If you’re running a band program solo, you already know the math doesn’t math. Not enough time, not enough hands, and somehow you’re still expected to keep the program thriving without it taking over your entire life.

In this episode, Lesley Moffat talks with middle school band director Mike Perez, a 25-year veteran who’s learned how to build a high-performing program without burning out, even as the “lone wolf” on campus. Mike shares the real systems he’s used to protect his personal life, advocate for support, and keep the focus where it belongs: on teaching kids.

You’ll hear two game-changing strategies that don’t require a second band director:

• A weekly parent volunteer who comes in for two hours to handle admin tasks like concert programs, permission slips, and organizing payments
• A paraprofessional support period that helps with grade entry, freeing up hours each week

Mike also breaks down what it looks like to own your planning period, set clear boundaries with families, and build relationships that genuinely strengthen your program, from office staff to administrators to coaches.

And if your students are stretched thin across sports, clubs, and life, Mike shares how he navigates the tug-of-war by communicating proactively with coaches so kids aren’t stuck in the middle.

Toward the end, Mike highlights the growing library of “young band” teaching resources he’s created, including YouTube and Instagram tips that cover practical beginner-to-early-intermediate band problems, plus his best advice for any lone wolf director: bring in a trusted consultant to watch you teach in real time and help you grow faster.

Website: www.mikeperezband.com

Instagram: @mastering_the_young_band

Payhip: www.payhip.com/mikeperez

If middle school band feels like triage some days, this episode is for you.

Lesley Moffat sits down with Florida middle school band director Tim Ostrow, who has spent 19 years building a thriving program and collecting the kind of practical, real-world tools most of us wish we had on day one. Tim shares the story behind his “Middle School Band Director Help List”, a curated framework packed with links, templates, and editable resources designed to make running a band program smoother, more engaging, and way more sustainable.

You’ll hear Tim break down the three big buckets his list focuses on: management, curriculum and assessment, and performance, plus why he insists recruitment and retention still matter even when you’re putting out fires.

In the management section, Tim walks through why a clear band handbook matters (especially for grading policies and expectations), and how a band room procedures video plus a quick follow-up quiz can save your sanity. He shares favorite tools and “band room hacks” that streamline daily operations, including seating chart strategies, classroom screen tools (timers, agendas, widgets), and systems that keep routines consistent even after long breaks.

Then Tim digs into curriculum and assessment, including how he handles instrument selection, his instrument listening “scoreboard,” and a mastery-based “pass-off” approach that teaches kids to practice until they can’t get it wrong. He also explains his bead achievement system, why middle schoolers will do anything for a bead, and how tracking growth over multiple years helps keep assessment fair and motivation high.

This episode is a gold mine for brand new teachers, teachers moving into a new program, and veteran directors who want systems that help them teach more music and do less spiraling.

Link to Middle School Director Help List.

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, Lesley Moffat brings wellness down to the practical fundamentals with fitness innovator and X Gym founder PJ Glassey. If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have time,” this conversation is for you. PJ shares a simple, science-backed approach to getting stronger and healthier without the traditional “hour-a-day gym” expectation.

You’ll hear how PJ’s 21-minute, twice-a-week full-body training model was built specifically for busy people, and why he also teaches “exercise snacks” which are three-minute mini-workouts you can squeeze in without changing clothes or getting drenched in sweat. The big idea: consistency beats perfection, and even a minute of movement can help reset your body and brain.

The conversation also dives into stress regulation and performance readiness through breathwork, specifically box breathing (4 in, hold 4, out 4, hold 4). Lesley connects this directly to the band room, sharing how daily guided breathing helps her students shift from chaos to calm, improves focus, supports healthy breath for playing and singing, and reduces performance nerves before concerts.

Finally, PJ explains a simple brain-training strategy for habit formation using emotional “declarations” (similar to affirmations but said with conviction and feeling) to retrain the subconscious and make wellness behaviors easier to maintain. They wrap up with a real-world reminder that delegation and “good enough” can be powerful wellness tools too, for band directors and everyone else.

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, Lesley Moffat talks with Brittany Valente, the no-nonsense teacher you’ve probably seen on TikTok serving up fast, practical advice for music educators. This one is especially for brand new band directors, or anyone walking into a new teaching situation and feeling like a first-year teacher all over again.

Brittany shares the real steps to take before students even walk through the door, starting with identifying your go-to people for questions, then tackling the big-ticket items in a sane order: instruments and rentals, music library, curriculum expectations, schedules, calendars, and systems that keep you from drowning. She also gives a reality check many of us needed early on: don’t cling too tightly to a perfect yearlong plan before you even meet the kids.

