The Growing Band Director

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. Support the Show Here To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and con...

⁠⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠⁠ Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with jazz composer Doug Beach and Aaron Noe from Aamanomusic.com and windconductor.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 Our mission is to share p...

Support the Show Here The Habits of A Successful Musician series has been a wildly successful series of books and method books that help teachers and students become the best music teachers and musicians they can be. Now, GIA Publications is introducting a Habits book that is a beginning Jazz Method geared toward players with one year of experience! Though likely not available until 2027, Todd Cam...

Quincy Jones Interviews Aaron Copland! ⁠ Quincy Hilliard 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! Support the Show Here To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast an...

⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠⁠ Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with composers Terry White and Dan Austin 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...

⁠ Support the Show Here ⁠ Dr Chris Oberholtzer joins the show to discuss jazz improvisation information to help teachers know what guidance to give their students when improvising. 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 ...

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 A...

⁠⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠⁠ Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with Tim Hendrix after the clinic performance with this students earlier that day, and composer Heather Hastings, winner of the Gladys Knight Composition Competition with WBDI. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon...

⁠ Support the Show Here ⁠ Jeffrey Priest (Old Town High School, ME) has led an award winning band program in his rural community since 1989 and joins the show to share ways to bring excellence to smaller, more rural communities. 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 thegrowingban...

The music of Duke Ellington is not only some of the best American music in history, it is filled with soulfulness and sophistication. It is available to students with very little experience. In working on this music your students will be studying history, studying music and studying some of the best of humanity. Support the Show Here To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscrib...

Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with Travis Weller and Stephen Sholey. ⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠ 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...

⁠ Support the Show Here ⁠ Rob Wheeler joins the show to share some strategies that he has used in a wide variety of school situations to maximize the potential of a band program. 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  a...

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! Support the Show Here 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 thegrowingban...

Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with past conductor (1979-1996) of the President's Own Marine Band, Colonel John Bourgeois. ⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠ 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...

⁠ Support the Show Here ⁠ Band Director's Goal Setting Planner Aaron Noe from Greensboro College and windconductor.org joins the show to give advice as to how to build a band program through setting and achieve goals. 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 thegrowingbanddirect...

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! Support the Show Here To gain access to all show notes and audio files p...

Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with Michael Sweeney (retired editor and composer at Hal Leonard) about writing for young band and what he is doing in his retirement - and Brian Rhodes (Band Director at Booneville HS, AR and owner of Twin Towers Publishing Company ⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠ To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to th...

Support the Show Here Hear from one of the world's leading composers on ways that you can be an effective conductor for your students, and inspire them on a daily basis. You will also hear from Frank about some of his newer pieces, as well as advice he has for younger composers. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on...

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! Support the Show Here To ga...

Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with Dennis Llinas (Director of Bands at University of Oregon) and Mark Casperson (Plano East HS, TX and inventor of the Tuner Caddy. ⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠ 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 ⁠⁠ thegrowin...

⁠ Support the Show Here ⁠ Krystle hosts Mike Perez ( Mastering The Young Band )for a discussion on ways to ensure success for your students as you are gearing up for your festival performance! 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 shar...

Join Kyle and Missy 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! Support the Show Here To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supportin...

Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with composer Christina Huss and band director Tyler Reese (NC). ⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠ 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 exp...

Jazz Pedagogy and Repertoire Playlist⁠ ⁠Diving Into Jazz With Confidence and Joy - Milas Yoes⁠ Milas Yoes joins the show in this four part series on Jazz Education- Teaching Improv Teaching Swing Feel Teaching the Rhythm Section Music Selection 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...

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!⁠ Weapons of Brass Destruction⁠ ⁠The Comfy Strap for Horn and Euphonium⁠ Support the Show Here To gain access to all show note...