There are SO many great songs for with bees for kids that aren't smushing them up. Somehow with the bee population struggling, I don't want to encourage it. So let's chat about some of the best bee-themed songs and activities for Kindergarten that don't make smashing bees a new pastime. Full disclosure – some affiliate…...

You now around this part of the internet we love children's literature. September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. While 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…...

There are a million different tech tips out there for teachers, and music teachers have even more since we deal with so much audio technology, and deal with multiple grade levels.. Now I won't claim to be a massive tech guru or know everything about all the applications, but here are the five Google Drive…...

Sub Tubs or Sub Binders are really an important tool to have set up early in the year. Waiting until you feel lousy is a recipe for disaster (aka - you trying to power through a cold because setting up sub activities is hard than trying trying to power through even though it would be…...

Teaching without a budget is ROUGH. STUFF. And I've been there several times. If you are looking to supplement your classroom on a tight budget (aka - yours or a very small amount that is provided to you), you can do it for just under $30! Bingo Chips Bingo chips are a staple manipulative. They…...

Who doesn't love to save time? Especially future you? Here are five great time saving hacks that will make your life easier and a little less repetitive, run a little smoother, and save you time in the long run! Color Coordinate For all your materials, folders, files, things going home, classroom storage, etc, pick one…...

So much of our thoughts around back to school center around setting up our classroom. We look at it all year round and it feels like a place we live. Of course we want it to look nice! As you set up your room this year, here are a few things to consider before you…...

As the school year gets ready to kick off, we start thinking about all the prep work we have to do. Obviously a lot of us think of decor but there are a lot of other things (more important things!) that go into a well run classroom. Here's a big list of documents you need…...

Once August hits, it's a different game for teachers. Some of our Southern friends are already back, and if you are in the North like me, it starts becoming a reality. I thought I’d give a big run down of some of the best things to get prepped and get for Back to School this…...

I've talked before about how non-stop work is not good for us. (I know, pot, kettle...), but I think there are some steps we can take to really set up our school year so that we don't over stress, double book, or burn ourselves out. As you are taking some time to do school things…...

When you go to plan, do you hunt and peck for ideas? Are you constantly looking for a song that has that concept, can talk about XYZ, or the like? Let's talk about Concept Plans. Life changing.  What's in them? Concepts the kids already need to know A song list Teaching materials you will need and…...

Teachers can be pack rats. There, I said it. You know what I mean. We want to save all the things in case we might use them in the future. But do you really need an entire desk stuffed with ALL those things? Nope. Insert comments about how less cluttered classrooms are great for kids…...

You know about the parade. The one kid who legitimately needs to go asks and then it starts the parade of students who need to use the restroom. Or the best friend who wants to go with them. So now there are a bunch of students who are out of your room and missing on…...

If you are on the hunt for a new job this summer, or even if you aren't, taking time to keep your portfolio up to date is a good idea. Let's talk a little bit about what it is, what should be in it, and how to make it eye catching. What's in a portfolio?…...

At the end of the school year, we're tired, overworked, and ready for break, so why am I telling you about stuff to do? Hear me out. These are some things that you can do to help yourself start next year right and save yourself time in the end. Some of these you can even…...

At the end of the year if you somehow got ahead or can't move on to a new concept without cutting it short, what do you focus on? There are so many things that slip our minds so here's a short list of some things you can do when you've run out of your 'normal'…...

May is Asian American Pacific Islander 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 month. (Full disclosure: some affiliate links but it…...

Hi Friends! Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! I thought this year I would ask one of my Filipino friends to write a post sharing some of her experiences, activities, and more that you can use in your classroom now or any time of year. Allow me to introduce you to Melissa Fuller Flores!…...

The end of the school year can feel like a freight train. Between concerts, cleaning up, trying to finalize all the lesson plans, concepts, and get grades in, we can sometimes feel like we have no control. Here are some tips to help you feel in control as we wind down the school year. Figure…...

Warmer weather hits and everyone is ready for Spring. 45 degrees is sometimes enough in Michigan for people to be walking around without coats. Guilty. With warmer weather, our brains start thinking about that end that maybe feels like it's in sight, or at least getting closer. For students, that can be a breakdown in…...

There is nothing like playing a student favorite game at the end of the year. There are so many games that not only support conceptual learning, but also allow our students to get out extra energy, and everyone can enjoy the fresh air too! Here are some awesome outdoor games for elementary music. (Full disclosure…...

Teaching the instruments of the Western orchestra is a common lesson in the music classroom and there is no shortage of resources! I thought I'd take a look at some of my favorites, a good sequence for teaching instruments, and some of my favorite games to play for recognition. Websites DSO Kids - Resources, Listening…...

When the warm weather hits, everyone wants to be outside. Taking music class outside is not just for games, but you can also work on conceptual learning! Here are three ways to use sidewalk chalk for music class. Music Twister Draw a large Twister board or even a few so all students can participate without…...

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! Mnemonic Devices - My personal favorite from a student is Edible Gummy…...

I am not a mover. My "joke" anytime I'm at a workshop with expressive movement is that I don't move my arms. I'm not comfortable with it, I dislike doing it, and I feel about as awkward trying it as I felt doing anything when I was a middle schooler. I hated calling attention to…...

Before we know it, it will be the thing music teachers dread...testing season. Testing season itself isn't awful on us except the students seem a little more hyped....unless...you have to be quiet too. While this is super not fun nor the ideal situation, we may still have to come up with something to do that…...

I’ve said it before and 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 month. March is Women’s History Month and there have been a plethora of new…...

