Program Notes: The Beginning Band Director Podcast

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So, you’re finishing school or you’ve signed a contract. While other new band directors are just trying to survive that first year, what can you do to thrive? Each episode will give you direct, usable information based on actual experiences relevant to your needs as a future or beginning band direct…

John M. Denis


    • Dec 7, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 106 EPISODES

    5 from 57 ratings Listeners of Program Notes: The Beginning Band Director Podcast that love the show mention: intonation, denis, directors, band, teacher, dr, ideas, tips, information, new, great, love.


    Ivy Insights

    The Program Notes: The Beginning Band Director Podcast is a fantastic resource for band directors at all levels of teaching experience. From the very first episode, it is clear that this podcast is filled with valuable advice and tips that can greatly benefit any band teacher. Whether you are a new high school band director or an experienced educator, this podcast should be required listening.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the wealth of information and resources available to listeners. Each episode is packed with great tips, ideas, and strategies that can be implemented in the classroom immediately. The host, Dr. Denis, provides specific and actionable advice rather than vague overarching concepts. This is especially helpful for new teachers who are in survival mode and need practical tips to navigate their first years as a band director.

    Furthermore, the guests featured on this podcast are top professionals in the field of music education. Dr. Denis engages these experts in thoughtful discussions on various pedagogical topics. This not only provides different perspectives and insights but also allows listeners to hear from experienced educators who have successfully dealt with various situations in their own careers.

    The episodes are well-structured and easy to follow, making it accessible for both new and experienced teachers. Additionally, the 30-minute time frame of each episode is perfect for busy educators who may not have much spare time to dedicate to listening to podcasts.

    While it's difficult to find any negative aspects about this podcast, one potential drawback could be that some of the concepts discussed may be familiar to more experienced educators. However, even for those individuals, hearing these ideas presented in different ways can serve as helpful reminders or refreshers.

    Overall, The Program Notes: The Beginning Band Director Podcast is an invaluable resource for both new and experienced band directors. It offers practical advice, valuable insights from industry professionals, and a wealth of resources that can positively impact classroom instruction and student learning outcomes. I highly recommend this podcast to anyone involved in teaching band.



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    Latest episodes from Program Notes: The Beginning Band Director Podcast

    Episode 104: Lynn Brinckmeyer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 58:23


    On this episode I'm joined by Lynn Brinckmeyer to talk about getting through the early stages of your career and making the switch to cover vocal music in the classroom. She's asked me to share her contact info here, so you can reach her at either lynnbrinckmeyer@gmail.com or lbrinckmeyer@txstate.edu.

    Episode 103: Jeff King

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 66:25


    In this episode I'm joined by Jeff King, extremely successful band director, fine arts administrator, and author of the popular Foundations for Superior Performance in Band books to talk about what administrators look for in a new employee, rehearsal strategies, and more.

    Episode 102 - Kyle Smith

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 62:39


    On this episode Kyle Smith and I have a great chat about band, and tips for young teachers. Kyle is an excellent band director and fellow podcaster out of Maine. 

    Episode 101: Adam Chitta

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 54:01


    In this episode Adam Chitta talks about working with deaf and hearing impaired students in band. Personal email: adamchitta@gmail.com Facebook Group link (Music is for ALL in our Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Community): https://www.facebook.com/groups/3543764315895855/ Soundbrenner Metronome referral link: https://snbr.io/adam-chitta  Midwest Clinic details: https://www.midwestclinic.org/2023_clinician_Edward_Ercilla Texas Health and Human Services - Deaf Tuition Waiver: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/disability/deaf-hard-hearing/tuition-waiver

    Episode 100: Student Teaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2023 44:00


    In this episode, I share my thoughts about how to have a successful student teaching experience. 

    Episode 99: Jarrett Lipman - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 35:20


    In these episodes, I'm joined by Jarrett Lipman, head band director at Claudia Taylor Johnson HS in North East ISD. 

