Everything Band Podcast

Rachel Maxwell has enjoyed tremendous success as the Director of Bands at Traughber Junior High School in Oswego, Illinois where she teaches over 400 students in three bands. Topics: The organization of the program at Traughber Middle School and how the growth of the town has changed her program during her tenure. Dividing bands strictly by grade levels and the goal to help every kid be successful regardless of their ability level and challenges. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” How teaching college music theory and aural skills relates to teaching band. Rachel’s background growing up in Rockford, Illinois and how the size of her horn case almost ended her musical career before it got started. The Traughber Band Literature Commision Project and how a conversation at the Chicago Hilton with John Mackey led to his work “The Sheltering Sky” and has continued with pieces from Donald Grantham, Scott McAllister, Dana Wilson, Julie Giroux, Randall Standridge, and David Bi