“If students know that you want the best personal life experience for them, the music will just follow.”

- Jonathan Laflamme

Director of Instrumental Music at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, MN

Welcome back to The Band Director’s Lounge!

Today I am chatting with Jonathan Laflamme from Central Lakes College in Brainerd, MN. Jonathan coordinates the College in the Schools Program at CLC and works with band directors at high schools throughout the state to setup CIS offerings. Through the CIS program students can earn college credit for taking ensembles and courses at their high school with their high school teacher. In an age where high school students are feeling more pressure than ever to earn college credit before graduating high school, finding a way to offer college credit in instrumental music is one of the best ways to stay competitive in your high school’s course catalog. Plus it’s great to be able to reward students, particularly seniors, who have been in the program their whole high school career.

Jonathan and I walk through how CIS works through CLC. The goal is to give you some ideas about how and why a program like this would be great for your high school and hopefully encourage you to contact him to ask about setting something up for this year! As mentioned in the show, there are several online courses that CLC offers that would allow you to work with Jonathan regardless of the physical location of your high school. 

Alright, let’s dive in and learn more.

Background

Prior to coming to Central Lakes College Jonathan Laflamme was a high school band director for fourteen years. His first post was in Pierz, MN where he increased participation throughout the program, received high ratings at state contests, was selected to perform at MMEA and took the band on its first international tour. After Pierz Jonathan became the director of bands at Little Falls Community High School where he also increased participation, received local, state and regional recognition and performed on four international tours. Jonathan has been composing and arranging music for a variety of genres from rock and roll charts to jazz and symphonic band pieces. College and military bands have premiered Jonathan’s compositions. Jonathan holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from St. Cloud State University. Jonathan has been selected twice by Minnesota Public Radio as their music ‘teacher feature,’ and most recently was selected to represent Minnesota in the National School Band and Orchestra magazine as The Top 50 Music Educators Who Make a Difference.. Jonathan is passionate about teaching music, bow hunting, fishing, alpine skiing, water sports, athletics and most of all faith and family.

Episode Overview

• Background (01:38)
• College in the Schools at CLC (15:35)
• Cost and workload for the director? (40:06)
• What makes a great band program? (56:58)

And that wraps up today’s episode. If this got your wheel’s turning about “is CIS the right choice for my school and program?” then I really encourage you to reach out to Jonathan. As you can tell he is a great guy to chat with and very easy going - he will help you figure out what is the best course offering to get started with if you want to dip your toes into a CIS offering this coming year. I personally will be exploring the online courses that CLC offers and running those through my high school. More importantly, what a great way to add value to your current high school course catalog. You will earn lots of points with your administrator for wanting to take something like this on. Administrators want to keep students at the high school for financial reasons AND college credit offerings are talking and bragging points for when they converse with the community and school board.

If you enjoyed this episode or any other episode, consider leaving a review on any of the platforms that you listen to the show on. Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or Facebook. Your reviews, with or without written feedback, help get the word out about the show. Also, if you are able to help promote this program I would greatly appreciate it! Please share episodes with friends and colleagues; a personal recommendation goes a long way in helping out with the show.

If you like what you heard today consider purchasing one of the books mentioned in the podcast. Your purchases through the amazon links on the website help give us a little help in covering costs for hosting the show. You can also head over to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and donate through our paypal account. Any donation large or small will help cover the operating costs of the program. 

Thanks again for tuning in, I will see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Other Resources

• Andrew Klassen (Guest)
• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• The Band Director’s Lounge on Facebook (FB Website)
• Nominate a band director for the podcast

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Purchase a book mentioned in the show!
• Sign up for a trial of Tonara
  • 30 day free trial and 10% off, Promo Code: Lounge20
  • App link 
  • Weblink (only from Desktop device)
• Donate to support the podcast.

“Every student has untapped potential. Talent X Effort = Ability and Achievement” - Andrew Klassen

 Band Director at Menonite Brethren Collegiate Institute, Winnipeg Canada

Welcome back to The Band Director’s Lounge!

