Dr. Gary Garner, Director of Bands at West Texas A&M University, 1963--2002: His career and teachings.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide insight into the career and teachings of Dr. Gary Garner who served as the Director of Bands at West Texas A&M University from 1963 to 2002. His legacy as a director began after he earned his bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University in 1955. He spent a few short years as a public school band director in Lubbock, Texas, until he received an offer to be the marching band director at the University of Southern California. After four years at USC, he joined the faculty of West Texas A&M University (then West Texas State University) in 1963. Garner's career at WTAMU spanned thirty-nine years from 1963 to 2002.

The methodology employed in the data collection for this study included personal interviews with Garner, personal interviews of selected colleagues, and a review of any publicly available materials. Garner was also invited to provide the researcher with any unpublished writings, course materials, or other pertinent data that he believed beneficial to the study.

Garner's love of teaching and helping others to teach along with his world class musicianship, quick wit, high moral standards, and incredible work ethic have influenced generations of teachers and conductors in the state of Texas and beyond. The purpose of this study is to document his career and to provide practical and usable information to the reader regarding band pedagogy.

It is estimated that WTAMU has produced more band directors than any other university in Texas. During his tenure the WTAMU band performed at Carnegie Hall two times and at the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) annual convention a total of 10 times---more than any other university in Texas. Garner received numerous awards. Some of which were the WTAMU Piper Professor Award, Faculty Excellence Award, the National Kappa Kappa Psi-Tau Beta Bohumil Makovsky Award, the National Kappa Kappa Psi Distinguished Service to Music Award, the WTAMU Alumni Association's Phoenix Club University Excellence Award, and was named Texas Bandmaster of the Year.