6 Best Podcasts Music Directors and Administrators Will Love

Hey Music Directors and Admins– Let’s Talk Podcasts!

Need a little inspiration in your role?  Check out this ultimate playlist of the 6 best podcasts music directors and administrators will love.

Driving, cleaning, or relaxing after a long rehearsal, these seasoned pros offer valuable insights, helpful tips, and a creative boost to take your band program to the next level.

Grab your headphones and listen in!!

Why Podcasts are PERFECT

Podcasts are everywhere.  They’ve become a great source of information for educators.  The really good ones are like having a personal mentor guide you through the wild ride that is teaching teens!

So why are podcasts perfect for you?

Podcasts are convenient.

Education is a year-round commitment. Who has time to attend conferences or seminars?  But you can listen to a podcast on your schedule – while you’re commuting to work, running errands, or during rare moments of downtime (it’s possible!!)

Podcasts provide a wide variety of viewpoints.

When you tune into a podcast, you may hear from veteran teachers and music directors, new hires, administrators, industry heavyweights, or those with success stories who want to share their personal experiences or strategies.

These varied perspectives can spark ideas, help you overcome challenges, or give you a fresh take on your teaching.

Most podcasts are easy to find and free.

You can stream or download episodes on your favorite platforms like Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. And most of them are free, making podcasts a cost-effective way to continue your professional development.

Our 6 Favorite Podcast Picks

Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning life-changing performance travel for more than 30 years.  During that time, we’ve learned a thing or two about music and classroom teachers, and what it takes to be the best.

So when we had the opportunity to partner with some amazing podcasters producing content specifically for educators, we jumped at the chance!  Here are our 6 favorite podcast picks…

After Sectionals

Many band directors are familiar with the voice behind the wildly popular podcast, After Sectionals. Darcy Williams is a no-nonsense director and dispenser of valuable advice. She shares the microphone with two colleagues, Jenna Yee and Alex Ortega.

Each brings a unique perspective to the band experience. Together, they share their adventures, lessons learned, and common-sense guidance with band directors everywhere. First-year directors and seasoned veterans alike have found After Sectionals to be an excellent resource for instruction.

Podcast topics dive deep into the world of classroom management, motivation, and even “staph” development (very clever!). They discuss the nuts and bolts of competition ratings, the value of mentors, managing expectations and successfully navigating a home-work balance.

The Global Bandroom 

Welcome to The Global Bandroom with Keith Kelly! Keith comes to you from Galway, Ireland, where he has worked with marching and concert bands for 20+ years.  He performed with Dublin’s famous Artane Boys Band and served as principal clarinetist in the Irish Defence Forces Band. Keith also founded several award-winning Irish concert bands.  

Kelly currently works as a consultant and advisor to many arts organizations.  He directs the Celtic Band Festival, welcoming marching and concert bands worldwide to Ireland each year.  He’s also a huge advocate for the International Drum Corps community.

During each episode, Keith sits down with musicians and directors from across the world. They talk about their stories, their bands, and how they’re making an impact in their communities.

The Band Room Podcast

Dr. Dylan Maddix has an impressive and extensive resume in the world of band academia, currently serves as Assistant Professor of Instrumental Conducting and Community Engagement at Memorial University.

And for the past eight years, he’s also mic’d up to share what he knows as host of The Band Room Podcast.

Each week, Dylan welcomes conductors, composers, music educators, and performers who are shaping the future of the band community. He also dives into solo episodes, exploring topics like music education, conducting, composition, entrepreneurship, leadership and more.

Check out this episode list and jump right in!

Related Reading:  10 Travel Tips for Band Directors

Choralosophy

The Choralosophy podcast is hosted by Chris Munce, a highly regarded choir director, conductor, and educator in the choral music community.

This podcast allows choral musicians to go beneath the surface – really digging into the art and philosophy (thus the name!) of teaching, singing, and performing. It’s been the world’s top-rated choir podcast for more than four years and is among the top-performing arts podcasts.

Chris’s style is easy to listen to, and easy to follow as he chats with distinguished and interesting guests. Topics include choral music, education, leadership, performance, pedagogy, and the human element in music making. He also delves into hot button issues like safety, ethics, and power dynamics in schools.

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

Dr. Charles Laux has been teaching strings at the elementary through collegiate level for more than a quarter century. He is also a renowned clinician, consultant, and contributor in his field.

But what we love most about Dr. Laux is that he’s crazy about technology! He puts his passion into action as he embraces the podcast platform as a way to connect with string and orchestra educators everywhere.

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast features topics like string pedagogy, classroom management, program administration, assessment, current trends, work/life balance, and more. Episodes are packed with great advice, compelling stories, and helpful resources for music educators.

The Assistant Principal Podcast

You know that feeling you get when you’re in a room with colleagues and the ideas just flow? That’s what The Assistant Principal Podcast feels like!

This weekly podcast is designed to “improve the life and leadership of assistant principals” … and Dr. Frederick Buskey does just that. With 17 years in K-12 teaching and administration, and more than a decade at the collegiate level, Dr. Buskey understands successful and strategic leadership.

The Assistant Principal Podcast will inspire, educate, and help you wade through highs and lows of building a network of support and leading your team.

Tune In and Turn It Up!

Once you’ve found the perfect podcast, grab your headphones, tune in, and turn it up! Let the stories and strategies of music directors and admins everywhere inspire fresh ideas and fuel a passion for your craft.

Stay connected to the trends and engage with the experts through live Q & A.  However you listen, our partner playlist will kickstart your creativity!

Kaleidoscope Adventures is Your Perfect Travel Planning Partner

As a leader in the student travel industry for 30+ years, Kaleidoscope Adventures exceeds expectations for student and performance group travel. We’ve been the conduit for experiences that teach, inspire, encourage, and allow students to explore the world around them.

Our pro team has countless ideas for a trip that’s just right for you – and we make it SO easy to plan:

• Expert planning team
• Online registration and payments
• Convenient crowdfunding options
• Impeccable customer service from start to finish
• Travel that exceeds your expectations

Click Here to Connect with Our Team and Request Your Free Quote