Today I am chatting with Mr. Andrew Klassen who teaches at Menonite Brethren Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg, Canada. Andrew and I first got connected through a trip that I was going to be taking with my high school band students this spring and his school was going to host us for part of our tour. Together we had done much of the leg-work to get the exchange day organized and then….COVID hit one week before we were about to depart to Canada. In hindsight, it was good that things played out the way they did with the cancellation of our trip. However based on my interactions with Mr.Klassen from afar I wanted to get to know him and his program and share that with you.

Background

Andrew Klassen has taught 6-12 band at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute for the past 33 years.

Andrew is a graduate of the University of Manitoba, where he won numerous performance scholarships and competitions. He is the first saxophonist in Canada to be awarded the Royal Conservatory of Music Gold Medal for his ARCT diploma, and is a first prize winner of both the Lawrence Genser and Women’s Musical Club Scholarship Competitions.

Mr. Klassen has adjudicated throughout the Prairies, instructed in saxophone at the University of Manitoba and taught pedagogy at the University of Winnipeg. As a performer, he has played as a saxophonist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and as a violist in the Bel Canto String Quartet, and is active in leading worship at Elmwood Mennonite Brethren Church. 

He is a former Artistic Director and guest conductor of the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble. Mr. Klassen has also guest-conducted the University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, the Manitoba Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Honour Bands, and numerous regional honour bands, community bands, and band camps. Andrew is a recipient of the Manitoba Band Association’s Award of Distinction, the University of Manitoba’s Excellence in Music Education Award, and has presented on music education topics at the Manitoba Music Conference. 

Each August, Mr. Klassen coordinates a highly successful Junior Band Summer Camp which has served over 1200 students from 80 Manitoba schools the past 24 years.

Episode Overview

• Background & MBCI (02:16)
• Band and music at MBCI (20:18)
• Scheduling, practice, rehearsal, practice logs (31:50)
• The Watkins-Farnum Performance Scale and grading (42:50)
• Talent X Effort = Ability and Achievement (58:40)
• Parent Buy-in (66:40)
• Being an active performer and modeling our craft (78:00)
• Books that have impacted teaching and musicianship (82:36)
• Advice for young directors (88:30)
• What makes a great band program? (92:14)

And that wraps up today’s episode.

If you enjoyed this episode or any other episode, consider leaving a review on any of the platforms that you listen to the show on. Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or Facebook. Your reviews, with or without written feedback, help get the word out about the show. Also, if you are able to help promote this program I would greatly appreciate it! Please share episodes with friends and colleagues; a personal recommendation goes a long way in helping out with the show.

If you like what you heard today consider purchasing one of the books mentioned in the podcast. Your purchases through the amazon links on the website help give us a little help in covering costs for hosting the show. You can also head over to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and donate through our paypal account. Any donation large or small will help cover the operating costs of the program. 

Thanks again for tuning in, I will see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Other Resources

• Andrew Klassen (Guest)
• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• The Band Director’s Lounge on Facebook (FB Website)
• Nominate a band director for the podcast

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Donate to support the podcast.
• Books mentioned in this episode:
• • Everyday Wisdom for Inspired Teaching, Dr.Tim Lautzenheiser
  • Classical Leadership - Teacher’s Edition, Dr.Tim Lautzenheiser
  • The Joy of Inspired Teaching, Dr.Tim Lautzenheiser

“Our job is to inspire students to love music as much as we love it.” - Robert Baca Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire

Welcome back to The Band Director’s Lounge!

Today I am talking with Robert “Bob” Baca. Bob teaches at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and is an active teacher and performer throughout the United States.

His performance background includes countless performances in both classical and commercial areas including the Milwaukee Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra as well as a past member of the popular radio ensemble for Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion.” He has toured with Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Blood Sweat and Tears and numerous others as well as performing over one hundred Broadway shows and hundreds of recording sessions in Minneapolis, Indianapolis and Chicago.   As a soloist, Robert has performed in China, London, Costa Rica and Europe as well as the United States.