    Episode 98: Jarrett Lipman - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 32:08


    In these episodes, I'm joined by Jarrett Lipman, head band director at Claudia Taylor Johnson HS in North East ISD. 

    Episode 97: Caroline Beatty - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2022 39:27


    In these episodes I'm joined by Caroline Beatty, Director of Bands at Texas State University, to talk about conducting, rehearsing, and repertoire. 

    Episode 96: Caroline Beatty - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2022 27:00


    In these episodes I'm joined by Caroline Beatty, Director of Bands at Texas State University, to talk about conducting, rehearsing, and repertoire. 

    Episode 95: Matthew McInturf - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2022 41:48


    In these episodes, I sit down with Dr. McInturf to talk about theory and practice in the band classroom.

    Episode 94: Matthew McInturf - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2022 33:51


    In these episodes, I sit down with Dr. McInturf to talk about theory and practice in the band classroom.

    Episode 93: Beginning Band Crash Course

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2022 38:51


    In this episode, I talk about tips for having a successful year with your beginning band students.

    Episode 91: Fred Allen - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 44:18


    The second part of my chat with Fred Allen. 

    Episode 91: Fred Allen - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 46:34


    Part one of my chat with Fred Allen, retired band director and university professor.

    Episode 90: Lynne Jackson - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 21:00


    The final part of my chat with Lynne Jackson, touching upon tuba, percussion, and what young teachers need to know.  

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    Episode 89: Lynne Jackson - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 29:37


    We continue our discussion with Lynne Jackson about starting beginners, focusing on trumpet and horn. 

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    Episode 88: Lynne Jackson - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 32:14


    In the first of this series of episodes, Lynne discusses key concepts for flute and clarinet that lead to beginner's success.

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    Episode 87 - Work-Life Balance

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2021 30:52


    A quick chat about maintaining a good balance between work and the rest of life.

    Episode 86 - Getting the Most Out of Conferences

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2021 24:31


    In this episode, I offer 7 tips for making the most of conferences this year.

    Episode 85: Cindy Lansford - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 30:37


    In our second episode, Cindy Lansford talks about planning, mentoring, and successful teaching.

    Episode 84: Cindy Lansford - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 23:58


    In this series, we have Cindy Lansford on to talk about the importance of tone, careful instruction, and helping students learn.

    Episode 83: Jason Prasifka - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2021 25:34


    Part two of my talk with Jason Prasifka about the importance of instrumental pedagogy and fundamental instruction.

    Episode 82: Jason Prasifka - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2021 27:40


    I'm joined by Jason Prasifka, high school band director in the North Dallas area to talk about the importance of instrumental pedagogy and fundamental instruction.

    Episode 81 - Starting over in a Pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2021 35:09


    This is a standalone episode where I share my thoughts about starting over after the fun that has been COVID. I discuss culture, instruction, classroom management, and mental health as all important considerations for our return to rehearsals.

    Episode 80: Carter Biggers - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2021 36:25


    In part two of my chat with Carter, we talk programing, competition, and tips for starting out.

    Episode 79: Carter Biggers - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 24:19


    Carter Biggers joins me for this series to talk about programing, score study, and general band stuff.

    Episode 78: Liz Love - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 27:54


    The final episode of this series with Liz Love, middle school band director extraordinaire where we talk about teaching in a pandemic, being student-centered, and having fun in the classroom.    

    Episode 77: Liz Love - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2021 26:14


    On this series of episodes, I'm joined by Liz Love, middle school band director extraordinaire to talk about teaching in a pandemic, being student-centered, and having fun in the classroom.

    Episode 76: Liz Love - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 25:31


    On this series of episodes, I'm joined by Liz Love, middle school band director extraordinaire to talk about teaching in a pandemic, being student-centered, and having fun in the classroom.

    Episode 75: Tiffiny Reckley - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2021 20:51


    In our final episode with Tiffiny Reckley we discuss her advice to young music educators and being a lifelong learner.

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    Episode 74: Tiffiny Reckley - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2021 25:09


    In this series of episodes, Tiffiny Reckley joins me to talk about teaching in urban environments, the rewards, and challenges as well as tips for having success.

