

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 18, 2025 • 1h 35min
Midwest 2025 Day 1
Great guests include:Kameron Durr, Jackson Smith, Aaron Noe, Heather Hastings, John McAllister andDan AustinTo 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 15, 2025 • 54min
Ep 301 Successful Beginner Practices with Mike Perez
Mike Perez, a Fort Collins middle school band director who specializes in beginning band pedagogy, shares practical classroom systems and fun engagement ideas. He covers instrument placement routines, small-room adjustments, using mirrors to fix embouchure, starting percussion on mallets, pacing the first weeks, and creative motivators like Band Wars and a summer carnival.

Dec 13, 2025 • 28min
(166) Arranging with a Full Band Throwback with Jake Sturtevant
Learn about this great process to arrange a piece of music with your full band class! Jake Sturtevant has been doing this project with this ensembles for over a decade and knows how invested students get in the process, the outcome, and how much ownership they take over it!
Project Overview Paperwork
Jake's Website
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 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!