Robert Baca is Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Studies at the all undergraduate University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  Most recently, he conducted the National High School Honors Jazz Ensemble for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) at their national convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Other highlights include serving as a faculty member of Conn-Selmer Institute, conducting numerous all state ensembles and presenting at educational conventions. He received the first, “Career Excellence in Teaching Award” presented by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and was runner up for the "Teacher Of The Year", UW-System Award.  Mr. Baca is a past executive board member for the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) as the United States Representative. 

Mr. Baca loves to help students of any age reach their whole potential.

He has been happily married to his wife Jodie for over 30 years and has two children, Alec and Nicole and a dog named Chewy.

Episode Overview

• Background (01:57)
• A supportive spouse, “You really need to do this” (20:57)
• Inspiring students to love music as much as we love it and removing limitations (26:00)
• Eau Claire Jazz Festival, Being a “Kingmaker” not a “King” and Student Leadership (45:40)
• Being an active performer and educator (70:35)
• A career-ending diagnosis (87:14)
• How to bring out a guest artist to your school? (101:20)
• Books that have impacted teaching and musicianship (110:00)
• Advice for young directors (116:35) 
• What makes a great band program? (120:50)

And that wraps up today’s episode.

If you enjoyed this episode or any other episode, consider leaving a review on any of the platforms that you listen to the show on. Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or Facebook. Your reviews, with or without written feedback, help get the word out about the show. At the end of the day I am doing this podcast to not only improve my own knowledge and skill set but hopefully provide this as a resource to the greater music education community. If you are able to help promote this program I would greatly appreciate it!

If you like what you heard today consider purchasing one of the books mentioned in the podcast or heading over to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and donating through our paypal account. Any donation large or small will help cover the operating costs of the program. 

Thanks again for tuning in, I will see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Other Resources

• Robert Baca (Guest)
• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• The Band Director’s Lounge on Facebook (FB Website)
• Nominate a band director for the podcast

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Donate to support the podcast.
• Books mentioned in this episode:
• • The Success Journey, John C. Maxwell
  • The Inner Game of Tennis, Tim Gallway
  • Psycho-cybernetics, Maxwell Maltz
  • The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey
  • The Bible
  • As a Man Thinketh, James Allen
  • Zen and the Art of Archery, Eugen Herrigel

“You can’t teach excellence without having achieved excellence.” - Scott Guidry, USAF Director (ret.) and Associate Prof. at Bemidji State University

Hello and welcome back to The Band Director’s Lounge! 

This week I am chatting with Scott Guidry, Associate Professor of Instrumental Music and Director of Bands at Bemidji State University. Scott also served and directed ensembles for 20 years in the U. S. Air Force. Today Scott and I talk about his long-time career in the USAF, the need to be genuine and authentic when in front of a large ensemble, and the importance of seeing yourself as a leader in addition to music educator.

His full biography can be found below:

Scott Guidry is Director of Bands and Associate Professor of High Brass at Bemidji State University. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and a Master of Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. His primary conducting teachers include Dr. Joseph Hebert and Professor Anthony Maiello.

Professor Guidry conducts the BSU Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Symphonic Band. He teaches Trumpet and Horn, Instrumental Conducting and Arranging, and supervises instrumental student teachers. He hosts an annual high school honor band, jazz festival, and conducts the BSU spring opera. He teaches trumpet yearly at the International Music Camp, where he is a member of the artists-in-residence International Brass Quintet.

A native of Carencro, Louisiana, Professor Guidry joined the U. S. Air Force in 1993. During his 20-year tenure in the Air Force, he performed with a broad range of talented guest artists, to include Kim Nazarian of New York Voices, Canadian Brass alumni Ronald Romm and Fred Mills, Keiko Matsui, Helen Reddy, Crystal Gayle, Wilford Brimley and The Platters. Professor Guidry has presented master classes, clinics and performances with high school ensembles throughout the United States. 

