

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

Sep 24, 2025 • 7min
Ten Tips For Managing Large Groups of Beginners (EP 300)
I spent 5 years at a Title 1 school where students didn't behave in other classes (but they did in mine). Here are 10 Tips for Managing Large Groups of Beginners. 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

Sep 22, 2025 • 34sec
Less Talk, More Play - Band Director Boost
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

Sep 17, 2025 • 30sec
Rehearsal Routine is Gold - Band Director Boost
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

Sep 15, 2025 • 42sec
Start With Sound - Band Director Boost
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

Sep 10, 2025 • 4min
Getting More Parent Participation (EP 299)
Would you like to get more parent participation? You CAN do it. It takes work. It takes persistence. Here are some tips. 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

Sep 8, 2025 • 27sec
Build Leaders Early - Band Director Boost

Aug 27, 2025 • 5min
Repertoire Selection Tips (EP298)
Repertoire selection can be one of the most difficult decisions you can make, and one that requires a lot of thought to. In this episode I share tips for selecting music for your ensemble. 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

Aug 13, 2025 • 7min
When To Play (and Not Play) At Football Games (EP297)
When I first started teaching high school, I didn't know when to play at football games (and when to stop playing). I learned the hard way over the years. Eventually I trained my leaders to be bold at starting and stopping the band. 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

Jul 30, 2025 • 4min
A Drill Technique for Marching Band (EP296)
In this episode I share a Marching Band Drill Rehearsal Technique.I stole this idea from a colleague of mine and used it for many years to teach Marching Band drill to my students. Upon completion of this technique, students have rehearsed a drill set 9 times and will usually be able to perform it at 80% or higher quality. Keep reviewing and cleaning afterwards. 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

May 21, 2025 • 36sec
Big Announcement - The book is here
Bonus Episode - Big Announcement. The book is here. So many have poured into my life. I look forward to helping new band directors learn from my mistakes. The book Almost Everything I've Learned About Teaching Band is finally finished. Order it here. 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 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


