA Bay Section where he currently serves as President-Elect. He firmly believes and lives
by educator and speaker Scott Lang’s motto, “The more you give, the more you get!”