His military career highlights include performances throughout the United States and over 30 nations in Europe and Western Asia. In 2010, he deployed to South West Asia and was Officer in Charge of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command Band, enhancing morale of U. S. and Allied Forces and supporting embassies throughout the theater. As leader of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band, Professor Guidry led a jazz band tour of Western Siberia, celebrating 10 years of the U.S. Consulate in Yekaterinburg (Ya-ket-tear-in-burg), and led a ceremonial band in Sofia, Bulgaria commemorating 100 years of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Bulgaria.

Professor Guidry and his wife, BSU Oboe Instructor Heather Guidry, live in Bemidji. They have three grown children and three grandchildren. 

Episode Overview

• Background (02:50)
• Teaching at former high school (08:01)
• Going Into The Blue with the USAF (11:17)
• Other career highlights with USAF (26:24)
• Advice for would-be military ensemble auditioners (32:31)
• Bemidji State University (38:11)
• Big picture messages for music education students (42:35)
• Some thoughts on conducting and score study (49:01)
• Pride of BSU (62:33)
• Leadership as a music educator (69:21)
• Books that have impacted teaching and musicianship (76:40)
• Advice for young directors (78:30)
• What makes a great band program? (80:30)

And that wraps up today’s episode.

If you enjoyed this episode or any other episode, consider leaving a review on any of the platforms that you listen to the show on. Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or Facebook. Your reviews, with or without written feedback, help get the word out about the show. At the end of the day I am doing this podcast to not only improve my own knowledge and skill set but hopefully provide this as a resource to the greater music education community. If you are able to help promote this program I would greatly appreciate it!

If you like what you heard today consider heading over to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and donating through our paypal account. Any donation large or small will help cover the operating costs of the program. 

Thanks again for tuning in, I will see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Other Resources

• Scott Guidry (Guest)
• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• The Band Director’s Lounge on Facebook (FB Website)
• Nominate a band director for the podcast

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Donate to support the podcast.
• Books mentioned in this episode:
• • Lincoln on Leadership, Donald T. Philips
  • Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman

Hello and welcome back to the Band Director’s lounge! 

This week I am chatting with Beth Horton from Tonara. Tonara is an awesome digital learning platform built specifically with the music educator in mind. This is a really cool and easy to use application to help facilitate large group band classes and small group and individual lessons. If you are interested in learning more, I encourage you to check out this week’s episode!

Overview

1. What is Tonara? How did you (Beth) get involved with Tonara? (01:38)
2. 10,000 foot overview of Tonara (07:45)
3. Practicing, Points, Leaderboards, Groups (33:35)
4. Creative uses and user stories (41:00)
   • 30 day free trial and 10% off, Promo Code: Lounge20
   • App link: https://tonr.me/KFKG4VigY3
   • Weblink (only from PC): https://platform.tonara.com/login/sign-up?utm_source=logan
5. How might a listener get setup to try out this application for their own students? (44:30)

Try out Tonara today!!

• 30 day free trial and 10% off, Promo Code: Lounge20
• App link: https://tonr.me/KFKG4VigY3
• Weblink (only from PC): https://platform.tonara.com/login/sign-up?utm_source=logan

And that wraps up today’s episode.

If you enjoyed this episode or any other episode, consider leaving a review on any of the platforms that you listen to the show on. Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or Facebook. Your reviews, with or without written feedback, help get the word out about the show. At the end of the day I am doing this podcast to not only improve my own knowledge and skill set but hopefully provide this as a resource to the greater music education community. If you are able to help promote this program I would greatly appreciate it!

If you like what you heard today consider heading over to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and donating through our paypal account. Any donation large or small will help cover the operating costs of the program. 

Thanks again for tuning in, I will see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Other Resources

• Beth Horton from Tonara (Guest)
• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• https://www.facebook.com/TheBandDirectorsLounge/ (FB Website)

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Donate to support the podcast (paypal.me/pools/c/8dpQAkgwuQ)

Hello and welcome back to the Band Director’s lounge! 

This week instead of an interview, I will be doing a book review.

I have been gearing up for this episode for quite some time as the book I am going to discuss is near and dear to me. I am often sharing the book with students as it one of the best books on leadership that I have read in my entire life. The book is called “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win” but Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Upon first read of the title you might anticipate a machismo-drill sergeant style approach towards leadership to be laid out within its pages, however it is the exact opposite.

