by Melissa Stouffer | Jul 21, 2026 | AAPI, All, Literature, Music Games, Music History
I love seeing books that are about lesser known musical instruments, and I love seeing books about lesser represented cultures! When I saw a book about a CHamoru girl (Mariana islands), playing an instrument from her culture, I had to snag it right away. This is is...
by Melissa Stouffer | Feb 10, 2026 | All, Curriculum/Planning, Music Games
Passing games are some of the most engaging student activities. Everyone is involved, the games are FUN, and then of course there is the opportunity in some games to either guess who has the object, or to get a classmate out. But passing games aren’t just an...
by Melissa Stouffer | May 27, 2025 | All, General Music Lessons, Music Games, Season: Summer
Some of us get to teach summer music classes and camps which is such a fun way to get to dive into a little bit of extra. But what do you teach? Conceptual learning is difficult because you will have to come back to it since not all students have summer classes. Often...
by Melissa Stouffer | Apr 1, 2025 | All, Music Games, Singing
Solo singing is a skill that needs to be developed. For a lot of students, it’s a point of anxiety. Singing out in front of their peers can feel exposed, and some kids will really resist the urge to sing out. One of the easy ways to get students to feel more...
by Melissa Stouffer | Feb 25, 2025 | All, Dance/Movement, Music Games, Special Topics
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 | Jan 21, 2025 | All, Dance/Movement, Improve Your Skills, Music Games, Musical Cultures
Since the Michigan Music Conference has been eating my life the last few weeks, I thought I’d give you a quick preview of what I’ve got coming up at my sessions at the Michigan Music Conference later this week. For those of you not in Michigan, I hope you...
