The Accidental Music Teacher

Phelps Media Productions
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Derek Phelps is a media major, tuba player, theatre and musical theatre veteran, and now a band and choir director who returned to music after 30 years away. The Accidental Music Teacher explores what it’s like to teach music without taking the traditional path. From relearning fundamentals and battling impostor syndrome to building programs and encouraging students, this is an honest, practical, and encouraging podcast for music educators finding their own way. Learning music while teaching it.

Episodes

  1. Aug 28

    Classroom Management Is Musical

    What does classroom management have to do with music? More than you might think. In this episode, Derek explores how silence, cues, body language, timing, and consistency can transform a band or choir rehearsal. Drawing from his experiences as a marching band musician, as well as his extensive background in theatre and musical theatre, Derek looks at classroom management through the lens of performance and ensemble leadership. Conductors don't have to yell to get an ensemble's attention. They use cues, gestures, presence, and timing. The same principles can work in the classroom. Derek also discusses why clear routines and expectations can reduce frustration, create a calmer rehearsal environment, and give teachers more time to actually make music. For beginning and non-traditional music educators, classroom management can feel overwhelming. But you don't have to control every moment—you need to create a system your students understand. Sometimes the most powerful thing a teacher can do is simply stop talking, stand still, and let the room become quiet. The Accidental Music Teacher Learning music while teaching it.

  2. Aug 21

    What Media Taught Me About Rehearsals

    What does a media major know about running a band or choir rehearsal? As it turns out—quite a bit. In this episode, Derek explores how his background in media, theatre, and musical theatre has shaped the way he approaches music education. Before becoming a band and choir director, he learned about cameras, audio, editing, storytelling, production, pacing, and audience engagement. Now he sees many of those same principles at work in the rehearsal room. A good rehearsal has a beginning, middle, and end. It needs pacing. It needs variety. And sometimes, just like editing a video, you have to recognize when something isn't working and change the approach. Derek also discusses the importance of storytelling in music. Students aren't simply playing notes or singing words—they're learning to communicate something. For non-traditional music educators, your previous experiences aren't something you have to leave behind. They may be some of your greatest teaching tools. The Accidental Music Teacher Learning music while teaching it.

  3. Aug 14

    Teaching Without the Jargon

    How do you explain something complicated to a student who has no idea what you're talking about? In this episode, Derek explores the importance of making music understandable. As a media major, former tuba player, and musical theatre veteran who returned to music after nearly 30 years away, he has learned that teaching isn't about using the biggest musical words—it's about finding the explanation that finally makes sense to the student. Terms like embouchure, articulation, breath support, resonance, diction, and intonation may be familiar to musicians, but they're brand-new concepts to beginners. Drawing from his background in media, storytelling, and performance, he discusses how analogies, simple language, and effective communication can help students grasp difficult musical concepts. Because teaching isn't about proving how much you know. It's about helping someone else understand. If you've ever struggled to explain a musical concept to a beginning student, this episode is for you. The Accidental Music Teacher Learning music while teaching it.

  4. Aug 7

    The First 10 Minutes Matter More

    What if the success of your rehearsal has less to do with your musical expertise and more to do with what happens before the first note is ever played? In Episode 4 of The Accidental Music Teacher, Derek Phelps explores why the first ten minutes of every band or choir rehearsal can determine the tone, focus, and productivity of the entire class. As a non-traditional music educator—a media major, former tuba player, and theatre and musical theatre veteran who returned to music after nearly 30 years away—Derek shares how he discovered that great rehearsals aren't built on perfect conducting or impressive credentials. They're built on consistency, routines, and clear expectations. Drawing from his experiences in media, theatre, and music, Derek explains how the opening moments of class function much like the opening scene of a performance: they establish the atmosphere, set expectations, and prepare students for success. This episode dives into practical ideas for creating predictable routines, helping beginning musicians understand what "ready" looks like, and building classroom systems that reduce chaos and increase learning. Whether you're teaching beginning band, choir, or any music classroom, you'll discover how small changes at the start of rehearsal can lead to big improvements throughout the rest of the period. Most importantly, Derek encourages fellow educators—especially those who didn't follow the traditional path into music education—that you don't need the perfect degree or years of experience to lead an effective rehearsal. You simply need a plan, consistency, and a willingness to keep learning alongside your students. If you've ever felt like you're spending more time trying to settle your classroom than actually making music, this episode is for you. Because sometimes the most important part of rehearsal... happens before the music begins. The Accidental Music Teacher Learning music while teaching it.

