Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band

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...

This episode is a little different. I chat with fellow podcaster and band director Kyle Smith of The Growing Band Director podcast. We discuss several topics that can be of help to band directors. Subscribe to Kyle's podcast here . 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.   w...

I burned out at 2 schools. I really struggled with learning balance. I finally discovered it at my 3rd school! In this episode I share 7 tips to help you find life balance. Avoid doing what I did! Link to Just Say No article. 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...

Don't be afraid of incorporating string players into your band program. I'm not talking about starting kids on strings. This episode provides helpful hints when a string player moves in - with experience - and there is no string program in your school. Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. List of...

Do you have problems with kids writing on the music stands? This episode can help. 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 o...

You hear one of your colleagues is leaving, or a student has quit band and chose another class. How do you treat them? The short of it…the same. 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 o...

Balance and Blend can seem difficult to teach, but these 5 tips will get you going in the right direction. And you'll be surprised at how much fixing balance and blend also fixes intonation. 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...

Deciding if it is time to leave is a very personal decision and not one to be taken lightly. Beware of receiving advice regarding this from people you don't know on social media. Best to talk to someone who is mostly going to ask you questions. I spent two years too long at my first two positions. Position number three was just right. Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professio...

I often had 5 groups perform 18 songs in less than 60 minutes. It can be done! This episode tells you how. 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: $jazzy...