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 It doesn't take long for music educators to realize their classrooms are merely small subsets of this large and diverse world. Each student brings with them their own cultural and life experiences, unique personality, and needs. Modern education is trending towards helping teachers find more inclusive practices overall. This article will discuss some of the ways music educators may reach every student through incorporating inclusive practices in their music classroom. What Does Inclusivity Mean in Music Education? An inclusive music classroom is a classroom where every student has the opportunity to excel despite socio-economic, cultural, linguistic, or physical differences. Embracing inclusivity means understanding and respecting the diversity in your classroom. Students may have disabilities, varying learning styles, or cultural and socio-economic differences. Music teachers must still find a way to create lessons that cater to the needs of all individuals regardless of these differences, because every student has the right to learn music. Challenges It may be challenging to maintain an inclusive learning environment in our traditional fast-paced curriculum and performance oriented system. As music teachers, we find ourselves pushing students to do well on concerts at the same time we are teaching music fundamentals. In the end, we want to give students a great experience and overall appreciation of music, but we still have to keep our jobs. That often means meeting the state standards and the expectations of the principal, parents, and public school system.  Adaptive Mallet Cuff How Can We Incorporate Inclusivity in the Music Classroom?
Conclusion Reaching every student in the classroom can seem like a daunting task. When approached with love and sincerity, creating an inclusive learning environment can be obtainable and bring joy to everyone involved. It is deeply satisfying to bring the joy of music to others. Let's give that joy to all people, regardless of any barriers that may come. With a little effort, you can indeed overcome those barriers and bring an appreciation of music to your students. References CAST. About Universal Design for Learning. https://www.cast.org/impact/universal-design-for-learning-udl#:~:text=Universal%20Design%20for%20Learning%20(UDL,insights%20into%20how%20humans%20learn. (Accessed 7-5-24) Florida Health. "Individualized Education Program (IEP) Resources for Parents." https://www.floridahealth.gov/provider-and-partner-resources/fccdhh/education/parents.html (Accessed 7-5-24) Allianz. "An Introduction to Adaptive Musical Instruments" 12-15-22. https://www.allianz.co.uk/news-and-insight/allianz-musical-insurance/introduction-to-adaptive-musical-instruments.html#:~:text=Adaptive%20musical%20instruments%20are%20specifically,musical%20instrument%20accessible%20to%20all. (Accessed 7-5-24)
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 How to Build Community Through Music Education ProgramsIt is often plain to see how music educators effect their students in positive ways. Learning music can build confidence, help with social skills, be a healthy creative outlet, and have many more unspoken benefits. We see the countless benefits as music teachers every day. A music program can also benefit the surrounding community. This article will discuss the many ways music teachers can build community through their music program.
Community Performances We think about little Joe going to a concert out in the community and are proud of his accomplishments, but the community may be helped by these annual performances as well. 1. Perform at a Senior Residence - Many seniors are not visited by their family very often. Book a performance at a local senior center and put a smile on someone's face who may not have seen their grandchildren in months. 2. Perform at a Festival - Many festivals have a stage set aside for local acts. Book a small festival and give your students a chance to perform in front of a public audience. You can raise awareness about the school and if the festival has a theme, you can bring awareness about the theme to your class by singing songs within the festival's theme. 3. Hold a Public School Performance - If the school is having an event on campus and inviting the public, find a time to perform some songs and highlight the music department. Helping Others There are many ways to help others through our music program. Spread a little kindness with the following ideas. 1. Raise Money for a Charity - I know, the music department has no money, right? The next time you hold a fundraiser for your music classes, set aside some money for a charity. You'll feel good in your heart, build a connection with the local charities (who may invite you to perform), and raise awareness about your music program. 2. Have a concert with an outreach theme - If you've run out of ideas for your concert, try an environment theme or building communities themed concert. Your students will get a chance to learn about the theme through music, and so will their family and friends during the concert. 3. Incorporate Chances for Cultural Exploration - Give students opportunities to learn music about their own heritage and get their parents and grandparents involved as well. Families will feel proud to share their heritage and students will learn to be proud of where they come from. Do they know a different language? Spotlight them in a solo singing in their native tongue. Music has the power to influence our community in many positive ways. Music classes can sometimes feel restricted by the annual holiday performances and other annual responsibilities. But if you really want to influence your community in a positive way, you can definitely create moments within the year to do it. With some careful thought and a little preparation, you can build the community around you.  Using Music as a Tool for Conflict Resolution and Peace-Building in the Music ClassroomIn 1938, there was widespread prejudice and segregation of whites and people of color in America. Yet, in the midst of this conflict, Benny Goodman created the first band including people of mixed races performing for a paid audience together. Many musicians followed his lead, showing others that music doesn't depend on race, but can be a beautiful thing performed by everyone. Throughout the years, music has been able to overcome many conflicts. Music not only entertains us, but touches our emotions and speaks to our logic in a way that can be subtle, yet still powerful. The music classroom has the ability to play a major role in conflict resolution and peace-building. This article will explore the many ways in which music can cultivate empathy, bring communities in conflict together, and create a more peaceful learning environment for music students.
