Dear Band Director: Your Guide to Understanding the Color Guard

This book is for any band director out there who wishes to understand at a deeper level the core concepts of color guard. Those at the top didn’t just get there yesterday and most of them have failed and with that failure they have learned. This book will look at those lessons. You will learn that the lessons are not complicated, but simple and honest. They come from a place of passion and the betterment of our art and the betterment of the performer. In this book you will find suggestions on how to find the best guard director for your program, setting goals with all aspects of the program in mind, running rehearsals with the band and guard together, whether your band program should support a winter guard, and how to spot staff members who do not have the best interest of the kids in mind. This book is a must for band directors and guard instructors alike, who wish to discover helpful ways to work better as a team.

Shelba Waldron has a history in the marching arts that spans thirty years from performer to instructor and board member to judge. She spent her performing years learning from the best in the activity at McGavock High School in Nashville, Tn. and then continuing on to the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps and Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard. After aging out, Shelba went on to instruct throughout Florida at several world class programs for the next two decades such as Shaktai Performance Company, Alliance of Miami, and Paradigm Winter Guards. She has spent the past twelve years at Paradigm as the Technical Director and is proud to continue to consult with Paradigm after helping turn the staff over to previous members she taught. Shelba has judged for WGI and throughout the nation in both the fall and winter seasons. In her professional life, she has a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice and is a sought out expert in the field of youth development. She speaks nationally on the topics of youth development trends, bullying, substance abuse, and risk management when working with youth. After 23 years of working in the field of youth development, she has chosen to start her own consulting firm called Forward Youth Consulting, where she consults on the management and sustainability of youth programs and coaching minors with deliberate intent. Shelba has a nine year old son named Joshua who keeps her busy with his activities and is her drive to make the world a better place for children.