In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat interviews Eric Combs, a veteran band director and author. Eric shares his journey from being a shy student to becoming a passionate band director. He reveals his innovative approach to lesson planning that has allowed his band program to flourish.

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat welcomes special guest Lia Poole, a band director with a unique perspective on balancing wellness and success in the field. Lia, who teaches at Corvallis High School in Oregon, shares her journey from an intense, tightly controlled approach to one that centers on self-care and delegation.Lia's story is a powerful reminder that the demanding nature of being a band director can often lead to burnout and neglect of personal well-being. She shares how she navigated the challenges of life, including her husband's battle with cancer and her role as a new mother, all while maintaining her band program.Despite facing immense personal and professional challenges, Lia adopted a new mindset: "Chill the **** out." She candidly discusses how this shift in perspective allowed her to prioritize her mental health, delegate responsibilities to students through innovative committee structures, and ultimately achieve remarkable results in her program. Lia's journey highlights the importance of finding balance and giving yourself grace, even in the face of adversity.Lia's experience offers valuable insights for band directors looking to improve their own wellness and program success. By embracing a more flexible and balanced approach, band directors can create a sustainable path to success while nurturing their own well-being.

1. Evaluate Without Judgment: Cori draws inspiration from the inner game of tennis, emphasizing the importance of evaluating without judgment. Just as she analyzes her tennis game without negative self-talk, Cori applies the same principle to her teaching. Instead of criticizing herself or students for mistakes, she focuses on specific improvement areas. This approach cultivates a positive and growth-oriented rehearsal environment.
2. Wooden-Style Coaching: Cori borrows from the coaching style of John Wooden, the renowned basketball coach. She adopts his concise and specific feedback approach: "Try, analyze, try again, analyze." Cori applies this method to her teaching, using memorable one-liners to efficiently guide students' musical growth. These succinct instructions help build a culture of constant improvement.
3. Sticky Note Mantra: Inspired by her love for tennis, Cori employs a "sticky note mantra" technique. She places a sticky note with the phrase "The music is here" on her music stand or computer during rehearsals. This mantra reminds her to stay present, focused, and fully engaged with her students. It serves as a visual cue to keep her attention on the music and students, enhancing the overall quality of the rehearsal.

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat invites Dr. Lori Schwartz Reichl to discuss how band directors can unlock their creativity and find balance in their lives. Dr. Reichl shares three key changes that can transform the way band directors approach their profession and personal well-being.

1. The Power of "No": Dr. Reichl emphasizes that saying "no" doesn't necessarily mean rejecting something outright. It can mean "not now" or "not in this format." By carefully considering commitments and being open to exploring alternative options, band directors can better align their activities with their goals.

2. Expanding Your Circle: Dr. Reichl encourages band directors to expand their network beyond their local community. The pandemic and social media have made it easier to connect with colleagues globally, share experiences, and learn from one another. Expanding the circle allows for mentorship, inspiration, and collaboration.

3. The Three Rs: Reflect, Research, Refresh: Dr. Reichl introduces the concept of the Three Rs as a cycle for personal growth and development. Reflecting on what brings joy, researching new approaches and resources, and then refreshing by implementing changes and reflecting again creates a continuous cycle of improvement.

To learn more about Dr. Lori Schwartz Reichl's insights and resources, visit her website at makingkeychanges.com. Her monthly newsletter offers valuable tips and strategies for educators, particularly band directors, looking to enhance their profession and personal life.

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, your host Lesley Moffat is joined by Jessica Hesselstein, a seasoned band director with 25 years of experience. Jessica shares invaluable insights on how to optimize lesson planning and classroom management for busy band directors. These productivity and wellness tips are designed to help you maintain a strong music program while enjoying more time for yourself and your family.Real talk with real women who understand the pressures and joys of being a band director - and how to do it in a way that doesn't leave you exhausted!

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat is joined by Sarah Green, a middle school band director with over a decade of experience. They discuss the importance of organizational strategies for music educators and how these strategies can be applied to various teaching situations.Sarah shares her journey into becoming a band director and the inspiration behind creating her website resource, Beginning Band Boot Camp. She explains how this resource provides step-by-step videos for beginners to practice at home, enabling them to review concepts and troubleshoot issues outside of class. The "Sound 101" section of her website offers guidance on producing the first few notes on instruments, making practice more accessible for students.Sarah emphasizes the value of organization in teaching and suggests using tools like Google Drive to store and categorize resources. She encourages new teachers to focus on a few areas of excellence while learning and adapting over time. Collaboration within the band director community and seeking advice from experienced colleagues is also highlighted as a helpful strategy.Throughout the episode, Sarah and Lesley underscore the importance of creating efficient systems that save time and energy, allowing music educators to provide quality instruction while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Links to resources: Beginning Band Bootcamp website and youtube channel