In conclusion, music is an important tool for conflict resolution and peace-building. Music educators should be aware of their ability to affect change in the lives of their students for the better. Let's build the confidence of our students, foster empathy, create a better understanding of people who seem "different," and create leaders who will go out into the world and make a difference themselves. Who knows, you could have the next Martin Luther King, Jr. sitting in your classroom.  During recent years, there has been a trend in education to create more student-led classes and learning environments. Teachers are able to play with different seating arrangements and furniture styles to create a more relaxed learning environment that suits individual learning styles and personalities. Traditional lecturing has been traded for more hands on learning approaches. Differentiated learning is pushed by educational institutions as a standard pillar of good teaching. As music is an active group activity which enhances creativity naturally, it would seem logical for music teachers to easily embrace student-led activities in their music lessons. This article will explore some options for music teachers to empower students through incorporating student-led activities in their music lessons.
What are the Benefits of Student-led Activities For Music Students?
How to Incorporate Student-led Activities in Your Music Classroom
The Challenge of Student-led Activities At first it may be difficult to incorporate these student-led activities into your lesson plan. Set a goal to try to include one new thing every month. Set clear expectations so students still understand that you are controlling the activity. Foster positivity and a safe learning environment, so students can feel emboldened to stand up and lead. Check in with yourself and ask yourself how you can do better to offer student-led activities. Be honest with how the class is reacting to your lessons and be ready to make changes. In conclusion, student-led activities help students feel confident, motivated to participate, fosters differentiated learning, and is a fun way to give students a deeper understanding of the class material. Let me know in the comments below how you incorporate student-led activities in your class.  Music is a powerful thing. Music has been a conduit for societal change, a crutch to lean on at humanity’s darkest moments, and a tool for personal and emotional growth for not only musicians but listeners as well. This article will detail the importance of music education in mental health support.
Music can be a powerful tool for helping with mental health. The emotional aspects of music help people deal with loss, loneliness, and depression. The practical application of music making can build confidence and give life direction and focus to someone who may have struggled with finding their way. Music gives us a sense of belonging to a community and opens our minds to other cultures and communities. Music educators should understand their importance and plan according to the needs of their students in order to be the most beneficial for them. References Olsen, Kirk N., Terry, Josephine, and Thompson, William Forde. "Psychosocial risks and benefits of exposure to heavy metal music with aggressive themes: Current theory and evidence." May 25, 2022. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12144-022-03108-9 (Accessed June 22, 2024)  Developing an ear for music is an essential component of music mastery. It enables musicians to create music spontaneously, create melodic and harmonic lines that fit into the music, adjust intonation, transcribe a favorite tune, or even write down their own music composition. With the rise of YouTube, I see trends in music classes where students no longer feel like it’s necessary to read music at all. They would rather watch a video tutorial. And even lower than that on their priority list is ear training. For music teachers to successfully draw a connection from ear training to music making in the real world it takes a little finesse in lesson planning. This can be a daunting task for most of us. Showing modern students the relevance of solfège is an undertaking of its own. Here are some fun activities that may help you incorporate ear training in your elementary music classes.
There are many fun ways to incorporate ear training in your elementary music classes. Have fun and get creative. Let me know what works for you in the comments below.  Teaching about repeated notes, steps, skips, and leaps is fundamental to students learning to read music notation. The better they can recognize repeated notes, steps, skips, and leaps, the easier it will be to sightread music later and to understand the basics of melodic composition. Here are some of my favorite ways to teach about repeated notes, steps, skips, and leaps.
