Take A Cue

🎙️ Episode SynopsisIn this milestone 50th episode, Jen, Eric, and CJ celebrate four years of the Take A Cue podcast with a candid state of the union. The trio takes a break from their usual deep dives to check in on their own lives—covering everything from Eric’s transition away from marching band to CJ’s adventures as a first-year teacher with a 13-year-old polydactyl cat. They pull back the curt...

🎙️ Episode SynopsisIn this episode of Take a Cue, Jen and Erik sit down with composer, arranger, and educator Peter Sciaino for an in-depth conversation about writing music for student ensembles, building strong band culture, and balancing creativity with teaching and family life. From Pete’s early path into music education to his approach to composing accessible, engaging repertoire, the episode...

🎙️ Episode SynopsisIn this episode of Take a Cue, Jen and Erik get honest about work-life balance—and why it’s something they’re still figuring out themselves. Recorded at the end of winter break, the conversation dives into burnout, seasonal demands of the school year, family life, side gigs, and the blurred lines between music as a job and music as a passion. From learning how to say no, to buil...

🎙️ Episode SynopsisWhat really happens in a successful band rehearsal? In this episode of Take A Cue, Jen and Erik break down exactly how they structure, pace, and manage their rehearsals from start to finish. They share the routines that keep students focused, the systems that save time, and the small strategies that make a big musical impact. From breathing gym and warm-ups to percussion logisti...

Who says organization can’t be musical? Jen and Erik turn AirTable into your band’s secret weapon, helping you orchestrate trips, track instruments, and hit every administrative note perfectly.🎙️ Episode SynopsisIn this episode of Take A Cue, Erik and Jen dive deep into the organizational power of AirTable for music educators. Erik walks listeners through how he and his colleague Brendan use AirTa...

The baton has dropped on a brand-new school year — and a brand-new season of Take a Cue! In this lively kickoff to Season 4, Jen, Erik, and CJ catch up after the summer and dive into what it really feels like to launch into September as a music educator. 🎙️ Episode Synopsis CJ shares the excitement (and nerves!) of starting their very first year of teaching in South Brunswick, with a full plate of...

Jen and Erik check in and discuss various Spring topics, including advice for graduating college seniors, students dropping band, repertoire, and more! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.f...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Musical Director David Gallagher from Morristown High School, NJ joins Jen and Erik to discuss his process for crafting excellent stage musical orchestras with almost all students. The trio discuss auditions, preparation, timelines, and tech week. In addition, Jen and Erik join in with the things they wish all musical conductors understood. Find Take A CueHome: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Jen and Erik reflect on some different scheduling options for band and lessons. Pull-out or scheduled lessons? Band before school or during the day? Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue ⁠⁠Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support ⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fac...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Takeaways - Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

Takeaways Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released! Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://...

What are Jen and Erik up to?? Find Take A Cue Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠ Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Credits Hosts: Erik Donough (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@edonough, ⁠erik@donough.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Jen Wi...

Erik, Jen, and CJ talk about the start of the school year. The trio dive into the topic of mentoring a student teacher and being a student teacher. As a mentor, what do you do when your student teacher is giving incorrect information? As a student teacher, what do you do when you just don't have the answer, but 50 faces are looking up at you? Do student teachers ask enough questions of their mento...

Jen and Erik dive into what finance information and tips they wish they would have known when they started out teaching. The duo discuss how they started out financially and then jump into budgeting, transportation, credit cards, building credit, salary guide movement, insurance, and retirement - WHEW! Resources from Episode 40: - Monarch Money (budgeting/tracking app) - https://www.monarchmoney.c...