Podcast

After Hours: A podcast for band directors, orchestra directors, and other music educators

After Hours: Conversations for Music Educators is a music education podcast from Amro Music Stores, Inc. Our After Hours podcast host, Nick Averwater, facilitates engaging conversations each week with band directors, private music teachers, general music educators, orchestra directors, and other music industry professionals just like you. Each podcast guest shares practical advice on things like classroom management in your band program, placing beginners on instruments, band and orchestra recruitment strategies, band boosters, fundraising, and more.

The goal of After Hours is to provide a podcast for band directors, orchestra directors, and music educators with strategies for both "on-podium" and “off-podium” skills that can help create a school music program that you can be proud of. If you can't find what you're looking for in our current episodes, we'd love to hear from you! Send us an email with questions or topics you'd like to see addressed in the podcast.

Did you know we were recently featured in the Top 25 Music Education Podcasts by Feedspot? Check out the article here.

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Category: Band Directors

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Advising And Encouraging Students Who Want To Pursue A Career In Music Education

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode, Nick Averwater talks with Dr. Matt Rowan , Director of Bands for the Pearl School District in Pearl, Mississippi, a city of around 27,000 just east of Jackson. In this conversation, Dr. Rowan talks about how he knew early that he wanted to pursue a career in music education, in large part because of the many educators along the way who encouraged him. We'll also learn about ways he now serves as a mentor for leaders in his... Read More

Posted by Emilee McGee at Saturday, April 23, 2022

After Hours Podcast Band Directors mentorship

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Developing a Positive Relationship With Your Local School Board

Podcast Episode Summary This week Nick Averwater continues his conversation with Todd Shipley, Director of Arts Education for the Tennessee Department of Education . In this episode, they'll discuss the importance developing a positive relationship with your local school board, proactive vs. reactive advocacy, and more. Our conversation was recorded February 14, 2022, and is broken up in to two episodes, and this is part two. Podcast Guest Todd Shipley... Read More

Posted by Emilee McGee at Saturday, April 16, 2022

advocacy administration Band Directors

Saturday, April 9, 2022

Advocating For Arts Education In A State of Nearly 7 Million People

Podcast Episode Summary This week Nick Averwater talks with Todd Shipley, Director of Arts Education for the Tennessee Department of Education . Todd had eight years of experience as a school band director before moving into his current role with the state in 2018. In this episode, we'll learn more about what it means to be the leading advocate for arts education in a state of nearly seven million people, and we'll learn about some practical ideas for advocacy at the local... Read More

Posted by Emilee McGee at Saturday, April 9, 2022

advocacy After Hours Podcast Band Directors Music Industry News

Friday, March 25, 2022

Student Leadership And Clear Expectations Are Keys To A Band Program's Success

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode of the After Hours Director Spotlight, Nick Averwater talks with Justin Harvison, Director of Bands at Germantown High School in Madison, Mississippi. Justin began his career in 2008 at Madison Central High School, where he was lead director of the 9th grade band at Rosa Scott 9th grade school . He then went on to become the founding director of the Germantown High School band program in 2011. In this conversation, Justin talks... Read More

Posted by Emilee McGee at Friday, March 25, 2022

Band marching band Student Leadership Band Directors

Friday, February 25, 2022

How Supply Chain Issues Affect Musical Instrument Manufacturers

Podcast Episode Summary This week Nick Averwater talks with Shane Deuel, Regional Sales Director for Eastman Music Company , and host of the podcast Ed Rep Radio . Shane gives us an insider's view of how supply chain issues are affecting instrument manufacturers. We'll also learn about the different brands in the Eastman family, and find out about some of the company's more popular instruments. Our conversation was recorded February 7, 2022. Podcast... Read More