March is Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM), so it's a great time to have some fun, showcase some fun music, and advocate for music in our schools. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate and advocate for Music in Our Schools Month. Celebrate Bulletin Boards: Questionaires - feature student or teacher questionnaires All…...

Passing games are a music class staple. They are FUN, they teach social interaction, they teach passing instead of throwing like you picked up a stone covered in hot lava...All kidding aside, passing games are awesome activities that can be inexpensive, fun, and help us cover musical concepts. Let's take a look at some tips,…...

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. But if you use that…...

No matter how you feel about the holiday, there's no denying students love another reason for a bit of fun, sugary snacks and a little down time from normal activities. I thought I'd give a quick roundup of some Valentines Day Songs and Activities for Music Class to help make lesson planning easier! Valentine, Red…...

Spring seems like a long way a way but for those of us who prep student concerts, we know that concert season starts way before that date is a glimmer in families' calendars. One of the most time intensive parts of teaching students the lyrics to their songs. If you are doing pre-made shows, or…...

Hi friends,  This week I am elated to share my guest blogger, P. Eric Bottorff. I saw Eric present on his Special Education students a few years ago at MMC and how he breaks it down is some of the more brilliant as well as nurturing ways I've seen classes put together for Special Education students.…...

One of the benchmarks for music education is responding to music. It's not only important to help expose students to all kinds of music, but also to help them develop language for describing music. But there is definitely more than one way to respond. Here's three ways to break down responding to music to make…...

A lot of teachers and schools are incorporating Lunar New Year into their yearly plans. Lunar New Year is not a celebration specific to China. As with other cultural celebrations, please buy resources from creators who are actually of Asian descent and celebrate Lunar New Year. Although I am part Chinese, the Asian side of…...

Happy New Year! Mid-school year is a time of renewal when you come back from 'vacation'. Two-ish weeks jam packed with get togethers, last minute holiday preparations, and the twilight zone week where no one really knows what day it is, sometimes, you come back still feeling that out-of-sorts-not-ready-for-it sort of tired. So how do…...

As we wind down before the holiday break. Or, in reality, run full steam towards a chance to catch up on sleep, I wanted to stop and wish you all a Happy Holiday. Thanks so much for being an amazing supporter, reading the posts I put out, and supporting my small business for the last…...

With it being the holiday/gift giving season, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things that I think any music teacher would love that you might want for your wish list. Full disclosure: A few affiliate links. I get a small kick back and it won't change your price. No pressure! Ember Mug…...

This time of year, a lot of music teachers use the Nutcracker in a variety of ways. To talk about music and dance as story telling, orchestral instruments, and more. Here are three great activities specific to the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. 1. Play Alongs There are some great play alongs on YouTube.…...

With American Thanksgiving next week, a lot of us are leaning into turkey themed activities. Books, songs, and more, these turkey activities for music class are sure to bring some fun to the classroom. (Full disclosure: some affiliate links. No pressure!) Albuquerque Turkey You all know I"m a sucker for cute animal books and this…...

Unfortunately, there are not a lot of books about Indigenous musicians. However, these three books about Powwows are wonderful to tie culture and history to your lessons whether it be in November, or any other time of year. (Full disclosure: some affiliate links but it won’t change your price. No pressure!) Looking for more? Check…...

In summer 2021 at The Music Crew's free virtual conference, I talked about this awesome book which gives listening examples that coincide with a feeling for each letter of the alphabet. The only problem I had with it was the majority of the listening examples were overwhelmingly white men. While it's great to have examples,…...

The day after any Halloween is where teachers can be truly tested. Sleep deprived students, still recovering from the excessive sugar intake, the excitement, and the overstimulation of the ultimate kid holiday are in no mood for your antics. IYKYK. Trying to keep students on track can be trying and pushing too hard never works…...

Specials teachers, related arts, whatever you want to call us, there are some things that are just DIFFERENT when you teach a specialized topic instead of a grade level. We have a student their entire career at a school, we see them grow up, and we have to know all the content, standards, and educational…...

I somehow think of Halloween as the ultimate kid holiday. Imagination, parties, candy for free. If you are in a school where you can celebrate Halloween in the classroom, these are some fabulous songs to still teach concepts, but celebrate the spooky season. Little Jack Pumpkin Face This is a great song for loud and…...

Now that school is back in the swing of things, social media turns from adorable classroom set ups to pics and videos of things going on in the classroom. But just like our personal social media, professional social media has ups and downs as well. Here are some social media tips for music teachers that…...

September is Deaf Awareness Month. For those of us who are hearing, and teach music, I think Deafness can be one of the most difficult things for us to relate to. We are professional noise makers. But as teachers, and humans, it's so important that we include everyone in our conversations, and if we have…...

Apple themed lessons are a fall classic and there are some great activities for apples that can give your lessons a seasonal feel. There is no shortage of great apple activities, songs, and books, so here are some of my favorites apple themed activities for elementary music. Full disclosure – some affiliate links. This won’t…...

This is the time of year we set goals, targets, etc. Not only do we set goals for our students, but we set them for ourselves as well. Here are some professional goals that you might want to make one of yours this year. More student praise If you aren't great at offering praise to…...

There has been so much negative about teachers and teaching the last few years. I thought it would be nice to take the last official back to school kick off day to hear some amazing things about teaching music instead. From you. I asked my email list for the things they were looking forward to…...

I know that I’ve been talking about books for the music classroom a lot recently so I thought I’d share some of my current favorites! If you saw my post from last week, I go over some different ways to use books in the music classroom. These books are all great books that teach a…...

