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Mary Crandell (Boise, ID) Mary Crandell has 26 years of experience in instrumental music education, including 19 years at Waukee Middle School, where her bands achieved high success in concert and jazz settings across Iowa. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Music Education from the University of South Dakota and is completing doctoral work in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis in Music Education, at Boise State University, where she also serves as an adjunct music professor. Her research explores students’ perceptions of inclusion and belonging in large group [band] rehearsals, focusing on how diverse pedagogical practices shape these experiences.
Mary is the founder of The Access Collective (TAC): Creating Connections Through Music, a national initiative partnered with the National Band Association and Music for All. TAC supports music educators and students by fostering collaboration, aligning essential skills with repertoire, and building student-centered rehearsal experiences through meaningful musical connection.
As a consultant and clinician, Mary maintains an active schedule nationwide. She co-authored Building from the Ground Up: A Successful Blueprint for Band Programs (C.L. Barnhouse Co.), a resource grounded in collaboration and evidence-based strategies to enhance music instruction, student engagement, and performance. She has presented sessions on concert and jazz rehearsal pedagogy at local, state, and national conferences, including the 2021 and 2024 Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conferences. Mary has served as president of both the Jazz Educators of Iowa and the Iowa Bandmasters Association.
Mary’s commitment to inspiring creativity in young learners is reflected in her two published children’s books: Little Miss Mary Discovers Music Outside Her Window and Little Miss Mary Discovers the Piano.