When music teachers consider the day-to-day rehearsal planning process, it can be easy to fall into routines that end up resulting in an imbalance of skill development. The notion of “cellular teaching” helps directors quickly plan for addressing musicianship skills within a spiral curriculum during warm-ups that directly connect to the literature for a particular concert cycle. Attendees will review examples of cellular teaching, explore and practice concepts in an interactive setting, and have the chance to ask questions
Target Audience
6-12 Band and Orchestra Teachers
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Jonathan Richard Grantham
Amador Valley High School
Jonathan Grantham, director of bands at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California, leads a band program of 300 students involved in five concert ensembles, three jazz bands, a competitive marching band, various chamber ensembles, winter percussion, and two winter guards.
In his twenty-three years at Amador Valley the band program has grown to triple in size and the ensembles have earned consistent superior ratings and high honors. Under Mr. Grantham’s guidance, Amador Valley’s top wind ensemble has performed at the CBDA state conference four times (2007, 2010, 2018, 2023), at WASBE in the summer of 2015, twice at Carnegie Hall (2018, 2023) and twice at The Midwest Clinic (2013, 2019). The band looks forward to making it’s first appearance at the state band and orchestra festival in 2025.
Mr. Grantham is active as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor. He received his bachelor’s degree in music education/trombone performance from Central Michigan University, graduating magna cum laude, and earned his master’s degree in conducting at the American Band College of Sam Houston State University, graduating magna cum laude.
Jonathan maintains an active music education blog and enjoys mentoring new teachers. He resides in Martinez, California with his partner Ryan.