U.S. Navy SEALs are probably one of the highest-performing military teams in the world. In “Extreme Ownership”, retired SEAL officers Willink and Babin share the vital leadership principles that have enabled SEAL leaders and teams to achieve extraordinary results, and explain how these insights can be applied to achieve success in all aspects of business and life.

Episode Overview

• Introduction & Update
• Victory Within
  • Extreme Ownership (06:58)
  • No Bad Teams, Only Bad Leaders (30:00)
  • Believe (35:47)
  • Check The Ego. (40:38)
• Wrap-up (54:40)

I’ll post some resources and links to summaries of this book. However if you are interested in picking it up, please consider using the link in the show notes to purchase it through amazon. A small percentage of the proceeds will trickle back to us and help offset some of our operating costs.

Thanks again for turning in! We’ll see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Other Resources

• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• https://www.facebook.com/TheBandDirectorsLounge/ (FB Website)
• jockpodcast.com
• "Extreme Ownership" TED Talk

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Donate to support the podcast (paypal.me/pools/c/8dpQAkgwuQ)
• Books mentioned in this episode:
• • Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Yes, you read the episode title correctly; today we are heading to Prague in the Czech republic! This is the first international interview on the Band Director’s Lounge and it is with a passionate music educator and band director by the name of Lindsey Simondet.

Lindsey Simondet Background

Lindsey Simondet is a native of Minnesota, USA. She graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a degree in K-12 instrumental music education. She also earned a Masters degree in Education from the University of Glasgow in Scotland with a focus on social justice and radical education. Lindsey student taught in Prague, Czech Republic leading her music education career on an international path to where she is today. She is currently in her 11th year of teaching music and her second year at the International School of Prague where she teaches middle and high school band. 

Unlike many international schools, ISP is a non-profit school. Lindsey’s love for teaching where she is and the students that she works with was palpable in my conversation with her, it is clear that she has found her perfect “career fit” at this present time. I learned so much about what it is like to teach internationally from Lindsey, a two hour conversation has never gone by so fast. I hope that you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, especially if you have ever considered teaching abroad. Let’s jump into the episode!

Episode Overview

• Background (02:10)
• Teaching Internationally (16:55)
• International School - Prague (19:00)
• Building A Band From Scratch (25:55)
• • ABRSM Exams
• Band and Transient Populations (35:10)
• School Day Structure (42:00)
• A Fine Arts City (51:13)
• Marching Band? And Other Activities (55:55)
• Other International Teaching (66:55)
• Classroom Community (71:12)
• What Do You Love Most About Your Assignment? (75:08)
• Impactful Books (78:03)
• Advice For Young Band Directors (80:38)
• What Makes A Great Band Program? (84:41)

And that wraps up today’s episode.

If you enjoyed this episode or any other episode, consider leaving a review on any of the platforms that you listen to the show on. Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or Facebook. Your reviews, with or without written feedback, help get the word out about the show. At the end of the day I am doing this podcast to not only improve my own knowledge and skill set but hopefully provide this as a resource to the greater music education community. If you are able to help promote this program I would greatly appreciate it!

If you like what you heard today consider heading over to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and donating through our paypal account. Any donation large or small will help cover the operating costs of the program. 

Thanks again for tuning in, I will see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Other Resources

• Lindsey Simondet (Guest)
• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• https://www.facebook.com/TheBandDirectorsLounge/ (FB Website)
• AMIS: Association for Music in International Schools
• CEESA: Central and Eastern European School Association 
• Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom by bell hooks
• ABRSM: About Us 

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Donate to support the podcast (paypal.me/pools/c/8dpQAkgwuQ)
• Books mentioned in this episode:
• • Teaching Instrumental Music: Developing the Complete Band Program - Shelley Jagow
  • Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom (Harvest in Translation) - Bell Hooks

Hello and welcome to the Band Director’s Lounge!

My interview today takes us to the southern United States.