How to Teach About Repeated notes, Steps, Skips, and Leaps 1. Visual Aids: Using visual aids is a great way to teach about the intervals. I like to play a game using five strands of yarn that represent the five lines of the music staff. I make the strings long enough for the entire class to line up in front of the huge staff. This could be done outside, unless you have a large music room. Then I proceed to shout out "step," "skip," or "leap" in any order along with the direction forward or backward. If the students step correctly, they get to stay in the game. If they don't, they have to sit out. Other easy ways for students to visualize the intervals are to do worksheets where students identify repeated notes, steps, skips, and leaps. To go into greater detail about intervals, you can use "Learn Music Through Coloring: Mammals: Music Theory" book, which teaches about intervals and other music theory concepts. There are also videos on Youtube that can help students practice indentifying these intervals. 2. Ear Training: Incorporating ear training into your music lesson makes it easier to learn songs, develop their musical ear, and teach certain topics in music like repeated notes, steps, skips, and leaps. Using Curwin hand signs adds a visual element for students. Sing an interval and then let students guess if you sang a repeated note, step, skip, or leap. Play a game like Poison Rhythm, but using intervals. (Poison Rhythm is when you choose a rhythm that the class cannot repeat. Then you proceed to clap different rhythms. Just like the Simon Says game, if you clap the poison rhythm and the students clap it too, they are out of the game. The last one standing is the winner.) Pick step, skip, leap, or repeated note and let that be the poison interval. Play the game using solfege (do-re-mi...) 4. Contextual Listening: Listen to music as a class and then analyze a portion of the melody. You can ask general questions like "How would you describe the melody? Were there a lot of leaps or steps?" You can also print out a portion of the sheet music and let students circle the skips or draw a line between the steps. 5. Compositional Exercises: Give students an opportunity to write their own composition using repeated notes, steps, skips, and leaps. Set clear guidelines for students to compose to. Specify the number of steps for instance. Conclusion Learning about repeated notes, steps, skips, and leaps helps students more easily read music notation, understand the basics of melodic composition, and even be a jumping off point for improvisation at more advanced levels. Teaching repeated notes, steps, skips, and leaps can be really fun. Get creative with the many possibilities drawing from all the resources in your classroom. You can use these ideas as a starting point and let me know in the comments what other activities your students love.  The first time I went "on stage" was when I was seven-years-old. It wasn't even a performance, but a piano concert rehearsal. I was told to go on stage and play my song "Fur Elise" in front of all my teacher's other students and their parents. I was so nervous that I forgot the whole song except for the catch two-measure phrase. The teacher looked shocked. Realizing I couldn't finish the song, she asked me to take a bow. I proceeded to walk to the front of the stage and almost faint. She had to run up to me incase I fell off the five foot edge of the stage. It was embarrassing and traumatic. Of course I had great parents who told me I had the "big C" (courage) and bought me a little Native American beaded doll to carry with me to the concert for good luck. I forgot about the doll when I went up to stage to perform the concert, but I told my parents that I still had the big "C." I've struggled with stage fright my entire life, so it became a sort of challenge for me to become the best performer I could possibly become. I made it my personal goal in life to rise up against the little evil thoughts in my brain and be the best performer I knew. It took a lot of work. Private lessons, singing and dancing in front of mirrors, going to open mic nights, karaoke, and jam sessions, and of course performing my own concerts. I also spent a ton of time studying my favorite performers. Here are the tips I learned along the way to become a better vocal performer.  Tina Turner (Courtesy Getty) Fake it Till You Make It I learned a lot from watching videos of ladies like Tina Turner and Shana Twain perform. They had very memorable stances when they sang. I practiced their songs, mimicking how they stood and realized that even if I was nervous, if I changed my body language to take up more space, people thought I wasn't nervous. There are certain ways we stand and use our arms when we are nervous and certain ways a confident person will use their arms and stand. Think of your performing space as a huge circle around you. Sometimes just by putting a little space between your body and your arms and spreading your legs slightly apart will make a big difference. Your Mic is a Prop Watching performers like Steven Tyler, Michael Jackson, Prince, and James Brown use their mic and mic stand as a prop is really eye opening for the things you can do with your mic and mic stand to convey emotion and entertain. This part of entertaining should be practiced. I plan ahead of time when the mic will be in the stand and at what exact point I take the mic off the stand. Everything is intentional and everything is part of the show. Know Your Material
If you want to cut down on the nerves, know your music. When you walk on stage, the better you know the song and the craft of singing the more you can lose yourself in the emotion of the performance and also connect with the crowd. If something goes wrong, and it will always go wrong, you are less likely to get completely thrown off, because you know your song backwards and forwards. You can do it with the band or without the band. Never Apologize for a Bad Performance You don't know if there is someone in the audience who knows every note of the song you are singing and has perfect pitch or if they are tone deaf. Or maybe they talked all the way through your song or were thinking about their breakup and weren't even listening to the words. I learned this lesson when I was singing with a house band at a casino in Arizona. They saw some talent in me and let me come and sing about 4-6 songs every weekend with them. The lead singer took me under his wing and taught me how to perform. It was an amazing experience. But the most memorable lesson I learned is when I brought them a lead sheet of a song they didn't know one evening. It was "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac, one of my favorite songs. I walked up to the stage, handed them the song, and we started performing on the spot. I sang the song with them behind me and it was as if they were playing a completely different song! It sounded terrible. My favorite song was ruined. I didn't let it show in my face that it was awful. The song finished, people applauded, I smiled, and walked off the stage. The next weekend, someone walked up to me and complimented me on that song! I learned a very important lesson. Don't say "sorry," don't tell the audience your mistakes, don't even show it in your face. You don't know if they know or not. They may be enjoying the music and you could take that experience away from them if you start apologizing. Because it really isn't about you when you are performing anyways. It's about the audience. You are giving them a gift. Plan Your Transitions Don't forget to plan out how you will go from song to song. Will you speak and what will you say? Will you connect several songs together? You can get really creative with this depending on what kind of performer you are. I saw a great solo performer who told stories in between each song. I listened to his CD later, and he said the same thing on the CD, so it was memorized. The more you practice your transitions, the less open space will be in the show. Keep people entertained even when the music isn't playing. Be Yourself The best advice I can give you is after you've finished learning from all your favorite singers, reading all the articles about performing, and really practicing your set. Just go out there and be yourself. There is only one of you. You are unique and people want to see and connect with you as an individual. You have a unique message to share with the world. Be genuine on stage and it will go a long way.  A "Melody" is a series of pitches and rhythms that our brain recognizes as one unit. Melodies often have the tendency to get higher at more emotional points and lower at points of reflection and rest. Sometimes melodies with lyrics follow our normal speech inflection. Melodies can step, stay the same, or leap. Melodies can repeat certain rhythmic and interval patterns. A catchy melody is one that gets stuck in your head . A good way to offer a simple definition of melody is simply to say, "melody is the part of the song we can sing." Here are some fun activities that teach melody to young students in preschool and elementary music.
