On Friday, October 30th (10:00-11:15am), PJ Tankard, Color Guard Caption Head for the Madison Scouts, returns to the Wisconsin State Music Conference to present “Spin, Toss,Teach - Color Guard Basics for Band Directors”. The session, sponsored by Forward Performing Arts, is intended to give band directors and music education students hands-on experience with color guard equipment.
The session description reads, 'Join the Madison Scouts for a fun-filled, hands-on introduction to color guard pedagogy. Led by Caption Head, PJ Tankard, this interactive session puts equipment in your hands while covering foundational flag technique, body basics, beginner instruction strategies, and practical rehearsal tools. -- No experience required - come ready to spin!'
Tankard carries extensive teaching experience with the Madison Scouts, AMP Winterguard, Rutgers University Marching Band, and numerous high school programs across the Northeast. He provided a similar session in 2025, in which he discussed practical insights on building and managing successful color guard programs, taught basic terminology for color guard equipment (flags, rifles, and sabers), proper care and maintenance techniques, foundational dance terms and movements, and effective instructional strategies.
In this year's session, participants will have equipment in their hands and be taught basic color guard fundamentals, in hopes that Directors will be able to more fully support color guard students in their program.
“I'm excited to be back at WSMC in 2026 to provide more interactive, skill-based training for band directors,” said Tankard. “I’m hopeful that this session will help directors learn basic techniques and commentary that can be applied in a daily marching band rehearsal.”
David Lofy, Programs Director for Forward Performing Arts, reaffirmed the organization’s ongoing commitment to music education saying, “We’re proud to continue our partnership with WMEA’s educational initiatives. Forward Performing Arts will keep leveraging our expertise and resources to support marching band students and directors throughout Wisconsin.”
