education
Hosted by Dr. Shawn Knopp · education · EN
There is nothing quite like swapping stories with a fellow band director! As I have traveled around the midwest conducting honor bands, adjudicating festivals, and providing clinics for bands, I have had the good fortune to meet many amazing band directors and music educators.These directors have inspired and encouraged me to be a better person, and because of that, I want you to hear their stories as well! I hope these interviews will add value to your life and capacity to your teaching endeavors. Cheers!~Shawn~
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Booking probability
29%
Guest openness
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Signup to Generate a PitchThere is nothing quite like swapping stories with a fellow band director! As I have traveled around the midwest conducting honor bands, adjudicating festivals, and providing clinics for bands, I have had the good fortune to meet many amazing band directors and music educators.
Behind the Baton is hosted by Dr. Shawn Knopp. The show has published 48 episodes to date.
Recent episodes include "Recruiting, Rubrics, and Rural Band Life" (28 October 2026, 48 minutes), "Sunday Spark - October 4, 2026" (5 October 2026, 3 minutes), and "Sunday Spark - September 27, 2026" (27 September 2026, 3 minutes).
Behind the Baton publishes roughly weekly, with episodes averaging 33 minutes across 48 episodes.
Booking probability for Behind the Baton is 29%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Behind the Baton requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Behind the Baton's contact route on record: verified email.
The strongest fits for Behind the Baton are Courses, Coaching & Lessons. Behind the Baton has an education audience.
Dr. Shawn Knopp hosts Behind the Baton, an education podcast with 48 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
Episode #67
Bethany Seedorff is in her 22nd year of teaching, all at Calamus-Wheatland Community School District. At Cal-Wheat Ms. Seedorff directs the high school concert, jazz, and pep bands; the junior high band; and for the...
Behind the Baton
"Legacy is not about what you accomplish. It's about what others accomplish because of you." ~Mark Batterson
Behind the Baton
"Success is when you add value to yourself. Significance is when you add value to others." ~John R. Miles
Behind the Baton
"Compliance is the seedbed for mediocrity, and commitment is the fuel for sustained levels of elite performance." ~Mark Miller
Dr. Shawn Knopp is the guest on The Growing Band Director Podcast with Kyle Smith.
Alex McMahon is an experienced music educator, conductor, and professional musician who has worked with students from elementary through high school. His teaching responsibilities have included concert band, jazz band...
Dr. Myra Rhoden serves on the faculty at the University of West Georgia where she conducts the UWG Symphonic Band and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Music Education. As the founder of Athena Music and...
Dr. Rachael Urquhart is the director of bands at Quakertown Community High School in Quakertown Community School District, Quakertown, PA. Her responsibilities at Quakertown HS include conducting the Symphonic Band and...
Ryan Runyan is the director of 5-12 bands at IKM-Manning High School in Manning, IA. A graduate of Simpson College in Indianola, IA, Ryan has 14 years of experience teaching ensembles such as marching, jazz, concert...
Matt Treto is a Kansas-based music educator and percussionist from Augusta, Kansas. Since Fall 2025, he has served as the 5th–12th grade Band Director for Haven Public Schools in Haven, Kansas, where he teaches...
Ryan Partin just completed his 15th year of teaching and is the Director of Bands at Garden City High School in Garden City, KS. He oversees the marching band, 3 concert ensembles, and 3 jazz bands. His previous...
Episode #53
A graduate of South Portland High School, Kyle Smith has been the Band Westbrook High School in Westbrook, Maine since 2006. Prior to his appointment at Westbrook High School he was the Band Director at Biddeford High...
Episode #52
Dr. Adam J. Gumble is the Director of Athletic Bands at West Chester University. Dr. Gumble’s primary responsibilities include directing the 324-member “INCOMPARABLE” Golden Rams Marching Band, “Sixth Man” Basketball...
Dr. Frank Pérez serves as Director of Instrumental Music at Gloria Willis Middle School in Kansas City, KS. He formerly served as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Baker University, where he...
Episode #50
Chris DeVona is the Assistant Director of Bands at James Madison University, where he conducts the Symphonic Band, directs the basketball Pep Band, and works with the Marching Royal Dukes. In addition to his ensemble...
Episode #49
Micah Bolton is the Director of Bands at Goddard High School, currently in his third year, where he works with students across intermediate, middle school, and high school levels. An active percussionist, educator, and...
Behind the Baton
If you leave your growth to randomness, you’ll always live in the land of mediocrity. ~Brendon Burchard
Behind the Baton
Good decision-making comes down to two things: 1. Knowing how to get what you want 2. Knowing what’s worth wanting ~Shane Parrish in “Clear Thinking”
Behind the Baton
If you have a “to-do” list, do you also have a “stop doing” list? ~ Jim Collins in “Good to Great”
Behind the Baton
We waste time and energy stewing and stressing over the past instead of moving forward in hope. ~Ryan Leak
Recent guests on Behind the Baton. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
IKM-Manning High School
Virginia Tech
University of Southern Mississippi
Owasso High School
PitchCentric classifies Behind the Baton under these industries. Guests from them are the closest fit, and each links to the best podcasts in that industry.
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