Jonathan Chance is from Birmingham, Alabama. He attended Troy State University and graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. He has been the Director of Bands at Luverne High School for the past 15 years and has built the band program to over 200 students’ program wide. He is happily married to Beverly Chance, and they have two daughters Annalee and Brylee.  In his free time he enjoys playing Golf and spending time with his Family.

I think you are going to enjoy hearing about Mr.Chance’s program and some of his thoughts on teaching band and building a successful band program!

Before we get to the interview I want to remind you that there are a number of ways to support this podcast and help ensure that it stays operational. All of these methods are listed in the show notes. Don’t worry, I am not asking for you to write a check for a donation (though you can certainly do that through paypal). 

One of the simplest ways is to check out the Books From Episodes list on TheBandDirectorsLounge.com website. This list of books has been curated from recommendations from fellow band directors that have been on the program and include many of the books they have found inspiring and foundational to their teaching. By clicking through the links on our website and ultimately purchasing those books on Amazon, this podcast receives a small affiliate percentage that helps offset some of the hosting costs of the podcast. It’s a seemingly small task on your part, especially if you are looking for new books, but it helps us out a ton.

Okay, now onto my interview with Jonathan Chance.

Episode Overview

• Background (01:52)
• Luverne High School (05:10)
• Marching Band (08:45)
• Working with Coaches & Marching Practice (12:38)
• Recruitment (16:50)
• Local Enrichment Opportunities, Co-curriculars, and Busy Kids (18:07) 
• Alabama Performance Assessment (30:09)
• Favorite Literature, Victor Lopez, and Robert W.Smith (32:01)
• Curricular Rehearsal Plan (33:33)
• Useful Budget Purchase (36:00)
• Challenging Teaching Moment (38:05)
• Motivation & Marketing (40:40)
• Student Leadership (45:34)
• Books That Have Impacted Teaching (47:11)
• • Payne Stewart: The Authorized Biography, Tracey Stewart
• Advice for Young Band Director (48:18)
• What Makes a Great Band Program (51:34)

And that wraps up today’s episode.

If you enjoyed this episode or any other episode, consider leaving a review on any of the platforms that you listen to the show on. Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or Facebook. Your reviews, with or without written feedback, help get the word out about the show. At the end of the day I am doing this podcast to not only improve my own knowledge and skill set but hopefully provide this as a resource to the greater music education community. If you are able to help promote this program I would greatly appreciate it!

If you like what you heard today consider heading over to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and use our affiliate links to purchase some of the books mentioned in the show or sign up for a free trial with Audible. Your purchases through these links help offset some of the costs of recording, producing, and hosting this show.

Thanks again for tuning in, I will see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Hello and welcome! My interview today takes us out of the Midwest to the east coast to the great state of New Jersey.

Derek Rohaly Background

Derek Rohaly earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University in 2010 where he studied trumpet under Dr. Langston Fitzgerald III and completed a minor in Music Technology.

Mr. Rohaly began his career immediately after graduation in Quakertown, Pennsylvania teaching elementary band, general music, and high school jazz band in the Quakertown Community School District.  In 2011, he became a band director for Mainland Regional High School in Linwood, New Jersey where he remains an established music educator today.  In his time at Mainland Regional High School, he has taught concert band, all levels of beginning through advanced keyboard and guitar, music theory, and freshman seminar in technology.  To serve Mainland Regional’s growing interest in music, he spearheaded the development of the school’s first music technology class from course proposals, budgeting projections, curriculum development, and implementation. 

In additional to his school-day responsibilities, Mr. Rohaly contributes a significant amount of his time with extracurricular groups like jazz band, pit orchestra, & guitar ensemble.  In his five years of directing the marching band, he has led the Mainland Band to a Tournament of Bands New Jersey State Championship in 2014 & 2015 and consistently earned top tier placements at state and regional contests. Mr. Rohaly currently is the co-coordinator for the Atlantic Cape Honor Band (serving Atlantic and Cape May counties) and is the webmaster for the South Jersey Band and Orchestra Directors Association (www.sjboda.org) 

As a music educator, Mr. Rohaly finds it extremely important to continually perform as a musician.   He regularly performs with the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble and has performed in the pit orchestras for the Off Broad Street Players theater company in Millville, NJ. 

