27. Small School Success Story w/Erik Hermanson (Cleveland, MN)

Band is Everything (formerly Band in Minnesota)

Erik Hermanson teaches 6-12 band in Cleveland, Minnesota. He has built a program over the past 27 years that has an incredible amount of administrative, community, parent, and student support. He has approximately 90% of the student population in the band program and also serves as his school’s football coach. Erik is a world class community builder, band director, and leader. We are happy to share this success story with our listeners!

Show Timings

(00:00) Introduction

(02:21) First and only job

(03:14) Change over 27 years

(06:12) Building community through performance

(07:06) Starting a Jazz program 7-12

(09:43) Guest artists in Cleveland

(10:45) High percentage of students in band program

(14:15) Being a band director and football coach

(16:34) What defines a great program

(18:37) Siblings helping siblings

(19:51) Advice for younger music teachers

(21:53) The future in Cleveland, Minnesota

And that wraps up this episode.

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Other Resources

Show Hosts

Jerry Luckhardt https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/luckh001

Bradley Mariska https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-mariska-63ba2855

Facebook Website (Band in Minnesota) https://www.facebook.com/Band-in-Minnesota

Cleveland Public School https://www.cleveland.k12.mn.us

You can read about Erik and his program in this StarTribune article: http://www.startribune.com/in-cleveland-minn-pop-715-a-dynamic-band-conductor-has-built-a-powerhouse/414828834/#19