There are many fun music activities you can do to teach melody to your elementary and preschool students. I hope this gives you a good starting point and inspires you to think of many other things to do with your class. Leave a comment below and tell us what activities you've used in your classroom.  Sometimes I describe teaching as learning how to stand in the middle of chaos and be perfectly calm. Just having the sound of the classroom and music going on for almost eight hours a day would be enough to send a normal person into the insane asylum. All jokes aside, it's extremely important to learn how to take care of yourself. Here are a few tips I've learned over the years to help combat teacher burnout.
I hope these tips will help you. The world needs teachers like you. You never know what student really needs you out there. It's hard to see how you are affecting others, but I am sure you are. Be a light in their life, just like that special teacher in your life was a light to you. Take it day by day or moment by moment if you have to. Keep breathing and keep striving towards your purpose. You can do it.  How to Teach Music to Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy Students: Best PracticesOne of my favorite times teaching was when I was teaching music at a school which was the main school for kids with learning disabilities in the county. They bused in students from all over the county to specifically attend ESE (exceptional student education) classes. There were students with special needs from preschool through the fifth grade and when I say I loved the experience, I mean I LOVED IT! I even looked into changing my whole profession to teaching kids with learning disabilities. Because there are so many disabilities, this article will share some of the things I did in my music classroom to help make teaching music effective for kids specifically with Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy.
Teaching music to children with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or other major learning and physical disabilities not only helps students learn music, but develop social and cognitive skills which will benefit them overall. Before teaching these students, its important to get an overall understanding of what these conditions mean. Down Syndrome:
Cerebral Palsy:
Teaching Music to Kids with Cerebral Palsy or Down Syndrome
Teaching music to students with Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy can be a very rewarding experience. Treat them with love and kindness, showing them all the reasons you love music yourself, and they will soon grow an appreciation for music as well. Don't ever underestimate your students. They will rise to the occasion every time. It can be fun trying to problem solve to find a solution to help them learn. Keep assessing your teaching strategy to adapt it for the needs of your individual students and always remember to have fun. What has worked for you in your classroom? Leave a comment below. References: Brown Trial Firm. https://browntrialfirm.com/cerebral-palsy-lawyer/learning-disability/#:~:text=When%20a%20child%20is%20diagnosed,learning%20caused%20by%20physical%20impairments. (Accessed June 10, 2024) Better Health. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/down-syndrome-and-learning (Accessed June 10, 2024) Positive Action. November 7, 2023. https://www.positiveaction.net/blog/teaching-students-with-down-syndrome-strategies (Accessed June 10, 2024)  Songwriting has always been dear to my heart. As a child, it was a way for me to express a snapshot of my feelings through sound and lyrics I couldn't quite speak verbally. I used to write a song and then eagerly discuss the meaning with my parents. They would of course, shower me with positive reinforcement which made me feel good about myself and closer to them. Later, I pursued a degree in songwriting from Berklee College of Music. Songwriting has been the passion of my life and something I love teaching others. This article will discuss the importance of songwriting in the elementary classroom and give a few ways you can include it in your own lessons.