  5. Jul 28

    Imposter Syndrome at the Podium

    What happens when you find yourself standing in front of a band or choir and wondering if everyone else is more qualified to be there than you are? In Episode 3 of The Accidental Music Teacher, Derek Phelps takes an honest look at impostor syndrome and the self-doubt that can come with stepping into music education through a non-traditional path. As a media major who spent years involved in theatre and musical theatre, played tuba in junior high and high school, marched in high school band, and then spent nearly 30 years away from seriously playing music, Derek knows what it's like to compare yourself to teachers who seem to have the perfect background, decades of experience, or seemingly effortless expertise. But comparison can hide something important: context. Every teacher brings a different story, different experiences, and different strengths to the classroom. Derek explores how his background in media, theatre, performance, storytelling, and communication has shaped the way he teaches—and how the skills he once thought made him different can actually help him connect with students. This episode also looks at what students truly remember about their teachers. They may not remember every technical detail or every rehearsal, but they remember how their teachers made them feel. They remember encouragement, belonging, humor, energy, and the feeling that someone believed in them. For beginning musicians, those things matter. Derek challenges the idea that a music teacher has to be perfect to be effective. Students don't need a flawless director. They need a teacher who is present, consistent, patient, encouraging, and willing to keep growing. And perhaps most importantly, non-traditional teachers have something valuable to offer. The experience of relearning music can create empathy. A background in theatre can build confidence and communication. A media background can teach pacing, storytelling, and audience awareness. A history as a former band student can provide an understanding of what it's like to sit on the other side of the podium. If you've ever wondered whether you really belong in the classroom, this episode is for you. Feeling insecure doesn't mean you're incapable. Sometimes it simply means you care deeply about doing the job well. You don't have to be the perfect director. You just have to be a growing one. The Accidental Music Teacher. Learning music while teaching it.

  6. Jul 28

    Teaching What I'm Relearning

    What happens when you step into a music classroom after nearly 30 years away from seriously playing an instrument—and suddenly you're responsible for teaching the fundamentals to a new generation of musicians? In Episode 2 of The Accidental Music Teacher, Derek Phelps explores what it's like to relearn music while teaching it. As a former tuba player who played in junior high and high school band and marched in high school, Derek had a foundation in music. But after decades away, stepping back into the world of band and choir meant rebuilding knowledge, confidence, and even some of the muscle memory that had faded over time. For a non-traditional music educator and media major, that experience can come with plenty of self-doubt. What happens when a student asks a question you don't immediately know the answer to? What do you do when you realize you need to review a concept yourself before teaching it? And how do you overcome the fear that admitting you're still learning will make students see you as less of a teacher? Derek argues that the opposite may actually be true. Relearning music gives teachers something incredibly valuable: empathy for beginners. When you remember what it's like to struggle with a concept, rebuild a skill, or feel unsure of yourself, you may become more patient and more intentional in the way you teach. Instead of relying on complicated terminology or assuming students already understand, you learn to ask a more important question: "How can I make this make sense?" Drawing on his experiences in music, media, theatre, and musical theatre, Derek explores how communication, storytelling, performance, and authenticity can help make music education more accessible to beginning musicians. He also reflects on returning to the world of music after three decades and reconnecting with the kid who once carried a tuba through the halls of junior high and high school and marched onto a football field with his band. Because sometimes the journey back to something you once loved can teach you more than you ever expected. This episode is for the teacher who is studying after hours, reviewing fundamentals, watching conducting videos, or quietly wondering if they're behind everyone else. If you're still learning, you're not failing. You're growing. And sometimes, the best thing you can model for your students is the willingness to keep learning right alongside them. The Accidental Music Teacher. Learning music while teaching it.

  7. Jul 28

    I Wasn't Supposed To Be a Music Teacher

    What happens when a media major, former tuba player, and theatre and musical theatre veteran suddenly finds himself standing in front of a band and choir classroom? Welcome to The Accidental Music Teacher. In this first episode, Derek Phelps shares the unexpected journey that led him into music education. Derek wasn't a music education major. He earned his degree in media, spent years working in theatre and musical theatre, and hadn't seriously played an instrument in nearly 30 years. His musical background began with playing tuba in junior high and high school and marching in high school band—but life eventually took him in a different direction. Then, decades later, music came calling again. Derek talks about what it's like to return to music from the other side of the podium, relearning skills while teaching them, and facing the doubts that come with taking a non-traditional path into music education. Along the way, he discovers that the experiences he once thought made him different—media, storytelling, theatre, performance, communication, and even the long gap away from playing—may actually be some of his greatest strengths as a teacher. This episode is for the career changer, the non-traditional educator, the returning musician, the first-year director, and anyone who has ever wondered, "Am I really supposed to be here?" The answer might be simpler than you think. You don't have to know everything to teach something. You don't have to be perfect to build musicians. Sometimes, you just have to be willing to show up, keep learning, and encourage your students to grow alongside you. Welcome to The Accidental Music Teacher.

  • 7 Episodes

About

Derek Phelps is a media major, tuba player, theatre and musical theatre veteran, and now a band and choir director who returned to music after 30 years away. The Accidental Music Teacher explores what it’s like to teach music without taking the traditional path. From relearning fundamentals and battling impostor syndrome to building programs and encouraging students, this is an honest, practical, and encouraging podcast for music educators finding their own way. Learning music while teaching it.

Information

  • Creator
    Phelps Media Productions
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Phelps Media Productions
  • Show Website
    The Accidental Music Teacher