Musicals, student shows, and other performance endeavors often bring out students with starry eyes. But auditioning can be a stressful situation for you and the students. Here's 9 tips for auditioning elementary music students for solos, musicals, and other performing opportunities to make it go smoothly for everyone. 1. Bring a buddy Having someone else…...

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 music teachers only see each other 1 or…...

What up doe? I don't live in the D, but I consider myself a Detroiter. (And I do know there are levels to being a Detroiter). My parents moved from an upstairs apartment in Detroit to a more traditional apartment when my mom was pregnant with me. I was raised to be a Detroiter. I…...

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 during this time, but it's not easy,…...

I think one of the things that I'm "known for" is composing activities because I have a bunch. Composing activities are a great way to let students be creative, with parameters, as well as let them practice rhythms and rhythmic writing. But there is more to composing than writing down rhythms! Here are some rhythm…...

Passing games are some of the most engaging student activities. Everyone is involved, the games are FUN, and then of course there is the opportunity in some games to either guess who has the object, or to get a classmate out. But passing games aren't just an "explain and go" sort of activity. There are…...