🎙️ Episode SynopsisIn this episode of Take a Cue, Jen and Erik get honest about work-life balance—and why it’s something they’re still figuring out themselves. Recorded at the end of winter break, the conversation dives into burnout, seasonal demands of the school year, family life, side gigs, and the blurred lines between music as a job and music as a passion. From learning how to say no, to building systems that protect your time, to modeling healthy balance for students, this episode offers real talk, hard-earned perspective, and reassurance that balance isn’t perfect—but it is possible.🎯 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy work-life balance isn’t a 9–5 concept for music teachersThe seasonal ebb and flow of the school yearBurnout: how it starts, how it feels, and how to avoid itLearning to say no (and why it’s so hard)Building systems that save time and mental energyThe importance of non-productive hobbiesFinding supportive colleagues (“marigolds”) who protect your sanitySetting boundaries between school, family, and personal lifeModeling sustainable music-making for studentsWhy balance looks different at different stages of your careerResources & Mentions from This Episode 🎵Breathing room & seasonal planning 🌱Airtable 🗂️ – referenced as a system-building tool (see prior episode)MakeMusic Cloud / SmartMusic 🎼 – student practice toolsMarching band & extracurricular commitments 🏈🎺“Marigold” colleagues 🌼 – positive professional support systemsNon-music hobbies 🚲📚 – biking, reading, creative outletsFind Take A CueHome: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠Support: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakeACuePodcast/CreditsHosts: Erik Donough (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@edonough, ⁠erik@donough.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Jen Wise (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jenwisemusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠jenwisemusic@gmail.com⁠)Edited by: Erik DonoughTheme music by Music_Unlimited: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artwork by Arooj: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/em_arooj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎙️ Episode SynopsisWhat really happens in a successful band rehearsal? In this episode of Take A Cue, Jen and Erik break down exactly how they structure, pace, and manage their rehearsals from start to finish. They share the routines that keep students focused, the systems that save time, and the small strategies that make a big musical impact. From breathing gym and warm-ups to percussion logistics, rehearsal resets, and student reflection, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can use immediately in your own band room.🎯 What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow to structure a full rehearsal from warm-up to wrap-upWhy breathing gym and tone-building routines are foundationalHow to manage percussion setup, transitions, and equipment flowThe importance of clear expectations, routines, and consistencyWays to maximize limited rehearsal timeCreative rehearsal reset strategies to maintain focus and energyCircle rehearsalSilent rehearsalSeat swapsHow to build strong listening skills through active feedbackUsing student reflection and goal-setting to drive improvementHow to identify problems quickly and rehearse with intentionIn this episode:🎼 Rehearsal flow & pacing (from warm-up to wrap-up)🫁 Breathing gym & tone-building warm-ups🥁 Percussion setup, transitions & organization hacks🧠 Pre-teaching, routines & expectation-setting⏱️ Maximizing limited rehearsal time🔄 Rehearsal resets & keeping things fresh (circle rehearsal, silent rehearsal, seat swaps)👂 Active listening & student reflection strategies🎯 Goal-driven rehearsing & problem-spottingResources & Mentions from This Episode 🎵Breathing Gym 🫁🎶 – Used for daily breathing and tone-building warm-upsFind Take A CueHome: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠Support: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakeACuePodcast/CreditsHosts: Erik Donough (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@edonough, ⁠erik@donough.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Jen Wise (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jenwisemusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠jenwisemusic@gmail.com⁠)Edited by: Erik DonoughTheme music by Music_Unlimited: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artwork by Arooj: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/em_arooj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Who says organization can’t be musical? Jen and Erik turn AirTable into your band’s secret weapon, helping you orchestrate trips, track instruments, and hit every administrative note perfectly.🎙️ Episode SynopsisIn this episode of Take A Cue, Erik and Jen dive deep into the organizational power of AirTable for music educators. Erik walks listeners through how he and his colleague Brendan use AirTable to manage their band program, from sheet music libraries and performance records to student trips, instrument inventories, and repair histories. The conversation highlights practical tips for sorting, linking, and filtering data, creating custom views, and accessing information on the go via mobile apps.Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at how databases can save time, reduce paper clutter, and streamline communication, whether it’s tracking band music, managing festival logistics, recording payments, or organizing student instruments. Eric and Jen also explore creative ways AirTable can be applied to both school and personal music endeavors, making this a must-listen for educators who want to stay organized and efficient in their programs.📒 Show NotesIn this episode:🎵 Band & Music Teaching Challenges – juggling multiple roles and administrative tasks🗂️ Organization Tools – Google Sheets, Avery labels, binders, and the need for better workflow💻 AirTable Overview – database vs. spreadsheet, collaboration, visual organization📚 Band Music Library – cataloging, composers, arrangers, grading, multi-select fields, JW Pepper links🎶 Performance Tracking – linking pieces to concerts, filtering by grade, key, type🏫 Trip & Festival Management – attendees, permission slips, payments, bus assignments, medical info🛠️ Instrument Inventory & Repair History – lockers, serial numbers, loaning instruments, repair tracking, replacement costs📧 Communication & Lesson Groups – emailing students, posting schedules, linking lesson info👩‍🏫 Student & Band Data Management – linking tables, grouping by instrument, score order, saving views🖼️ Gallery of Sound Role Models – sharing student or professional performances visuallyResources & Mentions from This Episode 🎵AirTable 🗂️ – Main tool for band organization and database managementGoogle Sheets 📊 – Alternative for tracking dataJW Pepper 🎼 – For music descriptions and listening to piecesFind Take A CueHome: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠Support: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TakeACuePodcast/CreditsHosts: Erik Donough (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@edonough, ⁠erik@donough.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Jen Wise (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jenwisemusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠jenwisemusic@gmail.com⁠)Edited by: Erik DonoughTheme music by Music_Unlimited: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artwork by Arooj: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/em_arooj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The baton has dropped on a brand-new school year — and a brand-new season of Take a Cue! In this lively kickoff to Season 4, Jen, Erik, and CJ catch up after the summer and dive into what it really feels like to launch into September as a music educator.

