Dr. Michael Black hopes to inspire Northwestern band
By JASMINE BOWEN, Student Reporter
Northwestern Oklahoma State University has a new band director, Dr. Michael Black.
Black was born in Lompoc, California, and grew up in Sand Springs. He lived there from the time he was in second grade until he went to college. He attended the University of Connecticut and the University of Kentucky. He obtained his doctorate at Franklin College in Indiana.
Black said the students at Northwestern are positive and want to grow and get better.
Black started teaching in 2007 as an undergraduate student. The instrument he primarily played all the way through school was the trumpet.
After being in the field for about 15 years, Black realized something.
“After a while, it became more than something I was just good at,” Black said. “It was something that helped me express myself in a way words couldn’t.”
Black said his teaching style is disciplined.
“I think discipline is very important,” Black said. “The way that I accomplish that is just by explaining to the students why it’s important, and then trying to inspire them to want to be the best.”
Black said he hopes to motivate his students so they will perform at their best, and he wants students to be able to express themselves. He said part of his teaching includes representing underrepresented people through music. He said this is something that is important to him and his students.
Jeff Cher-Aime, a senior band student, said he’s seen Black use new technologies to help advance the band. Cher-Aime said Black has brought new and different tastes of music to the ensemble.
“Dr. Black is more of a progressive band director,” Cher-Aime said.
April Schultz, the Northwestern band drum major, said band has been fun this year.
“Dr. Black is amazing,” Schultz said. “He is on top of things and works with the band really well.”
She said students are working hard and eager to learn.
“Dr. Black is extremely personable and easy to talk to,” Schultz said. “He also works hard to make a good show for such a small band.”
Black said music is more than just notes on a page or sounds from an instrument. He said it has a lot of depth and meaning. He said students inspire him to come to work.
To him, the most rewarding parts of the job are seeing students make connections, seeing students grow and watching students find inspiration.
Black said his biggest goal this year is to develop a foundation for the future of the band.
