by Melissa Stouffer | Mar 28, 2023 | General Music, Learning Through Play, Recorder
Teaching note names, lines, and spaces is an important skill. Traditional Western notation is a pretty common skill in elementary music classes in some way so let’s talk about five ways to teach note names, lines, and spaces. Classics Classics for a reason!...
by Melissa Stouffer | Feb 14, 2023 | Kodaly, Recorder
Breaking down recorder teaching to feel like any other part of Kodaly inspired teaching can totally be done. Using The Kodaly Aspiring Recorder can be one way to get there as it is set up in a way that will really help break down the process using the Kodaly method....
by Melissa Stouffer | Jul 21, 2020 | Back To School, Composition, General Music, Kodaly, Lesson Planning, Note Reading, Recorder, Singing, Teacher Tips
With the growing list of things we think we might not be able to do, we are looking at not being able to do a lot of the things that are a big part of what we love about teaching general music. You may want to give up (I know there’s a part of me that does...
by Melissa Stouffer | Jun 30, 2020 | Back To School, Band, Lesson Planning, Recorder, Teacher Tips
Tips that work for Recorder, Band and Orchestra Classes There is nothing like kids right when they get their instruments. One of my FAVORITE parts of being a music teacher is that first few weeks when they can’t make a nice sound but they are SO gosh-darn excited....
by Melissa Stouffer | May 14, 2019 | General Music, Kodaly, Learning Through Play, Recorder
If you’re like me, you’ve spent the whole year structuring your teaching so that your students are maximizing their fun and learning potential. But as the year draws to a close, the energy dips and our eyes start to turn toward glorious summer. You start to wonder...
by Melissa Stouffer | Feb 18, 2018 | Kodaly, Recorder
A few years ago, I was feeling SUPER frustrated with my recorder curriculum. I didn’t see the retention I wanted, left hands were everywhere but on top even with reminders, students memorizing and forgetting, and memorizing those songs for belt tests… WHY?...
