Donald Jay Smith received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Arts in Music Education from Marywood University, Scranton, PA and his Doctor of Education degree from The Pennsylvania State University. A native of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, he has served as director of instrumental music for the Wallenpaupack, Scranton and Donegal School Districts in Pennsylvania, taught music at the University Park and York campuses of Penn State, served as Director of Bands at Northern Michigan University, Director of Athletic Bands and Coordinator of Music Teacher Education at The University of Rhode Island.
Dr. Smith is currently in his first year as a Middle School Band director at Broad Rock Middle School following 8 great years as the band director at Curtis Corner Middle School in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The bands from CCMS had recieved 11 consecutive Superior Ratings at festivals and performed at the MENC Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore in 2005. Previously, Smith had served for seven years as the Assistant Director of Bands and Coordinator of Music Education full time at The University of Rhode Island. He has served as an adjudicator for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, American School Band Directors Association, North American Tours, and MICA of Massachusetts. He has guest conducted on the secondary level in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. He conducted the 1998 Junior Division All-State Band Festival in Rhode Island. In addition, Smith, has served as church choir director in three separate Methodist churches and is published as a music sight-reading researcher, marching band drill designer and writes column that runs regularly in The RIMER (RIMEA) as Coalition for Music in Rhode Island. Smith has had several highly successful presentations at the Pennsylvania State Music Educators Conference and MENC Eastern Conferences including: Fitness for Marching Band and music reading strategies entitled, ?Teaching Music Forwards, Backwards and Inside-Out?. Spring 2005 will find him presenting a session entitled "Shaping Up Your Band/Orchestra with Creative Rehearsal Shapes at the Eastern MENC conference in Baltimore, MD using the CCMS 8th grade band as the demonstration ensemble. He performs frequently on trumpet and flugelhorn throughout Southern New England.
Dr. Smith is an active member of the Rhode Island Music Educators Association, Corresponding Secretary of the State Executive Board , and State Chair of the Coalition for Music. He is also active as a member in the Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Associatn, and the International Trumpet Guild. Smith has served as Editor of the Newsletter and Secretary Treasurer of the New England College Band Association. |
