Tye Ann Payne was born September 12, 1955 in Houston, Texas, to Lee and Lodie Payne. Lee was a floor covering salesman and Lodie was a homemaker and entrepreneur with a business in home decor, Interior Dress Ups, which she founded as her children grew older. Together, Lee and Lodie raised five children; Leedell Scott, Tye Ann Payne, Talbert Payne, Dalian Payne, and Raymond Payne. Tye Ann thanks her siblings and extended family for their love and respect of her chosen career. Tye Ann’s parents were unwavering in their support of their children. Each of their children thought they were the favorite, but never said anything so as not to hurt each other’s feelings. Through their love, their parents instilled the values of kindness, fairness, and acceptance of others; kindness as offering a helping hand, fairness as giving people what they need, and acceptance of others as acknowledging their efforts. They did not have a lot of money but found a way to make sure that everyone got what they needed. For Tye Ann, that meant a 1973 Buffet R13 clarinet for $300.

Tye Ann’s mother was her first musical inspiration. With her beautiful award winning voice, Lodie knew 1,000,000 songs and taught all her children 500,000. Lodie would often say, “I’ve sung every day of my life.” She played piano by ear, mostly in the key of C, but her musical touch was undeniable. Lodie was a twirler and played the oboe in high school. Lodie said that she remembered as a graduating senior, the last time she closed her oboe case. Lodie took ten year old Tye Ann to see The Sound of Music at The Majestic Theater in San Antonio. Tye Ann never forgot how that music made her feel. Tye Ann’s mother was her musical champion all through school, clapping the loudest at every concert. When Tye Ann became a band director, she still clapped the loudest at concerts and introduced Tye Ann to others by saying, “This is my daughter. She’s a band director.” Her mother made up twirling routines to marches performed from Tye Ann’s UIL Concert and Sightreading contests. Her favorite was Fillmore’s His Honor. Tye Ann’s father used to always say, “You have to respect me for one thing, who I chose for your mother.” He entered her in a contest in the Houston Press for “ The Most Beautiful Mother in Houston”. Lodie won and Lee was so proud! Lodie Payne lived her life with a twinkle in her eye.

The support from Tye Ann’s extended family has been monumental and she thanks them dearly for their love. When her brother Talbert unexpectedly passed, his son Brian came to live with Tye Ann and Lodie. Brian Payne was barely fifteen at the time. He was able to continue playing the saxophone at Langham Creek High School with Scott McAdow and Ramsey McDonald. Brian grew up to be an incredible person. He married Christina Salinas Payne, a French horn player from Langham Creek High School. They have three beautiful children; Julia- eleven, Max- nine, and Jack- two. Tye Ann has been given “mom rights” to Brian and “grandparent rights” to the children. Tye Ann loves Brian and Christina in part because of the life changing experiences with the Fabulous Payne Family of Five (FPFF).

Tye Ann’s first memories of playing the clarinet in sixth grade were under the tutelage of John Hammerle at Spring Oaks Middle School in the Spring Branch ISD. She remembers one day picking up her clarinet after school when Mr. Hammerle asked her to his office. He was there with Jack Greenberg, Leon Fariss and maybe others. Mr Hammerle asked her to put her clarinet together and play second space A to third line B. She did so, received nice comments, and was excused. Later on, the honor of that memory showing off the “crossing of the break” made more sense to her. The importance of music grew as Tye Ann continued in the seventh and eighth grade under the direction of Doug Volding. Mr Volding would say, “You are not allowed to say can’t. Say, I’m having trouble with it at the moment.” Tye Ann was aware of classical music growing up, but the true beauty and awe of classical music happened at Spring Woods High School in the Spring Branch ISD with the performance of more advanced literature and of the influence of her good friend, Hugh Nini, a horn player. She competed and made Region Band, Area Band, and was a member of the Texas All State Orchestra.

Not really knowing or considering a career, Tye Ann decided to major in music because she loved to play the clarinet. She attended the University of Houston in the fall of 1974. In the summer after the second year, Tye Ann and two close friends took a trip to Rutherfordton, North Carolina. While in high school, Tye Ann, Mike Albert, and Stephen Nini performed in a medieval and renaissance music group, called the Cecilian Trio. They performed at the first Renaissance Festival outside of Houston. During the trip to North Carolina, the Cecilian Trio performed at various churches and homes. As a result, the school master for a private school asked them to be teachers. Young as they were, they said yes. It was an incredible experience for Tye Ann. She learned about music, about life, and about places different from where she had grown up. After two years of Tye Ann’s parents saying, “Have you found yourself yet? We are tired of making your car payment." She returned and re-enrolled at the University of Houston. The second year after she returned, Eddie Green was named the Director of Bands. She spent the next two years in his wind ensemble. Under Mr. Green’s guidance, Tye Ann became convinced that being a band director was her real calling. Tye Ann gives Mr. Green much credit for her success.

After completing her studies at the University of Houston in 1981, Tye Ann began her career in the Spring Branch ISD as the assistant band director to Matthew McInturf at Spring Forest Middle School. She loved her first job. Matthew became a great teaching mentor and friend. He taught Tye Ann what she must understand about how to be and who to know as a band director in Texas. The second year, Matthew accepted a position in the Richardson ISD and Tye Ann assumed the position of head director at Spring Forest. Because of Matthew and her colleagues in Spring Branch, she was able to continue learning and rising to the challenge. She would like to thank her colleagues, Mike Brashear, Randy Fitch, Denis Kidwell, Edward Pagliai, Joyce Boelsche, Les Boelsche, Rick Yancy, Jill Yancy, Robby Caston, Nancy Caston, Sherri Merritt, Charlene Nelson, Marty Nelson and Jim Gabbard, to name a few.

