Fostering a new mindset for Maud music

To Foster Fannin, a change in culture gives the music program at Maud Independent School District a bright future.

“It’s very exciting,” Fannin said. “I’m adding a motto of making history … of getting a first division in marching contest. If you look at the ratings, that has been done once and that was 11 years ago,” he said.

Fannin, a 2012 graduate of DeKalb High School, became the director of the music program at MISD in 2021.

”Before I got here, there had been four band directors in four years. That’s a lot of change happening. When I got here, I changed the culture from ‘we’re not going to do well’ or ‘we’re just Maud’ to ‘if we set our minds to it, we can achieve it.’ Just a growth mindset compared to a fixed mindset,” Fannin said.

The transition in 2021, he said, was a little rocky but he had a goal in mind.

”I wasn’t their favorite band director … But what I did was find older pictures and all the awards and hung them up in the band hall. I showed them videos of what Maud was. I showed them videos of smaller bands competing at state contests and showed them that just because we’re small doesn’t mean that we’re a bad program. We take what we can and we run with it. We have to achieve what we can. And it really bought them in,” Fannin said.

“We grew from my first day having 16 kids in the high school band to having 50 on my roster now. So it’s definitely growing. And we just hired an assistant for the upcoming school year.”

One of the tools he uses to encourage his students is to partner with college and professional band programs.

“I like to bring out as many collegiate or professional groups out as possible or send my kids to them just so they can get a taste of what that group sounds like. It helps scaffold off that and get them to understand what they could sound like if they put their mind to it and have that growth mindset.”

Out of the 2024 MHS graduates, six were part of the MHS marching band and three received scholarships to attend Southern Arkansas University to participate in the Mullrider marching band program.

This year, the MHS band earned a second division rating in the UIL regional marching competition.

“Considering the fact that it is a very young band consisting mainly of eighth grade and freshmen … I’d say that’s not a bad thing,” he said.

The middle school band competed in Plano this school year where they received a first division rating.

The achievements of the program led to new financial opportunities.

The program received $40,000 to purchase new instruments and, through a bond initiative passed in 2023, the building of a new band hall Fannin is responsible for the entire music program at MISD from pre-kindergarten through high school and teaches a dual credit music appreciation class at the high school. The role has been solely his responsibility since coming to the district.

The upcoming assistant band director position is one MISD has not had in more than 10 years.

“It’s been a lot of fun honestly, but I’m definitely glad to have the assistant band director coming on this next year,” Fannin said.

Fannin is a 2012 graduate of DeKalb High School.

His love of band came from his family. His grandfather is Don Foster, who led the DHS band for a combined 27 years.

Prior to attending DHS, Fannin knew he wanted to join the marching band and play tuba.

“My grandfather had to teach me how to play tuba … I grew up with my mom telling me how awesome it was and how fun it was. And I really wanted to do it,” he said.

After graduation, Fannin attended Stephen F. Austin where played tuba for the music program and he earned his bachelors in music education in 2016.

Out of college, he taught at Cushing High School outside of Nacogdoches, Texas, for five years before coming to Maud.

While teaching, he returned to SFA to obtain his master’s degree.

Fannin feels that he has found his home at Maud.

”I don’t see myself leaving Maud any time soon. With how the community has treated me, and how the kids are and admin and just the school in general. It’s a really open and loving community and the support here is just absolutely incredible. I want to see how far I can take this program. Not just the high school band but the music program in general.”