Posted by Emilee McGee at Friday, February 25, 2022

Orchestra Band Directors Music Industry News Eastman

Friday, February 18, 2022

Directing The Band Program At One Of Mississippi's Largest High Schools

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode of the After Hours Director Spotlight, Nick Averwater talks with Chuck Reynolds, Director of Bands at Madison Central High School in Madison, MS, a city of around 25,000 located just north of Jackson. Chuck talks about working in a program with seven band directors in what was once the largest high school in the state, and we'll learn more about the process that takes place when it's time to add a new member to the team of music... Read More

Posted by Emilee McGee at Friday, February 18, 2022

Director Spotlight Student Leadership Band Directors Professional Development

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Back To The Classroom After Two Years As A Fine Arts Administrator

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode, Nick Averwater continues his conversation with David Aydelott, Band Director at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, a city of around 150,000 people which is also the home of Middle Tennessee State University . From 1992 to 2019, David was Director of Bands at four different schools in Tennessee. Then in 2019 he began serving in an administrative role as Director of Fine Arts for Williamson County Schools , a district... Read More

Posted by Amro Music at Thursday, February 10, 2022

Band Director Spotlight administration Band Directors

Saturday, January 29, 2022

The Importance of Collaboration Between Different Artistic Disciplines Within A School

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode of the After Hours Director Spotlight, Nick Averwater talks with David Aydelott, Director of Bands at Siegel High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the sixth largest city in the state with a population of just over 150,000, located 35 miles southeast of Nashville. David talks about the lessons he learned as a school administrator that have made him a more effective band director, the importance of collaboration between different... Read More

Posted by Amro Music at Saturday, January 29, 2022

Director Spotlight Band Directors administration Band

Friday, January 21, 2022

The Gibson County Mass Band's Journey to the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade

Podcast Episode Summary In this episode, Nick Averwater talks with Jeremy Tate from Gibson County High School in Dyer, Tennessee. We'll learn about the long journey to performing in the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade for the Gibson County Mass Band, which is made up of musicians from five high schools in this rural part of northwest Tennessee. You can see the band performing at the Tournament of Roses Parade here. Podcast Guest Jeremy Tate... Read More

Posted by Amro Music at Friday, January 21, 2022

marching band Director Spotlight Band Directors

Friday, January 7, 2022

Creative Ways To Build Community Support For A Band Program

Podcast Episode Summary This week Nick Averwater continues his conversation with John Easley , who has been an Educational Representative for Amro Music for the last five years, but was a band director in several school districts in northwest Tennessee, including over three decades in Union City , a town of around 11,000 people. They'll be talking about creative ways of building support for a band program in a small, rural community, the challenges that... Read More

Posted by Amro Music at Friday, January 7, 2022

Director Spotlight Band Directors Band

Friday, December 31, 2021

Want to Grow your Band Program? Having Fun (and Patience) Will Help

Podcast Episode Summary This week Nick Averwater talks with John Easley , who is now an Educational Representative for Amro Music, but for over three decades was a band director in several school districts in northwest Tennessee. Most of his time as a music educator was spent in Union City , a town of around 11,000 people. They'll be talking about John's early days as a band director, the value of having patience when growing a band program, and more. Our... Read More

Posted by Amro Music at Friday, December 31, 2021

Band Director Spotlight Band Directors

Friday, December 10, 2021

Defining Success for Young Musicians

Podcast Episode Summary This week Nick Averwater continues his conversation with John Mlynczak , Vice President of Music Education and Technology at Hal Leonard . In this episode they'll be talking about advocating for music education, defining success for young musicians, and more. The conversation was recorded November 23, 2021 and is broken up in to two episodes. This is part two. Podcast Guest John T. Mlynczak John Mlynczak has an... Read More

Posted by Amro Music at Friday, December 10, 2021

student engagement advocacy Band Directors

Support the Podcast:

If you enjoy the content provided through "After Hours", you can support the podcast by purchasing your classroom supplies, books and accessories from Amro Music. We're the greater Memphis area's first choice when it comes to music education materials. Band directors and orchestra instructors know we carry the brands and products they trust to teach the next generation everything they need to know to appreciate music. To place an order or receive a quote, please call or text our Director Services office at 901-302-3315 or email them here.