Dr. Tim Heath
Director of Athletic Bands
Wake Forest University
Biography
Dr. Tim Heath is currently the Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Teaching Professor of Music at
Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. At Wake Forest, he oversees all aspects of the
athletic band program and serves as a member of the conducting faculty assisting the concert bands.
Previously, he was the Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Samford
University in Birmingham, Alabama. He also served as Assistant Director of the Wind Ensemble and was
a member of the conducting faculty during his tenure at Samford.
As a performer, Dr. Heath regularly performs with the Piedmont Wind Symphony, a professional Wind
Ensemble based in Winston-Salem, NC. His percussion background includes playing with the Tuscaloosa
Symphony, the Alabama Winds, the Greensboro Philharmonia, and other concert ensembles. He is also an
active drum set performer.
Before teaching full-time at the collegiate level, Dr. Heath was a graduate teaching assistant with The
University of Alabama Bands and Music Education Department while pursuing his doctoral studies. Dr.
Heath received the Outstanding Instrumental Music Education Graduate Student Award for the 2016-2017
academic school year. He also served as Director of Bands at Spring Creek High School in Seven Springs,
NC.
Dr. Heath is an active clinician and adjudicator
Session Titles
Student Leadership for Inside and Outside of the Band Room
Student
This clinic provides an approach to leadership that motivates students to take pride in themselves, their school, and their community. It provides skills that will help them through the next life steps outside of high school.
All Eyes On You - Leading from the Podium
Teacher
Leading, modeling, and motivating your students through a positive approach on the podium while creating a culture of inclusivity and retention.
Becoming a Better Conductor Without Going Back to School
Teacher
This clinic provides a path for music educators to grow as conductors without going back to school. There is also a component of this clinic that discusses the importance of finding a conducting mentor.
Conducting “Tune-Up”
Teacher
Your car isn’t the only thing that needs a tune-up occasionally. Refining your conducting through exercises, technique, and the musicianship you already have.
My Concert Percussionist Sound Like a Marching Band
Teacher
It is common to hear a band play a march, and the percussionist is not playing the style accurately. This clinic will help percussionist understand their role in playing snare drums, the bass drum, and cymbals. This clinic also discusses instrument selection and sound characteristics for the concert percussionist.
Percussion Techniques 101
Teacher
So, it's been a few years since that percussion methods course? This clinic is designed to re-educate techniques that we directors may have forgotten. This clinic will focus on the bass drum, cymbal, snare drum, and accessories techniques.
Why Doesn’t My Percussion Section Sound Like That?
Teacher
This clinic provides music educators with ideas on why their percussion section doesn’t sound the way they want. Music educators will see and hear the difference between instruments through discussion (and playing examples) of quality percussion instruments and mallet selection. There will also be examples of making simple improvements and tuning equipment to allow their percussion instruments to have those tonal characteristics they searched for in their section.