Burned Out

Are you burned out? Take this easy test. Make changes.

In 1998, I started my first teaching job with passion, dedication, love and joy. I gave my all to my students, but I neglected myself and – I’m ashamed to say – at times my family. I became extremely burned out. When I left that school for another in 2005, I promised myself I would …

7 (Fun) Rules for Losing Weight and Staying Healthy

And don’t forget to be thankful for all the blessings in your life. YOU are a blessing in mine. YOU make my life rich. I love you. James hosts The Music Ed Podcast and also shares an inspirational keynote in which he uses his 100+ year old saxophone to talk about how – even though our lives …

Do You Believe Everything You Hear On The News

I spent 1986-1996 as part of the Army band in Virginia, Japan, and Colorado. During that time we usually performed more than 200 times a year and often participated in high-profile events that included the media. I can’t tell you the number of wonderful events I was a part of that were featured on the …

4 Tips to Help you be a Better Band Director using the Acronym BAND.

4 Tips to Help you be a Better Band Director using the Acronym BAND. 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 …

The Sheep, The Sheepdogs and the Wolves. Which one are you?

There are three types of people in the world: The Sheep, The Sheepdogs and The Wolves. Most people are sheep. They live a somewhat normal life…they go to work, do what they’re told, pay their taxes, raise their families, watch tv, hang out on weekends. For the most part not creating any waves. Most of …

Don’t Confuse Being Famous With Making Money

Many people set their aim on becoming famous, thinking that’s the path to earning money as a musician. It’s not. There are famous people who make money, but there are many musicians you probably have never heard of who make $75,000 a year or more plugging away in their local community. I have a friend …

Was My 1st Job a Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Did you know that the ancient Hebrew language does not have a word for coincidence? I “found” my first teaching job by “coincidence”. (in quotes because I don’t believe in that word) I was performing full time and wanted to give teaching a try. I would not have sought out a full time teaching job, …

How To Practice Effectively

***James is the author of 5 books, including I Cannoli Imagine: My Italian Life. You can reach him HERE.

A Farmer’s Life – Tone Poem

I wrote this song a few years back. It’s a tone poem, meant to paint a picture of a Farmer’s Life. If you would like the sheet music, get a free pdf copy at www.jamesdivine.net/farmer. ***James is the author of 5 books, including I Cannoli Imagine: My Italian Life. You can reach him HERE.

Education Reimagined

Education is in an upheaval. Teachers have been forced to learn how to teach online practically overnight. Parents were forced to suddenly become their child’s coach, teacher, and counselor. All this while we are at record unemployment rates, with many working from home while still supervising their kids. What if we took advantage of this …

I Thought I Was Going To Jail

The summers of 2010-2012 I was driving every week to Weatherford, Oklahoma to work on a master’s degree in music education. The trip took me through the Texas panhandle. The panhandle gets its name because when you view Texas on a map, there’s a thin stretch of land in the northwest corner that – when …

I Became A Bully. I Felt Powerful. I Felt Strong. It Was Wrong.

Throughout my childhood, I was often picked on and bullied. I was somewhat of a momma’s boy. I was not close to my father. I had a high emotional IQ and cried easily…the men in my life pounded into me (sometimes literally) that men don’t cry. One day in 7th grade things turned around… Red …

Everything You Need To Know to Write and Self-Publish a Book

ENROLL HERE I think that EVERYONE has a book inside of them, but maybe they just don’t know how to get started writing it. In this course, I teach you the steps I used to create my own six books. You won’t become a millionaire, but you can get your message out there and sell …

A Love Letter to my Fellow Title I Teachers

Dear Fellow Title I Teacher: Don’t compare yourself to other teachers. You are amazing. You work hard. Even if they don’t tell you, your students appreciate and love you! You may be one of the few stable things in their life! When you look at where your students are “on the charts”, often they fall …