

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

Jan 2, 2025 • 34min
224 Midwest Connection with Larry Clark, Tony Susi and Steven Rosenhaus
While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with Larry Clark, composer and owner of Excelcia Music, as well as composer/educators Tony Susi (also from episodes 88 and 174) and Steven Rosenhaus.
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 30, 2024 • 1h 17min
217 Programming Repertoire for Your Students with Joshua Wine
Joshua Wine is the Director of Bands at Auburn Junior High School in Auburn, Alabama. He joins the show to share helpful insights to programming for your band, as well as specific examples that he has had success with.
Joshua Wine's
Programming Handout
Suggested Repertoire for Developing Band
GBDPlaylists of Programming Examples
The Growing Band Director Podcast Composer Interview Series (30 videos)
Concert Repertoire (20 videos)
Jazz Repertoire (10 videos)
Festival Repertoire Grades 1-2 (8 videos)
Festival Repertoire Grades 3-5 (3 videos)
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 26, 2024 • 36min
223 Connecting with Students and the Use of AI with Jared Cassedy and Elisa Janson Jones
While at the Midwest Band Clinic we sat down for spontaneous conversations with music educators in person at the Exceclia Music Booth. In this episode we connect with Jared Cassedy, Grammy Music Educator winner (MA) and Elisa Janson Jones from The Music Teacher Guild.
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 23, 2024 • 57min
216 Customize Music for Your Students with Mike Collins Dowden
Mike Collins Dowden is a beginning band teacher as well as published composer of jazz and concert music. Hear his story on how he started writing for his students, and the encouragement for teachers to do the same. Hear practical ways and reasons to arrange music for your students.
We also listen to five of his pieces for jazz and concert band with score and sound!
The Overlooked Rewards of Composing for Student Ensembles
Band Rocks! Band Method by Michael Collins Dowden
(Print Copies)
Band Rocks! Band Method By Michael Collins Dowden
(Direct Download)
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 19, 2024 • 28min
222 Using Holiday Music to Teach Time Signatures
Whatever your teaching situation, exposing your students to time signatures other than 4/4 is essential. In this episode we explore five 6/8, cut time and multi-meter pieces that do just that, in a fun and audience-friendly way that your students will love!
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 16, 2024 • 58min
215 Composer Connection with Chris Sharp
Chris Sharp is a composer and arranger out of Virginia and has works for concert and jazz band published with many companies. He also has his own company, Csharpmusic.net and he joins the show with advice for band directors and to discuss 5 of his works for Grades 2-4.
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 9, 2024 • 57min
221 Midwest Jazz Preview with Don Zentz
Don Zentz has been teaching for 40 years and is taking Douglas Anderson School for the Arts to Midwest in 2024. He also serves on the Midwest Clinic Board, so he is the perfect guest to have on leading up to Midwest 2024!
Check out zentz.org - where you will find his full repertoire list, and many other resources for teachers, including presentations he has done at midwest and other conferences over the years.
Don's Grade 1-2 Big Band Charts Quick Links
On A Misty Night - Terry White
Fat Cat - Doug Beach
Big Band Theory - Vince Gassi
Soft and Easy - Terry White
Jive Samba - Terry White
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 2, 2024 • 1h 4min
220 Midwest Preview - Rouse HS with Ryan Johnstone
Ryan Johnstone is the Band Director at Rouse High School in Leeander ISD, TX and he joins the show to discuss the upcoming performance at Midwest with his students. He gives insight to the selection process, the requirements of a progam that might participate in Midwest, as well as the program his students will be performing on Thursday, Dec 19 at 3pm.
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 30, 2024 • 34min
Ep 222 - Holiday Jazz Repertoire Grades 1-3
A re-release from a 2023 episode - we share charts that you can use during the holiday season - now or in the future to help your group swing!
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 28, 2024 • 43min
214 Japanese Wind Band Music with Nick Pierce
Nick Pierce joins the show as we discuss some of the history of Japanese wind band music, as well and aspects of the Japanese culture that helps them excel. We also listen to five pieces from the Japanese wind band canon you could do with your school band! Grades 1-5
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!