In 1984 after three successful years, Tye Ann accepted the head band director position at Westwood Junior High School in the Richardson ISD. After only three years of experience, Tye Ann became aware of the challenges of teaching at a school that had been twice named the 3B Texas Honor Band. “Deer in the headlights!” Tye Ann would like to thank Kevin Lyons for his tireless hard work and commitment as her assistant. She was surrounded by renowned band directors and private instructors. Tye Ann gives much gratitude to Marion West, Tom Bennett, Matthew Macinturf, Mike Brashear, Scott Taylor, Brian Gibbs, Howard Dunn, Robin Moffett, Lynn Jackson, Steve Madsen, Charleen Nelson, Peter Warshaw, David Burks, Debby Johnson, Claire Johnson, Joe Dixon, Joe Boylan, Roland Muzquiz, Donna Schmidt, and Herman Vogelstein. Tye Ann was born and raised in Houston, but she grew up in Richardson. She received outstanding support from Tom Bennett and Scott Taylor, the directors of the high school bands where the Westwood students would attend. With the influence and friendship of Marion West, Tye Ann was able to extend and better understand her conceptual beliefs of teaching instrumental pedagogy with words like “energy” and “efficiency”. Claire Johnson and Debby Johnson guided her to understanding the teaching of flute like no others. During Tye Ann’s tenure at Westwood, she was awarded the prestigious Sudler Cup of Honor bestowed nationally for outstanding teaching at the junior high level. The Westwood Junior High band under Tye Ann’s direction twice finished in the top five bands of the Texas Honor Band 3B competition.

In 1992, Denis Kidwell asked Tye Ann to join him at Jersey Village High School in the Cypress Fairbanks ISD. During her tenure with the Falcon Band, she and Robert Carlin assisted Denis as he transformed the Jersey Village bands into premium performing bands at all levels. The Jersey Village bands began to be known for their “signature sound”, with all bands characterized with the same resonance and beauty. After four years at Jersey Village, Tye Ann and Denis decided that Tye Ann would make a bigger impact on the high school band as the head band director at Cook Middle School, the main feeder school for Jersey Village. Roxie Collier, an incredible human being and musician, willingly agreed to the change. Roxie and Tye Ann became great colleagues and friends as they continued teaching the “signature sound”. With the growth of the program at Cook exceeding 300 students, Tye Ann and Roxie welcomed Brenden Steber, who brought a new dimension of youth and expertise to the program. He affectionately referred to them as his “two headed boss lady”. Michael Dick joined the staff when Brenden accepted a head middle school director position in the Katy ISD. Under Michael’s tutelage, the percussion flourished. He also, with the help of Marion West, learned to teach brass at a high level. Tye Ann would like to thank Alison Steele, German Otto, Aaron Buntin, Eric Priest, Mario Prado, and David Kastor as they also worked alongside her for an undeniable and positive impact on the Cook Middle School Ranger Band. Tye Ann was honored to mentor multiple student teachers during her time at Cook Middle School. She would like to thank these other fine colleagues, administrators and friends in the Cypress Fairbanks ISD: John Scarcella, Janet Scarcella, Bill Quillen, Mary Running, Larry Matysiak, Carroll Cantrell, Amanda Doyle, Gloria Ramirez, Tom Harrington, Micky Vasquez, Scott McAdow, John Morrison, Joe Glass, David Kastor, Justin Butterfrass, Chuck Kingsley, Jim McConaughey, Chip Wadenphul, Tom Bell, and Priscilla Bell.

After fourteen years at Cook Middle School, Tye Ann retired in 2010 with a total teaching of twenty-nine years. Eddie Green, Marion West, Tom Bennett, and Denis Kidwell have remained her mentors. Tye Ann is humbled to have the bands she directed receive continuous awards at festival competitions and UIL Concert and Sightreading contests.. She thoroughly enjoyed and was honored to conduct numerous region band clinics and concerts. She served on the selection committee of the Texas Prescribed Music List and has been a continuous member of Phi Beta Mu, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Texas Music Educators Association. Trent Cooper, Chase Giddings, Kim Knudsen, Jason Adams, James Robison, Dr. Kim Clark, Mark Edinfield, Gregg Rinehart, Dean Beltram, John Benzer, David Bertman, Richard Crain, Bill Watson, Bob Wazel, Marcie Wazel, Sharon Kalisek, Cindy Lansford, Susan Scarborough, Charlotte Royall, Melodianne Mallow, Bethann Adams, Cindy Bulloch, Missy Allen, Holly Cravy, Mitchel Brackett, and Dean Fishburn are important to Tye Ann’s career. Tye Ann’s associates have played a huge part in her lifelong quest of learning and teaching. Tye Ann has said on several occasions that she would not have retired if she had to give up her profession. She is thankful and honored to continue her profession with all who value her expertise. She expresses sincere gratitude to a realm of students and their parents that she had the privilege to teach.

Teaching music through band directing continues to be of the utmost importance to Tye Ann. She gives much gratitude to Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chapter for bestowing this great honor upon her.