The Growing Band Director

Quincy Jones Interviews Aaron Copland! Quincy Hilliard-Composer is such a great composer! We talked about so many things including his time with Aaron Copland, getting a young band to sound their best, and featured many score and sound videos of some of his Young Band works! What a joy to speak with! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supp...

I was honored to meet with one of the most influential band directors in the country- the great Scott Rush! We spent and hour discussing many aspects from the Habits Series of method books and band director guide paperback books, as well as things he did while at the Wando Bands to grow the culture and the program- as well as what it really means as he looks back on it! To gain access to all show...

Dr. Timothy Mahr is Professor Emeritus at St. Olaf College, and a prolific composer for wind band. Dr Mahr joins the podcast for a conversation that encompasses advice for young composers, discussion of ways we can improve our bands as a conductor, and a focus on some of his music! Highlighted is Etched in Stone , Commissioned by Kyle Smith and the Westbrook High School Wind Ensemble for the 50th...

Of Endless Miles of Empty Rafts is the 2024 CBDNA Young Band Composition Winner, and gives your band a chance to perform authentic afro-latin music with your Concert Band! In this video Composer Michele Fernandez and Kyle Smith of the Growing Band Director Podcast get together to explain the history behind the piece, the format of how it is constructed, and key components to preparing it in an aut...

The music of Count Basie is essential to any jazz education, so we bring you sound and score recordings of 9 essential charts for young bands (Grade 1-2.5). Learn some history about each chart along the way! 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 mis...

A great ballad can be a great vehicle for your students to learn so many concepts, but they have to be ready to work on a ballad, and they have to have music that fits them. In today's contemporary band room, the percussion section is an integral part of any band. These pieces will show you some options for music to play with all of your students, even the percussionists! To gain access to all...

A great ballad can be a great vehicle for your students to learn so many concepts, but they have to be ready to work on a ballad, and they have to have music that fits them. In today's contemporary band room, the percussion section is an integral part of any band. These pieces will show you some options for music to play with all of your students, even the percussionists! To gain access to all...

Making Joy Your Tonal Center with Matthew Arau 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 band director, no matter your experience level, as well as music education students wh...

Weapons of Brass Destruction Learn keys to starting and improving your brass players! Aaron Rex and Johnnie Green are part of the team for Mason Schools in Mason, OH (one of the most outstanding school programs in the country.). Their approach works - and they are presenting this topic at Midwest 2024! The Comfy Strap for Horn and Euphonium To gain access to all show notes and audio files please S...

Part 5 of a 5 Part Series - Today we explore the Merengue as well as Multi-style! Including example charts in each style for your band! In this series we explore specific styles of Afro-Latin Jazz - what makes them unique and what makes them similar. Each video has a uniform opening segment general set up, rehearsal techniques, and specifics needed for each style.

Part 4 of a 5 Part Series - Today we explore the Mambo and the Son Montuno (Salsa)! Including example charts in each style for your band! In this series we explore specific styles of Afro-Latin Jazz - what makes them unique and what makes them similar. Each video has a uniform opening segment general set up, rehearsal techniques, and specifics needed for each style.

Part 3 of a 5 Part Series - Today we explore the Bolero and Rumba! Including example charts in each style for your band! In this series we explore specific styles of Afro-Latin Jazz - what makes them unique and what makes them similar. Each video has a uniform opening segment general set up, rehearsal techniques, and specifics needed for each style. To gain access to all show notes and audio files...

Part 2 of a 5 Part Series - Today we explore the Cha Cha Cha! Including example charts in each style for your band! In this series we explore specific styles of Afro-Latin Jazz - what makes them unique and what makes them similar. Each video has a uniform opening segment general set up, rehearsal techniques, and specifics needed for each style. To gain access to all show notes and audio files plea...

Part 1 of a 5 Part Series - Today we explore the Bossa and the Samba! Including example charts in each style for your band! In this series we explore specific styles of Afro-Latin Jazz - what makes them unique and what makes them similar. Each video has a uniform opening segment general set up, rehearsal techniques, and specifics needed for each style. To gain access to all show notes and audio fi...

Matthew Arau is the founder of Upbeat Global and shares many ways to maximize your student engagement during rehearsal 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 band director,...

All four of the rhythm section instruments (Piano, Guitar, Bass and Drums) get covered in a very thorough way during this converation with Anthony Susi. Anthony is a proficient rhythm section player, veteran band director, adjudicator and composer - and brings his expertise to the show to help you improve your rhythm section! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the...

An end of the school year sit down brings out things that we feel we did well this year, things that are planned for next year, and adjustments we have made for the modern student this year. 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...

Julius Tolentino (JTolemusic.com) joins the show to give examples of historical jazz music that is written for less experienced jazz musicians. Score and sound are provided. 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...

Julius Tolentino joins the show to discuss programming music of substance for a means of developing your jazz musicians in a way that will foster growth, and understanding of the rich history of Jazz JTolemusic.com 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...

Learn some steps that you can take to help your beginning band be more successful - better balanced - have less instrument switching - happier band parents and more student success! Krystle Smith has been the Director of Bands at Westbrook Middle School since 2006. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using t...

Listen to some of the best pieces written by one of the quintessential composers for band - Pierre LaPlante. Pieces featured are; The Red River Valley, Prospect, Minka's Sleigh Ride, American Riversongs, All Ye Young Sailors, A Walk in the Morning Sun, In the Forest of the King and Prairie Songs. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supp...

https://youtu.be/ahsnn4nYPIA Experienced instrument repairman Andre Yanniello has repaired instruments throughout the world and now owns a shop in Texas where he dedicates some of his time to helping band directors become better at instrument repair. The owner of Instrument Repair School , Andre is an advocate of band directors learning to do many of their own simple repairs to save money and time...

Informal sit downs from the Maine All State Convention 2024! 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 band director, no matter your experience level, as well as music educati...

Christopher White is the Director of Bands at the University of Maine, and the conductor of the 2024 Maine All State Concert Band. He sits down for an in-process conversation about the entire process! 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...

Part 3 of a 3 part series: Learn about, and listen to pieces within the Grades 3-5 category that are fantastic resources when programming for your ensembles! Score and sound are provided for many pieces on Youtube. 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 ⁠ growingband.com⁠ Our miss...