It's no secret I love books. If you've ever checked out The Ultimate Music Ed Book List, you know that I have spent hours cataloguing books for the music classroom. But what to do with all these books? It's more than just "music story time", especially when the book isn't music themed. Here's some great…...

In any classroom, relationships are key. In the music classroom, having a sense of community is essential to creative endeavors, trust, and performance. Students need to know they have a voice, feel supported, and don't fear being made fun of for creative work. The beginning of the year is the perfect time to start building…...

The first few weeks of school always seem a little out of sorts. Getting back into the routine can be hard for some students. And teachers. The first few weeks are always more than getting right to learning so here is what to include in Back to School lessons. 1. Name Games Unless you are…...

It's August and that means, it's time. Thanks to the FB for this one.... (PS - I think I've gotten the original creator of this meme linked in the image.) But now, it's here so Let It Go...Let It GOOOO...wait, wrong movie. Anyway. I thought I'd give a big run down of some of the…...

Building a classroom library is something that can't be done overnight. That would be a serious financial commitment. There are two main ways to get books into your room: buy or borrow. Let's take a quick run down of the benefits of each. Buy the Book This is a good way to get ahold of…...

As we get to back to school time and everyone starts thinking about planning out their curriculum for the year, there are lots of questions about different elements to the curriculum. If you don't know how to set all this up, you end up in what a lot of music teachers end up in their…...

It's, amazingly, almost that time of year that teachers, especially in the south, start thinking about back to school prep. One of the big things that comes up this time of year is music classroom decor. What do I want? What do I need? What's important? Do I want a theme? Let this help you…...

Summer break can definitely mean vacations. Even if it's a stay-cation because gas prices are ridiculous, sometimes, if you have kids, they still want a souvenir or tchotchke. These cheap toys for music class are the common check-out-lane-truck-stop-they-won't-play-with-it-next-week toys that you can steal when they are done with the novelty. Or if you don't have…...

The end of the school year is a stressful time. Students are checked out, and teachers are at the end of their caffeine and sugar stashes. You all know what I mean. And it never seems to get any easier even with experience. So what do you do when you need to keep them in…...

Since May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I thought I'd give us a post highlighting someone who might make great musician of the month possibility. Yo-Yo Ma is a former child prodigy, French born Chinese cellist. His first appearance in 1962 from the Kennedy Center, introduced by Leonard Bernstein, was a performance for…...

In my post last week, I talked about all the things you can buy for the music classroom from non-music stores. But what if you don't have a lot of instruments and only a little bit of money to spend? Obviously you would love to add to the classroom instruments available. Here, I've got my…...

I see lots of posts asking about money given to music teachers for places that would be GREAT if you are a classroom teacher, but don't always have great music selections. Office stores, the big box stores, and sometimes even teacher stores aren't great for us. *Sigh* So what do you do when you have…...

Singing in parts is always a big deal. The first time your students do it, they feel super accomplished! But in reality, part work is something you can do with even your Kindergarten students. Canons and partner songs seem like the obvious answers, but there are ways you can start students before you approach those!…...

Burn out is a terrible thing that I think a lot of teachers face at one point or another. Add in a situation where you teach several grade levels (Read: ALL the students in the school), have your skills put on display in the form of performances, and sometimes get the short end of the…...

When Spring finally arrives, it hits differently. Everyone can feel it. There's a little bit of excitement, and teachers and student alike are just a little bit over it. Here are some great activities for spring that will keep everyone's attention! 1. Sidewalk Chalk Staff The sidewalk chalk staff is a super fun way to…...

The Elementary Music Concert. You know it's one of the biggest moments in your class (whether you like it or not), and definitely something your students will remember. Especially if their adults took 100+ pictures to mark the occasion. But planning a concert for elementary students is not as simple as picking out some songs…...

If you follow me online, it's no secret that this year's OAKE conference was something I was looking forward to, and really needed. One of the last things I did in 2020 was go to OAKE in Portland. I was burnt out, overwhelmed, and really needed some time to myself. I skipped sessions, ate ramen,…...

This is not easy. It's unfortunately more common with teachers out, and a sub shortage. So what can you do if you are facing 50-60 or MORE students all at once? Here are some ideas that will hopefully give you some help. 1. Crowd Control First things first, the most difficult challenge with multiple classes…...

Next week is Tuesday "TWOsday" February 22, 2022 - 2/22/22. You know I love a good pun, so if you are wanting to celebrate the fun day in your class here are some easy ideas. Partner Fun DuetsPartner songsFolk dances with a partnerAny game that has partnersPartner in a circleHand clapping games Two of something…...

Back in 2011, I taught at a Montessori where one day a week I had grades 1-5 together for an hour. Not exactly an easy class to plan for. One day, the students came in and had obviously had "a day". You know what I mean. They were begging to play a game instead of…...

February is Black History Month. A great way highlight the month is to celebrate some great music. Motown - The D - Motor City Detroit is the home to Motown Records founded by Berry Gordy, Jr.. and without Motown, we may not have some of the most ICONIC artists of all time. These three books…...

When you have a sub, a lot things may not go as planned. One of my subbing experiences (luckily for a band director!) involved sub plans for Google Classroom and nothing else. Except the entire school lost internet. But if I hadn't been a music sub in a music class, it could have been disaster.…...

A Sub Tub is a crucial thing to have put together. Subs are a hot commodity, and good preparation for a sub means that if you get someone, preparing well for them can be an incentive for them to come back to your room again. I think Sub Tubs work better than a binder because…...

