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The Growing Band Director

Kyle Smith
Music Education
Jazz Education
Band Directing
Student Engagement
Education
Improvisation
Jazz Band
Marching Band
Teaching Strategies
Band Directors
Rhythm Section
Beginning Band
Mentorship
Concert Band
Excelsior Music Publishing
Band Culture
Folk Music
Percussion Education
Composition
Student Leadership

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes464Founded5 years ago
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Education

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Artwork for The Growing Band Director

Latest Episodes

Teaching Latin Jazz Drums in an Authentic Way for Band Directors handout

GBD Jazz Education Podcast Playlist

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To gain access to all show notes and audio files please Subscribe to the podcast and consider supporting the show on... more

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 Prese... 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

Our miss... 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

Our mission is to share practical advice ... more

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Band BFFsKatie Lewis and Laura Bell

Recent Guests

Chadwick Kamei
Educator and band director based in Hawaii who discussed Hawaiian band culture, ABA connections, and cross-cultural artistic projects
University of Hawaii, UH West Oahu (context in discussion)
Episode: 378 Exploring New Music While Honoring the Past with Chadwick Kamei
Bobby Moriarty
Long Island band director teaching at Mount Sinai High School
Mount Sinai High School
Episode: 374 You Are Stronger Than You Think : Getting Back To Yourself with Bobby Moriarty
Audrey Murphy
Rhythm education specialist
GIA-related resources (referenced)
Episode: 362 Teaching Rhythm Using Body Percussion with Audrey Murphy and Holly Lloyd
Jacob Lamontagne
Band director at South Portland High School
South Portland High School
Episode: 375 Keys to Success for New Teachers with Jacob Lamontagne
Mike Collins-Dowden
Composer and teacher featured as the guest on the episode.
Episode: 216 Customize Music for Your Students with Mike Collins-Dowden
Rob Westerberg
Music educator and band director, Hall of Fame-recognized figure
Episode: 376 I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now with Rob Westerberg
Holly Lloyd
Guest and band director sharing personal experiences and teaching tips
(not explicitly stated)
Episode: 357 One Liners That Work in Your Band Room with William Kilgore and Holly Lloyd
Daniel Fitzgerald
From Faith Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia; guest on a follow-up Q&A about beginner band setup
Faith Baptist Church
Episode: 371 Setting Up Your Beginners : A Follow Up with Krystle Smith, Erin Folk and Daniel Fitzgerald
Erin Folk
From Faith Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia; co-presenter discussing curriculum integration and classroom management
Faith Baptist Church
Episode: 371 Setting Up Your Beginners : A Follow Up with Krystle Smith, Erin Folk and Daniel Fitzgerald

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 69 ratings
  • Great Information l

    Love the content provided. Can be used for any experience that band directors may have.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WWGuy21
    United Statesa month ago
  • 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 States3 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 States3 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 States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive, practical resource for instrumental music education.
Guests and hosts receive high regard for actionable insights and supportive community.
Listeners praise longevity-focused, thoughtful conversations and community.
Great for listeners seeking actionable tips and mentor-like guidance.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

378 Exploring New Music While Honoring the Past with Chadwick Kamei
Q: Why commission a ukulele concerto for Jake Shimabukuro and what does that mean for Hawaiian music on the world stage?
The idea aims to highlight Hawaii's distinct musical identity by featuring ukulele on major stages, leveraging Jake Shimabukuro's prominence to attract attention and inspire broader recognition of Hawaiian music globally.
378 Exploring New Music While Honoring the Past with Chadwick Kamei
Q: What's it like to host the ABA conference in Hawaii in 2028 and partner with the Japan Bandmasters?
It's presented as a significant opportunity to share cultures, boost collaboration, and bring together Hawaiian and Japanese band communities in a high-profile event that could deepen both sides' musical connections.
374 You Are Stronger Than You Think : Getting Back To Yourself with Bobby Moriarty
Q: How can directors build confidence in their abilities without constantly seeking external validation?
Collect small wins as evidence of capability, reflect on past long-term successes, and consciously separate personal worth from performance outcomes.
374 You Are Stronger Than You Think : Getting Back To Yourself with Bobby Moriarty
Q: What practical steps can a director take to avoid burnout at the start of a new school year?
Prioritize tasks, schedule recovery time, and create short daily routines for rest and detach from work when possible; use lists and explicit boundaries around time and commitments.
374 You Are Stronger Than You Think : Getting Back To Yourself with Bobby Moriarty
Q: How does tying self-worth to concert outcomes affect a band director's approach to teaching and leadership?
It makes outcomes feel personal and fragile, leading to over-identification with the band's success or failure; recognizing this helps shift focus to process, boundaries, and rest.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

Practical, practitioner-focused conversations for band directors and music-education students. Episodes cover repertoire programming, classroom management, rehearsal techniques, burnout prevention, Solo and Ensemble logistics, and jazz pedagogy, often featuring experienced educators and authors who bring real-world workflows, tips, and proven strategies. The show stands out for short, actionable tips alongside deeper dives, sponsor-supported teaching aids, and a strong emphasis on student engagement, mentoring, and sustainable teaching careers.

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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. After Sectionals
3. That Band Life
4. Band Director Boot Camp
5. Band BFFs

How many episodes of The Growing Band Director are there?

The Growing Band Director launched 5 years ago and published 464 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Growing Band Director?

Recent guests on The Growing Band Director include:

1. Chadwick Kamei
2. Bobby Moriarty
3. Audrey Murphy
4. Jacob Lamontagne
5. Mike Collins-Dowden
6. Rob Westerberg
7. Holly Lloyd
8. Daniel Fitzgerald

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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