In this first episode of Backstage: The Hidden Workload of the Performing Arts , a special mini-series of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest equity gaps in our schools—the overwhelming administrative burden placed on music educators. While teachers in other subject areas are supported by district-approved AI tools, performing arts teachers are still stuck drowning in logistics, trip planning, budgets, late-night emails, and endles...
Aug 19, 2025•12 min•Season 4Ep. 21
In this moving episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast , host Lesley Moffat welcomes longtime New York band director and debut author Lindsey Williams. Together, they explore themes of resilience, loss, recovery, and mentorship through the lens of Lindsey’s powerful new book, Where the Valley Widens —a collection of 40 stories inspired by her first group of students who journeyed with her from pre-K to high school graduation. Lindsey opens up about the unexpected challenges she faced, inc...
Jul 24, 2025•21 min•Season 4Ep. 20
In this inspiring episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat welcomes singer-songwriter, TEDx speaker, and youth empowerment coach Emma G. Her story is nothing short of remarkable—born with hydrocephalus and having undergone 23 brain surgeries, Emma found healing and purpose through songwriting. Now she helps others do the same. Lesley and Emma dive into: How music supported Emma’s physical and emotional healing Why songwriting is such a powerful tool for student expressi...
Jul 16, 2025•25 min•Season 4Ep. 19
In this heartfelt and practical episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, Lesley Moffat is joined by Jeanette Mihalchik, host of The Happy Music Teacher podcast and YouTube channel. Jeanette shares her journey from total overwhelm and burnout—sitting on the classroom floor wondering if she could keep going—to becoming a thriving, joy-filled educator committed to helping others rediscover their spark. Together, Lesley and Jeanette explore: The realities of entering teaching through the “bac...
Jul 09, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 18
In this revealing episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat welcomes Megan Cooney, Director of Athletic Bands at Rowan University, to share the behind-the-scenes reality of starting a collegiate band program from scratch. From budgeting to branding to building leadership, Megan walks us through the surprising and often overlooked responsibilities of life as a college band director. You’ll learn: Why collegiate band directors operate more like small business owners than conductors The di...
Jul 02, 2025•21 min•Season 4Ep. 17
In this heartfelt episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley reconnects with longtime friend and veteran educator Glenn Williams to talk about three transformative books that every music teacher should consider reading—or rereading. With decades of experience leading high school bands, mentoring student teachers, and shaping music education culture, Glenn shares how these books shaped his career and can help you recharge, reflect, and reconnect with your purpose. Here’s what you’ll learn: The p...
Jun 25, 2025•24 min•Season 4Ep. 16
In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat sits down with Don Crafton, founder and CEO of Sight Reading Factory, to explore how this innovative platform helps band directors save time, reduce stress, and build stronger music literacy in their students. Don shares how his own frustrations as a band director led him to create a customizable, algorithm-based tool that allows for fresh sight reading exercises every time. You’ll learn how Sight Reading Factory: Eliminates the chaos of...
Jun 18, 2025•23 min•Season 4Ep. 15
In this energizing and practical episode of the Band Director Boot Camp podcast, Lesley Moffat is joined by fitness expert Jonathan Simos , who shares easy, sustainable strategies for weaving exercise into even the busiest teaching schedule. Jonathan opens up about his journey from injury-prone teenager to Guinness World Record holder and certified trainer—showing how fitness transformed his body, mindset, and life. Lesley and Jonathan dive into the parallels between building a healthy body and ...
Jun 11, 2025•24 min•Season 4Ep. 14
In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp , host Lesley Moffat sits down with Bill Kennelly of Kennelly Keys Music—a longtime friend of music education and sponsor of Season 4—to talk about how relationships with independent music stores can transform your program, reduce your workload, and support your students in meaningful ways. Lesley and Bill discuss how music stores can be more than just suppliers—they can be true partners. From picking up and repairing instruments, to sponsoring festival...
Jun 04, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 13
In this energizing episode of the Band Director Boot Camp podcast, Lesley Moffat sits down with M.J. Robinson—band director, mom, and President-Elect of Women Band Directors International—to discuss how managing your energy can transform not only your teaching but your entire life. M.J. shares her journey from quiet wallflower to confident educator and leader, crediting the power of community, mentorship, and intentional mindset work. This episode is packed with practical strategies for navigati...
May 28, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 12
In this milestone episode of the Band Director Boot Camp podcast, host Lesley Moffat welcomes—as her 100th guest—the inspiring Dr. Shannon Shaker—assistant professor and Director of Bands at Grand Rapids Community College. In a conversation full of honesty and heart, Shannon shares how she forged her own unique path to the podium, from early years in poverty and working at McDonald's to earning her doctorate in wind conducting. Lesley and Shannon dive into topics many music educators will relate...