We are going to dive into our interview in just a second, but first I want to mention that this episode is brought to you by Audible.

• Reading is one of the common things that all great leaders do to continue learning and growing. As educational leaders in our classroom it is important that we too continue developing our own knowledge base and skill sets so that we can become better teachers and directors four our students. However with having busy lives both in and outside of the classroom, it is sometimes difficult to make time to read.
• This is why a subscription to Audible is likely perfect for you! Each month you receive an audible credit which can be redeemed for an audiobook in the audible store. There are thousands of titles to choose from, and with most audiobooks normally costing $30 or more audible credit starting at $15 a month is a steal. If you elect to subscribe at a higher level, the audible credits become cheaper than $15 per credit so the deal only gets better.
• Consider checking this offer out from The Band Director’s Lounge; You can get a free month of Audible and 2 free books when you use our referral link. Every audiobook you purchase through the app is yours to keep forever. In fact, it can even be downloaded onto a CD or stored on a limited number of devices. Plus, you can access your library at any time, even if you cancel your subscription. Again, try out a free month of Audible and get 2 free books when you use our referral link.
• Audible - 30 days free + 2 free books (https://amzn.to/2WToqS2)

Episode Overview

• Background (03:24)
• Mainland Regional High School (05:38)
• Marching Band (12:20)
• Unique Activities and Offerings (19:56)
• Relationships with Administrators (30:37)
• Jazz Bands (34:33)
• Family, Work, and Teaching (38:07)
• Recruitment (56:15)
• Band Travel (62:07) 
• Recommended Books (65:47)
• Advice for Young Band Directors (67:32)
• What Makes a Great Band Program? (71:39)

And that wraps up today’s episode.

If you enjoyed this episode or any other episode, consider leaving a review on any of the platforms that you listen to the show on. Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or Facebook. Your reviews, with or without written feedback, help get the word out about the show. At the end of the day I am doing this podcast to not only improve my own knowledge and skill set but hopefully provide this as a resource to the greater music education community. If you are able to help promote this program I would greatly appreciate it!

If you like what you heard today consider heading over to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and use our affiliate links to purchase some of the books mentioned in the show, sign up for a free trial with Audible, or pick up a set of Eargasm Earplugs ( http://bit.ly/2HBge0T). Your purchases through these links help offset some of the costs of recording, producing, and hosting this show.

Thanks again for tuning in, I will see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Other Resources

• Derek Rohaly(Guest)
• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• https://www.facebook.com/TheBandDirectorsLounge/ (FB Website)

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Eargasam Earplugs (http://bit.ly/2HBge0T)

• Audible - 30 days free + 2 free books (https://amzn.to/2WToqS2 )

• Donate to support the podcast (paypal.me/pools/c/8dpQAkgwuQ) 

• Books mentioned in this episode:
  • The Creative Director: Alternative Rehearsal Techniques - Edward Lisk

Dr. Elizabeth Jackson Kirchhoff Background

Dr. Elizabeth Jackson Kirchhoff has been active as an instrumental music educator, conductor, and clinician in the United States, Norway, and Canada for over thirty years.  She has enjoyed collaborating with music makers from the elementary level to the university level. She completed a B.A. in Music Education at St. Olaf College, a M.M. in Conducting at Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education at The Ohio State University.  Jackson has been teaching at Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, since 1998 where she conducts the Wind Ensemble, the Concert Band, the Pit Orchestra, and is founder of the EPHS Chamber Winds program. Under Jackson’s direction, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2010 & 2018 Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Clinic and as a featured band at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2001, 2010, and 2014.  Prior to her appointment at Eden Prairie, she taught music 5-12 in Wrenshall, Minnesota, band 9-12 at Spring Lake Park High School, and band 5-8 in the Hopkins School District. Beginning in 2004, she spent a three-year sabbatical as Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Minnesota before returning to Eden Prairie High School in the fall of 2007.

