Behind the Baton

Dr. Shawn Knopp

Candid conversations with today’s most influential band directors.

  1. 2d ago

    Rehearsal Wisdom: Do It Two More Times

    James Kunz is in his 7th year of teaching at Okoboji High School (14th year overall), where he serves as the Director of Bands. He teaches 5th, 6th, and 9th-12th grade lessons, directs the Pioneer Pride Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Concert Band, a course in Jazz Improvisation, and leads a new funk/soul/rock group - The Tadpoles. Under his direction, bands have earned consistent Division 1 ratings at their respective IHSMA festivals and placed high in marching and jazz band competitions. In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Kunz serves as a member of the IBA Concert Band Affairs committee, IJC Board of Directors, and is a past president of the Northwest Iowa Bandmasters Association. In 2023, he was selected as the NWIBA Martin Crandell Award recipient for Outstanding High School Educator. Mr. Kunz is originally from Sioux City, IA and attended South Dakota State University. After graduating in 2011 with a degree in Music Education, he went back to teach Band at his alma mater, Bishop Heelan High School before moving to Okoboji in 2020. He currently resides in Milford with his wife Catheryn and their four children: Paul, Anna, Evelyn, and Isaac. James also enjoys watching movies, playing board games, and being an active performer in the Iowa Great Lakes area on saxophone and guitar.   Connect with James Kunz jkunz@okobojischools.org

  2. Oct 28

    Recruiting, Rubrics, and Rural Band Life

    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 last four years, the 5th and 6th grade bands. She also teaches all 5-12 band lessons at Cal-Wheat, as well as concurrent college music courses, and is the Adjunct Oboe Professor at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA. In the years that Ms. Seedorff has taught at Cal-Wheat, numerous ensembles and individual students have received accolades, including Division ‘I’ ratings at contests, outstanding performances at solo/ensemble competitions, and members of the All-State ensembles. In the four years that she has been directing the elementary bands, membership has doubled or more, and the past four years’ beginning bands have comprised 80% of the total student population in their respective grades.  Ms. Seedorff currently serves as the Public Relations chair for the Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association, and was the recipient of their Philip Sehmann Excellence in Teaching Award in 2025. Her professional affiliations include NEIBA, IBA, ISEA, and CWEA, including serving as a Labor Management Committee member. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Luther College (K-12 music education minor) and a Master of Music in Music Education from University of Northern Iowa.  Ms. Seedorff is married to her wife, Sarah Roepke, also a teacher at Cal-Wheat, and has two children, Griffin (age 10) and Hugo (age 4).    Connect with Bethany Seedorff Email: bseedorff@cal-wheat.net

  3. Oct 5

    Sunday Spark - October 4, 2026

    "Legacy is not about what you accomplish. It's about what others accomplish because of you." ~Mark Batterson

  4. Sep 27

    Sunday Spark - September 27, 2026

    "Success is when you add value to yourself. Significance is when you add value to others." ~John R. Miles

  5. Sep 21

    Sunday Spark - September 20, 2026

    "Compliance is the seedbed for mediocrity, and commitment is the fuel for sustained levels of elite performance." ~Mark Miller

  6. Aug 6

    The Growing Band Director Crossover with Kyle Smith

    Dr. Shawn Knopp is the guest on The Growing Band Director Podcast with Kyle Smith.

  7. Jul 29

    Finding A Way: Ensuring Band is Accessible for Everyone with Alex McMahon

    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, marching band, pep band, and beginning instrumental music. In addition to his classroom work, he has coordinated honor bands, professional events, and other large-scale music activities within his district. Alex currently serves as president of the South Central Kansas Music Educators Association, where he helps oversee district activities, coordinate honor ensembles and professional events, support area music educators, and work with association leaders on programming, policies, and organizational planning. He earned bachelor’s degrees in music education and trombone performance from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and a Master of Music degree in instrumental conducting from Wichita State University. His professional interests include educational and music technology, and expanding access to music through creative teaching approaches. Connect with Alex: Email: alexander.l.mcmahon@gmail.com   KWCH News: "Andover 5th grader with dwarfism uses adaptive instrument to play in school band"  https://www.kwch.com/2026/04/11/andover-band-teacher-helps-create-adaptive-instrument-fifth-grader/   Andover Public Schools Documentary https://www.facebook.com/share/v/14ixzfnD6J2/

  8. Jul 22

    Through My Music: Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders with Dr. Myra Rhoden

    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 Leadership, Rhoden has created programs and opportunities to empower young women through music while equipping them with lifelong leadership skills that can be used in any profession. Drawing on over 30 years of experience as a high school band director, Rhoden frequently serves as a guest conductor for state, regional, and university honor bands and is honored to have presented sessions at The Midwest Clinic, the Bands of America Summer Symposium, national, state and regional conferences, and for school systems and professional development clinics throughout North America. Her concert bands have performed at national and international venues while her marching bands have won numerous Grand Championships and earned finalist positions at Bands of America Regional and Super Regional competitions. Rhoden has received national recognition for her contributions to music education including having the honor of being elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, and the John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor. She has been awarded the Tau Beta Sigma Outstanding Service to Music Award, the Women Band Directors International Golden Rose Award, the 2018 Band Director of the Year from the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and multiple National Band Association (NBA) Citations of Excellence. Connect with Dr. Rhoden mrhoden@westga.edu https://athenacamp.com/ Myra's Book: Through My Music: Inspiring the Next Generation of Leaders

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About

Candid conversations with today’s most influential band directors.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Shawn Knopp
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Behind the Baton