The Growing Band Director

A chance to learn from a historically great teacher! In this episode we hang with a world class band director - John Mastroianni! We learn how to create a culture of excellence in a band program, as well as how to build a strong jazz program, even as a "non-jazz" teacher. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon -...

Bassoon can be an instrument that is scary for band directors to teach because it can appear overwhelming. Hunter Holoubek is a band director and bassoon player who is here to give you what you need to know, and help everything make sense!⁠ Full Presentation⁠ Correct Bassoon Fingering Chart⁠ ⁠ Bassoon Flick Keys Tutorial⁠ To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the pod...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect composer/educator Doug Beach and band director Mike Richardson from Indianola High School (Iowa). To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the but...

From Episode 38 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 who are working to join us in the...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with Cathy Benford from Round Rock High School in Round Rock, TX. 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 ⁠⁠ thegrowingb...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with composer/educator Laura Estes (Ep 105 Craft Your Rehearsals for Success) and educator Matthew Rodnick (Georgian Bay District Secondary School in Midland, Ontario). To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to...

Kyle had the distinct PLEASURE of sitting down with Nick Mainella from the  @10minutejazzlesson79  Podcast and had a discussion about what makes great band directors, an approach to soloing over the blues that ISN'T the blues scale, getting students to feel comfortable improvising, the importance of listening to music with your students and much, much more. To gain access to all show notes and aud...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with Jazz Writers Peter Blair and Kris Berg (Ep 115 Hangin' with My Peeps) 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...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with composer educator William Owens, Mary Cogswell (Ep 162 Beginner Adaptable Series) and composer educator Travis Weller (Ep 199). To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting...

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 Patreon - using the button at the...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with composer/educator Rick Hirsch and Tyler Arcari from Excelcia Music. 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 ⁠ thegr...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with Jerry Tolson (retired University of Louisville) and Dan Austin (Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute in Canada). To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on P...

Kyle had the distinct PLEASURE of sitting down with Nick Mainella from the  @10minutejazzlesson79  Podcast and had a discussion about what makes great band directors, an approach to soloing over the blues that ISN'T the blues scale, getting students to feel comfortable improvising, the importance of listening to music with your students and much, much more. To gain access to all show notes and aud...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with Jackson Smith (WI) about some things that are happening in both of our bands right now (also from Ep. 118 Percussion for the Non Percussionist.) To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and con...

Order Your Copy Today https://forms.gle/7k6uKdhFPcWzsSNE9 Love Song is a dedication to my wife and children. Becoming a husband and father changes a person, and this piece is a natural outgrowth of that process in my life. Love Song is a slow 6/8 piece i n C minor that follows a very simple form and uses some extended harmonies, allowing students to play triple meter a t a slower tempo, while expl...

Lexie Signor , an acclaimed trumpet player and educator joins the show to help non-jazz educators who need to are now teaching jazz, plus ideas to help with the development of your trumpet players. 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...

In this Saturday Throwback: Learn from two MASTER TEACHERS!   In this Episode we hang - Middle School style!  Two of the best middle school teachers you can find, Krystle Smith and Jean Quinn, are the life of the party and we born to teach middle school band!  You will love their stories, tips for teaching, and real life lessons they learned and want to pass on to you! This is definitely the most...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with Larry Clark, composer and owner of Excelcia Music, as well as composer/educators Tony Susi (also from episodes 88 and 174) and Steven Rosenhaus. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and con...

Joshua Wine is the Director of Bands at Auburn Junior High School in Auburn, Alabama. He joins the show to share helpful insights to programming for your band, as well as specific examples that he has had success with. Joshua Wine's Programming Handout⁠ ⁠ Suggested Repertoire for Developing Band⁠ GBDPlaylists of Programming Examples⁠ The Growing Band Director Podcast Composer Interview Series⁠ (30...

While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with Jared Cassedy, Grammy Music Educator winner (MA) and Elisa Janson Jones from The Music Teacher Guild. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - usin...

Mike Collins Dowden is a beginning band teacher as well as published composer of jazz and concert music. Hear his story on how he started writing for his students, and the encouragement for teachers to do the same. Hear practical ways and reasons to arrange music for your students. We also listen to five of his pieces for jazz and concert band with score and sound! The Overlooked Rewards of Compos...

Whatever your teaching situation, exposing your students to time signatures other than 4/4 is essential. In this episode we explore five 6/8, cut time and multi-meter pieces that do just that, in a fun and audience-friendly way that your students will love! To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - using the butto...

Chris Sharp is a composer and arranger out of Virginia and has works for concert and jazz band published with many companies. He also has his own company, Csharpmusic.net and he joins the show with advice for band directors and to discuss 5 of his works for Grades 2-4. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreon - usi...

Don Zentz has been teaching for 40 years and is taking Douglas Anderson School for the Arts to Midwest in 2024. He also serves on the Midwest Clinic Board, so he is the perfect guest to have on leading up to Midwest 2024! Check out zentz.org - where you will find his full repertoire list, and many other resources for teachers, including presentations he has done at midwest and other conferences ov...

Ryan Johnstone is the Band Director at Rouse High School in Leeander ISD, TX and he joins the show to discuss the upcoming performance at Midwest with his students. He gives insight to the selection process, the requirements of a progam that might participate in Midwest, as well as the program his students will be performing on Thursday, Dec 19 at 3pm. To gain access to all show notes and audio fi...