Why the race? What purpose does that information serve? Would we make different suggestions if they were white, Hispanic or Asian?

Music to inspire? Classic band literature. Ethnically adjacent music to inspire? Maybe a little presumptive/condescending.


1. Show them the great band literature that keeps you going.
2. Show them old and new black composers like Scott Joplin, William Grant Still, Quincy Hilliard, and William Owens.
3. Ask the students what they want to play.