The Growing Band Director

Kyle Smith
undefined
Feb 14, 2026 • 34min

181 Basie for Young Band

The music of Count Basie is essential to any jazz education, so we bring you sound and score recordings of 9 essential charts for young bands (Grade 1-2.5).Learn some history about each chart along the way!Support the Show HereTo 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!
undefined
Feb 12, 2026 • 14min

318 Colonel John Bourgeois

Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with past conductor (1979-1996) of the President's Own Marine Band, Colonel John Bourgeois.⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠To 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!
undefined
Feb 9, 2026 • 31min

326 Setting Goals for Your Program with Aaron Noe

⁠Support the Show Here⁠Band Director's Goal Setting PlannerAaron Noe from Greensboro College and windconductor.org joins the show to give advice as to how to build a band program through setting and achieve goals.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!
undefined
Feb 7, 2026 • 1h 1min

174 Rhythm Section Techniques with Anthony Susi

All four of the rhythm section instruments (Piano, Guitar, Bass and Drums) get covered in a very thorough way during this converation with Anthony Susi.Anthony is a proficient rhythm section player, veteran band director, adjudicator and composer - and brings his expertise to the show to help you improve your rhythm section!Support the Show HereTo 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!
undefined
Feb 5, 2026 • 18min

317 Michael Sweeney and Brian Rhodes

Kyle sits down at the Excelcia Music Publishing booth at Midwest 2025 with Michael Sweeney (retired editor and composer at Hal Leonard) about writing for young band and what he is doing in his retirement - and Brian Rhodes (Band Director at Booneville HS, AR and owner of Twin Towers Publishing Company⁠⁠Support the Show Here⁠⁠To 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!
undefined
Feb 2, 2026 • 1h 10min

325 Effective Ways to Conduct and Inspire Your Students with Frank Ticheli

Support the Show HereHear from one of the world's leading composers on ways that you can be an effective conductor for your students, and inspire them on a daily basis. You will also hear from Frank about some of his newer pieces, as well as advice he has for younger composers.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!
undefined
Jan 31, 2026 • 55min

187 Habits of a Successful Band Director with Scott Rush

I was honored to meet with one of the most influential band directors in the country- the great Scott Rush! We spent and hour discussing many aspects from the Habits Series of method books and band director guide paperback books, as well as things he did while at the Wando Bands to grow the culture and the program- as well as what it really means as he looks back on it!Support the Show HereTo 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!
undefined
Jan 29, 2026 • 21min

316 Dennis Llinas and Mark Casperson

Mark Casperson, a Plano East band educator and inventor of the Tuner Caddy, champions daily personal tuner use to build listening and ensemble sound. Dennis Llinas, University of Oregon director and composer of Latin-flavored works, discusses writing authentic salsa-inspired pieces and workshop videos to support student learning. They talk tuner-driven rehearsal habits, repertoire choices, student ownership, and balancing accessibility with cultural authenticity.
undefined
Jan 26, 2026 • 1h 6min

333 Festival Prep with Krystle Smith and Mike Perez

⁠Support the Show Here⁠Krystle hosts Mike Perez (Mastering The Young Band )for a discussion on ways to ensure success for your students as you are gearing up for your festival performance!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!
undefined
Jan 24, 2026 • 43min

251 Festival Repertoire for Concert Band Part One with Melissa Shabo

Join Kyle and Missy 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!Support the Show HereTo 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!

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app