

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

Nov 11, 2024 • 58min
211 Conduct Your Students Effectively with Trae Blanco
Trae Blanco is the Director of Bands at Butler University, and joins the show to discuss some practical conducting challenges and solutions to help you become the best conductor for your students.
Look Like Their Sound - Presentation
Carl St. Clair Ted Talk - Innovation Whispers
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!

Nov 4, 2024 • 1h 3min
210 The Bandwagon Crossover with Rob Hammerton
Kyle sits down with fellow band podcaster Rob Hammerton for a session that is also available, in part, on his podcast Bandwagon. We have a talk that includes information on both podcasts, what brought each of us to hosting a band podcast, and helpful tips on improving as a band director.
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!

Oct 28, 2024 • 1h 12min
209 Teaching for Musical Independence with Scott Jones
We often teach our students to follow directions to a point where they produce quality performances, but could we do anything different as band directors to help our students be more independent? Scott Jones joins the show to discuss!
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!

Oct 21, 2024 • 49min
207 Guitar for Band Directors with Brian Rabuse
A poorly set up guitar or guitar amp can ruin the sound of any band! In this episode you will learn from a veteran band director and guitar player what sort of guitars and amps will work best for your situation, as well as tips to help your guitar players work within your rhythm section to enhance what is happening in your band already!
Teaching Guitar in the Classroom
Jazz Chord Voicings
Basic Chord Forms
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!

Oct 14, 2024 • 58min
206 1% Better - Creating Small Habits for Better Results with Tim Hendrix
Tim Hendrix is the band director at Bentonville HS (AR) and gives us some details and processes on how to set goals for your program, what is beneficial to focus on and what isn't, and ways to enjoy the journey we are all on!
1% Better - Creating Small Habits for Better Results
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!

Oct 10, 2024 • 37min
205 Creating a Culture of Excellence in Your Second Ensemble with Will Parker
Do you treat all ensembles with equal importance? Do all students receive the same care of instruction and similar performance opportunities? Will Parker is the Associate Director of Bands and Bainbridge HS in Bainbridge, GA and he joins the show to share strategies around this very topic.
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!

Oct 7, 2024 • 54min
204 Creating a Perennial Culture of Excellence in an Annual World with Joel Denton
Legendary retired band director Joel Denton (Ooltawah HS, TN) joins the show to discuss the biggest task of a band director - creating a continuing, or perennial, culture in your band. Through his time as a band director (37 years) he learned many ways to grow the culture in his bands, and shares how his collaboration with some of the great band directors in history helped form the culture at Ooltewah HS while he was there. Fascinating!
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!

Oct 3, 2024 • 56min
208 The Voice of Clark Terry with Chris Humphrey
Clark Terry was the most influencial jazz educator in history, and his music and message are being kept alive by Chris Humphrey in his albums The Voice of Clark Terry Vol 1 and Vol 2. These albums take the solos and melodies of Clark Terry and put them to lyrics (by lyricist Les Harris Jr.) and recorded by a world class rhythm section and 7 trumpet players that Clark Terry had an impact on. This discussion spans all of this, as well as jazz education topics for all educators.
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!

Sep 30, 2024 • 1h 28min
200 Mentor, Composer, Friend with Craig Skeffington
Kyle's high school band director, mentor and friend, Craig Skeffington is known worldwide as a composer of great jazz ensemble music. Craig sits down to share some of his charts (complete with score and sound.). We also have a wide ranging conversation covering topics from starting at a program as a new teacher, to using your own personal strengths as your best way to model for your students, to what his ideal final concert will look like!
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!

Sep 26, 2024 • 1h 1min
203 Teaching and Parenting with Anne and Ben Chambers
Anne and Ben Chambers are a husband/wife team of band directors who co-teach grades 7-12 at Light of Christ Catholic Schools in Bismark, ND.
They join Kyle and Krystle (also a husband and wife team of band directors) for a conversation surrounding co-teaching, balancing teaching with being a parent, running a cohesive program that spans multiple schools, and so much more!
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!


