

Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band
James Divine
Quick and easy tips to help you be a better band teacher.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 8, 2026 • 1min
Teach and Discipline Like a Coach
Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials

Apr 1, 2026 • 58sec
Dealing With Stupid, Toxic Comments
Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials

Mar 25, 2026 • 2min
Your Voice Is Not a Behavior Management System
If you have to raise your voice to gain control of the class, you are in a losing battle. Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials

Mar 18, 2026 • 3min
More Trombones? Yes Please.
Do you need more trombones? I have plenty. I'm not sure why, but perhaps it's because I put some emphasis on it. And most of them are pretty decent. It started with one student in 2023 when I started a band program from scratch. Today I have 14 across two bands with band enrollment of about 52. Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials

Mar 11, 2026 • 2min
If Only I Were The Man I Am Today 21 Years Ago
I had a big ego, ergo I left that position trying to prove myself. Why? I don't know. Now I spend my days teaching music and enjoying almost every minute because I have nothing to prove to anyone. Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials

Mar 4, 2026 • 2min
Don't Believe The Lie
The "lie" is that a successful program requires 60+ hours a week, working every weekend, and destroying your marriage and health. Don't believe it! I'm in my 8th year of working about 40 hours a week, with an occasional week that goes to 45 or so. Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials

Feb 25, 2026 • 3min
Teaching The Blues Scale To Any Group
You can teach the blues scale to any group, including beginners, using these steps. It makes for a fun Friday afternoon lesson plan. Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials

Feb 12, 2026 • 2min
YOU Make A Difference, Even When You Don't Think You Do
YOU make a difference, even when you don't realize it. Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials

Feb 3, 2026 • 34min
Instrument Repair Tips From An Expert Repairman
In this episode, I interview expert repairman Brian Stevenson, owner of Rocky Mountain Music Repair. He shares tips to help you perform some minor repairs on your own. He also shares when it's time to call in the experts, what you can do to help prevent many costly repairs, and how to properly give your brass instrument a "bath." Check out his store at https://www.rockymountainmusicrepair.com/. Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials

Dec 10, 2025 • 4min
Rehearsal Room Hacks (EP 305)
In this episode I share some rehearsal room hacks that have made my life easier. Jazz From The Start - Jazz and improvisation curriculum you can use as soon as students know 5 notes Get the book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band, a handbook for band directors that includes 75+ lessons, tips and truths. Most can be read in less than 10 minutes. Many can be immediately implemented in your classroom. More tips and lessons will be added (I'm still in the classroom half time and hope to remain there for many more years). You will receive a signed hard copy + an immediate pdf download of the book. 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. Ten Tips To Save 5 Hours This Week and Every Week eBook Complete Guide To Self-Publishing Your Book Course 40 Ways To Make Money as a Musician eBook FREE Forgive and Live Workshop Guitar Class Extension Materials