Why Teach Songwriting? Songwriting gives students the opportunity to become active participants in making music instead of passive listeners. The music classroom should be an active space for hands on learning experiences. Songwriting gives students a chance to explore the interaction of melody, harmony, and lyrics together in this way. It is an opportunity to turn music theory ideas into real tangible music. Songwriting can be a fun project for elementary students who can work individually or as a group and share with the class. Songwriting builds confidence in students and fosters personal exploration of themselves. How to Teach Songwriting to Elementary Students
The possibilities for composition activities are limitless. Creating lessons that graduate in difficulty from kindergarten through the fifth grade help songwriting to become a familiar experience for students which they can be confident about and eventually do with ease. From simple call and response activities in kindergarten to writing full three minutes songs in the fifth grade, students will be active participants in making music and enjoy the process of creating. You may even have a few students bring you a song they wrote at home. I hope these ideas help you in your lesson planning. Please leave a comment below about how you incorporate songwriting and composition in your class.  As music educators, inspiring others to learn and appreciate music can be very rewarding. Music teachers bring the "gift of music" and with each day, they often see for themselves the impact music has on the lives of their students. The confidence, sense of accomplishment, and so many other positive outcomes not only inspire students to keep practicing, but encourage teachers to keep teaching. This article will discuss the huge impact music has on self-esteem.
Many Notes and One Song, the Small Steps of a Great Journey Learning music gives us the ability to see how small accomplishments can create a large achievement over time. An instrument lesson often begins with level one and graduates into more advanced levels. But within that, there are many small challenges that come with learning a new instrument. As students achieve these smaller accomplishments and then look back and see how far they've come, it can bring a great sense of accomplishment and build self-esteem. Learning music teaches that in life, it is often better to break down a large goal into smaller tasks. It also teaches us to be patient for the outcome. This is a recipe for success in anything attempted later. Practice as A Way of Life Learning music teaches us that practicing a craft and doing it well should be treated as a way of life. Many times, traditional education is a culmination of memorized facts and tests. The traditional approach to learning may lead one to assume that learning is a temporary activity. Once the class is passed, the learning is somehow complete. But as with any artistic craft, music is a lifetime experience. You can never cease being a musician, even if you don't pick up your instrument again for years. The knowledge is with you forever. And if you continue your journey forward, you will most certainly find yourself continuing to learn new things until the day you die. This can translate into a powerful life routine that may be used in other subjects as well. Ensembles Working Together The ensemble nature of music groups foster a mutual respect for each musician and build important teamwork skills. Choirs, orchestras, bands, duos, are all fantastic examples of groups that teach important social skills. Personality differences are set aside when there is a common goal to perform a piece of music. In fact, these personality differences can add to the music arrangement, making the performance a unique musical activity that cannot be copied exactly by anyone. We learn as musicians to listen and respect one another. We learn that our part fits within other parts and makes something extraordinary. This is a wonderful way for musicians to build self-esteem, as it can give them a sense of belonging to a group and help them build skills that help with other relationships. Understanding Music is Understand Ourselves The deep connection music and lyrics have to emotion help musicians understand themselves through the music. Music helps musicians become better communicators through composition, and gives musicians a unique chance to understand themselves through exploring emotion and topics musically. Musicians are often actors, putting on emotions and personalities for each song. This experience gives us the chance to safely explore parts of our personality. We can be sad for the sad song or happy for the happy song without risking the person we are in society. This practice can be therapeutic, helping musicians find emotional relief and resolve issues in life. Music is a Looking Glass to Other Cultures Learning music from other countries and in other styles is a unique way to explore cultures we would never come into contact with. The universal appeal of music helps break down barriers between people. By expanding our musical taste, we also expand our acceptance for others indirectly. Music Helps in Academics The technical application of performing music aids in memorization and other academic subjects such as math and english. Many studies have been done to explore how music can have a positive effect on academics. For more information you can read this article about exploring the benefits of music in childhood development. Performing well academically can boost self-esteem. Learning music is a unique way to build self-esteem and learn many important life lessons that can help us thrive. Music teachers should see themselves as guides for others on their musical journey and be proud of the difference they make to so many people by doing something they also find joy in doing.  Improvisation, the ability to create music spontaneously, has been esteemed as an important musical achievement for many centuries. From classical composers like Bach who could improvise four-part fugues on a whim to jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong who brought improvisation to the mainstream, improvising has been the hallmark of a great performer and musical genius. In music education, teaching improvisation can be overshadowed by teaching other music concepts such as music literacy or concert performance. This article will discuss some of the positive impacts learning improvisation has on music students for music educators. Improvising: To Make Music Is To Understand MusicMusic came before music notation. Bringing students back to basic music making is a great way to help students develop a deep appreciation for the art at its most fundamental level. It is this basic level of music creating that makes improvisation easily performed by early elementary students who don't know how to read music notation at all. Giving a child the skillset to improvise simple rhythms and melodies allows a student to become confident in themselves and in their creativity, forming a deeper appreciation at a younger age. It is one thing to learn about music from a theoretical standpoint, but to spontaneously create music is to put into action many musical concepts at once. Mastering the art of improvising takes a certain understanding of melody, rhythm, harmony, dynamic, and form. For intermediate and advanced level musicians, improvising can bring into fruition years of music study. Improvisers Work as a GroupImprovising is often performed as an ensemble with a group of musicians playing the supportive harmony and maintaining the beat while taking turns soloing over a progression. The practice of improvisation for students allows students to interact together and listen to one another. Improvising builds social skills and fosters a sense of teamwork. It also enhances musical skills as musicians play off the musical ideas of the other musicians. Improvising Teaches Us It's Okay to Make MistakesA great performer once said to me the difference between a professional and an amateur performer isn't the absence of mistakes, but the ability to turn a mistake into something musical the audience didn't notice was a mistake. There is no such thing as perfection in life and there is no such thing as perfection in music. Music teachers may perhaps give their students a great gift by giving them the tools to work through their mistakes in the moment during improvisation.
