Category: Podcast

What do you think when your principal tells you she would like for you to incorporate reading into band? Do you inwardly groan? Do you dread the thought of giving up an entire day of music for reading? It doesn’t have to be that way.

In this episode, I interview reading expert Dr. Danny Brassell. He shares tips and strategies to incorporate reading WITHOUT taking away from what you are doing musically. We should incorporate reading – and history – and music theory – and lift unheard voices – but we can do it seamlessly and as part of what we are already teaching,

Danny hated reading as a kid, and now he promotes reading to others. Find out more about Danny and get a free book when you go to www.readleadandsucceed.com.

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

Even though teaching may look differently for a while, you can still engage your students!

In this episode, I share five tips that have worked for me.

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

These are trying times! Even though I currently don’t teach marching band, I am considering starting one at my middle school (I started and taught marching band for a decade or more at my previous school).

Through marching band, we learn team work and socialization and leadership skills!

Also see Episode 47: How To Start a Marching Band

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

A few weeks ago I did something I thought I would NEVER do – switch to teaching something besides music. Now this isn’t permanent, and I’m not advocating this for everyone. I share this primarily to encourage you that if you find yourself needing to shift for any reason, you CAN do it.

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

It’s time to radically rethink grading – not because of a pandemic but because our current way of grading is outdated. Imagine if you showed up for work Monday-Thursday and gave it your all, 100%, every day. But then you decided to slack off on Fridays and only give 10%. Your grade would be a B, but you would still use lose your job. Listen in as I share my radical grading. Do you think it can work? Email me and let me know your thoughts.

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

If you don’t actively seek ways of reducing the stress in your life, you ARE going to burn out. In this episode, I share six strategies for reducing that stress. I use all of these as part of my own plan to be able to teach for a LONG time.

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

“Be the person your dog thinks you are.”…DJ Eshelman

Wow DJ! That seems almost impossible to attain.

Music teachers – you have powerful influence to change the young people in the world for good – or for bad. Join me as DJ shares stories about his life and developing a Better Than You Found It mindset. Find out more about DJ’s coaching, his blogs, and what’s happening in his life HERE. Also listen to his podcast Better Than You Found It.

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? Text here: 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

Despite changes in our profession – or maybe because of these changes – large ensembles are more important than ever. Our groups invite collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, analysis, multi-tasking and dozens of other skills valued in society. In this episode I share why large ensembles are so important.

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

These four things – sleep, music, exercise, and eating properly – are ESSENTIAL if you want to be successful as a teacher.

Also check out this article about How to Say No to demands on your time.

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

We all wish we had more time, but we are all given the same amount. However, you can use your time wisely and save 5, 10, even 15 hours a week using the 5 strategies I share in this episode.

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

Investing 20 minutes or even several days in the right things at the start of the school year can reap days and maybe even weeks of saved time later. In this episode we cover greetings, getting instruments, passing out music, creating a seating chart, and more.

Create your own seating chart here: https://www.bgreco.net/band/

Get Harry Wong’s 1st Days of School here

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $5? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

Check out Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days.

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

This coronavirus pandemic has taught me a lot. Even though it was difficult, it has made me a better person. In this episode I share ten things I learned about music and life.

Here is the music video link mentioned in the podcast: Flowing Water at Sunset

Has the show benefited you? Would you consider making a one time donation of $40? Donate here: 

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

I have four courses at Udemy: Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days, Get Started Writing a Book because I think everyone has a book inside of them waiting to come out, and two free courses, 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician, and 30 Days of Motivation. 

Need a speaker for your event? Need leadership training for your students? I’d love to talk.

Have a question for the podcast? jamesthedivine@gmail.com or 719-238-4193. 

Multitude of links and resources here

What should I be doing this summer? How can I get back into playing my instrument? Should I start planning for next year? We talk about these things and more in today’s show. In the show, I mention the free download 40 Ways to Make Money as a Musician.

Support the show at Patreon.

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

I have four courses at Udemy: Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days, Get Started Writing a Book because I think everyone has a book inside of them waiting to come out, and then two free courses, 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician, and 30 Days of Motivation. 

Need a speaker at your event? I’d love to talk.

In this episode, I share several tips about job hunting, including the MOST important skill to have…Persistence.

Send your resume’ to me (not an expert but I’ll give it a look) at www.jamesdivine.net or check out an expert and get in touch with Kevin at careermaverick4@gmail.com.

Here’s the link to my Searching for a Job  article. It covers different areas than the podcast.

Support the show at Patreon.

Find out more about fundraising for your program at Scool Services

I have four courses at Udemy: Music, Instruments and Science which includes 8+ lessons that are great for use on sub or distance learning days, Get Started Writing a Book because I think everyone has a book inside of them waiting to come out, and then two free courses, 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician, and 30 Days of Motivation. 

There are so many ways to teach kids how to practice. In a Title I school where almost nobody practices at home, this is a method I have found successful with my students. If you like the podcast, consider supporting us at www. patreon.com/themusicedpodcast.

We can always make our rehearsals more interesting by adding some spiciness to them! What makes Italian food delicious is having the right spices in the right amounts. Check out these eight ideas. Incorporate some or all of them over several weeks, and if you like the podcast, consider supporting us at www.patreon.com/themusicedpodcast.

A quick and easy tip to make lesson planning easier as a music teacher.

This episode is a little different. In this podcast, I’m sharing a presentation I made on The Story Project, a show similar to The Moth for those who have heard that on NPR. In the presentation, I use my 100 year old saxophone to tell the story of how music saved my life (specifically teachers).

Playing the saxophone was life-changing for me!

Listen all the way to the end and you can get the code to receive a free digital copy of my book that tells my story in more depth. You can also see the live video of the Story Project by visiting www.jamesdivine.net.

What you do as teachers makes a difference!

In this episode, I interview Wendy Reeves, band director at Sells Middle School. Wendy shares tips with us on how to reduce the amount of time spent on paperwork, classroom management, equipment, travel, and more, so we can devote time to what we really enjoy – teaching music! You’ll find several tips you can immediately incorporate into your teaching right now.

Wendy has graciously shared her materials. Click HERE for a link to her website where you can get her entire 90 minute presentation on powerpoint, as well as downloads of handouts and more information.

Wendy is a member of the American School Band Director’s Association as well as Women Band Directors International.

Like the podcast? Share it with others and support us on patreon.

I have made ALL of these mistakes – and MORE. You can learn from me and others and move ahead in your career faster.

Support the podcast here

If you have a basic rhythm section – a good bass player and set player at minimum – you can make almost any combination of instruments work for a jazz band. These 7 strategies will provide you with additional resources you can use.

Jamey Aebersold Jazz Play-Alongs

Custom Backing Tracks

Support the Podcast

The longer I teach – 22 years and counting – the more time I spend on fundamentals. You may be surprised at just how much time!

Like the podcast? Become a patron, get free gifts and support us at www.patreon.com/themusicedpodcast

Here’s the link to the Student Led Rehearsal episode mentioned in the podcast: https://www.jamesdivine.net/2017/01/18/episode-75-student-led-rehearsal/

Tu-Ning – that great Chinese song that nobody seems to play right. Tuning is not an act – it’s a lifestyle. Join me as I share some tips and strategies to help you with tuning your ensembles, no matter what their age.

We all have the same 168 hours per week. The key is NOT to spend more time at work, but to use your time more wisely. These tips helped me gain 5-8 hours of my week back!

It’s normal – after achieving a goal or spending a lot of time in an activity – to feel some post-season blues.