THE FLEXIBLE ENSEMBLE
LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Offering music educators a flexible,
purposeful resource for their musicians
As seen in the Creative Repertoire Initiative, this project is a collaboration
between composer and educators to create a new genre of music.
This project will begin with a single work using feedback from real teachers.
How Project #1 will achieve these goals:
Become part of the
Flexible Ensemble Learning Experience Project #1
Step #1: Review the Official Timeline and Details
What can I expect?
Click the PDF link to see an official document of the timeline and details about the project:
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Keep it for your records.
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Use the National Standards listed to create lesson plans
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Send it to your front office or boosters.
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Show your parents and administration what you are doing to help our students!
Click icon to read the
official PDF
Step #2: Contribute to the Consortium
(Note: Both of these payment methods are still in use to purchase the work
since the consortium has ended!)
Before contributing, be sure to review the PDF from Step #1 above. Payment assumes you have read and understand this document.
Option #1:
Pay Online
(PayPal or Credit Card)
A receipt will be sent upon payment
$30
Teaching in a Title I school
or a program
with limited funds?
If you are working on a budget that would not allow you to financially contribute to this consortium, please get in touch via the Contact Form so we can help! It is important to the project that we offer help to these communities.
Option #2:
Request an Invoice
(If your school needs to pay by check or through an account that will not work in Option #1)
Do you know another creative teacher who would be able to use this resource?
We are keeping our consortium fee low and offering financial help to our schools in communities with lower budgets in the hopes that you will share this project with your colleagues and social media groups!
Step #3: Give some feedback! (Optional)
Click the link for the
Google Form
This project is unique in that it is designed in the spirit of collaboration! Contribute your ideas that may be helpful to our students.
While we will not be able to use all of the suggestions, we may be able to incorporate them into future projects!
Step #4: Delivery of Music
What's Included:
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A PDF document for your professional portfolio which will include:
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Names of all consortium members (YOU!)
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Description of the project and its importance
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National Standards that are addressed in the project
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PDF parts and score (with unlimited printing and sharing within your band program)
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Instructional Video from composer Kevin Poelking geared towards beginning students
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Play-along tracks for your students
Contact/ Questions
Need more info, teaching in a low-income school, or have a specific question before you join?
Fill out the Contact Form below and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible!
THE CONSORTIUM LEADER
THE COMPOSER
Cooper Haywood, a native of Fayetteville, Georgia, currently serves as assistant director of bands for Tupelo Public School District in Tupelo, Mississippi. His responsibilities include teaching and managing the logistics for the beginner band program at Milam Elementary School and assisting with band activities at Tupelo High School.
Outside of his teaching duties, he maintains an active playing schedule as a member of the Starkville-MSU Symphony Orchestra and teaches private lessons in the Tupelo area. He also assists with instruction for the North Mississippi Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Haywood completed his studies at Mississippi State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Music Education (instrumental & vocal concentrations). While at MSU, Mr. Haywood served as drum major for the Famous Maroon Band, played bass trombone in the MSU Wind Ensemble, and sang in the premier vocal ensemble, the MSU “State Singers.”
Professionally, Mr. Haywood is a member of the Mississippi Band Directors Association, the Northeast Mississippi Bandmasters Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

With a growing number of premieres in the United States and Europe, Kevin Poelking is an emerging American composer. His music has been performed by the Dallas Winds, multiple European groups, and ensembles at major American universities including Colorado State University, Oregon State University, The University of Akron, The University of Southern Mississippi, and Emory University in Atlanta. He is a regularly commissioned composer in his home state of Colorado and beyond.
Before pursuing his master’s degree, Poelking worked as an Instrumental Music Teacher in Montgomery County, Maryland, where his programs grew significantly. During his tenure, he taught beginning band and orchestra across multiple schools in the country’s wealthiest zip codes, as well as multiple Title I schools including Gaithersburg, Maryland which was named the most diverse city in the United States by NBC News in 2016. He was invited to present at the 2019 Colorado Music Educator Association Annual Conference, delivering a presentation entitled: "Work Life Balance: Helping Your Students by Helping Yourself."
Poelking studied percussion and music education at the University of South Carolina before obtaining a Master of Music in Wind Conducting with Dr. Rebecca Phillips. He was recently named winner of the Dallas Winds Fanfare Competition and winner of the Minot Symphony Orchestra's Young Composer Competition.
His composition teachers include award-winning composer
Dr. James M. David and Pulitzer Prize-Nominated composer Dr. Carter Pann.

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