The Growing Band Director

Craig Skeffington - jazz composer/arranger, band director and trumpet player - joins Kyle for an AMAZING discussion about your jazz band.   They talk about great jazz band charts, great educational jazz arrangers, writing and arranging for your jazz band, and many other jazz band topics!   A must listen for all educators! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the pod...

Kyle and Jeff are joined by Nate Gowen, Director of Admission in the Music Department at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.   They cover all aspects of applying to college as a music major.   This is a great episode to send to your students to help them through this process! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show o...

In the first part of a three part series, Kyle shares recordings and his insight on some amazing Grade 1 pieces for your band! You get to hear some carefully selectect music at the grade 1 level - what works in each piece, and why your students need to experience this music! Coming from a real life situations of teachers just like you - this music works! A must listen! To gain access to all show n...

In this episode Kyle shares recordings and his insight on some amazing Grade 4 pieces for your band! You get to hear his favorite music at the grade 4 level - what works in each piece, and why your students need to experience this music! Coming from a real life situation - this music works! A must listen! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff have on the great Jim Vitagliano to explain General Effect Visual - how to design a show with the most amount of GE to maximize your students successes as they perform the show you have designed for them.  With almost 100 years of teaching experience between them - Jim and Jeff give us a masterclass in visual design element that is General Effect!  A must listen for y...

In this episode Kyle shares recordings and his insight on some amazing Grade 4 pieces for your band! You get to hear his favorite music at the grade 4 level - what works in each piece, and why your students need to experience this music! Coming from a real life situation - this music works! A must listen! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff meet with one of New Englands finest teachers - Dean Neal.  Dean's decades of experience as an instrumental and vocal teacher has lead to many awards for ensembles througout New England.  We discuss how to incorporate singing into the band and jazz band rehearsal to improve everything from tone and intonation to overall musicianship skills in your students.  There are...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff chat with the incomparable Barry Saunders, get insights into his go-to; time tested approachs to teaching students to improvise.  This is for students and teachers of all levels - from beginner to professionals - there is something in here for you! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patr...

In this episode Jeff goes at it solo - sharing the many ways your relationships to the other adults in your school will help improve your program.  This is insight from a veteran teacher - with much to share! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our mission is t...

In this episode we explore some of the best music for Grade 2.  High School teachers - don't sleep on this music!  Coming from a real life situation - this music works!  A must listen! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our mission is to share practical  advic...

In this episode Kyle goes at it solo!  You get to hear his favorite music at the grade 3 level - what works in each piece, and why your students need to experience this music!  Coming from a real life situation - this music works!  A must listen! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the t...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff share their favorite John Wooden quotes and give you a resource to download them and hang them in your band room.  So many life lessons to learn from the greatest coach ever.  A must listen! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff talk about the balanced band program - and how to structure it so that it has sustained success.  A must listen! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will help every...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff hang with Trae Blanco - a good friend of the show and the Director of Bands at Murray State University.  It's both a VERY REAL conversation, but also has very practical ways to get your students to reach for super high standareds and improve your band program.  A must listen! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff meet up with Randall Standridge to get his thoughts on great music for grades 1-3 especially, what to look for in the techniques requred for each music, the important things teachers can do to put their programs to the next level, as well as a discussion around commissioning new works from a composer. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe t...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff meet up with Alan King - an Amazing Brass Teacher! - and have a conversation about fixing brass players problems in tone, tonguing and many other things - as well as the best things teachers of beginners should do to create strong brass players!  This is a must listen for any instrumental program! Send comments or topic requests for future episodes to smithk@westbrook...

In this episode Kyle has a conversation about designing, building, starting, and continuing a marching program.  We discuss the basics that are needed - and why it is SO GREAT for any instrumental program! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our mission is to s...

Never give up on a kid - and more words of wisom!  Become a better teacher through this episode.  Kyle has a conversation with Tom Lizotte about the Ten Deadly Sins of Making Music - some traps WE ALL fall into! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our mission i...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff have a conversation about clarinet and saxophone reeds - tips for musicians and teachers of all ages! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will help every band direct...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff have a conversation about what Jeff says our number one job is!  It's enlightening - and you don't want to miss it! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will help eve...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff have a conversation with Matt and Karen Stacki about the role of a Music Booster program - Do's and Don'ts- how to start-revitalize or maintain a booster program. Never forget-keep trying to make it better and improve! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff have a conversation about Using Logos - a FUNCTIONING website - making parents' lives eaiser - and ways to keep kids in band throughout the grade levels. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our mission is to share practical  advice...

A Must Listen!  In this episode we talk Instrument Repair with the legendary Joe Bettencourt.  Joe and Jeff walk us through the most common repairs for band directors, and the quick and practical fixes - especially when they happen right before the concert!   Be sure to click below to get his tips and lists for tools and supplies. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe t...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff have a conversation about the tricks they use in rehearsing their bands, and practical ways to improve your concert band. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will he...

In this episode Kyle and Jeff dive into an overview discussion around teaching jazz in the public school.  From rhythm section set up and techniques, to programming for all levels of students, we had fun with this discussion! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com...