In this episode of Band Director Boot Camp, Lesley Moffat talks with Brittany Valente, the no-nonsense teacher you’ve probably seen on TikTok serving up fast, practical advice for music educators. This one is especially for brand new band directors, or anyone walking into a new teaching situation and feeling like a first-year teacher all over again.

Brittany shares the real steps to take before students even walk through the door, starting with identifying your go-to people for questions, then tackling the big-ticket items in a sane order: instruments and rentals, music library, curriculum expectations, schedules, calendars, and systems that keep you from drowning. She also gives a reality check many of us needed early on: don’t cling too tightly to a perfect yearlong plan before you even meet the kids.

Once the year begins, the focus shifts to building non-negotiable routines, setting up efficient procedures, and creating a classroom culture rooted in relationships and team-building, not constant crisis management. Brittany also talks about protecting your own energy by planning your prep blocks with intention, understanding your “best brain” time, and leaning on mentors and trusted colleagues (even outside your building) to cut decision fatigue and remind you you’re not alone.

The lightning round is full of gold: lower the bar, forgive yourself, remember that mistakes are part of gaining confidence, and learn how to reset after a brutal day without letting it steal your whole evening. If you want a cheat sheet for sustainable teaching in today’s band world, this is the episode to queue up.