

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

Dec 8, 2025 • 1h 23min
300 Carol Brittin Chambers - Composer Spotlight
Carol Brittin Chambers joins Kyle to discuss some of her most popular pieces, as well as some of her brand new works for musicians of all ages! They also discuss practical solutions for marching band and concert band from the band director perspective.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!

Dec 6, 2025 • 44min
(59) Six Stellar Pieces of Music YOUR Students Should Know Throwback
Six pieces of music (Three for Concert Band and Three for Jazz Band) that your students would benefit from working on and performing!
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!

Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 6min
303 Midwest Preview with Tim Hendrix of Bentonville HS (AR)
Bentonville High School made Top 12 at Bands of America Grand Nationals in November, and are performing at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago in December! Their director, Tim Hendrix, joins the show to discuss the journey they went on, as well as preview their program for Midwest and discuss the process for their students.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!

Nov 29, 2025 • 47min
(156) Commissioning Music for Beginning Band Throwback with Del Hubers and Ron Stary
Ron Stary interviews Del Hubers - a veteran teacher of 39 years who has made it a mission to get more music written for beginning band! Hear his process, philosophies and some of the pieces that have been written recently!
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 24, 2025 • 1h 6min
299 Band BFFs Crossover with Laura Bell and Katie Lewis
Band BFFs Podcast creators Laura and Katie join Kyle to share about their score study based podcast that analyzes grade 1-3 pieces of music for band to help other band directors choose repertoire for their students, and to help them understand and teach the pieces the best way possible.BandBFFs PodcastTo 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!

Nov 22, 2025 • 38min
(175) Edge of Your Seat Rehearsals Throwback with Matthew Arau
Dr. Matthew Arau, founder of Upbeat Global and author focused on leadership and rehearsal engagement. He explores the 'upbeat' as mindset, techniques to keep every student involved, and kinesthetic tools like air-and-fingers and the pong hand game. Topics include pacing, subdivision, creative percussion roles, singing and speaking parts, and five levels of listening.

Nov 17, 2025 • 44min
298 Success In the Interview Process with Steve Nendza
Steve Nendza (snendza@d142.org) is a past band director and current principal. He joins Kyle to discuss advice for people interviewing for their first, or next, teaching position.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!

Nov 15, 2025 • 47min
(92) When Students Don’t Seem to Want to Improve Throwback with Tyler Ehrlich
As band directors, so many times we come across students who are not as motivated as we were as students. Music Educator and Doctoral Student Tyler Ehrlich has written in "Upbeat" as well as on tylerehrlich.com on just this - and shares many practical tips to helping foster these students in your 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.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 10, 2025 • 54min
294 The Pursuit of Excellence-A Band Director's Guide to Success with Sally Wagner
Sally Wagner taught band for 40 years, including 34 years at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland. She joins Kyle to discuss :Motivation - Your Best Feeder SystemThe Adjudication ChecklistCommon Things Adjudicators Sayfrom her book The Pursuit of Excellence-A Band Director's Guide to Success with Sally WagnerTo 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!

Nov 8, 2025 • 51min
(67) Concert Programming for Success Throwback with Dr. Onsby Rose
90% of success happens before the first note of the first rehearsal, because of the literature you select for your students.
Dr. Onsby Rose joins Kyle for a discussion about programming for your 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!