This week on my Podcast, I've welcomed my first ever guest, Beth Duhon. Here are my big three take aways from our interview. I was so excited to sit down with Beth to talk about self care. If you are a regular here on my blog or on my podcast, you know that it has…...

Hey and welcome to 2022! I hope this year holds more healing, more self-care, and good things for all of you. To start out the year, I thought a look at power language for music teachers would be a great place to start. Too many times, specials teachers get put on the back burner, treated…...

There have been times in the past that I talked about things teachers can do on their break. Those are fine and dandy, but there is a really important word here. BREAK. So what should you do over break? It's not what you think! Sleep They recommend that most adults need seven to eight hours…...

This time of year we are always looking for extra performance ideas. I've talked about a "play along" for The Nutcracker March that would work well so I thought I'd create one to help you teach it! Let's talk details: Age Range I've done this while "caroling" with 1st graders. The best way to approach…...

Steady Beat Listening These are some great songs to listen to that have a really solid steady beat. They are great for playing instruments, body percussion or locomotor/non-locomotor music. Some of these are available in Kidzbop versions. Hoe-down from “Rodeo” (Copland)William Tell Overture (Rossini) - start playing/clapping after the introSabre Dance (Khachaturian)Stars and Stripes (or…...

The big one. The ultimate music ed concept. This one is SO important. I'd argue that this concept is more important than a good number of other musical concepts that we teach because this one really as a life long impact on our students. This concept is Steady Beat. It impacts their lives as readers,…...

Hi friends, This week I am elated to share my guest blogger, Mary Neeley Stevens. While I was doing some research about the Danielson Framework, I stumbled across a post from her that mentioned a presentation she did for TMEA in 2016. I am thrilled that she has agreed to be a guest this week…...

Like the books I picked for Filipino American History Month, there are not many books on Indigenous musicians. There is one book that was featured for Women's History Month called "Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Ša, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist". That book can be found in this post and would be a…...

Finding authentic folk songs can be difficult. Sometimes anthologies don't tell you if lyrics have been changed or verses have been omitted, and sometimes you can't find if it is authentic online? These are three books of authentic Filipino folk songs for you to add to your collection. (Full disclosure: some affiliate links but it…...

In my hunt for Filipino folk songs, I came across these five illustrated folk song books. I thought they would be wonderful to share with you! Each book also has some info on the song and sometimes more such as the region or music (Kaisa-Isa Niyan). All five books have written out notation for the…...

Tinikling is the dance that most people think of when they think of the Philippines. A traditional dance that involves two bamboo poles and dancers. October is Filipino American History Month and as I celebrate the family I found this year, I thought it would be fun to share Filipino culture with you. This is…...

October is Filipino American History Month. If you read my blog regularly or follow me on Instagram, you know I am half Filipino/Chinese, and that earlier this year I found my grandma's huge family by chance thanks to a cousin who responded to a random Facebook message. This is the 1st in a series of…...

Creativity should be an essential part of music education. Not only can we include small creative elements into our lessons, but we can include bigger creative activities for our students as well. For ideas to incorporate small creative elements into class, check out Creativity In the Music Room Every Class! Part 1 Here are some…...

Composition and creativity sometimes seems like it is a checklist item. It's a standard, we did it, now we can move on and don't have to do it anymore. But that's SUPER not true. We can include a creative element in our students' class every week. Creativity isn't just sitting to compose, but improvising, making…...

Classroom management is what makes or breaks your class. You'll never get as much done with a class that can't listen to directions, and you'll ultimately feel frustrated why things break down. So many of the issues we can have as teachers is directly related to classroom management. As music teachers, we have students for…...

It’s time for another book round up! I was super pumped to find out that Gospel Music has a month dedicated to it and I do not think we pay nearly enough attention to it! Here are three books that I think will give your kids a taste of the amazing heritage of Gospel music.…...

PD is EVERYWHERE you look. Virtual sessions, Instagram ideas, the Facebook Groups, and my fav, in person conferences which *fingers crossed* are coming back soon. It is SO easy to get distracted by the wonderful things we see our colleagues doing. I'm super guilty of coming back from a conference with a cool folk dance…...

As music teachers, we have lots of things to keep track of during the day. Multiple classes later and we've forgotten to do some of the basic things like input attendance for those of us who have to do that, or prep things that take forever to set up. Here are some jobs that students…...

Learning names can be a challenge for teachers. When you have a couple hundred or more every year the task is even more daunting. Even if you are a veteran at your school, there are always the youngest students and new students in each grade. These are some of the best names games for music…...

Books are a great way to help put kids at ease the first few weeks of school. They can help set the tone, give a message, or help kids feel welcome. Sometimes books are a way to engage kids that might feel apprehensive, or aren't quite sure yet. Here are 6 fabulous books for back…...

Sitting down to plan for an entire year of general music seems really daunting. If you are a 'typical' elementary music teachers, you likely have Kindergarten - 5th grade. So six grade levels and curriculum to know. If you are extended to middle school general music or preschool, it's even more! Planning for all these…...

Congrats! You got your first job and you are PUMPED. Bring on the Target dollar spot!! Or not. Seriously, first things first. I spent thousands of dollars putting together materials for my classroom. Let's stop normalizing teachers spending their own money on things. Let's advocate for a budget, for school supplied materials and the like.…...

You've scored the interview and you are prepping so what do you need to know? 1. Do your research Different schools have different cultures and it can even vary within the district. Know what things are important to your school, and what isn't. Is this a place that showing up in a suit for an…...

I've just gotten back from my third Kodaly level in Oklahoma, and I'm SO excited that I finally have my levels done! Shoutout to the amazing teachers I've had through the three levels in Mt. Pleasant, Portland and Norman. I am so appreciative of all you do and have taught me. Joy, Sandy, Ashely, Casey,…...

