Dyer County band director retires after 34 years in music education

DYER COUNTY, Tenn. — After 34 years in education, a county middle school band director is taking his final bow.

Since 1992, Tony Hendren has been sharing his love of music across West Tennessee and beyond. Over the years he has taught at Cooter Jr./Sr. High School in Missouri, Bolivar Central and Dyer County high schools, as well as Northview and Three Oaks middle schools.

Historic competition year

Hendren said his favorite memories in the band room include Dyer County’s 2016 band season, a historic year in competitions for the program.

“We won like 56 trophies that year, I think the biggest year that we had. That one was pretty exciting. That’s probably one of my favorites,” Hendren said.

Music ministry beyond the classroom

Outside of the classroom, Hendren is also active in his church’s music program. In the past, he has programmed music for the Dyersburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church’s youth choir tour, sharing his love of music across the country in places like San Antonio, Texas; Tampa, Florida; Washington, D.C. and more.

“We just have a great time. It was fun teaching kids. On choir tour we would teach praise and worship music and sing with a backup band. It was all youth led, backup band and stuff and that was really fun to me was to teach them contemporary stuff that they’re hearing on the radio,” Hendren said.

Advice for future educators

Hendren was inspired to become a music educator by his band directors Bill Van Sant and the late Jim Godsey when the two taught at Dyersburg High. His catchphrase as an educator was always “The key to learning is repetition.” He taught not to practice until you get it right, but rather to practice until you can’t get it wrong.

He offers advice to up and coming educators.

“Be teachable. Be teachable and willing to learn and take advice. Even now, 34 years later I’m still learning stuff from other teachers, so you’re at a starting point, so take advice from teachers that you look up to and admire, emulate them but develop your own style,” Hendren said.

Hendren, a Star Wars fan, said having his final concert at Northview Middle School on May 4 was a happy accident. His final concert will be Tuesday night at Three Oaks Middle School at 6 p.m.