New associate director of bands leads students
The sound of crushing gravel underneath the sneakers of musicians resonates in the hot Texas air. The Javelina Marching Band gathers around a voice new to the Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) community. The musicians listen respectfully to the new Interim Associate Director of Bands Dr. Amy Bovin as she prepares them for the day’s practice.
Bovin’s journey started in the fourth grade when she chose her primary instrument. Despite her mother wanting her to play saxophone, Bovin found a sneaky way to come home with a flute instead.
“She put down saxophone as my first choice, and flute as my second choice,” Bovin said. “The paper was already signed, so when I got to school the next day all my friends were playing the flute, so I wanted to play the flute too. So, I crossed off the sheet that my mom already signed and switched flute and saxophone and came home with a flute.”
From there, Bovin’s musical path unfolded. She attended the University of Connecticut (UConn) and completed a B.A. in Arts and a B.S. in Education. After teaching for two years she went back to UConn and became the first woman to complete a Master’s in music and instrumental conducting.
Throughout her educational career she learned every instrument she could. Bovin believes that it is important to understand and relate to her students who play different instruments and be the best educator that she can be.
“The hardest part was the senioritis that lasted the 12 years of my education,” Bovin said. “You get your senioritis and just having the ambition and the motivation to keep going. I knew what my goal was, I wanted to be a college band director and a college music professor. I knew the work that was in front of me, and I knew what I needed to do.”
Last year Bovin was in Utah doing post-doctoral research working with the local schools in the area while finishing up her term as President of Connecticut Music Educator Association.
After completing her PhD in Music Education, in the midst of a pandemic, Bovin was looking for a collegiate job. She had applied to several programs and even made it as a finalist for many of them.
“I was trying to decide what type of position I really saw myself in,” Bovin said. “There was being a little fish in the big sea in the bigger universities, and there was being a big fish in the smaller sea in the smaller universities, and this was something in the middle.”
Bovin had various routes she wanted to pursue, music education and working on research, or working with ensembles, but being at TAMUK Bovin is able to do both.
“Dr. Bovin is coming from a very strong music education background that I think is a great fit for our program,” Band Director and Instructor Eduardo Moncada said. “We are one of the largest marching bands in the country that is comprised almost completely of music majors who will one day teach music in public schools. I think that Dr. Bovin’s experience and knowledge will benefit these future educators tremendously.”
After becoming a member of the Javelina Marching Band (JMB), Bovin felt welcomed by the students, faculty and staff.
“They’re also just good people, they’re great students, they’re great musicians, they’re great marchers, but they’re just good people,” Bovin said. “They are just so nice and so kind.”
Bovin continues to learn about the culture that different students grew up with as well and is overwhelmed by how welcoming and respectful everyone has been since her arrival.
“I am excited to see what she has in store for the JMB, and I wish her the best time here,” music major Gilbert Salinas said.
Back at the marching band field, Bovin stands in the tower over her new band; the JMB at the ready for her next command and eager to see where this year’s marching season will take them.