While some people are out for summer, there are still some schools in until the end of the month. If you are looking to make sure you represent the LGTBQ+ community during Pride month (or any other month!), here are some great books for kids. (Full disclosure: some affiliate links but it won’t change your…...

As the end of the year comes to a close, I think it's important to spend time with your fifth grade students (or your last year elementary students) doing some things to really finalize your time together. It shouldn't be just instrument tryouts, prep for band or orchestra or voice placements for choir. We are…...

I intended on doing another post for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month this week, but as I contemplated what to write about, what activities to give you, I thought that isn't what you need right now. It's not what I need right now. What we DO need, is an end. THE end. So instead,…...

I honestly don't know if I've had three books in a set that have as much gorgeous illustration as these books for Jewish American Heritage Month. Not only are they gorgeous but they really highlight such an amazing set of musicians. I hope that these give you some great ideas to use and have some…...

So if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I recently shared a picture of my Grandma. My dad's parents immigrated at different times, from different regions of the Philippines. My Grandpa came first, met my Grandma during WW2 when he was stationed there, married her and they came (back) to the US. They…...

As we end the year, not ONE of us is thinking of planning for next year. I know and I'm super behind that. Instead of giving you something to work on RIGHTNOW, I thought that this week I'd take a look at things we can think about as we end the year, get into summer…...

It's time for another book round up! Jazz has always been one the genres I focus on the most, and if anything, I am guilty of focusing ONLY on jazz and related genres. These are three books that I think are some of the best around and focus on a diverse group of musicians. (Full…...

This is part one in a series for traveling music teachers, which for most of my teaching career up to this point I travelled and at one point I was in four schools, so I totally totally feel your pain if you are a traveling music teacher. When I was younger I was a massive…...

You all know how much I love double duty songs, but chants can do the same thing! 2, 4, 6, 8 is a fun chant for spring and a....quintuple...duty chant! If you don't know the chant... 2, 4, 6, 8Meet me at the garden gate.If I'm late, don't wait.2, 4, 6, 8 1. Steady Beat…...

An Intro To Composing First up, this lovely book by Vicky Weber. The Song Garden is a perfect introduction to a composing lesson. (Full disclosure: some affiliate links but it won’t change your price. No pressure!) This book is about a girl name Calla who plants flowers to compose a song as part of the…...

While I don't usually write on here to tell you about things I've been working on, I'm SO excited about what I've been doing lately, and if you aren't following me on Facebook or Instagram, you might not know yet... I opened an Etsy shop! I thought the world needed some goodies for music teachers…...

I’ve said it before and 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 month.  March is Women's History Month. Here are 3 engaging Women's History Month Books…...

The Peace Table is a concept from Montessori classrooms and serves as a place for disagreement between students. Student disagreements can be anywhere from a small annoyance to a big deal. Sometimes a student just needs a minute. Having a designated space in your classroom for this sort of stuff is not only a great…...

So classroom management is something that takes time to fine tune, but it's something that really should take tons of our attention. Non-negotiable rules in music class are the things that are our MUST do, shouldn't ever happen rules. A good management plan is something that we should nurture right away and continue to focus…...

When my friend Kelly from Rhythmically Yours told me about her new new manipulatives, I HAD to buy some. Even though I basically live with my laminator, I always like incorporating harder manipulatives when possible. These sustainable rhythm manipulatives are just what the teacher ordered. So these wooden manipulatives come with three different rhythm notation…...

I field lots of questions about Kodaly teaching and how to get started in it. I thought doing a post about getting started in Kodaly teaching would be a great way to answer some burning questions. What is the big deal? So. There are lots of ways to approach a student's learning in the music…...

I've said it before and 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 month.  February is Black History Month. Here are 3 engaging Black History Month…...

An Engaging lesson for Black History Month doesn't have to be about struggles. I recently saw a Facebook post where a Black educator was asking people to NOT focus only on the struggles, but also joyful things. A lesson I've done often with my 5th graders not only can bring about a discussion about inequality…...

In an attempt to get back our time, some of us declutter. We attack our closets, our pantries, the junk drawer, piles of things we no longer use in the house (or the the things of people that live with us!) I clean things out pretty regularly, but I am a digital hoarder. Photos, files,…...

bound·​ary |  ˈbau̇n-d(ə-)rē  plural boundaries1. something that indicates or fixes a limit or extent I checked my teacher dictionary and I didn't see that word. Just kidding, but it's sort of true, and in the age of quarantine, distance learning, hybrid and other things we've adapted this year, the questionable boundaries we had for our teaching lives and personal lives…...

Happy New Year friends!Even though I'm not a big fan of the mind set that January 1st is the day to change your life, I felt like this year needed some serious closure. So I've come up with some Music Teacher Resolutions to take us in to 2021.. Say no. Leave it at school, don't…...

We're almost there. December in the music class is always crazy, and this year it's even more insane. I don't want you to drown, so I thought back on experience teaching and asked around to come up with these 5 ways to make it through December in your music class. Find awesome resourcesPlay some awesome…...

I'm a huge fan of using books in the music class. In current times, it's even more of an activity so many of us are leaning on because we can do it without sharing or singing. I am always keeping track of different lists of books or pictures that I see and I never have…...

Do you want to provide more chances for your students to listen to great music? I love doing listening activities with my students, but I know there are a lot of people who don't have the time to create their own new ones. I get it; we're all short on time. This is why I…...

