The Growing Band Director

During Midwest 2024 Kyle had a chance to sit down with Chris and Peter from the Beyond Artless Podcast. Enjoy their conversation! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will help every ban...

Learn ways to help your small band sound their best, with Chris DeVona from James Madison University. "Small Band - Big Sound" is available from GIA Publications To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore...

Peter Boonshaft is a mainstay and inspirational figure in the field of music education, with a wide ranging conducting history around the world, as well as the author of a very popular series of books for band directors- ⁠"Teaching Music With Passion"⁠ ⁠"Teaching Music with Purpose"⁠ ⁠"Teaching Music With Promise"⁠ To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast an...

In January 2025 Kyle was a guest with the Music for All Podcast Network show - "Culture Before Content" with David Duarte. Check out the conversation! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics tha...

Fresh off his February 2025 FMEA presentation "Tips for Growing Your Program" Joshua Williams joins the show to help us learn ways to improve student recruitment and retention. Practice With Mr Williams You Tube Channel To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector...

In a wide ranging discussion around mentorship, buzzing, whistling, solfege, connection, empowering students and much more, we unlock the most important of all - you need to continue to learn throughout your life. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.com O...

Selection of repertoire for your jazz band is essential for a successful festival season. In this 3 part series hear 27 charts for grades 1-3 that work tremendously. Each chart is discussed and an audio sample is provided, as well as background and teaching tips for each chart. Each episode includes: 3 charts as a Grade 1 set 3 charts as a Grade 2 set 3 charts as a Grade 3 set To gain access to al...

A well designed marching band show is the vehicle every student deserves - yet is one of the hardest tasks a band director undertakes - and are usually underprepared to accomplish! Veteran show designer and music educator Key Poulan joins the show to help teach methods of show design to maximize student achievment. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast an...

Learn from a seasoned educator about her approach to teaching beginning band, and how it helps with engagement, knowledge and achievement! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and explore topics that will help...

Join Kyle and Melissa Shabo (Cape Elizabeth Middle School) for a journey through three sets of Grade 1-3 Festival music that are worthy of your contest set in the future! Each program is segmented into 3 pieces at each grade level that would work as a stand alone concert set! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreo...

How do you make the important choices for your marching band that will set them up for success during the season? Do you compete in competitions? Do you perform at football games? Do you buy a stock show, or custom design one for yourself? What are your tools and what type of show is right for your students right now? These are all questions that band directors ask themselves each year. Brian Joyc...

As the band director at one of the top HS jazz programs in the country (Beloit HS-Wisconsin), Chris Behrens shares many aspects of building this culture in YOUR school - including a score study session on two Duke Ellington charts, as well as participating in the Essentially Ellington Festival and all the other aspects that go into their top notch jazz program. To gain access to all show notes and...

There are so many pieces of music written for piano or orchestra that have been transcribed for wind band. In this episode we discuss the reasoning for programming transcriptions with your students. We also provide score and sound listening examples of pieces that work well for wind band. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the s...

The use of folk songs in the band classrooms is very important to help them learn history! Gene Milford is one of the finest composers of our time uses folk songs all the time, and he joined the show to discuss many of his works for band! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of the...

Through Curriculum Mapping, the use of Companion Guides, and a thorough approach to programming, learn the techniques used by a Master Teacher - Tiffany Hitz from Fairfax County, VA. Tips for Mentoring Companion Guide Example (Tiffany Hitz) Example Curriculum Map (Tiffany Hitz) Songs in 6/8 Part 1 (Kyle Smith) Songs in 6/8 Part 2 (Kyle Smith) To gain access to all show notes and audio files please...

Selection of repertoire for your jazz band is essential for a successful festival season. In this 3 part series hear 27 charts for grades 1-3 that work tremendously. Each chart is discussed and an audio sample is provided, as well as background and teaching tips for each chart. Each episode includes: 3 charts as a Grade 1 set 3 charts as a Grade 2 set 3 charts as a Grade 3 set To gain access to al...

Starting a new job as a band director is not an easy task. There are many decisions in the short and long term that need to be calculated. No matter how experienced you are, you will make mistakes. Patrick Towey joins the show to help us navigate some solutions and avoid some pitfalls along the way. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider suppo...

Hear from one of New England's most legendary band directors. Jeff Leonard spent 35 years in the Lexington Schools as K-12 Coordinator and Band Director. Now teaching at BU and Berklee, hear some of the ways to improve as a teacher in both the classical and jazz realm. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - usi...

Join Kyle and Melissa Shabo (Cape Elizabeth Middle School) for a journey through three sets of Grade 1-3 Festival music that are worthy of your contest set in the future! Each program is segmented into 3 pieces at each grade level that would work as a stand alone concert set! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreo...

Penelope Smetters-Jacono and Paul Corn are New York band directors who have grown their programs to a level that they have been accepted to Essentially Ellington 2025, and they join the show live from Jazz at Lincoln Center. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddir...

From his Alfred clinic "Start Your Engines: Building Confidence with Less Experienced Rhythm Section Players" Mike Kamuf shares amazing information to help your young Rhythm Section thrive! This is also a chance to listen to some great music by one of America's top writers. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon...

There are so many pieces of music written for piano or orchestra that have been transcribed for wind band. In this episode we discuss the reasoning for programming transcriptions with your students. We also provide score and sound listening examples of pieces that work well for wind band. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the s...

Tatum Greenblatt is one of New York City's most in-demand trumpet players. Among many other roles, Tatum teaches at the Julliard School, and runs the Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra. He joins the show to discuss how the traits students learn while playing in a big band can prepare them for being successful members of society. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe...

The two biggest areas of growth for most jazz band directors lie in the rhythm section and articulation for the jazz band. Legend Dick Dunscomb joins the show to help! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the button at the top of thegrowingbanddirector.com Our mission is to share practical  advice and e...

Selection of repertoire for your jazz band is essential for a successful festival season. In this 3 part series hear 27 charts for grades 1-3 that work tremendously. Each chart is discussed and an audio sample is provided, as well as background and teaching tips for each chart. Each episode includes: 3 charts as a Grade 1 set 3 charts as a Grade 2 set 3 charts as a Grade 3 set To gain access to al...