Teaching Band
Sharing perspectives. Making connections. Building better days in the band room.
What is it really like to be a band director?
Teaching Band is a podcast for music educators who want practical ideas, honest conversations, and a community that understands the real life highs and challenges of teaching music.
Hosted by middle school band director and creator Erika Gates, this podcast goes beyond music education tips. Erika shares the real stories behind the band room, from rehearsals and student engagement to classroom challenges, teacher burnout, building a positive band culture, and finding ways to make teaching band simpler and less stressful.
You'll also hear conversations with music educators and creators who are sharing their ideas, experiences, and perspectives online and in their classrooms. Some episodes take you behind the scenes of Erika's week as a band director, while others explore teaching strategies, mindset, music education, content creation, and what it means to build a band community where people feel connected.
Whether you're a new band director, an experienced music teacher, or simply someone who loves music education, this is a place to learn, laugh, think, and remember that you don't have to figure out this job alone.
Teaching band is about more than notes, rhythms, and rehearsals. It's about people.
Sharing perspectives. Making connections. Building better days in the band room.
You can follow Erika Gates on social @mrsgatesband
Episodes
11 episodes
New Podcast, I am excited!
This episode I am announcing the rival of this podcast as Teaching Band! Welcome to Teaching Band, a podcast for band directors who want to make teaching band simpler, more meaningful, and a little less stressful.I’m Erika G...
Shane Colquhoun & Modern Band
Grab your free download "5 Popular Music Resources Music Educators Need To Know" hereEpisode 10In this episode we are interviewing Dr. Shane Colquhoun expanding our m...
Jammie Phillips: How To Be Culturally Relevant
Episode 9Today's guest is the phenomenal Jammie Phillips, Band Director at McKee Middle School in Montgomery, AL. In this episode we discuss on the importance of being a culturally relevant music educator and how doing so will support yo...
Julietta Curenton & Niiji Memories
Episode 8Today's guest is the wonderful Julietta Curenton, who serves as the Assistant Flute Professor at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. We discuss her upbringing, experience at Julliard, and the beautiful piece Niiji M...
Erika Gates: Building Community And Rapport With Your Students
Episode 7.A continuation of the Music In Our Schools Month Series. Episode 7 is a discussion of how I have built a good rapport with my band students, thus establishing a safe and inclusive community in my band program. Let me kno...
Erika Gates: Everything Leading Up To Concert Week
Episode 6 is a continuation of the Music In Our Schools Month (MOISM) series and this episode I am talking about prepping for concert week. From logistics, communication, personal care, and rehearsal techniques. Thank you so much for listening,...
Erika Gates: It Was A Rainy Day
Episode 5! This is my first solo episode and I discuss how I decided to join Band, play the clarinet, and how my first honor band audition went. This was a very nostalgic episode for me so I hope you all enjoy!WELCOME TO MY PODCAST!<...
Alana Wiesing & Pauken Pairings Part 2
Episode 4In this episode we continue the interview with Alana Wiesing and pieces composed by Josh Gottry "Pauken Pairings". We also discuss the importance of music diversity and give advice to BIPOC musicians. If you would like to...
Alana Wiesing & Network for Diversity In Concert Percussion Part 1
Episode 3. In this episode we feature Alana Wiesing who is the Principal Timpanist of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra as well as the Adjunct Professor of Percussion at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. We dive in how her ...
Jalen Mims & Does Academia Support BIPOC Musicians?
Hello Everyone!This episode features a senior clarinet performance major, Jalen Mims as she reflects on her path from high school to her senior year of college as she prepares for grad school. We question if colleges support BIPOC musici...
Jonathan Taylor Rush: From Bugs Bunny to the BSO
This episode features Jonathan Taylor Rush, Associate Conductor of the BSO and Artistic Director of the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra. He shares his journey from watching Bugs Bunny conduct to conducting the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. <...