Coaching a Popular Music Ensemble is a comprehensive guide for the music teacher striving to meet the changing needs of their students, the university music educator examining our current music education paradigm, and the novice band director trying to expand their school’s music program. Using his experiences as a Memphis musician and educator,

Coaching a Popular Music Ensemble is a comprehensive guide for the music teacher striving to meet the changing needs of their students, the university music educator examining our current music education paradigm, and the novice band director trying to expand their school’s music program. Using his experiences as a Memphis musician and educator, Holley created a one-of-a-kind, award-winning music program that was learner-focused. The book first addresses the what and why of popular music education (PME) before expanding on the concept of how to go about including elements of PME in a music program. This innovative book details the approaches and methods used by Holley as he coached and developed young musicians into world-touring artists. Some of the concepts include the roles of the musicians in a popular music ensemble, explanations of a variety of rehearsal techniques, and how to go about creating a leaner-center rehearsal environment. Whether the goal of music education is to produce more professional musicians or nurture more musical professionals, this book will help you and your students achieve that goal.