We all know The Nutcracker—the music, the magic, the holiday vibes. But what about stories that go beyond the ballet? More than just another retelling of the story, these fun and unexpected books will add a little variety to your lesson plans. These books tell new stories, bring new perspectives, and reimagine the Nutcracker. Perfect for…...

I recently talked about how concerts AREN'T everything. BUT, they ARE still a part of life. And not only are they a part of life, but sometimes you can't help the situation. They may be required, your school may have specific performances that are done every year and changing that will be an issue, or…...

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 before you come at me for the image. This purposefully chosen…...

It seems there is always a concert to prepare for when you teach music. Fall concerts, Veteran's Day, holiday and winter shows, grade level shows, PTA performances, spring shows, and more. It can be easy to get caught up in endless rehearsals, using concert music to teach concepts (if you even take the time) and…...

Something I've loved the last number of years is the increase of diverse children's books. While finding books about musicians still proves difficult, there are so many more books about different cultures. Here are some books featuring various Native American cultures. (Full disclosure: some affiliate links. I get a small kickback and it won’t change…...

This commonly shared game is a fun guessing game for students, a great way to work on Low La, and show music from the Comanche/Otoe tribes. Both tribes were around the Great Plains area which may be why there is a similar game from both nations. Positionality: I have no cultural ties to Native American…...