In this inspiring episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat welcomes music educator, author, podcaster, and wellness advocate Elisa Janson Jones. Elisa shares her journey from business consultant to music education leader and dives deep into why personal wellness is the foundation for a sustainable and impactful teaching career.

Lesley and Elisa explore actionable wellness strategies—like daily exercise, personalized nutrition, and strong mindset practices—and discuss the importance of energy management and realistic expectations. Elisa also introduces listeners to the Music Teacher Guild, a groundbreaking professional learning community offering mentorship, custom AI resources, and targeted professional development for music educators at every stage of their career.

Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned veteran, this conversation will leave you motivated to prioritize your health, build your community, and seek the support you deserve. Stay tuned to the end for Elisa’s heartfelt advice on mindset shifts that can change your career—and your life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🎵 Why personal wellness must be your first priority

🎵 How daily habits and mindset shifts can transform your teaching

🎵 The story behind the Music Teacher Guild and its innovative resources

🎵 Simple steps for new teachers to find community and mentorship

🎵 How AI tools can free up your time and energy for what matters most

Resources Mentioned:

• The Music Teacher Guild
• Empowered Educator
• Connect with Elisa Janson Jones on social media
• Access to the MTG Commons, including the Pathways to Funding course
• Discounts on mentorship, classes, and events: Band Director Bootcamp with Lesley Moffat - 10% off BDBWLM2025. Receive 10% off any Music Teacher Guild appointment, class, or event. One-time use. Valid for subscriptions.
• Music Mentor Books

In this courageous and deeply impactful episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat is joined by music educator, memoirist, and advocate Megan Farison. Megan opens up about the personal story behind her memoir Dissonance and shares her mission to help educators establish safer, more supportive classroom cultures.

Together, Lesley and Megan tackle some of the hard conversations our profession needs to be having—including how to set and maintain healthy boundaries, why music educators are in uniquely vulnerable positions, and how to cultivate an emotionally safe environment for both students and teachers.

Megan outlines 5 actionable strategies for establishing a classroom culture of safety and wellness and offers examples from real-life experiences that every educator can learn from.

You’ll learn:

• Why boundary-setting is an act of protection—for both students and teachers
• What makes performing arts teachers more susceptible to boundary complications
• The role of transparency, structure, and observability in preventing harm
• Tips for safeguarding yourself and your students during one-on-one moments, school trips, and daily interactions
• How Megan turned her personal story into healing and advocacy—and how you can, too

🎧 Megan also offers a free sneak peek of her memoir Dissonance, available here.

Sing, Coach, Conduct on Spotify

The Elephant Alliance

Anna Sonoda, author of Duck Duck Groom: How a Child Becomes a Target

In this inspiring episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat chats with Nancy Erickson Lamont, a Washington-based choir director, music educator, and accomplished jazz vocalist. Nancy’s journey proves that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself—whether you're 40, 50, or 60. After taking time off to raise a family, she returned to school, launched a teaching career in her 50s, and released multiple albums as a singer-songwriter.

Lesley and Nancy dive into how reclaiming your creative passions can boost mental health, reduce burnout, and set a powerful example for students. Nancy shares the three pillars that guide her life and teaching: lifelong learning, focused priorities, and creating without fear. Whether you're considering a personal comeback or simply looking to reconnect with your artistic self, Nancy's story will motivate you to take that first step.

You’ll learn:

• How Nancy transitioned from stay-at-home mom to full-time music educator and performer
• Why personal creativity fuels professional growth
• Strategies for setting boundaries and focusing on what really matters
• Tips for easing back into performance—even if it’s been decades
• How to nurture your health, your voice, and your joy

🎵 Stick around for links to Nancy’s latest music and hear how collaboration helped her confidence bloom!

Here is the link to her Feature FM account, which links to her latest album on multiple streaming platforms: https://ffm.to/b8pkvnj

In this energizing episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat chats with Erin Mahr, a band director who's made it her mission to run a marathon or half marathon in all 50 states. Lesley and Erin discuss the challenge of balancing a demanding career with personal wellness and how engaging in activities like marathon running can significantly enhance one's physical and mental health.

Erin shares her journey from a band director overwhelmed by her profession to becoming a goal-setting marathon runner who values self-care and scheduling.

Discover practical strategies for integrating personal passions with professional responsibilities, and learn how setting achievable goals can lead to a more fulfilling life both in and out of the band room.

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat invites Tory Smith, a guitarist and manager of two cover bands, to discuss a groundbreaking tool designed to enhance rehearsal efficiency and performance confidence for musicians. Smith introduces a smart teleprompter that discreetly supports musicians by displaying lyrics and chords, reducing stress and organizational chaos commonly experienced in managing music sheets and performances. This tool, barely out in the market, promises to revolutionize how rehearsals and live performances are conducted by using features like wireless synchronization, color coding, auto transposing, and real-time lyric sharing through QR codes. Additionally, the upcoming AI features will allow voice commands to adjust musical keys and display options instantly. As this technology can significantly benefit band directors in both school and professional settings, the discussion also covers potential applications in educational environments to help keep students engaged and focused.

