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The Growing Band Director

Kyle Smith
Music Education
Jazz Education
Improvisation
Student Engagement
Band Directing
Jazz Band
Rhythm Section
Marching Band
Concert Band
Teaching Strategies
Mentorship
Excelsior Music Publishing
Beginning Band
Community Engagement
Band Directors
Band Education
Student Leadership
Austin Custom Brass
Middle School Band
Composition

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 coming years. To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on Patreaon - using the button at the top of growingband.com

PublishesDailyEpisodes417Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for The Growing Band Director

Latest Episodes

⁠Support the Show Here⁠

Dr Shawn Knopp is an experienced band director of 24 years and teaches at Friends University in Wichita, KS. he joins Kyle to discuss some strategies he has learned along his journey to help give our family and students the b... more

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Philip Walters is a middle school band director in Anchorage, Alaska. He joins the show to discuss the age level that is middle school - how to teach them and what to expect from them. As a Make Music Cloud user (formally known... more

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⁠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

Ou... more

YouTube

Support the Show Here⁠

Larry Clark is a veteran composer, editor, publisher, and owner of Excelcia Music Publishing. Learn ways to use your knowledge of score study to be sure the music you are selecting hits the sweet spot for your students.

To ga... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Philip Walters
Middle School Band Director in Anchorage School District
Anchorage School District, Alaska
Episode: 202 Middle School Band with Make Music Cloud - Philip Walters
Larry Clark
Founder of Excelcia Music Publishing; editor and publisher with decades in the industry
Excelcia Music Publishing
Episode: 348 Training Your Eyes To Hear - Selecting Repertoire for Your Band with Larry Clark
Marc Whitlock
An expert in marching ensemble techniques and timing
Episode: 288 Mastering Ensemble Techniques and Timing in Outdoor Marching Ensmbles with Marc Whitlock
Tom Snow
Jazz educator and pianist
Episode: 347 Rhythm Section Ideas for Your Band with Tom Snow
Craig Skeffington
Mentor, Composer, and Music Educator
Episode: 200 Mentor, Composer, Friend with Craig Skeffington
Lincoln Rowe
High school band director at Ohio County High School, Beaverdam, Kentucky
Ohio County High School, Beaverdam, Kentucky
Episode: 345 Program Growth Through Connecting, Planning and Musical Experiences with Lincoln Rowe
Travis Weller
Director of Music Education at Messiah University, composer
Messiah University
Episode: 199 Encouraging Others with Travis Weller
Rachel Allen
Band director from West Virginia with 21+ years teaching experience, specialized in middle school ensembles
West Virginia middle school program
Episode: 339 That Mrs. Allen Knows Her Stuff with Rachel Allen
Tim Loest
Composer and educator
Independent/Tim Loest
Episode: 337 Grade 1/2 - Big Ideas, Small Box of Crayons with Timothy Loest

Host

Kyle Smith
Host of The Growing Band Director Podcast; frequent presence across episodes in an interviewer and host capacity.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 67 ratings
  • Encouraging, thoughtful, and engaging

    This show already has a legacy that is encouraging, thoughtful, and engaging. What a gift that you can quickly search and be inspired and motivated with experienced helps from educators that are addressing the same topics you are encountering. As the show has shifted a bit after Jeff’s passing, Kyle remains steadfast. For a quick overview of the show, see episode 144 from the Pass the Baron podcast. Otherwise, it is fun to explore what they created together as they have built a wonderful commu... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JeffGPWV
    United States2 years ago
  • 5 Stars

    Best podcast I’ve found for instrumental music education. I look forward to each episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hhbassoon
    United States2 years ago
  • Fantastic Resource

    Thank you Kyle for taking a risk and putting out a super helpful podcast. Always enjoy listening and have exposed myself and program to a lot of new material and ideas because of this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    broberts314
    United States2 years ago
  • Thank you.

    Thank you for continuing to put out such a thoughtful podcast. You, and Krystal were some of the teachers that were pillars in my childhood and young adult life. Some of my favorite memories were winning Gold in 2011 for marching band, with Kyle and Emily as drum majors. And thusly becoming woodwind leader in my senior year of 2012.

    I’ll also never forget our time with the SoPo high school Wind Ensemble where we got to play a collection of Sam Hazo songs, my favorite being Arabesque. Having Ha... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OhAdam314
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes are seen as a valuable resource for repertoire ideas and classroom strategies, though some listeners note shifts in tone after a pivotal host transition.
Many appreciate the varied guest mix, from university educators to seasoned high school directors.
Listeners praise practical, mentorship-focused guidance for directors.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

337 Grade 1/2 - Big Ideas, Small Box of Crayons with Timothy Loest
Q: So do you have any advice for composers, or especially younger composers who are thinking about, okay, well, how do I actually approach that?
Reach out to editors for series guidelines to learn instrument ranges, then write within the center of those ranges and avoid lines crossing to keep texture clear; focus on smooth voice leading and craft each line so it can stand as an independent melody.
335 Practical Teaching Advice for Jazz Drums
Q: What height should the drums be, and how do you set up the drums for comfort and sound?
The guest walks through ergonomic setup, including throne height, feet positioning, snare and cymbal placement, and how to choose gear for comfortable playing and optimal sound; stressed is keeping posture natural and avoiding excessive height or awkward angles.
335 Practical Teaching Advice for Jazz Drums
Q: Could you tell us about those [jazz pedagogy offerings]?
Dennis outlines BOA Summer Camp's jazz track, its schedule, master classes, and the faculty involved, emphasizing daily big-band rehearsals, improv master classes, jam sessions, and instrument pedagogy.
308 Music Selection - Jazz Education Series with Milas Yoes
Q: Milas, would you agree with my mentors' statement that 90% of your success happens before the first downbeat of the first rehearsal?
Yes, absolutely; the most important work is selecting the right repertoire and planning the approach, which sets up fundamentals and opportunities for success from day one.
322 Doug Beach and Aaron Noe
Q: What is the Goal Setting Planner and who is it for?
The planner is designed to help band directors identify where their program currently sits and plan for long-term growth, focusing on four pillars and mapping out five-year goals with practical yearly steps.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Growing Band Director

What is The Growing Band Director about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, educator-focused show that centers on how to run and improve school and community bands. Episodes frequently cover pedagogy, repertoire selection, conducting technique, ensemble leadership, and real-world challenges facing band directors, with guests ranging from university educators to seasoned K-12 directors and composers. Noteworthy are the hands-on teaching strategies, emphasis on mentorship, and the blend of classroom-ready tips with broader industry perspectives, making it valuable for directors at all career stages and for music-education students preparing to enter the field.

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How many listeners does The Growing Band Director get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Growing Band Director?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Growing Band Director:

1. Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band
2. Band Director Boot Camp
3. Take Notes with Balmages and Bernotas
4. Up First from NPR
5. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

How many episodes of The Growing Band Director are there?

The Growing Band Director launched 4 years ago and published 417 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Growing Band Director?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Growing Band Director?

Recent guests on The Growing Band Director include:

1. Philip Walters
2. Larry Clark
3. Marc Whitlock
4. Tom Snow
5. Craig Skeffington
6. Lincoln Rowe
7. Travis Weller
8. Rachel Allen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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