The best band directors are not the ones who never fail—they’re the ones who fail faster, reflect honestly, and get their students back on track before the moment slips away. Ryan Ashley sits down with Zach Smith, Mrs. Breedlove, and Mr. Morgan, aka Cooking With Valve Oil, for a sharp, funny, and surprisingly practical conversation about building a culture where mistakes become momentum instead of shame.
Ryan, Zach, Bre, and Morgan break down what failure really looks like in a band room, from bad repertoire choices and botched rehearsal plans to the pressure of marching season, contest prep, and first-year teaching mistakes. You’ll hear why “just do something” is often better than waiting for the perfect move, and why humility matters more than pretending you have every answer.
Sponsors:
RCP Drum Company
Sight Reading Factory
Wenger for Music Education
https://wengercorp.com/triplethreats?utm_source=BTP&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=2627WCTT&utm_content=midrollad
TimeStamps
01:09 – Welcome to Bandroom Therapy
03:17 – Don’t be afraid to fail faster
05:56 – Why low-stakes failure matters
11:25 – Taking action instead of waiting for the perfect answer
17:03 – Owning mistakes in front of students
22:21 – Breaking routines and trying something new
34:17 – Recognizing when an idea isn’t working
41:11 – Building a culture where students can fail safely
48:10 – Reframing “hard,” “easy,” and “I can’t”
51:54 – Encouragement, effort, and community in the band room
1:01:41 – Advice for new band directors
1:06:51 – Closing thoughts