The month of November is Native American Heritage Month. It's so important to make sure that what we share with students is authentic, appropriate and open to non-tribal members. There are some great resources out there to help those of us who are not indigenous navigate teaching our students, but you may not know them…...

So now that we are looking at our first performance season, I've been seeing so many people looking for performance ideas for general music. I've been thinking about this for a while and have been putting together a list of ideas that involve teaching music without singing and performing as well.  When performing or teaching music…...

We hate being stuck in a digital environment. We hate creating music without singing, dancing playing the way we love to. But we can still engage our students and connect with them. We all know that teaching virtually is not something that humans are meant to do. We are not meant to stare at the…...

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 month.  September 15-October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. Here are 3 engaging Hispanic Heritage…...

Teaching in a restricted environment is no fun at all. I get it.  This is why I think it's important to have awesome lessons that don't even feel like the students are missing out on anything.  I wrote these 6 lessons for COVID teaching to help you out.  Restrictions in music class are no fun, but with…...

So the idea of teaching movement right now seems so bizarre. We can't touch each other or get close so what are the things we can adapt? Here's a huge list of movement ideas for COVID teaching whether your kids are at home or in person but socially distanced. Folk Dancing I know. What? There…...

This week I thought I'd feature someone who's been doing lots of videos that even other teachers are using. My friend Vicky is a music teacher who posts videos that other people can use or watch for ideas. I had the pleasure of meeting her in person at the OAKE National Conference in March a…...

If you're like me, you're always looking for new ways to engage your students in music learning. But I understand how hard this is on a cart. Rather than give up (something I know you awesome teachers never do!), I'm always on the lookout for resources that may be perfect for teaching a la cart.…...

This 3-part post was drawn from my presentation for the Michigan Kodaly Educators in September of 2019. Missed Part 1 on common solfege questions and older beginners? Part 2 talks about prepare-present-practice and solfege terms for kids.  If all you took in your undergrad was a single elementary music class, you may feel confident in…...

So...if you are online this year, there are some BIG questions. (Or in person, or both...but let's tackle one thing at a time). We didn't sign up to teach this way, but here were are. How can you sing in a digital environment with issues like lag, not being able to see everyone, etc.?We really…...

I'm often asked by new and experienced teachers about what they can do to start the year right. One answer comes to mind that can make or break your year: music class procedures.  Never underestimate how critical this is. I don't trust myself to just remember everything, so I have this comprehensive list to help me…...

  Vocal Explorations are one of the best ways that we can help kids find their singing voice. But kids can get tired of the same old, same old...so I thought I'd go over some the best ways to keep it fresh! (Some affiliate links - won't change your price. No pressure!) 1. Traditional You…...

Back to School is stressful no matter what. It's always great to have a good idea of what things you need to do at the beginning of the year. Here's my to-do list! 1. Meet the Parents Info It's easy as a non-classroom teacher to get overlooked, so be proactive. Put together something with the…...

Prepping for Back To School seems to be every teacher’s favorite time. New music, new decor, new pencils, new possibilities. But... This year is so different! New stresses, concerns, budget issues across the board. How do we even prep for this? I've thought about your struggles (and mine too) and decided to write these ideas…...

So clearly I've spent time teaching from a cart. Since my Hacks for Teaching Music on a Cart post, the number one thing people have been asking for is a tour of my cart. So here we go! THE cart. I have a flip up tray addition on the left side, the paper towel holder…...

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…...

CONGRATS!! You got your first job!! Whether it's a pandemic or not, your first year is tough, but I can help! Here are some of the best tips for new music teachers I have for you. Powerful Tips For New Music Teachers As we dive in, I've separated the tips into different categories. If you…...

I LOVE teaching with no budget. Not. You heard that rightzip zero zilch. We're all there or close to there. Concert music has always been coveredwhen I was buying stuff for it and not just making stuff up. And this has been the case for the majority of the places where I have taught. No…...

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. Heard up: I’m not about to talk…...

Happy Official Summer!! I thought this would be a great time to share three things that I'm currently learning from, using and loving. (Full disclosure: Some affiliate links) 1. This Facebook Group With the current state of things, if you haven't taken a look at literature you use for your kids, you really should. I…...

Teaching music on a cart can be difficult. Learn my best tips from years of experience...

So now that you've explored Digital Classrooms --- what do you do with them? If you are just getting started, check out this post. We all know that people are pushing back from long hours, lots of extra work, etc., so you don't want to just add to the noise. Even as the school year…...

So the current rage in teacher groups is the digital classroom, digital library, etc. You make a Google Slide presentation, add an empty room background, and then add clip art, book covers, bitmojis and more to your room that when finished, can be shared with your students for them to interact with. All you have…...

So...none of us like this, none of us are happy, but here we are. I've compiled a huge list and I will update as I find more. Some of this is my normal emergency sub plans, some is recent findings. I will also link to some things that I have either made free or discounted…...

This 3-part post was drawn from my presentation for the Michigan Kodaly Educators in September of 2019.  Read Part 1 if you missed it.  Solfege is one of the giant’s in the music word having been around since Guido of Arezzo invented in the 11th century, but is it still relevant and useful today?  You…...

Hey friends, I hope your 2020 is off to a great start! I am super excited for this guest post from my friend, AMAZING teacher, and frequent partner in presenting crime, Zach. He's one of the teachers I frequently lean on for advice, and he's recently started his own blog. He's picked a topic near…...

This 3-part post was drawn from my presentation for the Michigan Kodaly Educators in September of 2019.    Solfege...even the most quiet whisper of the word is enough to awaken our PTSD from undergrad and sight singing and ear training. All kinds of music teachers use it, but what’s so fetch about solfege?  In this…...

