Technology Tips for Choir

Technology Tips for Choir

As I started my choir this year, I incorporated technology in a way that hadn't before with choir, to save time and be more efficient. Today, I thought I'd share those strategies in case it helps save time with your choir!Sign-up with Google FormsBefore I started recruiting for choir this year, I had a conversation with my friend Matt, who also directs a choir at his school. He mentioned that he was...

Sub Plans for the Music Classroom

Sub Plans for the Music Classroom

We've all been there...we get sick in the middle of the night, or our kids get sick in the middle of the night, and we are scrambling to put together sub plans. It's not fun to put together sub plans when your loved ones or you are sick, especially when we often have to plan for a substitute to not have any music background! A few years ago, after finding some sub tubs on Pinterest, I decided to make...

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

Assessment in the music classroom can be tricky. Many music teachers only see their students once a week--and sometimes even less--so fitting in quality curriculum, engaging songs and dances, games, books, and more needs to be balanced with assessing students' musical growth. Today I'm writing about seven things to consider when assessing in the music classroom.Why am I assessing?Your first response...

Listening lessons for Halloween

Listening lessons for Halloween

With Halloween coming up very soon, today I'm writing about some of my favorite listening lessons to use for this fun time of year! There are lots of "spooky" pieces of music that are perfect for Halloween! Here are a few of my favorites."In the Hall of the Mountain King" by Grieg:This is one of my all-time favorite pieces! The story itself, of Peer running away from the trolls and the Mountain King,...

Five Favorite Pins of October

Five Favorite Pins of October

Hi everyone!Today I'm blogging with my five favorite pins for the month of October!#1: Making phrase lengths physicalThis video is SO awesome! It shows a beautiful movement activity to "Fur Elise," in which students are paired up and use a tennis ball to show phrasing. I love how focused the students are, and how beautifully they show the phrases!#2: Domino Music NotesThis is a really cute idea for...

Three Things {A website, a book, and a powerpoint}

Three Things {A website, a book, and a powerpoint}

Today, I’m continuing my "Three Things" linky party, in which I blog about three things that worked for my and my students this week. Thanks to Whimsy Workshop Teaching, Kimberly Geswein fonts, and Jax and Jake for the cute clip art and fonts!#1: Instruments of the Orchestra websiteMy third and fourth graders are learning about instruments of the orchestra right now. I'm having...

Three things {Arpie, Students vs. Zombies, and a book}

Three things {Arpie, Students vs. Zombies, and a book}

Today, I’m continuing my "Three Things" linky party, in which I blog about three things that worked for my and my students this week. Thanks to Whimsy Workshop Teaching, Kimberly Geswein fonts, and Jax and Jake for the cute clip art and fonts!#1: ArpieThis week, some of my classes received their "reward day," in which for half of the music class, they get to vote on what they'd...