Band Director Boot Camp

What if the biggest challenge in your music program isn't teaching the music, but getting students to practice consistently once they leave your classroom? In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, Lesley Moffat sits down with educator and app developer Alvin Simpson to discuss a challenge every music teacher knows well: students who say they're practicing, but don't seem to be improving. Alvin...

There’s a moment so many music educators hit where they realize they love teaching… but the job is quietly consuming every ounce of energy they have. Staying late every night. Feeling guilty for taking care of yourself. Trying to be a great teacher, parent, spouse, human… all at the same time. Running on caffeine and adrenaline and wondering if this pace is sustainable. In this episode of the Band...

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat welcomes Kate Fitzpatrick Harnish and Bridget Sweet, co-authors of Motherhood in the Music Education Academy , for an honest conversation about parenting, caregiving, and the realities of building a music education career while raising children. Kate and Bridget share the personal and professional experiences that led them to write this bo...

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat talks with jazz educator and author Milas Yoes about how to start, grow, or strengthen a jazz band, even if jazz was never your primary background. If you’ve ever felt underprepared to teach jazz, this conversation will help you see that you likely know more than you think you do, and that confidence can be built step by step. Milas shares...

In this energizing episode of Band Director Boot Camp, Lesley Moffat talks with educator and speaker Phil Januszewski about what it takes to move beyond survival mode and build a career that feels sustainable. Phil shares the idea of identifying your “errs” - the roles, interests, and parts of yourself that make you who you are - and intentionally making space for them in your daily life. Together...

Ever feel like you’re running on empty no matter how much you check off your list? This episode is for the band directors (and teachers) who keep thinking, “If I just had more hours…” Lesley Moffat sits down with Michelle Niemeyer , a former attorney turned coach and speaker, to talk about what she calls “The Art of Bending Time.” Not in a magical way, but in the very real way that happens when yo...

If you’re running a band program solo, you already know the math doesn’t math. Not enough time, not enough hands, and somehow you’re still expected to keep the program thriving without it taking over your entire life. In this episode, Lesley Moffat talks with middle school band director Mike Perez, a 25-year veteran who’s learned how to build a high-performing program without burning out, even as...

If middle school band feels like triage some days, this episode is for you. Lesley Moffat sits down with Florida middle school band director Tim Ostrow, who has spent 19 years building a thriving program and collecting the kind of practical, real-world tools most of us wish we had on day one. Tim shares the story behind his “Middle School Band Director Help List”, a curated framework packed with l...

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat brings wellness down to the practical fundamentals with fitness innovator and X Gym founder PJ Glassey. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have time,” this conversation is for you. PJ shares a simple, science-backed approach to getting stronger and healthier without the traditional “hour-a-day gym” expectation. You’ll hear how PJ’s 21-minute...

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat talks with Brittany Valente, the no-nonsense teacher you’ve probably seen on TikTok serving up fast, practical advice for music educators. This one is especially for brand new band directors, or anyone walking into a new teaching situation and feeling like a first-year teacher all over again. Brittany shares the real steps to take before s...

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat sits down with veteran music educator and author James Devine for some honest, practical survival strategies for life in the band room. With nearly three decades of teaching experience across private schools, public schools, and charter programs, James shares seven simple but powerful habits that can help band directors reclaim at least fi...

In this high-energy, strategy-packed episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat welcomes veteran music educator, composer, and clinician Dr. Scott Watson to share his go-to ideas for launching the school year with purpose, playfulness, and less overwhelm. Whether you’re on day one or deep into the semester, this episode offers practical advice to help you set the tone, build routines that...

In this first episode of Backstage: The Hidden Workload of the Performing Arts , a special mini-series of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest equity gaps in our schools—the overwhelming administrative burden placed on music educators. While teachers in other subject areas are supported by district-approved AI tools, performing arts t...

In this moving episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast , host Lesley Moffat welcomes longtime New York band director and debut author Lindsey Williams. Together, they explore themes of resilience, loss, recovery, and mentorship through the lens of Lindsey’s powerful new book, Where the Valley Widens —a collection of 40 stories inspired by her first group of students who journeyed with her f...

In this inspiring episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat welcomes singer-songwriter, TEDx speaker, and youth empowerment coach Emma G. Her story is nothing short of remarkable—born with hydrocephalus and having undergone 23 brain surgeries, Emma found healing and purpose through songwriting. Now she helps others do the same. Lesley and Emma dive into: How music supporte...

In this heartfelt and practical episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, Lesley Moffat is joined by Jeanette Mihalchik, host of The Happy Music Teacher podcast and YouTube channel. Jeanette shares her journey from total overwhelm and burnout—sitting on the classroom floor wondering if she could keep going—to becoming a thriving, joy-filled educator committed to helping others rediscover the...

In this revealing episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat welcomes Megan Cooney, Director of Athletic Bands at Rowan University, to share the behind-the-scenes reality of starting a collegiate band program from scratch. From budgeting to branding to building leadership, Megan walks us through the surprising and often overlooked responsibilities of life as a college band director. You’ll...

In this heartfelt episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley reconnects with longtime friend and veteran educator Glenn Williams to talk about three transformative books that every music teacher should consider reading—or rereading. With decades of experience leading high school bands, mentoring student teachers, and shaping music education culture, Glenn shares how these books shaped his career...

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat sits down with Don Crafton, founder and CEO of Sight Reading Factory, to explore how this innovative platform helps band directors save time, reduce stress, and build stronger music literacy in their students. Don shares how his own frustrations as a band director led him to create a customizable, algorithm-based tool that allows for fresh...

In this energizing and practical episode of the Band Director Boot Camp podcast, Lesley Moffat is joined by fitness expert Jonathan Simos , who shares easy, sustainable strategies for weaving exercise into even the busiest teaching schedule. Jonathan opens up about his journey from injury-prone teenager to Guinness World Record holder and certified trainer—showing how fitness transformed his body,...

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp , host Lesley Moffat sits down with Bill Kennelly of Kennelly Keys Music—a longtime friend of music education and sponsor of Season 4—to talk about how relationships with independent music stores can transform your program, reduce your workload, and support your students in meaningful ways. Lesley and Bill discuss how music stores can be more than just su...

In this energizing episode of the Band Director Boot Camp podcast, Lesley Moffat sits down with M.J. Robinson—band director, mom, and President-Elect of Women Band Directors International—to discuss how managing your energy can transform not only your teaching but your entire life. M.J. shares her journey from quiet wallflower to confident educator and leader, crediting the power of community, men...

In this milestone episode of the Band Director Boot Camp podcast, host Lesley Moffat welcomes—as her 100th guest—the inspiring Dr. Shannon Shaker—assistant professor and Director of Bands at Grand Rapids Community College. In a conversation full of honesty and heart, Shannon shares how she forged her own unique path to the podium, from early years in poverty and working at McDonald's to earning he...

It’s a milestone moment! In this very special 100th episode of Band Director Boot Camp , host Lesley Moffat reflects on two years of podcasting, over 22,000 downloads, and the incredible community of music educators that made it all possible. This episode is more than a celebration—it’s a recommitment to the mission of helping band directors amplify their impact, not their workload. Lesley shares...

In this high-energy episode of Band Director Boot Camp , host Lesley Moffat is joined by middle school band director, composer, and organizational powerhouse Erin Lilliefors. Erin shares her practical strategies for keeping communication clear and effective with parents—an area that often causes stress for music educators. Drawing on 15 years of experience in diverse school settings and the real-l...