

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

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!

Sep 23, 2024 • 1h 15min
199 Encouraging Others with Travis Weller
Travis Weller (Messiah University) is a composer and educator. He joins the show to share so much wisdom for our profession, and we listen to some of his spectacular music that you can perform with your students.
Travis J Weller
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 19, 2024 • 47min
198 Elementary By Choice with Joe Wright
Joe Wright has taught every grade of music from K-Collegiate. He joins the show for a conversation about his choice to be an elementary band director - why this choice is right for him - and qualities that are needed to be a teacher of elementary 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!

Sep 16, 2024 • 1h 1min
197 Rick Stitzel-The Essence of Swing
Rick Stitzel is one of the best writers and arrangers for jazz ensemble that we have. He joins the show to share his experiences and charts. Featured are arrangements of great standard tunes for your jazz ensemble as well as original works available through Rickstitzelmusic.com
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 12, 2024 • 52min
202 Middle School Band with Make Music Cloud - Philip Walters
Philip Walters is a middle school band director in Anchorage, Alaska. He joins the show to discuss the age level that is middle school - how to teach them and what to expect from them. As a Make Music Cloud user (formally known as Smart Music) he walks us through ways that he uses it with his classroom. A wide ranging conversation covering so many band topics!
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 9, 2024 • 43min
196 Superior Middle School Band with Linda Gammon
A veteran teacher and mentor to many in Fairfax County (VA) and beyond, Linda Gammon joins the show to unpack some of the keys to help your young band sound truly superior!
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 5, 2024 • 59min
195 Grow Your Teaching with Rob Westerberg
Rob Westerberg appeared on the show in 2023 in an episode entitled 98 - Teaching Analytically where he discusses the benefits of teaching your students to think analytically. This time he returns to unpack even more from this approach, as well as discuss the role of conductor vs teacher and so many ways we can grow as music teachers.
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 2, 2024 • 1h 7min
184 Authentic Afro-Latin Jazz Styles and Charts for Your Band (with rehearsal tips) with Michele Fernandez
From Bossa and Samba to Cha Cha Cha, Bolero, Rumba, Mambo, Son Montuno and Merengque Michele Fernandez joins us to help band directors teach Afro-Latin Jazz Music more effectively. We learn which countries each style originates from, study characteristics in each one, and listen to examples from Michele's music.
This episode is also available in short segments by style on The Growing Band Director Youtube channel.
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!