Dr. Jackson has served as an honor band conductor and clinician in Norway, Canada, and throughout the United States.  She has also served on the Minnesota Music Educators Association Board of Directors, is the a past-president of the Minnesota Band Directors Association, and was named the MMEA Educator of the Year in 2010.  She currently serves on the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies Teachers Advisory Council and is a member of the Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmaster Fraternity.

Among the many topics that we cover today, Dr.Jackson shares some incredible insight on her personal music philosophy, important topics for daily lesson delivery, selecting quality lit, conducting, and so much more! Dr. Jackson is a master in her craft and I was very lucky to have her on the program.

Before we jump into the show, I want to mention that The Band Director’s Lounge is an Amazon Affiliate.

• What is an Amazon Affiliate? This means that when interesting books or other products are mentioned on the podcast, The Band Director’s Lounge can provide you a link to this good or service and receive a small affiliate kick-back if you purchase the product.
• Amazon already has an incredible range of goods and services to select from and typically these are some of the cheapest prices you can find on the web.
• By purchasing one of the books mentioned on the show, and in today’s episode there are several great books mentioned, you are supporting the podcast in a small but meaningful way and helping us to stay running and cover our operating costs.
• Not sure where to find our affiliate links? Check out the show notes for this episode. They can be found by clicking on the episode in the podcast listening platform on your device or heading out to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and clicking on the episode on the home page.
• There is also a book store called “Books from episodes” listed on our website that includes all of the books that have ever been discussed in each of the episodes. I hope that you consider checking these out and supporting the podcast today!

And now onto my interview.

Episode Overview

• Background (03:20)
• Why music education? (07:00)
• Eden Prairie High School and teaching load (11:25)
• Important Teaching Concepts/Lessons (21:42)
• Daily Lesson Delivery (28:15)
• Selecting Quality Literature (30:45)
• Conducting and Score Study Tips (37:55)
• Student Teachers (44:47)
• Student Leadership (49:45)
• Travel (58:21)
• Sharing the same career as your spouse (70:30)
• Teacher Burnout (74:52)
• On being a female band director (79:27)
• Book recommendations (90:45)
• Advice for young directors (93:51)
• What makes a great band program? (95:35)

Wow, I am not sure about you but I walked away with several pages of notes from this one. It was a treat to talk with Dr.Jackson and I hope that you enjoyed it too!

If you enjoyed this episode or any other episode, consider leaving a review on any of the platforms that you listen to the show on. Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or Facebook. Your reviews, with or without written feedback, help get the word out about the show. At the end of the day I am doing this podcast to not only improve my own knowledge and skillset but hopefully provide this as a resource to the greater music education community. If you are able to help promote this program I would greatly appreciate it!

If you like what you heard today consider heading over to TheBandDirectorsLounge.com and use our affiliate links to purchase some of the books mentioned in the show, sign up for a free trial with Audible, or pick up a set of Eargasm Earplugs ( http://bit.ly/2HBge0T). Your purchases through these links help offset some of the costs of recording, producing, and hosting this show.

Thanks again for tuning in, I will see you back here next time in The Band Director’s Lounge.

Other Resources

• Dr.Elizabeth Jackson Kirchoff (Guest)
• Logan Burnside (Show Host)
• http://thebanddirectorslounge.com (Podcast Website)
• https://www.facebook.com/TheBandDirectorsLounge/ (FB Website)

Support The Band Director’s Lounge

• Eargasam Earplugs (http://bit.ly/2HBge0T)

• Audible - 30 days free + 2 free books (https://amzn.to/2WToqS2 )

• Donate to support the podcast (paypal.me/pools/c/8dpQAkgwuQ)

• Books mentioned in this episode
• • The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life, 20th Anniversary Edition, Parker Palmer
  • The Artistry of Teaching and Making Music, Richard Floyd
  • The Mind's Ear: Exercises for Improving the Musical Imagination for Performers, Composers, and Listeners, Bruce Adolph