You often see a lot of manipulatives out there for the music room, but it can be tricky to know how to use them in your classroom.  And a lot of people end up giving up on them because they go about it the wrong way. In this post, we’re going to look at how to…...

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 about how to end the year in the…...

Upper elementary students can be some of the toughest audiences. They're too cool for you, don't like sticking out, and are definitely NOT singing at an audible volume for you (*cue intense side-eye*). Maybe you're like me and abide by the rule that they have to be singing in order to play the game. "And…...

,   Going back in January is always jolting for me. We run around like crazy in December, hit Christmas break, and try desperately to get everything done before the holiday is over. By the time I get through family Christmases, my birthday, New Years, and trying to relax, I get to the last day…...

Brace yourselves... Every teacher knows that December is one long stretch of craziness before a long break. Classroom teachers are trying to finish units before breaks, cram in parties, events, concerts, and whatever else under the sun they possibly can before that last day in December before break. So what is a music teacher to…...

Every great craftsman and artist have tools they use all of the time. It's the same for music teachers. In this post, I found some of the best and most effective everyday tools for all music teachers. These aren't just for elementary teachers but work really well for those of you with older kids too.…...

Using instruments with preschool and kindergarten music class is one of the most exciting things for kids, but looking for stuff to do with your youngest kids can be difficult because those instruments are expensive. You need to instruct them on how to hold, use, and treat them properly because replacing them can be a…...

Last year, I found out I was getting a new room. (!!!!AHHHH!!!!!). I've never had my own classroom before. I even got to preview it during construction! (I may have died lol.) I've been so insanely excited, and I've only been decorating in my brain for over a year. I couldn't wait to have a…...

One of the kids' favorite events (and teachers too!) is the book fair! I always pick up a few books when it's here, but this time I was super excited to see a bunch of different books for my younger students! Check out my favorite book fair finds for the music classroom! Here's what I…...

Sometimes I think teaching composition is really easy, and then I try to teach my kids to compose melodically.  The first time I did it, I didn't give strong enough parameters, and the kids came up with everything under the sun, which was GREAT, except they couldn't write it. And that's a big No-No in…...

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? "Belt" Resource issues: Kids focused on the prize but didn't retain note names.  Music was…...

That time is almost upon us (I know..!) This year is going to be a Here are my 5 top tips for Back to School!  Start off on the right foot and get ready!  Click here to check out a quick video of this post on my Facebook page. As you ran out in June,…...

5 Great Tips to combat students who just stare at you...

  Recently, I was spotlighted by the Michigan Music Education Association (MMEA) as a featured educator.  They asked me to put together some ideas featuring the Kodaly method, so I prepared a list of ways to practice…...

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  Getting back into the school year, I find that I'm a little overwhelmed by school music. Mostly choosing for my ensembles.  I feel like there is so much GOOD music, and so many…...

Lots of us go to Pinterest for Inspiration.  If you are like me, you live on Pinterest. Lemon Links ​You get there and find this AWESOME photo.  Lights go off and you are…...

  I know I've said it before, but I teach in a shared space.  My room is a conglomeration of spaces.  However, before school starts, I am getting together with the other person who…...

  This week I tried something new with my band kids: A few of my coworkers definitely gave me some strange looks when I told them what we were doing this week.  "How do…...

  ​Oh my goodness! I'm so excited to share that I reached 1000 followers on TpT today! I think this calls for a celebration to say thank you!  Here's the details on the festivities!  Day…...

  Today I'm here to tell you about my wishlist! I'm so excited to tell you about the Teachers Pay Teachers site wide sale that will happen tomorrow November 30th (Cyber Monday) and Tuesday…...

I think in the last month, I've seen more than a few articles discussing the lack of play in a child's education.  Play is a big part of my music classes, even with…...

  I travel between schools.   Last year, I was on a cart in one of those schools as I am for band class this year.  This year, I teach my preschool and elementary classes…...

So I've been MIA for a few weeks, and I'm sorry! If you follow my Facebook page, you know that my dad died, and immediately after, my dog had surgery.  Throw…...

Hi everyone!Did you hear that TpT has announced a one-day bonus sale on Wednesday, August 19, in which you can buy products from most stores (including mine!!!) for 20% off? Then, you can…...

In addition to my Kodály newbie blog this week, I'm here to talk about children's literature for music class.  What do you use?  I love learning about new literature for the classroom! This week went…...

I've taught with a Kodály influence for a couple of years.  I think my style was Kodály meets Feierabend meets Stouffer. My student teaching experiences were 5th grade and older. So my first year out of school, when I was thrown into a classroom as a maternity sub for a full year, in an Orff…...

Several music teacher blogger friends and I have joined together for a blog hop. We've teamed together in order to collaborate as bloggers and bring you music education ideas using a variety of methodologies and approaches. However, before diving into music education topics, we thought it would be fun to organize a blog hop! Before…...

I'm linking up with my friend Jennifer Hibbard again, talking about July Goals.  But first, I'll check in with my June goals. Here were my June goals: 1. Hit 10,000 every day -…...

So I grabbed myself a cover, a portable punch, a set of disks, and printed pages from the planner I use by the 3am teacher, found here. The pages I plan on using are month by month dividers, income and expense pages for my store, note pages, goal pages, and the calendar page. The joy of…...

  It's time!!!  I'm so excited for this giveaway! I have collaborated with some amazing other music teachers on TpT to bring you a giveaway.  It will run from today Thursday, June 25th to…...