Show Notes:

• Introduction of the innovative smart teleprompter by Tory Smith.
• Discussion on how this tool can alleviate common issues faced by musicians and band directors.
• Benefits of using a teleprompter in educational settings and live performances.
• Potential uses and adaptations of the teleprompter for different musical settings and needs.
• Insights into the design process and the personal motivation behind the creation of this tool.
• Future developments and AI integration in the teleprompter technology.
• Advice on how music educators can access grant money to invest in such innovative tools.

Here’s the link to the smart teleprompter that also includes the promo code for 10% off that will be automatically applied.

In this insightful episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, Lesley Moffat hosts Professor Stephanie Sanders, a seasoned music educator and advocate for women in band directing. The conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of women in a predominantly male field, highlighting the importance of resilience, representation, and mentorship. Professor Sanders shares her personal journey, starting from her early inspiration by a female band director to her extensive career as the director of bands at Norfolk State University. She discusses overcoming stereotypes and misconceptions while promoting the importance of support networks and mentorship programs to uplift women in music education. This episode is a treasure trove of advice for navigating and succeeding in the world of band directing while fostering a supportive community.

In this episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat welcomes Heather Hoefle, a retired music educator, composer, and clinician, to discuss her innovative resource, Together in Excellence. This platform is designed to support music teachers by providing accessible ensemble music that fosters student success and engagement. Heather shares her journey from facing challenges in finding suitable music for young musicians to creating compositions that cater to varying skill levels. The conversation covers the benefits of the ABC convertible format, strategies for engaging students, and the importance of having flexible music resources in diverse educational settings.

Show Notes:

• Introduction to Heather Hoefle and her background in music education.
• Discussion on the development and impact of the Together in Excellence resource.
• Explanation of the ABC convertible format and its applications in music education.
• Insights into balancing career and personal life as a music educator and composer.
• Practical tips for music educators on student engagement and curriculum integration.
• Lesley shares her own experiences and the adjustments she has made in her teaching approach.

Links reference in the episode:

Heather's website

Tradition of Excellence

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat talks with Dr. Amy Bovin about the importance of building strong, supportive communities for women in music education. Dr. Bovin shares her personal experiences and the significance of mentorship, specifically highlighting the benefits of Women Band Directors International (WBDI). The discussion covers overcoming isolation, embracing girl power, and actionable steps for fostering supportive networks. Dr. Bovin’s journey from feeling out of place to leading initiatives that support female music educators is a powerful testament to the importance of community and mentorship in the field.

Key Takeaways:

1. The importance of finding and building a supportive community.
2. Overcoming professional isolation through active participation in groups like WBDI.
3. The role of mentorship in empowering women in music education.
4. How to initiate and nurture supportive networks for personal and professional growth.
5. The impact of having role models and mentors who resonate with one’s own experiences.

Follow Amy at https://amybovin.com and you can follow the adventures of the kittens on Instagram @bapsandnaps.

For anyone who taught high school band in any capacity between February 2020 and January 2025 and would like to participate in the survey, please see https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdC8aU0a32jydVESMs-qB7ySLIqcxILlNoVm5TDdBiawKovdQ/viewform?usp=sharing

"Breaking the Silence: The Experience of Female Band Directors", a NAfME Webinar on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 7PM EDT.

In this engaging episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat teams up with Andrea Pelloquin, a former music educator turned attorney, to delve into the complex world of copyright laws relevant to music education. Andrea shares her journey from the music industry to law school, fueled by her passion to demystify copyright for educators. They discuss common scenarios where band directors might inadvertently infringe copyright, such as photocopying music or arranging pieces without permission, and offer practical advice on how to stay within legal boundaries. The conversation also covers digital rights, the impact of streaming performances, and how to access and utilize publisher resources legally. This episode is packed with vital information to help educators protect themselves and honor the creators of the music they love.

Link to reference materials.

Disclaimer: The content contained in this episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice in any way.

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat sits down with middle school band director and tech enthusiast Keith Ozsvath to explore the transformative power of ChatGPT for busy music educators. Keith shares how he uses ChatGPT to streamline his professional life, from creating rubrics and program notes to designing innovative classroom tools. They discuss real-world applications of AI to save time, reduce stress, and enhance teaching, all while maintaining high standards of instruction. Lesley and Keith dive into practical tips, share success stories, and outline how AI can be like having a "band mom in your pocket."

Whether you're curious about how ChatGPT can assist with parent communication, help plan meals after a long day, or even generate creative student activities, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help band directors focus more on what they love—teaching music.

What You’ll Learn:

• How ChatGPT can save time by assisting with emails, rubrics, and lesson planning.
• Ways to personalize ChatGPT for your specific teaching needs.
• Innovative uses of ChatGPT, like creating practice logs, program notes, and more.
• How ChatGPT’s collaborative approach can spark creativity and reduce mental load.
• Practical prompts and tips to get started with ChatGPT today.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

• Keith Ozsvath’s website with resources for music educators
• Lesley’s free video tutorial: ChatGPT for Busy Band Directors on Chat GPT For Busy Band Directors: Introduction.
• The Band Director Buddy GPT – a specialized assistant pre-loaded with band-specific resources.