Advertise on podcast: Mo’ Better Bands - a Podcast for Music Educators

Want to know about joining or starting a community band? How about one that encourages your students, parents, and faculty to participate? Then listen up and hear how my three guests did just that! Also check out https://www.acbands.org to the Association of Concert Bands directory. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

Want to learn how to be more intentional in creating and building student leaders in your ensemble? Grab a notepad and let's get to it! Also available on Youtube Sponsored by Ernie Williamson Music --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

What's it like to march in the 5 1/2 mile long Rose Bowl parade with 300 other top notch music educators? Guests include: Angelete Frein - Wentzville School District Tyler Jones - Seneca School District TJ Higgins - Helias Catholic High School Tom Higgins - Linn High School (retired) More information for Saluting America's Band Directors can be found at https://banddirectorsalute.org --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

This is probably the toughest it's ever been to be a teacher. In this episode, we talk about why it's so tough, and then tell you how you can make it better. Don't despair! :) Also available on Youtube. Sponsored by Ernie Williamson Music --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

Do you want to grow your band program? Do you want to reach students later in the academic career? Maybe you could use a bigger marching percussion section? Or guard?  Grab a pen and notepad, because Tom and Tessa are going to give you some BRILLIANT insights on how to do all of this and more! Brought to you by Ernie Williamson Music. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

What a perfect topic as we turn our thoughts to a new semester and a new calendar year - doing more in less time! Rob Babel has been Band Director at Ft. Zumwalt North High School for 26 years. He leads the Panther Pride Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band and Jazz Lab Band.  In addition, he assists with beginning and intermediate band at North Middle School.  Under his direction, the Ft. Zumwalt North Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band have consistently received the highest ‘Exemplary’ ratings at MSHSAA State Contest. The Panther Pride Marching Band has been a Bands of America St. Louis Super Regional Class AA Champion and Finalist and a 6-time BOA Regional Finalist. The North High Jazz Band has been featured four times at the Missouri Music Educators Conference and twice at the national conference for the Jazz Education Network. In addition, the FZN Jazz Band has presented concerts at the international band conference The Midwest Clinic, and is the only high school group in Missouri’s history to have performed three times at that event. Mr. Babel has been recognized as the 2016 Missouri Music Educator of the Year and he received the Missouri Association for Jazz Education “Outstanding Jazz Educator” Award in 2019. He is also a recipient of the Charles Emmons Outstanding Band Director Award for the band director fraternity Phi Beta Mu, which has been awarded to only 30 Missouri directors. He has also been named the Ft. Zumwalt North Teacher of the Year, the St. Louis Metro District Eight Music Educator of the Year, and an O’Fallon Citizen of Achievement.  He also served as the assistant varsity baseball coach at FZN from 2001-2012. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

Troy had a phenomenal career as the Head Band Director at Kickapoo HS in Springfield, MO, and now he is taking his talents to Drury University, where they are building a marching band for the first time. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

Special thanks to our teacher panelists for sharing their experiences, and I want to especially thank Hailee Kaestner for getting this fabulous group together! Our panelists are: Hailee Kaestner - New Bloomfield R-III, Aubrey Kennedy - Hancock Place School District, Brandon Geiger - East Newton School District, Kaylin Knost - Rockwood Schools (Marquette HS & Crestview MS) , Kayla Nogle - Francis Howell North HS. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

Special thanks to our teacher panelists for sharing their experiences, and I want to especially thank Hailee Kaestner for getting this fabulous group together!  Our panelists are:  Hailee Kaestner - New Bloomfield R-III,  Aubrey Kennedy - Hancock Place School District,  Brandon Geiger - East Newton School District,  Kaylin Knost - Rockwood Schools (Marquette HS & Crestview MS) ,  Kayla Nogle - Francis Howell North HS. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

I wanted to get a couple of different marching show designers on the podcast for all of you to listen to as you think of and prepare your ensembles for this upcoming marching season. Dan offers some excellent insight and tips for how you can make this upcoming season a success for you, your program, and most importantly, your students.  For more info go to https://www.pulsemarching.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

Hailee Kaestner is a first-year band director at New Bloomfield R-III in Missouri, and she shares what her experience has been like starting her career during the pandemic. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message

We are all excited to get back to doing “the thing”, as Lindsey says. In this episode, Steve and Lindsey dispense wisdom from their years of experience on what you can do to make this fall a success! In the episode, Steve reference's his recommended Marching Band Show Design Timeline (click the link to view). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/mobetterbands/message