  Today I'm linking up with my good friend Jennifer from The Yellow Brick Road Blog.  The idea is to celebrate the completion of small goals! So here are my goals for June. 1.…...

Today I'm linking up with Jen from Noteworthy By Jen to bring you my Five Favorite Freebies!  1. First up, are these super cool rhythm practice cards from Ginny at Ginny's Music Space.   These are adorable and just plain old fun.  My kids really enjoyed them, and they are bright and colorful. 🙂 2. Next,…...

I meant to write this post in March for Music In Our Schools Month, but couldn't bring myself to finish it, as it's an emotional topic, and I cried a couple of times writing this post.  The teacher who was most influential in my life passed away before I knew I was going to be…...

  With teacher appreciation week next week, I thought this would be a great time to talk about some things you can do to make your school life easier, and tell you about an AWESOME giveaway!  But…...

Like a lot of specials teachers, I see my students 1 time  a week.  By the time you add in things like performances, prepping to sing (some of my students sing often for…...

First, let me say if you haven't used YouTube for things besides watching videos of cats, and old television clips, you are sorely missing out! (Although I do love bloopers...!)  YouTube has become a place for educational sharing.  For me, this is one of the places I reach out when I need an idea. I…...

  There are several times I've referred to my choir either here, or on Facebook.  On Tuesday nights, I go to the local high school and sing for 3 hours with my community choir.…...

  I grew up on cassette tapes.  My mom and dad played tons of different types of music as I was growing up, so I listened to pretty much everything except heavy metal.  However,…...

  I don't tend to divulge lots of private info here, but I thought today was a good day to start. When I went to college, I had been the big fish in a…...

My store, and a LOT of other stores will be 20% off.  On top of that, you can get an extra 10% for a total of 28% off your purchase if you use…...

  I have an all school elementary/middle school choir grades 1-8 at one of my schools.  The kids sing in church pretty often, and perform a number of other times throughout the year. They've…...

Today I'm linking up with fellow CMU alum Aileen Miracle over at Mrs. Miracle's Room.  I will be sharing my 5 favorite pins. 1. Folk Dancing - This website has a large list (about 100!) of different folk dances, including some multicultural dances!  2. Speed Limit Game - This is a really fun way to talk…...

In February, the winter blues start to hit.  We're stuck inside more often, and the kids get really a bit more rowdy. We all suffer from the lack of fresh air. 1. Play Parties. I had never heard of them until last weekend at MMC with Jill Trinka, even though I've done several of the…...

  This song is one of my favorite songs to sing in class with my students. I love using the song with my youngest students to keep a beat. (If I can have them…...

  I always love to play "Staff Races" with my students.   I draw a big staff on the ground in chalk, or on the board.  I have a 'starting line', and then students…...

  Today I'm linking up with Jennifer at The Yellow Brick Road.  She had the awesome idea of doing a linky party for books! Definitely hop on over and get some ideas for what…...

  It is time to host my 1st linky party! I've been waiting for a great topic, so I have decided I will host a monthly 'survival' party for teachers.  3 or more tips,…...

  I have been looking for this for a while so I thought I would share it, and keep it in a place for me to find conveniently for a while.  As a woodwind…...

It is the time of year we do our New Year's resolutions, and I have mine as well.Personal: I am going to take time for me! Until very recently, I had a retail job.…...

Graphics from My Clip Art Store, KG Fonts and Erin Bradley Designs. Since it is my birthday, I thought I'd celebrate with my very first giveaway! So I am giving away three items…...

Hi everyone! I have wanted to post something like this for a while, but I decided today was the perfect day because my friend Rachel Tanenblatt is hosting a blog link (Her first…...

I'm so excited for the TpT sale tomorrow! I have SO much in my cart! I wanted to tell you about a few of the items I'm excited for! First, I'm going to tell you about my big release.  I wrote an entire recorder method book.   I teach band and choir as well as…...

1. KnowYourCopyrights.org This one I pinned a few days ago, but as a Teacher-Seller, I thought it useful. As a classroom educator, and music educator, I found it AMAZING. It is the least attractive pin I have seen in FOREVER, but it uses attainable language, and lays things out in a way that makes sense.…...

  If you are a music educator, this board is for you. It is a collaborative board to support music education.  Just send me a message to join!! Follow Melissa Stouffer's board Support Music…...

Today I am linking up with Lindsay at the Pursuit of Joyfulness Blog.  She is kind enough to host this link party.  I'm really excited to share my idea today which I've had…...

  I needed a records chart for my recorder room, so I thought I would share them with you! Color and black and white options for people who need print-friendly options. I hope you…...

  Some of the things we as voice teachers experience these days is the prevalence of singing way down in the chest voice, glottal stops, and vocal fry (that lovely sound our voice makes…...

I saw a post this morning that it is World Pasta Day, so I thought it would be a great day to update a game I created for open house last year and…...

I am participating in my first ever Linky Party with Mrs. Miracle's Room.  Find the original post here. These are my five favorite pins from October! 1. This pin from The Sweetest Melody is a…...

I'm not sure about the rest of you, but I'm starting to feel the tug of a stretched out immune system and fall weather! I hope these are some things you can add to your sub tub!! For your younger students who desperately want to write music, this is a fun practice activity.  They draw…...

Last year, while teaching my students the state song, "Michigan, My Michigan", the song I learned growing up, I discovered this is a lie.  In prepping my lesson, I found that this is not the true state song.  So the following class time, while telling them about this discovery, I instead had to tell my…...

So I've had a few requests about how I started making centers for my classroom.  I've been working on it  what seems nonstop all summer, so I have a decent amount ready…...