114. Marc Kaufman discusses his background and tenure as a band director and his transition to teaching middle school orchestra

Episode 114 – The Orchestra Teacher Podcast featuring
Marc Kaufman





In this episode, we welcome H. Marc Kaufman,
orchestra director at Lovinggood Middle School in Cobb County,
Georgia. After a several successful decades teaching band, Marc
made the transition to strings. His previous collaborative work
with full symphony orchestra and chorus concerts sparked his
passion for orchestra, leading him to his current role.





Marc’s career spans nearly four decades and a wide variety of
experiences: science teacher, textbook writer, content developer
for Turner Networks, curriculum and technology coordinator for
the Georgia Department of Education, band director, music and
movement technician with marching ensembles, and now orchestra
director. He shares how this unique path has shaped his teaching,
his perspective on building successful programs, and the lessons
he’s learned along the way.





Join us for this inspiring conversation with Marc Kaufman about
career journeys, building community through music, and finding
joy in every chapter of teaching.





— BIOGRAPHY —


Marc Kaufman is in his second year as the orchestra director at
Lovinggood Middle School in Cobb County, Georgia. Prior to making
the move to strings, he spent the previous ten years as the
Director of Bands at Couch Middle School in Grayson, Georgia. In
his tenure at CMS, Marc doubled the size of the program. His
ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at GMEA
performance evaluations, and were an invited ensemble at the
Music For All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival at Georgia
State University in 2024. In addition to his conducting
responsibilities, Marc also arranged many pieces for the CMS Ram
Jam, concert band classes, and most importantly, the full
symphony orchestra with chorus concerts held every December. It
was his experience with the collaborative December concerts that
got him started on the road to being an orchestra director. 





In a career that has spanned nearly four decades, Marc has been a
science teacher, textbook writer, content developer for Turner
Networks, curriculum/technology coordinator for the Georgia
Department of Education, a high school and middle school band
director, a music and movement technician for high school bands,
DCI and DCA Drum Corps, and is currently in his second year as an
orchestra director. 





Marc holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Grades Education from
Kennesaw State University and a Master of Arts in Music Education
Degree from Piedmont University. 





Marc and Jackie Kaufman live in Sugar Hill, Georgia with their
beloved Australian Cattle Dog Maddie, and are close to their
three children (all teachers!), two daughters-in law, two
grandchildren, five granddogs and one grandcat. 








— REFERRAL LINKS —


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Resources and more information at ⁠www.orchestrateacher.net⁠





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