In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, Lesley Moffat talks with jazz educator and author Milas Yoes about how to start, grow, or strengthen a jazz band, even if jazz was never your primary background. If you’ve ever felt underprepared to teach jazz, this conversation will help you see that you likely know more than you think you do, and that confidence can be built step by step.

Milas shares why he wrote Diving into Jazz Band with Confidence and Joy for directors who may have landed a jazz band assignment without much formal jazz pedagogy training. He talks honestly about the importance of choosing music that truly fits your students, especially paying close attention to rhythm section needs, instrumentation, and skill level so students can be successful instead of overwhelmed.

The conversation also highlights one of the most rewarding parts of jazz education: improvisation. Milas breaks down a simple and approachable way to introduce improvisation using a groove, limited note choices, call and response, and “safety in numbers” so students can experiment without fear. He reminds us that the first solos are supposed to be messy, and that jazz creates a unique space for students to take risks, find their voice, and sometimes thrive in ways they do not in traditional band settings.

This episode is a great reminder that jazz band is not just another ensemble. It can be a place where students blossom creatively, build confidence, and connect with music in a deeply personal way. And for directors, it can become one of the most joyful parts of teaching.

In this energizing episode of Band Director Boot Camp, Lesley Moffat talks with educator and speaker Phil Januszewski about what it takes to move beyond survival mode and build a career that feels sustainable. Phil shares the idea of identifying your “errs” - the roles, interests, and parts of yourself that make you who you are - and intentionally making space for them in your daily life.

Together, Lesley and Phil unpack why so many educators lose sight of themselves in the constant role of giver, and how even small, scheduled moments of joy can help refill your tank. They talk about building structure that supports your well-being, habit stacking, decluttering habits that no longer serve you, and finding ways to bring your natural gifts into the classroom so both you and your students benefit.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where you went in the middle of serving everyone else, this conversation is a powerful reminder that taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is necessary. This episode will leave you thinking differently about your time, your energy, and the small choices that can help you thrive for the long game.

Phil Januszewski Social Media Links:

Website: https://philjanuszewski.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilJanuszewskiSpeaks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philjanuszewski YouTube: https://youtube.com/@philjanuszewski

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philjanuszewski Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philjanuszewski Twitter/X: https://x.com/philjanuszewski

Positive Growth Clothing Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PositiveGrowthStore

Link to Subscribe to Positive Growth Lounge Emails: https://mailchi.mp/efbb1914fa7b/join-the-positive-growth-lounge-email-list

Ever feel like you’re running on empty no matter how much you check off your list? This episode is for the band directors (and teachers) who keep thinking, “If I just had more hours…”

Lesley Moffat sits down with Michelle Niemeyer, a former attorney turned coach and speaker, to talk about what she calls “The Art of Bending Time.” Not in a magical way, but in the very real way that happens when you learn how to align your time, energy, and capacity with how you actually work best.

Michelle shares her journey from intense burnout to rebuilding her health after being diagnosed with an autoimmune liver disease (PBC), and how the lifestyle changes she made helped her move from stage 2 to stage 0 over 10 years. Along the way, she developed a framework that starts with what she calls a “busyness detox” so you can get clear on what lights you up, fuel your body and brain, and stop living in constant fight-or-flight.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

• Why clarity is the north star for making better decisions and setting boundaries
• How “bending time” works by increasing the value of the time you already have
• The difference between internal time sucks (scrolling, procrastination habits) and external time sucks (committees, people-pleasing, extra responsibilities)
• Why sleep, nutrition, hydration, and movement aren’t “extras” but the foundation for focus and productivity
• How meal prep and simple systems reduce decision fatigue and help you make better choices when you’re tired

Michelle also shares a practical way to get started right away:

Text CLARITY to 33777 to access a guided meditation + journaling prompts and learn more about her SORT Analysis, a tool for evaluating goals so you can decide what’s worth your time, what you actually want, and what boundaries you need to protect it.

If you’ve been craving more margin, more energy, and a better relationship with your time, this episode will give you tangible ways to start building it.

The community page where people can access her clarity exercises is at this link: https://www.michelleniemeyer.com/offers/dmNrobgd/checkout