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Teaching Band 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 Gates, a middle school band director, and I’m so excited to bring this podcast back in a new way.

This podcast is about more than teaching notes, rehearsal techniques, or getting through the school year.

It’s about the people in the band room.

Because at the heart of what we do, band is community first.

What You Can Expect

On Teaching Band, I’ll be sharing the real-life perspective of being a band director — the wins, the challenges, the lessons I’m learning, and the things that make this job so rewarding.

You’ll hear conversations and episodes about:

* 🎵 Life as a band director
* 🎺 Teaching and leading a band program
* 💬 Building a stronger band community
* 📚 Practical ideas to make your school year easier
* 🎶 Student engagement and relationships
* 🌱 Growing as an educator and leader
* 🎙️ Conversations with other music educators and creators

Some episodes will give you practical ideas you can take straight into your band room.

Others will simply remind you that you're not the only one figuring it out as you go.

Why I'm Bringing It Back?

Teaching band can feel like a lot.

There are rehearsals, concerts, paperwork, emails, lessons, instruments, parents, schedules, and a whole lot of things that somehow all need your attention at the same time.

But underneath all of that are students who are looking for a place where they belong.

That’s what I want this podcast to keep coming back to.

The band room is more than making music. It’s about building community.

So whether you’re a brand-new band director or you’ve been teaching for years, I hope Teaching Band gives you something useful, encouraging, or simply makes you feel a little less alone in the work.

Thanks for being here.

Let’s get back into the band room. 🎵

— Erika Gates**

e.g. Author / CEO / Dancer / Mom

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Podcast Guest Agreement and Release

By submitting this form you are agreeing to our Podcast Guest Agreement and Release.

PODCAST GUEST AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

I do hereby agree, consent to and grant to the Producer hereunder all rights related to the recording and broadcast or other distribution of reproduction(s) of my voice, photograph, likeness and performance as part of my participation as a guest on the audiovisual program entitled Teaching Band (the “Program”). I hereby acknowledge and agree:

  1. The host of Teaching Band is the sole owner of all rights in and to the Program, and the recording(s) thereof, together with any materials prepared for the Program (“Materials”) are “Work(s)-Made-For-Hire” within the meaning of the United States Copyright Act f(17 USC §101, et. seqor all purposes; and Producer has the unfettered right, among other things, to use, promote and distribute the Program one or more times in any and all media or formats and modes of transmission whatsoever, through-out the world, in perpetuity.
  2. I will receive no compensation for my appearances on and participation in the Program.
  3. I hereby waive the opportunity or right to inspect or approve the content of the Program.
  4. Nothing contained in this Podcast Guest Agreement and Release shall be construed to obligate Producer to use or exploit any of the rights granted or acquired herein, or to make, sell, license, distribute or otherwise use the Program or Materials whatsoever.
  5. My name and likeness may be used in advertising and promotional material for the program, but not as an endorsement of any other product or service.
  6. I hereby release and discharge Producer, together with all of Producer's principals, share-holders, officers, employees, agents, successors, heirs, assigns and affiliates from any and all liability arising out of or in connection with the making, producing, reproducing, processing, exhibiting, distributing, publishing, transmitting by any means or otherwise using the Program and Materials.
  7. I am eighteen years of age or older, that I am fully competent to execute this agreement, and that no other agreements currently exist which would prevent my transferring these right to you, or your successors and assigns. I acknowledge that you intend to rely on this release, and the grant of rights herein contained, and shall incur significant costs in production of the Program in reliance upon same. As a result, I agree not to institute any legal action to contest the rights conveyed to you herein.

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By typing my full name above and submitting this form, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the contents of this release and am executing same of my own free will.

Electronic Consent on: 08/23/2026 5:23 p.m.

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