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    Episode 73: Tiffiny Reckley - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2021 30:11


    In this series of episodes Tiffiny Reckley joins me to talk about teaching in urban environments, the rewards and challenges as well as tips for having success.

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    Episode 72: Jerry Junkin - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 25:58


    Our second episode with the incomparable Jerry Junkin, where he shares his insights and thoughts on directing bands.

    Episode 71: Jerry Junkin - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2020 36:22


    Jerry Junkin, famous wind band conductor, joins us to talk about mentorship and teaching expression (among other things).

    Episode 70: Dan Morrison - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2020 22:35


    Part 2 with Dan Morrison as we talk about building a culture of positivity, communication, and doing what works.

    Episode 69: Dan Morrison - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2020 28:26


    In this series of episodes Dan Morrison joins me to talk about building a culture of positivity, communication, and doing what works.

    Episode 68: Melodianne Mallow - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2020 31:03


    Our final episode with the amazing Melodianne Mallow, where we wrap up her thoughts on the most important things for a beginning band director to know.

    Episode 66: Melodianne Mallow - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2020 31:53


    The second part in our series with Melodianne Mallow, long time band director in the DFW area, where we talk about what young directors need to know to teach beginners well and what is necessary for success at the middle school level.

    Episode 66: Melodianne Mallow - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 27:12


    In this series we welcome Melodianne Mallow, long time band director in the DFW area, and we talk about what young directors need to know to teach beginners well and what is necessary for success at the middle school level.

    Episode 65: COVID-19 Thoughts - August 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2020 32:10


    I wanted to take some time and discuss what we no about COVID and how we can be safe in the band hall in the 2020-2021 school year. This is not medical/legal advice, but just my attempts to report on research with some commentary thrown in there.

    Episode 65: Bobby Lambert - Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2020 24:10


    In our final episode with Bobby Lambert, head director at Wando High School, we discuss literature, fundamentals, and chamber ensembles.

    Episode 64: Bobby Lambert - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2020 25:29


    Our second episode in the series with Wando High School head director Bobby Lambert. In this episode we talk about the selecting literature and the importance of fundamentals.

    Episode 63: Bobby Lambert - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2020 27:57


    Bobby Lambert is the head band director at Wando High School in South Carolina. His groups have performed at the Midwest Clinic and various BOA events. In this episode we discuss learning from mistakes and finding success as a young director.

    Episode 61: Perspectives with Peyton Grover and Shane Lemanski - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2020 27:02


    In the second part of our annual perspectives series, Peyton and Shane talk about distance learning, student independence, and the importance of relationships in band directing.

    Episode 61: Perspectives with Peyton Grover and Shane Lemanski

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2020 23:03


    In our annual Perspectives series, we have Peyton Grover and Shane Lemanski, two first year teachers in Texas with some great insights into their success during a challenging first year.

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    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2020 32:20


    Join Gary Williams for part 2 of our chat about honor band, encouraging students, and general band talk.

    Episode 59: Gary Williams - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2020 32:40


    Join Gary Williams, fantastic head band director from Cockrill Middle School, as he talks about creating a healthy band culture, building relationships, and general band talk.

    Episode 58: Remote Instruction Round Table

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2020 85:59


    In this episode I invited several skilled directors to a round table discussion about teaching ensembles remotely. We discuss ways they have already used technology to reach beyond their classrooms, ways to handle the upcoming challenges, and philosophical foundations for teaching through the COVID challenge.

    Episode 57: Percussion Basics - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2020 30:14


    The second part of my discussion about the basics of percussion with Jordan Stern. © 2020 John M. Denis

    Episode 56: Percussion Basics Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2020 20:54


    © 2020 John M. Denis

    Mini-Episode 2 - Hierarchy of Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2020 18:31


    In this mini-episode I talk about the importance of having a hierarchy of listening for success as well as walking through my own hierarchy that I use when working with bands.

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