

The Growing Band Director
Kyle Smith
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
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 19, 2025 • 50min
(103) Getting to the Music Faster with Strong Fundamentals Throwback with Laurie Zentz
Learn from a seasoned educator about her approach to teaching beginning band, and how it helps with engagement, knowledge and achievement!
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 coming years.
Connect with us with comments or ideas
Follow the show:
Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.com
On Youtube The Growing Band Director
Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast Group
Instagram @thegrowingbanddirector
Tik Tok @thegrowingbanddirector
If you like what you hear please:
Leave a Five Star Review and
Share us with another band director!

Apr 17, 2025 • 45min
255 Festival Repertoire for Concert Band Part Three with Melissa Shabo
Join Kyle and Melissa 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!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.comOur 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.Connect with us with comments or ideasFollow the show:Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.comOn Youtube The Growing Band Director Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast GroupInstagram @thegrowingbanddirectorTik Tok @thegrowingbanddirectorIf you like what you hear please:Leave a Five Star Review and Share us with another band director!

Apr 14, 2025 • 58min
246 Field Show Design with Brian Joyce and Mark Waymire
How do you make the important choices for your marching band that will set them up for success during the season? Do you compete in competitions? Do you perform at football games? Do you buy a stock show, or custom design one for yourself? What are your tools and what type of show is right for your students right now?These are all questions that band directors ask themselves each year. Brian Joyce from South Jones HS, MS, and Mark Waymire, veteran educator, show designer and judge join the show to shed some light on ways to help set up your students for success.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.comOur 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.Connect with us with comments or ideasFollow the show:Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.comOn Youtube The Growing Band Director Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast GroupInstagram @thegrowingbanddirectorTik Tok @thegrowingbanddirectorIf you like what you hear please:Leave a Five Star Review and Share us with another band director!

Apr 12, 2025 • 58min
(107) Creating a Jazz Culture at Beloit HS, and Essentially Ellington Throwback with Chris Behrens
As the band director at one of the top HS jazz programs in the country (Beloit HS-Wisconsin), Chris Behrens shares many aspects of building this culture in YOUR school - including a score study session on two Duke Ellington charts, as well as participating in the Essentially Ellington Festival and all the other aspects that go into their top notch jazz 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.comOur 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.Connect with us with comments or ideasFollow the show:Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.comOn Youtube The Growing Band Director Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast GroupInstagram @thegrowingbanddirectorTik Tok @thegrowingbanddirectorIf you like what you hear please:Leave a Five Star Review and Share us with another band director!

Apr 10, 2025 • 32min
258 Why You Should Program Transcriptions Part Two
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.
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 coming years.
Connect with us with comments or ideas
Follow the show:
Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.com
On Youtube The Growing Band Director
Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast Group
Instagram @thegrowingbanddirector
Tik Tok @thegrowingbanddirector
If you like what you hear please:
Leave a Five Star Review and
Share us with another band director!

Apr 7, 2025 • 51min
245 Using Folk Songs in Band Repertoire with Gene Milford
The use of folk songs in the band classrooms is very important to help them learn history! Gene Milford is one of the finest composers of our time uses folk songs all the time, and he joined the show to discuss many of his works for band!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.comOur 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.Connect with us with comments or ideasFollow the show:Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.comOn Youtube The Growing Band Director Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast GroupInstagram @thegrowingbanddirectorTik Tok @thegrowingbanddirectorIf you like what you hear please:Leave a Five Star Review and Share us with another band director!

Apr 5, 2025 • 60min
(102) Planning your Students Year Throwback with Tiffany Hitz
Through Curriculum Mapping, the use of Companion Guides, and a thorough approach to programming, learn the techniques used by a Master Teacher - Tiffany Hitz from Fairfax County, VA.
Tips for Mentoring
Companion Guide Example (Tiffany Hitz)
Example Curriculum Map (Tiffany Hitz)
Songs in 6/8 Part 1 (Kyle Smith)
Songs in 6/8 Part 2 (Kyle Smith)
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 coming years.
Connect with us with comments or ideas
Follow the show:
Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.com
On Youtube The Growing Band Director
Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast Group
Instagram @thegrowingbanddirector
Tik Tok @thegrowingbanddirector
If you like what you hear please:
Leave a Five Star Review and
Share us with another band director!

Apr 3, 2025 • 48min
254 Gr 1-3 Jazz Festival Rep with Julius Tolentino Part 2
Selection of repertoire for your jazz band is essential for a successful festival season. In this 3 part series hear 27 charts for grades 1-3 that work tremendously.
Each chart is discussed and an audio sample is provided, as well as background and teaching tips for each chart.
Each episode includes:
3 charts as a Grade 1 set
3 charts as a Grade 2 set
3 charts as a Grade 3 set
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 coming years.
Connect with us with comments or ideas
Follow the show:
Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.com
On Youtube The Growing Band Director
Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast Group
Instagram @thegrowingbanddirector
Tik Tok @thegrowingbanddirector
If you like what you hear please:
Leave a Five Star Review and
Share us with another band director!

Mar 31, 2025 • 42min
244 Replacing a Legendary Teacher with Patrick Towey
Starting a new job as a band director is not an easy task. There are many decisions in the short and long term that need to be calculated. No matter how experienced you are, you will make mistakes. Patrick Towey joins the show to help us navigate some solutions and avoid some pitfalls 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 https://thegrowingbanddirector.comOur 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.Connect with us with comments or ideasPodcast Website https://Thegrowingbanddirector.comYoutube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg8yE0tT7HXVQW6vAyKXlSw Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1197885914386437/?ref=shareInstagram https://www.instagram.com/thegrowingbanddirector/Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrowingbanddirectorIf you like what you hear please:Leave a Five Star Review and Share us with another band director!

Mar 29, 2025 • 1h 38min
(87) Advanced Rehearsal Techniques for Wind Band and Jazz Band Throwback with Jeff Leonard
Hear from one of New England's most legendary band directors. Jeff Leonard spent 35 years in the Lexington Schools as K-12 Coordinator and Band Director. Now teaching at BU and Berklee, hear some of the ways to improve as a teacher in both the classical and jazz realm.
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 coming years.
Connect with us with comments or ideas
Follow the show:
Podcast website : Thegrowingbanddirector.com
On Youtube The Growing Band Director
Facebook-The Growing Band Director Podcast Group
Instagram @thegrowingbanddirector
Tik Tok @thegrowingbanddirector
If you like what you hear please:
Leave a Five Star Review and
Share us with another band director!