In conclusion, teaching music improvisation should stay at the forefront of music education for all ages. It's vast positive impacts on students not only include building musical skills but also teaching life skills. This makes the art of improvisation essential to music learners. Improvisation can be taught as a simple child's music game or at an advanced level. This great adaptability makes improvisation a unique tool for music educators everywhere. How Piaget's Theory Can Help Build Effective Strategies for Teaching Rhythm and Timing in Elementary5/20/2024  Before I taught in the music classroom, I had been a private voice and piano music teacher for all ages. After more than a decade of teaching, I began to realize there were certain ways I had to adjust my teaching style for each age group. Older students struggled with different topics than younger students. And in each age group of kids, I noticed there were things that came more easily. Jean Piaget was a psychologist and cognitive theorist who also noticed there are stages in child development. According to his theory, there are four stages.
Upper Elementary Music and the Concrete Operational Stage
Having an awareness of the developmental stages of your students will give you an opportunity to focus your lesson in on activities that will enhance their learning experience. As teachers, it allows us to get creative with our understanding of how music is taught so we can get our message across better. I think this is the funnest part of lesson planning. Don't be afraid to try something new. In fact, if you find an interesting activity, please leave it in the comment below to share with other teachers. References Reynolds, PhD, Akilah. "What are Piaget's stages of development, and what are examples of each?" https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325030#summary (Accessed 5-21-2024)  Creating a Positive Learning Environment in the Elementary Music Classroom"What's my rule?" Their faces looked perplexed. Come on now. I've said it a thousand times. I turned to the whiteboard and drew a bee and a smiley face.
"Bee Positive!" A child hollered out as she remembered. "Yes!" A classroom can quickly go from a healthy learning environment to a negative one when even just a few students have an attitude and want to voice their feelings out loud. Negativity halts learning and impacts the students who want to do their best. Negativity can make it difficult to teach the lesson at all. So, what are some ways music teachers can create a positive music learning experience in elementary music? This article will discuss some positive classroom ideas. What Does a Positive Music Classroom Look Like? In order to succeed in having a positive music classroom, one must first have an image of what that might look like. When I envision the ultimate teaching experience, I see myself happily teaching my lesson with students eagerly listening or participating. Smiles are on everyones faces and participation is high. Students are not afraid to voice their opinions, but they raise their hands before speaking. We have a strong relationship with each other and really enjoy the time we spend in class. Let's dissect this scene a little. Here are some things that were mentioned in this scenario that you can include in your own classroom.
Conclusion I think all music teachers want to enjoy teaching music and want their students to also enjoy music class. Take time to imagine your dream classroom. Write down that image and create a list of goals for your class. Often, just focusing on one thing at a time and really addressing that issue can make a big difference in the class going forward. Try not to feel overwhelmed or hopeless yourself if things don't go right. Experiment with each class individually by learning what their specific needs and interests are. If they like sports and hate music, bring a bouncy ball in to teach tempo. Tie in music concepts with sports examples. An example of this would be to say, "In football when players shout 'hike!' they use their diaphragm. That's how I want you to sing with your diaphragm. Let's all shout "hike!" Did you feel your diaphragm? Now sing the song using our diaphragm!" I hope this information helps you. Remember teaching is a learning process for us, too. Take your time to get better and better and eventually you will succeed.  How to Include Cultural Diversity in Your Music CurriculumThey call music the "Universal Language." Music goes beyond cultural and language barriers, speaking to us emotionally as human beings. Music paints an auditory picture of a moment in time which incapsulates our rich history, culture, feelings, opinions, and many other subtle details of a cultural experience that enable its listener to appreciate and understand that moment on a deep level. Music quite simply, speaks to our heart and is a great opportunity to break down stereotypes and prejudices about minority cultures in the music classroom. This article will discuss how to include cultural diversity in your music curriculum through the music you share and the lessons you teach.
