Brandyn Taylor (saxophonist, 116th Army Band; former professor at Georgia State University), Megan Williams (clarinet instructor; MYSO Atlanta) and Dr. Stan Flanders (professor, Young Harris College) will give concrete solutions to woodwind pedagogy problems related to clarinet and saxophone. We have put together helpful guides to work on tone, intonation, and articulation on each instrument, how to incorporate those concepts in your warm up as well as daily rehearsal strategies for woodwinds.
Attend this session to receive a raffle ticket for a FREE Backun Protégé Mouthpiece, redeemable at Eastman Booth #408!
Target Audience
Band Directors at every level; also college music education majors
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Megan Williams
Backun Musical Services
Megan Williams is a dedicated clarinetist and respected woodwind instructor with over 20 years of experience as a music educator in metro Atlanta. Her work centers on woodwind performance and pedagogy, with a special focus on developing young clarinetists. She maintains a thriving private clarinet studio, with students regularly earning placements in regional honor ensembles. From 2020–2023, Mrs. Williams provided international online instruction through Outschool, teaching nearly 500 music students. She also serves as an assistant band instructor at Wesleyan School, supporting the full band program and the award-winning Marching Wolves. In March 2025, she was a featured soloist with the Parkview High School Wind Ensemble. Mrs.Williams has presented on woodwind pedagogy at the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference on two occasions and at both the DC Music Educators Conference and the Florida Music Educators Association Conference in 2025 and 2026. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education with honors and distinction. Her primary teachers were Dr. D. Ray McClellan and Mrs. Wendy Westberry. While at UGA, she was a member of the Redcoat Marching Band, serving as Drum Major and Assistant Band Captain. In addition to private instruction, Mrs. Williams has conducted bands in City Schools of Decatur, Gwinnett County, and Greater Atlanta Christian Schools. She also volunteers as organizer of the annual Atlanta Clarinet Day, uniting clarinetists from across Georgia.
Brandyn Taylor
116th Army Band; Vandoren
Atlanta-based saxophonist, Brandyn Taylor, is a versatile musician that is in demand as a performer and clinician throughout the Southeastern United States. Brandyn served as Artist Affiliate of saxophone at Georgia State University, Reinhardt University, the Atlanta Music Academy, and is the Principal Saxophonist of the 116th United States Army Band. Brandyn has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Saxophone Quartet, Bent Frequency, Terminus Ensemble, and Chamber Cartel. As a commercial player, he has performed with Grammy Award winners Patti LaBelle, Maxwell, and Brandon Bush, and has been featured on various NPR programs broadcasted across the southeast including “Atlanta Music Scene” and “In a Mellow Tone”. Since 2012, he has been an active jazz and commercial recording artist in the Atlanta area, having been featured on singer-songwriter Ellis Paul’s most recent album, “Chasing Beauty,” as well as several commercial recordings with Brandon Bush of the band Sugarland. He made his Nashville recording debut in the summer of 2014 with the band RYE. Brandyn holds degrees in music performance from Columbus State University and Georgia State University. His primary teachers include Dr. Jan Berry Baker, Dr. Alexander Pershounin, and additional studies with Dr. Frederick Hemke, Joseph Lulloff, and Mace Hibbard. Brandyn is a Vandoren Artist-Clinician and a Conn Selmer Performing Artist.
Stan Flanders
Young Harris College
Stan Flanders is an Athens, GA–based musician, educator, and instrument repair technician. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor of clarinet and saxophone at Young Harris College and Truett McConnell University. As a music educator and lecturer, Dr. Flanders regularly presents masterclasses throughout Georgia. He has also presented at NASA regional and national conferences and collaborated with artists including Big Star Third, Jason Scheff (Chicago), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), The Temptations, and Narayanan Muralikrishnan. As a founding member of the experimental ensemble :lovesongs, he has opened for acts such as Primus and Sunn O))). Committed to community engagement, Dr. Flanders served as a servant leadership scholar during his undergraduate studies and continues to give back through HEART Music, a non-profit dedicated to providing students with high-quality music education. He has previously served as teacher representative and currently serves as treasurer, helping to support music programs through donations and grants. Dr. Flanders holds a Bachelor of Music from Columbus State University and both a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Georgia.