by Melissa Stouffer | Mar 10, 2026 | Uncategorized
I have taught in some really alone type situations. My previous jobs have not even had a district of other ‘island’ music teachers. Just me. So I was truly an island. Like many of you. Alone in a district or the only K-12 teacher. Huge districts where...
by Melissa Stouffer | Feb 24, 2026 | Uncategorized
There are a lot of times a performance seems too heavy. Lots of snow days, young students who are a nervous bunch, limited contact time, and a variety of other reasons. One other large reason is that performances take up a TON of time. Conceptual learning CAN happen...
by Melissa Stouffer | Jan 13, 2026 | Uncategorized
There are always cute adaptations for games out there but at the heart of them, are pattern cards. These simple cards are 4 or 8 beat rhythm or melodic patterns. There are so many ways these cards can be used in the music classroom and they are truly one of the best...
by Melissa Stouffer | Oct 7, 2025 | Uncategorized
A lot of music teachers spend time to make sure students learn about different instruments including a staple in a lot of classrooms, the piano. Here are a few resources for introducing the Piano in music class. Resources A great resoucre from Yamaha:...
by Melissa Stouffer | Sep 9, 2025 | Uncategorized
September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. As I’ve said before, I’m very much a person who makes sure that I cover different cultural groups all year and not just in ‘the’ month that is set aside. But I still think it’s important to cover them in that...
by Melissa Stouffer | Nov 19, 2024 | Uncategorized
So last week we all saw the Scholastic “article”, if you use the term loosely, “Should Kids Learn Music in School?” where once again music education is up for debate. Again. So here I am on the fight in defending music education. Again. And...