What Is Cultural Diversity in the Music Classroom? Cultural diversity in the music classroom begins with a music curriculum that includes musical instruments and songs from around the world, new and old. It is a time to begin conversations about culture, about how music has been influenced over time by people from many countries, and to help students feel proud of their own heritage. How to Incorporate Cultural Diversity in Your Curriculum
The Challenge Music educators can be faced with challenges when it comes to cultural diversity in the classroom. There may be prejudiced remarks or giggles from students who don't understand a new culture and its music. Be ready to address this in a kind way. Setting expectations at the start of a lesson will allow students to feel safe in expressing their own link to those cultures. There may even be prejudices within the school or community. Start to introduce music slowly so you can adjust your lesson to suit the needs of the class and the administration. Conclusion We live in a time when the internet has made access to music from around the world very easy. My own kids were listening to Japanese music when they were in elementary school just because they liked anime and they found it all by themselves! This is a great time to break down cultural barriers and give students a deep appreciate for all music. What things have you tried in your classroom? Leave a comment below. References: "Banjo" Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjo (Accessed 5-18-2024) "The Indian Scale" https://www.ism.org/images/ismtrust/files/Takeaway/The-Indian-scale.pdf (Accessed 5-18-2024) "Japanese Scales in Music Theory" https://www.musicnotes.com/blog/japanese-scales-in-music-theory/ (Accessed 5-18-2024) "Our List of Music Scales From Around the World" https://www.hoffmanacademy.com/blog/our-list-of-music-scales-from-around-the-world/ (Accessed 5-18-2024)  When I first started teaching music, my students eyes used to glaze over as soon as I said certain key words like "quarter note" or "tempo". I realized this could be a big problem. How could I teach music without teaching music theory? As a music teacher, I wanted to instill in my students the fundamentals of music which I loved that could help them become better musicians and develop an overall appreciation for music. This article will give you some tips I've discovered over the years to teach music theory and tell you what worked for me for each grade level.  How to Teach Music Theory to Preschool Students?I love associating new vocabulary words with rhythms using ta and ti-ti for preschoolers. They love looking at the pictures and shouting out the words. When preschoolers don't know a word, it's a great teaching moment for you. They pick up the rhythms just as easily as they learn new vocabulary. At this stage of a child's development, language development is very high. Why not naturally start embedding these ideas of rhythm in their minds? You can also teach them music dynamic, music instrument families, and all sorts of other things using the PowerPoints. I've made some of my PowerPoints downloadable for you to use in your own class. (Music Powerpoints Link)  Teaching Kindergarten Through 2nd Graders Music TheoryKindergarten through second graders are very active. They love to learn through doing. That's why performing a rhythm using body percussion, ORFF instruments, or rhythm clap alongs are all excellent choices. I still may use the PowerPoints for early grades, but eventually fade them out. I like to do music centers and let students mold the notes and rests out of clay. There are a lot of music theory games which you can read about in my article Rhythm Music Center Activities for Elementary Students. Keep explanations to students at this age brief and do activities that help them internalize the theory concepts you are teaching. You can start to give them ear training activities, but keep the activities to about five minutes. One ear training activity is to use those toy bells you have laying around your classroom to have students take turns picking the bell that you sang using solfege. For instance, if you sing "Do-Re-Mi," they would raise their hand and pick the C, D, and E bells.  Music Theory Activities for 3rd through 5th GradersThird through fifth graders are social and start to look at the world a little differently. They may not find bouncing around as fun as they use to. That's why I love teaching music theory with my color-by-note music workbooks. You can do one page per week. The activity takes about ten minutes and you can turn on some nice music by a composer you are teaching them or their favorite concert song while they are coloring. I also like to teach music theory while I'm teaching them their concert repertoire. Take the musical ideas that go along with the song and use them as a lesson. What was the shape of the melody they sang? Was the ending piano or forte? Who can write the rhythm of the line they just sang on the board? These are all questions that will get students thinking about the music as they are making music. It also tightens up the performance.  Teaching Theory to Upper School (Middle and High School Students)Teaching music theory within a song is a technique that should carry over into even adult music students. Upper school music students want to know that what they are learning is relevant, so teaching music theory separately may get some backlash from a few outspoken middle school students. But their are still fun ways to teach music theory as a lesson in itself. Music games like "Poison Rhythm" where students can't clap a certain rhythm or they are out, are still really fun for upper school music classes. Use sixteenth note and rest combinations or syncopated rhythms to bring it up to their level. Students at this age like music worksheets. They seem older, but music class is their specials class and they still want to have fun. You can play a music theory game or do a music Quizlet. Then reward them with a teen themed water bottle sticker.
I hope these suggestions help you teach music theory in your class. Have fun teaching music!  Children are growing up with technology in a way most of us could never fathom when we were young. Even doctors visits and interviews are commonly held on Zoom. People regularly work from their home computers. It may sometimes feel daunting to try to figure out the best way to incorporate this new technology into teaching music when teachers have to also remember a list of other things like internet safety, age appropriateness, and lesson planning according to state standards. This article will list some ideas on how to successfully incorporate technology into your music classroom.
