Join me as I interview Travis J Weller. Travis is a middle/high school band director AND a composer. In this interview we talk about a lot of things, including Travis' biggest mistake and biggest triumph. He has been at his school almost 20 years!

What does Michael Jordan have to do with music education? How important is it to obtain a master's and doctorate degrees? How Brian Balmages - another composer - influenced Travis, and how he was influenced by Beethoven too. You don't want to miss three pieces of advice for those interested in composing. You may be surprised!

Check out Travis' website or follow him on twitter @travisjweller. You can also order his music on JW Pepper.

Have you been offered a job teaching band but it includes a guitar and orchestra class? Do you feel unqualified to teach the class? I did too! Listen to the podcast and learn how you can teach guitar and orchestra and how I came to enjoy it. I am in my tenth year of teaching those classes.

The Guitar Manufacturing Association sponsors several Teaching Guitar Workshops all across the country. The one week workshop is a great hands on experience that will get you started.

I also joined the American String Teacher's Association and the Colorado chapter of ASTA. I met many helpful people through that organization and had the chance to take classes like "Violin Boot Camp."

The learning one obtains as part of a master's program can be so important. Scott McKee's father Max McKee developed the American Band College program (known by many as ABC) many years ago. In addition to an affordable master's degree, ABC offers many resources to help band directors. The 3 year master's features 25 faculty each year - names such as Doc Severinsen and Eugene Rousseau - so students experience 75 teachers in their three years. Find the resources and more info about the program at www.bandworld.org.  - See more at: http://www.themusicedpodcast.com/the_music_ed_podcast/episode_32_interview_with_scott_mckee_why_a_masters_degree_can_be_important_part_2/#sthash.jGi21CTL.dpuf