As we get into the dredges of the year, I thought this would be a good time to talk about some of the things that successful music teachers do. It's easy to get bogged down with to do lists, events, performances, and feel disenchanted as student behavior slides towards summer. You CAN do it and…...

Last week was an amazing time in Chicago with my OAKE family. It's always healing for the soul to spend time with your music teacher friends and this weekend was no exception. Here are my takeaways. Connecting Elementary and Secondary I was in a presentation that my friend Bobby Castro was presenting about his use…...

AI is everywhere these days. It’s writing essays, creating art, and even composing music. It’s flashy, it’s fast, and it’s got a lot of people wondering—should we be using it in the elementary music room? For me, the answer is no (or at least, not right now). While AI can do some pretty cool things, I just don’t…...

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 occasionally to serve both of your educational…...

March is Music In Our Schools Month in addition to that college tournament that basketball fans love. Truth be told, I’m not big on basketball but a good tournament always gets me excited. What better way to celebrate music than join in on the bracket fun? Pick a Theme Probably my favorite part is picking…...

Is it just me or are books getting prettier? I do NOT remember having such GORGEOUS pieces of art when I was a kid. Either way, as we get more books, more beautiful books, and more diverse books, we are bound to get some that just WOW you. Here are five beautifully illustrated books that…...