🎙️ Episode Synopsis

CJ shares the excitement (and nerves!) of starting their very first year of teaching in South Brunswick, with a full plate of general music, choir, band, and even jazz band. Jen celebrates the long-awaited victory of finally having her own classroom and navigates the bittersweet balance of sending her child off to kindergarten while managing a busy teaching life. Erik recaps family adventures from California to Maui and reflects on the juggle of band camp, family time, and gearing up for another school year.

From bulletin board hacks to first-day jitters, baton choices to scheduling chaos, this episode blends humor, honest reflection, and practical insights for every music educator facing a September restart. Whether you’re a veteran teacher or stepping into the classroom for the first time, this is your pep talk for making the year a success.

📒 Show Notes

In this episode:

CJ’s big leap: landing a first-year teaching job in South Brunswick 🎶

Jen’s summer adventures and the joy of finally having her own music room 🥳

Erik’s family travels from redwoods to ukuleles in Hawaii 🌴

Balancing parenthood with rehearsal schedules 🚸

First-day activities (and why “Bop or Flop” might be your new go-to icebreaker) 🎧

Bulletin board inspo and making your classroom space welcoming 🎨

The importance of community, colleagues, and a little bit of humor to keep you sane 😅

Resources & Mentions:

Stack the States app (great for kids learning geography)

Newland Custom Batons (for when your wand… I mean baton… finally chooses you)

Uncle Ron’s Ukulele Lessons (Maui-based, follow him on Instagram!)

Responsive Classroom strategies for music educators

Find Take A Cue

Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠

Support: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits

Hosts: Erik Donough (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@edonough, ⁠erik@donough.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Jen Wise (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jenwisemusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠jenwisemusic@gmail.com⁠), CJ Margolis (carley.margolis6@gmail.com)

Edited by: Erik Donough

Theme music by Music_Unlimited: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artwork by Arooj: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/em_arooj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jen and Erik check in and discuss various Spring topics, including advice for graduating college seniors, students dropping band, repertoire, and more!

Find Take A Cue

Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠

Support: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Credits

Hosts: Erik Donough (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@edonough, ⁠erik@donough.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Jen Wise (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jenwisemusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠jenwisemusic@gmail.com⁠)

Edited by: Erik Donough

Theme music by Music_Unlimited: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artwork by Arooj: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/em_arooj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Takeaways

Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released!

Find Take A Cue

Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠

Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Credits

Hosts: Erik Donough (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@edonough, ⁠erik@donough.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Jen Wise (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jenwisemusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠jenwisemusic@gmail.com⁠)

Edited by: Erik Donough

Theme music by Music_Unlimited: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by Arooj: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/em_arooj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Takeaways

Jen and Erik share quick tips and tricks to help and inspire band directors. Don’t worry! The regular episodes will also continue to be released!

Find Take A Cue

Home: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠

Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Credits

Hosts: Erik Donough (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@edonough, ⁠erik@donough.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Jen Wise (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jenwisemusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠jenwisemusic@gmail.com⁠)

Edited by: Erik Donough

Theme music by Music_Unlimited: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Artwork by Arooj: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/em_arooj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Musical Director David Gallagher from Morristown High School, NJ joins Jen and Erik to discuss his process for crafting excellent stage musical orchestras with almost all students. The trio discuss auditions, preparation, timelines, and tech week. In addition, Jen and Erik join in with the things they wish all musical conductors understood.Find Take A CueHome: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue⁠⁠Support: ⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/takeacue/support⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/TakeACuePodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CreditsHosts: Erik Donough (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@edonough, ⁠erik@donough.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), Jen Wise (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jenwisemusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠jenwisemusic@gmail.com⁠)Guest: David Gallagher (gallagherd.music@gmail.com)Edited by: Erik DonoughTheme music by Music_Unlimited: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pixabay.com/users/music_unlimited-27600023/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Artwork by Arooj: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fiverr.com/em_arooj⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