901-323-8888 Contact

Podcast

After Hours Podcast

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 classroom management, 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.

Page 2 of 15

Monday, December 12, 2022

Doubling The Size Of The Band Program During A Pandemic

Wes Lowe, Director of Instrumental Arts at The King's Academy in West Palm Beach, discusses what it's like to direct ensembles at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels and how he has grown the band program at the school in the last few years.

Wes was recently named to the 2022 Yamaha 40 Under 40 list of music educators. This conversation was recorded July 5, 2022. This is the first half of that chat.

at Monday, December 12, 2022

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Welcoming Musicians With Physical Exceptionalities To The Marching Band

Cody Newman, Director of Bands at Forney High School, shares the challenges of teaching two talented musicians in the school's marching band with physical exceptionalities and how his team worked together to make sure they were prosperous members of the band. We'll also find out about his approach to marching band competitions and why the most important part of competing is the time after the performance is over.

This is part two of a conversation recorded July 1, 2022.

 
at Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Band Directors marching band

Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Encouragement, Selflessness And Positivity Are Keys To This Band Program's Success

2022 Yamaha 40 Under 40 honoree Cody Newman shares stories of his early days as a music educator and how his band's unique and effective leadership program focuses on encouragement, selflessness, and positivity.

This is the first part of a conversation recorded July 1, 2022. 

 
at Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Band Directors marching band

Monday, October 24, 2022

Providing After School Opportunities For Musicians At All Skill Levels

Anastasia Homes, Director of Bands at San Elijo Middle School, explores the school's various after-school musical opportunities for musicians at all levels. You'll also learn about how Anastasia and her students adapted to the pandemic and how strongly the music program has bounced back.

This is part two of our conversation on recorded July 8, 2022. 

 

at Monday, October 24, 2022
Band Directors Women Band Directors

Monday, October 17, 2022

Creating A Successful Mentorship Program In Middle School Band

2022 Yamaha 40 Under 40 honoree Anastasia Homes shares ideas and the people that inspired her to be a music educator. Also, learn about the unique mentorship program she runs at San Elijo Middle School.

This is the first part of a conversation recorded July 8, 2022.

 
at Monday, October 17, 2022
mentorship Women Band Directors

Monday, October 3, 2022

Ideas to Inspire High School Students To Pursue A Career In Music Education

This week, Nick Averwater continues his conversation with Mikaela Littleton, Director of Bands at Mill Creek Middle School in Nolensville, TN. It's part of the Williamson County School System, which is just south of Nashville. Mikaela is in her fourth year as a music educator, and in this conversation she shares stories about lessons and mentors during her high school years that made it clear that she was going to teach music. She also talks about some of the things she does to be a more effective educator. This conversation was recorded July 29, 2022. It's broken up in to two episodes and this is part two.

 
at Monday, October 3, 2022
mentorship Women Band Directors

Monday, September 26, 2022

Great Mentors Are Essential To A Band Director's Early Success

In this episode, Nick Averwater talks with Mikaela Littleton, Director of Bands at Mill Creek Middle School in Nolensville, TN. It's part of the Williamson County School System, which is just south of Nashville. This week we'll learn more about Mikaela's early influences that encouraged her to become a music educator, some of the lessons she has learned as she begins her fourth year of teaching, and more. Our conversation was recorded July 29, 2022. It's broken up in to two episodes and this is part one.

 
at Monday, September 26, 2022
Band Directors Director Spotlight mentorship Women Band Directors Young Directors

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Tips For Retaining Most (Or Even All) Of Your Band Students

In this episode, Nick Averwater continues his conversation with Benjamin Easley, Director of Bands at Nolensville High School in Nolensville, TN. We'll learn more about Benjamin's approach to maintaining high retention rates in the band program at Nolensville, how his approach to teaching has changed as a result of Covid, and more. Our conversation was recorded July 1, 2022. It's broken up in to two episodes and this is part two.

Podcast Resources

In this conversation, Benjamin mentions The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer.

at Sunday, September 18, 2022
Band Directors covid-19 Director Spotlight Professional Development retention