Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band

Episode 270 - Tips To Emphasize Good Tone All The Time   I once had a colleague - a feeder of my school - who stated, "You know what, I'm not going to worry too much about tone, posture, and all those other things. I know you can fix that when they come to you. I want them to have fun." In a way, he had a good point, but why can't you do both?   In this episode I share a plethora of tips that will...

Episode 269 - No Apology Sick Days - 2 minute episode   It's difficult to take sick days when you're a teacher. This is a time when it's better to think long term. I had a student almost force me to take a sick day. I took her advice and felt much better.   Resources…   Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes   Have a question for the po...

Episode 268 - Discipline Techniques and Tips There's no single technique that will work every single time in every single classroom - Covid teaching showed us that - but there are many techniques you can put in your bag that can be highly effective. I share a few in this episode.   Resources…   Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes   H...

Episode 267 - The Importance of First Impressions and Relationships - 2 minute episode Every other week will be a shorter - usually less than 2 minute - episode. In this episode, I talk about Zoe and why she said my 5th period class - on the first day of school - was the first one she was glad to be in. Resources… Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as stude...

Episode 266 - What To Do the First Week of School Would you believe I suggest you NOT get started teaching music right away? If you don't get these strategies and procedures in place from the start, there will be more time wasted throughout the year. Other helpful resources Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Have a question for the...

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Episode 265 - What To Do the Last 2 Weeks of School It's important to keep the students engaged even after the final concert. Here are some strategies. Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time don...

Episode 263 - 11 Tips To Make The Music Sound Better Are you stuck on what to work on to improve the music? In this episode, I share 11 tips that you can use to help your group sound better. Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited...

Episode 263 - When Students Misbehave for the Sub Strategies and tips Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time donation of any amount? HERE or Paypal or CashApp $jazzysaxman or see below Free Smoo...

Episode 262 - Stop Comparing I struggled with self-esteem for many years - and I spent too many years comparing myself to other band directors. As Bob Newhart says, "Just Stop It." Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Woul...

Episode 261 - Throw Practice Sheets in the Trash In my opinion, they're useless (except in one case). Find out what to do instead. Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time donation of any amount?...

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Episode 260 - 6 Important Steps to Starting a Booster Organization Find out the HUGE mistake James made in his first booster group (which he had to disband). Learn how to delegate and how to set up a brand new boosters group. Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jam...

Episode 259 - How To Start a Marching Band I once started a marching band from scratch. Difficult? Yes, but very worthwhile. Here are 6 things to consider. Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time...

Episode 258 - 15+ Warm-up ideas Dr. Ray Cramer - retired from Indiana University - once told me we should call it "Ensemble Sensitivity Training" rather than warm-ups, because that is what we are doing. Here are 15+ ideas to use that EST time a little better.   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193...

Episode 257 - Win the hearts of the counselors The counselors are often as overworked and stressed as you are. Here are some tips to win them over.   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time donat...

Episode 256 - How To Properly Use Festival Warm-up Time When I first started teaching, I thought 30 minutes for warm-up was too long. Over the years I've developed the perfect warm-up routine for my bands at festival.   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivi...

Episode 255 - Band Teacher: You Are a Hero I love to share a motivational speech in which I use my 105 year old sax, humor, music, and personal stories to let people know that - although they may be scratched, dented, and abused like my sax, a beautiful symphony of sound can still come pouring out of their lives. I'd love to speak to your group! www.jamesdivine.net   Have a question for the podcas...

Episode 254 - Resources for Teaching Black History Month in the Music Classroom Swing Low Sweet Chariot Wade in the Water Duke Ellington Louis Armstrong Bessie Smith Chuck Berry Little Richard Sister Rosetta Tharpe Marvin Gaye Aretha Franklin Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking...

Episode 253 - 4 Tips for Assessment and Feedback Formative vs Summative Individual vs Ensemble Be Specific Record Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time donation of any amount? HERE or Paypal or...

Episode 252 In this episode, I share some tips on the dos and don'ts of repertoire selection. Be wary of doing music that's too difficult! Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time donation of any...

Episode 251 - It's my privilege in this episode to interview one of my former students, Claire Dupre. Claire is a choral specialist who has also taught orchestra and band. She was the piano player in my jazz band and was in marching band. Claire shares tips on: what does a choral warm-up look like - how to teach choir parts - how to determine what (if any) part a student should sing - other resour...

In this episode, I interview Cece Roudabush, Director of Education for New Harmony Line. Hyperscore is their composition program that helps you teach composition, one of our music standards. It's appropriate for all age levels. It uses an inverted pedagogy, which means the students compose first, then receive coaching on what they have written to improve it. Reach out to her to find out more about...

Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time donation of any amount? Paypal   CashApp: $jazzysaxman Are you in need of coaching? Set up a free 45 minute session . Free Smooth Jazz Music Some resources...

Are you going to Midwest? Here are some tips for how to dress, where to eat, what to do with your luggage, and a few places you might visit while there. Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of Speaking Topics.   www.jamesdivine.net Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time do...