Playbook Presents: Unlocking The Rhythm of Learning w Mickey Smith Jr. and Bethany Robinson

Playbook offers teachers the tools to inspire lifelong musician. Learn more: https://www.thisisplaybook.com/ Meet our special guests:

Those are two words that describe Mickey Smith Jr. A 7-time Teacher of the Year and recipient of the GRAMMY Music Educator Award, Mickey inspires children and adults alike through a motivational mixture of music and message. Mickey is not only an international keynote speaker and presenter, but is also a full-time teacher at The King’s Academy (West Palm Beach, FL) blending the roles of educator and entertainer to create a dynamic experience that entertains, educates, and elevates everyone to excellence. No matter the challenge, Mickey encourages others to keep on going. Find out more at https://mickeysmithjr.com

Bethany Robinson is a Yamaha Performing Artist, 2022 Grammy Music Educator Award Finalist, Chair for the National Association for Music Education Jazz Council, President of the Indiana Jazz Educators Association, and serves on the Jazz Education Network Board. She is the Jazz Band Director for Noblesville Schools in Noblesville, Indiana, Essentially Ellington Finalists 2021 and 2022. Her awards include 2014 Indiana Jazz Educator of the Year, 2015 Noblesville Teacher of the Year, 2016 Indiana Teacher of the Year Semi-Finalist, 2022 Jazz Journalist Association Jazz Hero and 2023 IMEA High School Music Educator of the Year. Robinson helps to lead the annual Indiana Jazz Girls Day, building leaders through jazz. She has presented at the Australia National Band and Orchestra Conference, Oklahoma Bandmasters Conference, Indiana and New York Music Educator Association Conferences, and the Midwest Clinic. She is an avid clinician, adjudicator, and performer on upright bass, electric bass, and vocals.

John Liner is a passionate educator, leader and musician that believes ALL children can learn and achieve greatness. Mr. Liner is presently the Fine Arts Department Chair and Director of Bands at Morton Ranch Junior High School in Katy, TX. A high-energy instructor, Mr. Liner has been named the Teacher of the Year in 2021 for Morton Ranch Junior High School and 2022 for MRJH by the Houston Area Association for Black School Educators. An alum of Berklee College of Music, John is an active member in numerous organizations including TMEA, TBA, TJEA, and NAfME, John Liner’s research has most recently been featured in the Massachusetts Music Journal. Mr. Liner is the founder of the Virtual Band Director Conference, a professional development resource for music educators. To date, the Virtual Band Director Conference has reached over 40 states, 13 countries, 6 continents and is archived via podcast.

Mr. Liner presents to educators nationwide on integrating music of the African Diaspora into their curriculum. His presentations have been featured in six different state music conferences. An advocate for Jazz education, John believes that Jazz is critical to the development of any student-musician.

In episode one of our new season, Playbook founder Sammy Miller chats with Jazz Saxophonist, David Moyer!

Dr David Moyer is a professional saxophonist/woodwind doubler, arranger/composer, educator, and producer based in his hometown of Los Angeles, CA. He is currently Director of Jazz Studies, Instrumental Music, and Applied Music, and Assistant Professor of Music at El Camino College in Torrance, CA. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from UCLA, and earned his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Jazz Studies from the Thornton School of Music at USC.

David maintains a dynamic career as a performing and recording musician, and has performed with The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, Anthony Wilson, Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, John Beasley’s MONK’estra, John Legend, Big Daddy Kane, DJ Premier, Dakah Hip Hop Orchestra, Tears For Fears, Weezer, Sara Bareilles, and Father John Misty amongst others. He has performed internationally at venues such as The Glastonbury Festival (UK), Coachella Music and Arts Festival (USA), The Istanbul Jazz Festival (Istanbul, Turkey), La Defense Jazz Festival (Paris, France), Billboard Live (Tokyo, Japan), the Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, CA), The Hollywood Bowl, and The Barbican Theatre (London, UK), and has performed live on myriad television shows.

Moyer co-leads contemporary jazz quintet DD Horns along with trumpeter Danny T Levin,. Their self-titled debut recording DD Horns was released independently in March, 2017 to critical acclaim. DD Horns released their follow up recording entitled Cali Shine on June 17th, 2022.

Moyer’s robust sound, creative arrangements, and unique approach to work in the studio can be heard on recordings including Jimmy Cliff’s Grammy winning record ‘The Rebirth,’ Snoop Dogg’s ‘Snoop Lion’, Iggy Pop, Florence And The Machine arranged by Kamasi Washington, U2, Gary Clark Jr, Haim, Mavis Staples, Regina Spektor, and 21 Pilots, and on popular film/TV productions including Netflix’s “Outer Banks” among many more.

Playin' Around With Playbook: Benny Benack III

Playin' Around With Playbook: Stephen Cox, Grammy Educator 2023

Stephen T. Cox is the director of bands at the Advanced Learning Academy, Fox Tech, and Cast Tech Schools in San Antonio, TX as of fall 2022. For the previous decade he served as the director of bands at Eastland High School in Eastland, TX A graduate of Howard Payne University, Mr. Cox has been featured in the School Band and Orchestra Magazine's 50 Directors who make a difference and is the winner of the 2022 Grammy Music Educator Award.

As a speaker he has given clinics on the topics of educational technology, community engagement, small school education and preparing students for majoring in music at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, the Technology Institute for Music Education, Minnesota Bandmasters Association, and the Midwest Clinic. In his time at Eastland, the high school band has been a consistent UIL sweepstakes band, advanced to state marching contest, won multiple State OPS concert band titles, and performed as a demo group for the Midwest clinic and Texas Bandmasters Association conventions.

Core to his teaching philosophy, Mr. Cox believes that fine arts programs should be integral to their communities, that students should have as much control as possible, and that our ultimate goal is to give students the skills they need to chart their own path in life.

A hectic touring schedule; eighteen recordings as a leader, including his newest release, Junkyard Duo; countless sideman recordings including Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Roger Kellaway; soundtrack performances on three of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films—most notably Academy Award-winning Million Dollar Baby; producer, arranger, acclaimed educator, in residence at USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Dept., when does Bruce Forman rest? Deep immersion in American culture inspires Forman to contribute to the traditions that he drew from. Formanism (his trio project); original works like The Red Guitar; his popular podcast with Scott Henderson, GuitarWank; Cow Bop and the “road challenges” down historic byways like Route 66; JazzMasters Workshop; his newest project: Junkyard Duo…these are only the latest answers to the endless question that underlies Bruce Forman’s creativity. His music and life reflect every step of his journey, and demonstrate the awareness of an artist who’s very much at home in the world, and at the top of his form.

Jon Lampley has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting multi-instrumentalists in the world. His musical journey began by playing at church on Sunday mornings in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Eventually he went on to hone his skills at The Ohio State University. Lampley is currently based in Brooklyn, New York.

While best known for his soulful playing on trumpet and sousaphone, he’s also a vocalist and songwriter. His resume is already filled with collaborations featuring some of the biggest names in music (Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Gary Clark Jr.).

Lampley is co-founder of the genre bending band Huntertones. He’s also a touring member of the platinum selling rock band O.A.R and a holds down the trumpet/tuba chair in Jon Batiste and Stay Human, best known as the house band for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Most recently, Lampley has joined Cory Wong’s band, Cory and The Wongnotes.