by Melissa Stouffer | Feb 25, 2025 | Folk Dance, General Music, Interactive Learning, Learning Through Play, Movement
Sometimes it happens. You partner with the Phys Ed teacher. You combine because the students have lost their minds with 30 straight days of indoor recess. Maybe your room has been commandeered by an event or you all are just friends and know that you can combine class...
by Melissa Stouffer | Mar 21, 2023 | Kodaly, Learning Through Play, Movement
I am not a mover. My “joke” anytime I’m at a workshop with expressive movement is that I don’t move my arms. I’m not comfortable with it, I dislike doing it, and I feel about as awkward trying it as I felt doing anything when I was a...
by Melissa Stouffer | Dec 7, 2021 | Dancing, General Music, Learning Through Play, Movement, Performance
This time of year we are always looking for extra performance ideas. I’ve talked about a “play along” for The Nutcracker March that would work well so I thought I’d create one to help you teach it! Let’s talk details: Age Range I’ve...
by Melissa Stouffer | Nov 30, 2021 | Early Childhood & Kindergarten, General Music, Kindergarten, Kodaly, Lesson Planning, Manipulatives, Movement
Steady Beat Listening These are some great songs to listen to that have a really solid steady beat. They are great for playing instruments, body percussion or locomotor/non-locomotor music. Some of these are available in Kidzbop versions. Hoe-down from “Rodeo”...
by Melissa Stouffer | Sep 28, 2021 | Composition, Dancing, Early Childhood & Kindergarten, General Music, Kindergarten, Learning Through Play, Movement, Uncategorized
Creativity should be an essential part of music education. Not only can we include small creative elements into our lessons, but we can include bigger creative activities for our students as well. For ideas to incorporate small creative elements into class, check out...
by Melissa Stouffer | Oct 6, 2020 | Composition, General Music, Kodaly, Learning Through Play, Lesson Planning, Movement, Note Reading
Teaching in a restricted environment is no fun at all. I get it. This is why I think it’s important to have awesome lessons that don’t even feel like the students are missing out on anything. I wrote these 6 lessons for COVID teaching to help you out. ...
