Mark Casperson

Mark Casperson, a Plano East band educator and inventor of the Tuner Caddy, champions daily personal tuner use to build listening and ensemble sound. Dennis Llinas, University of Oregon director and composer of Latin-flavored works, discusses writing authentic salsa-inspired pieces and workshop videos to support student learning. They talk tuner-driven rehearsal habits, repertoire choices, student ownership, and balancing accessibility with cultural authenticity.