May 21, 2025•28 min•Season 4Ep. 11
It’s a milestone moment! In this very special 100th episode of Band Director Boot Camp , host Lesley Moffat reflects on two years of podcasting, over 22,000 downloads, and the incredible community of music educators that made it all possible. This episode is more than a celebration—it’s a recommitment to the mission of helping band directors amplify their impact, not their workload. Lesley shares the story behind starting the podcast in May 2023, what she’s learned from 100 powerful conversation...
May 14, 2025•16 min•Season 4Ep. 100
In this high-energy episode of Band Director Boot Camp , host Lesley Moffat is joined by middle school band director, composer, and organizational powerhouse Erin Lilliefors. Erin shares her practical strategies for keeping communication clear and effective with parents—an area that often causes stress for music educators. Drawing on 15 years of experience in diverse school settings and the real-life juggling act of being a single mom, Erin reveals how front-loading information, formatting for c...
May 07, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 10
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 importanc...
Apr 30, 2025•28 min•Season 4Ep. 9
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 musi...
Apr 23, 2025•27 min•Season 4Ep. 8
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 ...
Apr 16, 2025•23 min•Season 4Ep. 7
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 go...
Apr 09, 2025•22 min•Season 4Ep. 6
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 ...
Apr 02, 2025•20 min•Season 4Ep. 5
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 dire...
Mar 26, 2025•27 min•Season 4Ep. 4
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 leve...
Mar 19, 2025•22 min•Season 4Ep. 3
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...
Mar 12, 2025•24 min•Season 4Ep. 2
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 permi...
Mar 05, 2025•23 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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 i...
Nov 20, 2024•25 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In this powerful episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat is joined by Joey Weisler, educator, trauma-based scholar, and host of Classroom Narratives, Healing in Education . Joey brings his unique perspective on managing trauma and burnout, drawn from his own experiences with the tragic events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and his journey through personal and professional healing. Lesley and Joey delve into the importance of creating safe spaces for students and educators to ...
Nov 06, 2024•29 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In this insightful episode of Band Director Boot Camp , Lesley Moffat welcomes Lynn Brinckmeyer—a music educator, advocate, and life coach with an impressive career spanning state and national leadership. Lynn shares her journey from being a clarinet player to becoming a national advocate for music education, along with valuable strategies from her books like Wander the World with Warm-Ups and Advocate for Music . This conversation covers how advocacy starts in the classroom and the power of mak...
Oct 23, 2024•22 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In this enlightening episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat is joined by Dr. Tim Sexton, brass instructor with the Blue Coats and Associate Director of Bands at Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts. Fresh from his recent marriage, Dr. Sexton shares invaluable insights on managing a busy summer schedule, the importance of downtime, and strategies for maintaining balance between professional commitments and personal life. This conversation is packed with practical ti...
Oct 16, 2024•20 min•Season 3Ep. 8
In this compelling episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat welcomes Ronald Kearns, a seasoned music educator and author of influential books aimed at enhancing the capabilities of music teachers. Ronald shares invaluable insights from his extensive career and his series of books, which serve as essential resources for music educators navigating the multifaceted challenges of teaching band, orchestra, and jazz. Key Points Covered: Ronald Kearns' journey from a drum major to a rever...
Oct 09, 2024•20 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In this enlightening episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat welcomes Del Hubers, a veteran band director with over 40 years of experience, to demystify the process of commissioning new music. Del shares his extensive experience in enriching student engagement and enhancing music programs through commissioned works, highlighting the transformative impact on both students and the school community. Key Points Covered: Introduction to the benefits and process of commissioning music f...
Oct 02, 2024•20 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat discusses innovative solutions to common classroom management challenges with Cassie and Michael Tucker, the creators of Lesson Launch Pad. This web-based application helps educators automate routine tasks like displaying daily agendas and managing class timers, significantly reducing decision-making fatigue. Key Points Covered: Introduction to Lesson Launch Pad and its key features. How automating certain classroom functions can sav...
Sep 25, 2024•22 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, host Lesley Moffat welcomes Chris Kaatz, Assistant Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin State University and co-creator of the Cue Rehearsal Techniques App. Chris shares insights into how technology can streamline music rehearsals and improve productivity. He discusses the challenges music educators face and how his app helps tackle these by providing structured rehearsal techniques and enhancing student accountability. Key Discussions: The common st...
Sep 18, 2024•19 min•Season 3Ep. 4