Once the year begins, the focus shifts to building non-negotiable routines, setting up efficient procedures, and creating a classroom culture rooted in relationships and team-building, not constant crisis management. Brittany also talks about protecting your own energy by planning your prep blocks with intention, understanding your “best brain” time, and leaning on mentors and trusted colleagues (even outside your building) to cut decision fatigue and remind you you’re not alone.

The lightning round is full of gold: lower the bar, forgive yourself, remember that mistakes are part of gaining confidence, and learn how to reset after a brutal day without letting it steal your whole evening. If you want a cheat sheet for sustainable teaching in today’s band world, this is the episode to queue up.

In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, Lesley Moffat sits down with veteran music educator and author James Devine for some honest, practical survival strategies for life in the band room. With nearly three decades of teaching experience across private schools, public schools, and charter programs, James shares seven simple but powerful habits that can help band directors reclaim at least five hours every week.

This conversation is all about working smarter, not harder. James walks through realistic ways to limit time-sucking distractions, tame your inbox, and stop letting meetings and unfinished projects drain your energy. From the two-minute rule to scheduling focused work time and giving yourself permission not to finish everything, these ideas are immediately actionable and grounded in real classroom life.

You’ll also hear why weekly review and preview routines matter, how small organizational shifts can dramatically reduce stress, and why burnout often comes from systems that don’t serve us anymore. If you love your job but feel like it’s slowly wearing you down, this episode offers grounded strategies to help you stay effective, balanced, and in the profession for the long haul.

James also shares details about his book, Almost Everything I’ve Learned About Teaching Band, a practical handbook filled with short, usable lessons designed specifically for busy band directors.

In this high-energy, strategy-packed episode of Band Director Boot Camp, Lesley Moffat welcomes veteran music educator, composer, and clinician Dr. Scott Watson to share his go-to ideas for launching the school year with purpose, playfulness, and less overwhelm.

Whether you’re on day one or deep into the semester, this episode offers practical advice to help you set the tone, build routines that work, and reconnect with your students in meaningful ways. Scott shares classroom-tested games and challenges that boost engagement and reinforce fundamentals without sacrificing musical rigor.

🎯 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “There’s always next week” might be the motto you need
• How games like King of the Hill, BPS (Best Possible Sound), and the Three-Time Rule can transform your rehearsals
• The power of warm-ups, consistent routines, and nonverbal cues
• How to create a safe environment where students can take risks and support each other
• Why asking for help and learning from mentors isn’t just okay—it’s essential

Lesley and Scott also talk about how teaching has changed over the decades, how to meet students where they are, and why your early investment in expectations and culture pays off all year long.

Bonus: Scott is generously sharing a Google Doc with 50 rehearsal games and challenges you can start using this week. Check the link in the show notes!

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Scott Watson’s music & resources: ScottWatsonMusic.com
• Sponsors: mPowered Music Educator Academy and Kennelly Keys Music
• Free download of 50 rehearsal games: Here’s a direct link to the Games & Challenges doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iwakJni6-1dsVcxycNNxDu8qj05G0z0fPZ95i7_k8ic/edit

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 conversations, and how her background in teaching, AI tools, and sustainable systems fuels the work she does today.

You’ll hear about the upcoming release of her next book, The Balanced Band Director, as well as exciting new resources like Band Director Buddy GPTs and Get Sh*t Done sessions to help you save time and energy while doing your best work.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

🎉 Why this podcast was created (and how it’s grown into a movement)

📚 A sneak peek at Lesley’s upcoming book and what makes it different

💡 How AI is transforming how directors manage their programs

🧠 The mindset shift every busy teacher needs

🎺 Heartfelt gratitude to the guests, listeners, and mentors who made this milestone possible

This episode is packed with personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and a powerful invitation to be part of what’s next. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or just found us, thank you for being part of this journey. You are the reason it matters.

Resources & Links:

• Band Director Buddy GPT Tools
• Join the mPowered Music Educator Academy
• Kennelly Keys Music – Proud Platinum Sponsor

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 endless paperwork. Lesley shares why this isn’t just a teacher problem, but a support problem—and how music supervisors can make a real difference without adding to their own plates.

You’ll learn:

• Why “I love my job, but it’s killing me” is such a common refrain among music teachers
• How administrative overload leads to burnout and turnover
• Why AI solutions designed specifically for performing arts educators (like Backstage Buddy) are game-changing for districts
• What supervisors can do to retain staff, reduce overwhelm, and finally give music educators the support they deserve

If you’ve ever wondered how to be the hero your music teachers need while lightening your own load, this episode will show you what’s possible.