Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band

Join me as I interview music educator and author Adrian Gordon.   Adrian is the author of "Note To Self: A Music Director's Guide for Transitioning to a New School and Building a Thriving Music Program. Order the book and find out more about Adrian at www.adriangordonmusic.com .    He and I had a great time discussing the issues transitioning directors face. His book is full of practical wisdom yo...

www.jamesdivine.net Here are a few things I have learned about selecting music for wind band… Ability Level of the Ensemble You Direct:  A piece of music may be the greatest creation ever made, but if it is too difficult for the students to play, they will become discouraged. I often made the mistake of selecting literature that was too difficult in the early years of my career. Does this mean tha...

www.jamesdivine.net Have you ever had a teacher say or do something that had a huge impact on you for your entire life? I have had many of these opportunities.   Some teachers affect you in a negative way. I've had my share of those. Most of my teachers had huge, positive impacts on my life. My seventh grade band teacher was one of them.   I went to a rough school in seventh grade. Remember tube s...

There are four key areas that – if you focus on these and make them a priority – they can help you be a better band director. None of them have anything to do with music, but the word "BAND" does fall nicely into place to help you remember them.   B-Bread   Watch what you eat! When life gets busy, it can be very easy to grab something to go. I once was 30 pounds heavier than I am right now, all du...

Have you ever looked into a software management system for your band, one that can help you track inventory, budgets, uniforms, finances, lockers, ensemble lists and more? If so, you know how expensive it can be. Husband and wife team Jennifer (band teacher) and Kris (software developer) have joined forces to create an inexpensive solution for you. Their Baton Sync software is just $20 per month (...

This episode is sponsored by Adulting 101: Why Don't They Teach That in School? Get free lessons and find out more at www.adulting411.net .   Get my FREE TRAINING, 7 Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193.   Subscribe in iTunes     Free Smooth Jazz Mus...

This episode is sponsored by Adulting 101: Why Don't They Teach That in School? Get free lessons and find out more at www.adulting411.net .   Get my FREE TRAINING, 7 Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193.   Subscribe in iTunes     Free Smooth Jazz Mus...

This episode is sponsored by Adulting 101: Why Don't They Teach That in School? Get free lessons and find out more at www.adulting411.net .   Get my FREE TRAINING, 7 Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193.   Subscribe in iTunes     Free Smooth Jazz Mus...

This episode is sponsored by Adulting 101: Why Don't They Teach That in School? Get free lessons and find out more at www.adulting411.net .   Get my FREE TRAINING, 7 Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193.   Subscribe in iTunes     Free Smooth Jazz Mus...

Get my FREE TRAINING, 7 Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week   Link to my Beginning of Year Task List . Feel free to copy and make your own.   Link to Episode 209 - Why I Regret Missing My State Conference   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193.   Subscribe in iTunes     Free Smooth Jazz...

Get my FREE TRAINING, 7 Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week   Link to my Beginning of Year Task List . Feel free to copy and make your own.   Link to Episode 209 - Why I Regret Missing My State Conference   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193.   Subscribe in iTunes     Free Smooth Jazz...

Get my FREE TRAINING, 7 Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week   Link to my Beginning of Year Task List . Feel free to copy and make your own.   Link to Episode 209 - Why I Regret Missing My State Conference   Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193.   Subscribe in iTunes     Free Smooth Jazz...

Get my FREE TRAINING, 7 Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week Link to my Beginning of Year Task List . Feel free to copy and make your own. Link to Episode 209 - Why I Regret Missing My State Conference Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. Subscribe in iTunes   Free Smooth Jazz Music Mult...

Have a question for the podcast? Need a presenter for professional development? Contact me here:  jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193.   Subscribe in iTunes     Multitude of links and resources here   Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time donation of any amount through Paypal ( jamesthedivine@gmail.com )?   Some resources you may be interested in…   The Science of Sound ,...

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Join me as I chat with Band Director Tim Ostrow as he shares his proposal for beginning band class as an exploratory. - What worked and what didn't - The beginning band tool you should get now, even if you aren't considering this model - Band retention under this model has been 90% or higher! - In December, parents help their kids decide whether to continue to band or move to another elective. Are...

11 Fast and Furious Time Saving Tips   6 Things to STOP doing now and 1 Task to do with food and 4 Things You Should Delegate   Some resources you may be interested in…   The Science of Sound , 8 lessons that can be used in class or online. Students make instruments from objects in their home and learn about how sound works.    Check Out "Why Don't They Teach That in School   My hope is that as a...

What if I could give you 7 tips that would help you be more organized and I guarantee your money back if the tips don't save you at least 5 hours. In fact, I will double your money back that you spend on this episode.   We will learn what to do with emails, how to limit your online time, taming meetings, using the 2 minute rule, and more!   Some resources you may be interested in…   The Science of...

In this episode, I have a chance to sit down with Practice Skills Curriculum creator Meg Thorup. She has developed a curriculum to TEACH kids How to Practice. Her year-long curriculum is available on teachers pay teachers. It includes 32 lessons and assessments divided into 4 quarters.   Some resources you may be interested in…   The Science of Sound , 8 lessons that can be used in class or online...

Several years ago I left a position I had been at for 13 years. I won't go into the fine details, but I resigned at the end of the school year after a very difficult year with a very difficult principal. My self-esteem was destroyed!   In this episode, I share a little of my journey, I talk about "fake" band directors (unfortunately they're not going away), and share a few tips on how you can help...

Most people don't give much thought to retirement until they are too old to make a big difference. The younger you start, the more secure your retirement will be. I started in my early 30s and am now worth over half a million if you count my house. I wish I would have started even sooner. In this episode, I share 5 strategies that you can incorporate now to fund a better retirement. One of the str...

Everything in life revolves around this concept of Pay Now or Pay Later. The work you put in now will save you headache, expense, and more later. This applies to our classroom routines and procedures, as well as our health, marriage, finances…you get the idea. I once worked with a teacher who was frustrated that none of her choir students could read music. She could have changed the future if she...

I have been guilty of using these three words way too often…Complaining, Comparing, and Procrastinating. Get rid of these words from your vocabulary. In this episode, I briefly touch on ways to avoid these, I share my own personal experience, and we talk about what Innovation really means.   "If it's worth doing, start now." …James Divine   Some resources you may be interested in…   The Science of...

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider a one time donation of any amount through Paypal ( jamesthedivine@gmail.com )?   Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.   Why don't they teach that in school?! Check out Adulting 101 .   Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I'd lo...