Mr. Clark’s Big Band: A Year of Laughter, Tears, and Jazz in a Middle School Band Room

A Boston-area writer shadowed the Southborough, Mass. Trottier Middle School Big Band during the 2012-2013 school year to witness how a creative, compassionate, charismatic music director helped children overcome their grief by making music.

Mr. Clark's Big Band: A Year of Laughter, Tears, and Jazz in a Middle School Band Room chronicles how this young group performed well beyond their years, won jazz competitions, and mastered the extremely complicated piece written for their friend at his standing-room-only, emotion-laden memorial service.Mr. Clark's Big Band is a testament to the impact of a dedicated teacher. Mr. Clark's Big Band won the bronze award from the Independent Publisher Book Awards (Education category) and was a finalist for the Foreword INDIES book award (Education category).