THE
VETERAN 10 Questions for Experienced Teachers
FRANK FOLDS
Frank Folds recently retired after 33 years of teaching. His career included eighteen years at Alton C. Crews Middle School., two years at Five Forks Middle School, eight years at Camden Middle School, three years at Jeff Davis High School, as well as stops in Baldwin, Butts, and Clayton Counties. Mr. Folds holds Bachelors, Masters and Educational Specialist degrees from the University of Georgia where he served as Graduate Assistant and Band Captain. He is married to the former Cheri Jones of Owensboro, Kentucky. They have four children. Mr. Folds has served the Georgia Music Educators Association as a district officer, district event organizer, All-State Band Organizer (1989-1991) as well as State Band Division Chairman (1997-99), State Vice-president for All-State (1991-93), State Vice-president for Performance Evaluations (2009-2011), and, most recently, as President (2013-15). He currently serves as Chairman of the Phi Beta Mu Georgia Band Masters Hall of Fame and Treasurer of the Tara Winds Scholarship Foundation. In 2005 and 2006 he was selected for recognition in Who’s Who Among American Teachers and Who’s Who in America and in 2007 and 2011 received the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association. Mr. Folds has been selected Teacher of the Year on two occasions: In 1992-93 for Camden County Public Schools and in 2008-2009 for Alton C. Crews Middle School.
1. Please tell us a bit about your musical background and teaching experience. I started in band in fourth grade b–ut my musical background goes back much further. I remember music in my house on the radio or record player as long as I can remember. Southern gospel music, country music, early rock and roll were in our record collection and WSB radio played standards. I just sang along with the music. After joining band I played clarinet for 3 years then switched to baritone saxophone. I participated in district band, solo and ensemble and made All-State twice. I decided to be a band director in 9th grade. After graduating with my masters and a few detours I taught 3 years in Jeff Davis County, 8 years in Camden County, one in Clayton County and 20 in Gwinnett County.
2. What first drew you to music education? My band experiences were all very positive and it looked like a great profession. My directors were encouraging and supportive. They also were leaders in the profession and were excellent role models for me to follow.
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3. Who has been the biggest influence on your teaching career? What lessons did that person teach you? Guerry Youmans, my first band director, Lloyd Tarpley, my high school director, and Roger Dancz, my college director all played major roles in my development as a band director and music educator. They all had different strengths to immolate but one thing they all had in common was that they did things first class. Everything they did was of the highest quality. They also each held some type of leadership position in GMEA over the years and that spirit of service was passed on to me.
4. What have been the biggest changes to music education in the course of your career? The biggest changes I have seen are the number and quality of elementary music programs due to the increase in funding for specialists in that area and the instructional strategies that had to change when middle schools became the norm throughout the state. While there have unfortunately been some elementary programs trimmed or cut in recent years, there are many strong programs in Georgia and they are made strong by the dedicated teachers in those positions. When I was growing up band and strings started in elementary school. That for the most part has died out in the past 20 or so years mostly due to the advent of the middle school concept. It seems more financially feasible to fund teachers in one school than itinerant instructors at multiple elementary schools.