1. Educational Music Websites Educational music websites like this one can be easily incorporated into your lesson plan. They are often focused specifically for educating a certain age group and topic. You can use these free websites to supplement your lessons on music theory, sound-mixing, music history, or a number of other subjects. 2. Music Software Programs There are many music software programs available now which can be a resource for music teachers to incorporate into their lessons. Students who have their own tablet or laptop can compose a song on GarageBand or Audacity. MuseScore is a notation software app that can be used in classes to notate music. 3. Online Assessments Websites like Quizlet can help you make music assessments fun. You may be able to find flashcards and quizzes online which are already prepared, but if you want something specific to your students needs, these websites are very user friendly. You'll be able to make your own quiz in no time for your specific group. There are also websites which can produce crossword puzzles and word searches for you. All you have to do is plug in the vocabulary terms. 4. Online Rehearsal Platforms This is a technology which is being used more and more. Band members can now connect via the internet. My experience with some of these spaces has been that they are better quality in close proximity and can be difficult to set up, but if you are a tech savvy music teacher, you may be able to use these rehearsal platforms. It may not be appropriate for most classes, but could be a great tool for remote students or hybrid music classes. Whether we like it or not, technology is here to stay and kids are very comfortable with using it. Using technology in the music classroom can help you better connect with students who have that interest. Start by incorporating one thing into your lesson and aim to add something else every year. Before you know it, you will be using technology with ease.  For many years, educators have stressed the importance of music education for childhood development. Numerous studies have been done over the years to prove the connection between social emotional, intellectual, and motor skill development in children who are exposed to music in early childhood. This article examines the benefits music education offers for early childhood development.
The Social Aspect of Music: Building Social Skills in Children Music is often a group activity, especially in the elementary classroom. This fosters children to learn to work together as a group and build social skills which benefit them in their every day lives. A recent study on the positive effects of music on the emotions of 3- to 12-year-old children published in the National Library of Medicine showed that children who were exposed to music had greater emotional intelligence, academic performance, and prosocial skills (Blascko-Magraner). Another study by Sabahat Burak examining the effects of music education on 3rd graders showed there was a significant difference between the control group and the experimental group which received social skills through musical play. The group that received musical education after 10-weeks was more likely to make eye contact, say "hello," say "thank you," and complete other social activities which were observed during the experiment. As a music teacher, I've seen the effects of music on the development of children repeatedly in the classroom. It is comforting to know there is evidence that supports music education in schools. The Intellectual Impact of Music on Children Studies have shown that exposure to music from an early age can improve language development, spatial-temporal reasoning, and mathematical skills. The Mozart Effect was a controversial study done in 1993. Rauscher claimed that Mozart's sonata K448 for two pianos helped people have better spatial reasoning skills after listening for ten minutes. Many people attempted to repeat his experiment with mixed findings. One interesting finding was that listening to Mozart's piano sonata helped reduce epilepti-form activity in people with epilepsy. Studies have found that listening to music activates a wide area of the brain. Because music has so many qualities which we understand through listening, such as rhythm, pitch, meter, timbre, and emotion, it ignites different parts of the brain (Jenkins). After five decades of research, a study by Dr. Ayca Akin concluded that incorporating music into math lessons significantly enhances children's mathematical abilities (Information). There were several uses of music relating to math which helped students perform better: Students who learned musical instruments, music integrated into the math lessons themselves to help teach math, and students who used music to alleviate math-related anxiety. Music Education Enhances Motor Skills in Children Dance is often incorporated into early childhood music education in schools. This has been shown to help develop coordination, balance, and fine motor skills. Also, learning about and performing rhythm in music strengthens these connections in the brain. In the article "Music Making as a Tool for Promoting Brain Plasticity across the Life Span" Wan and Schlaug explain their research has shown "music making can be an interactive treatment or intervention for neurological and developmental disorders, as well as those associated with normal aging." Reading music notation while playing an instrument or tapping a rhythm on a drum may positively affect children learn new motor skills. Music to Influence Emotional Well-being in the Classroom Music has been called the "universal language" due to its power to convey emotion despite language and cultural barriers. Listening to music produces endorphins, modulates moods, and reduces stress. These effects have a positive impact on psychological well-being and self-confidence. A study performed on 100 Nigerian college students found that musical interventions such as singing songs, analyzing librettos, designing musical instruments, playing pianos and handbells, creating artwork, and writing songs led to less aggressive behavior overall. Their aggressive behavior had included teasing, threatening, and starting fights with other students. They used percussion instruments to express their anger and a significant decrease in aggression was observed. In conclusion, music plays a very important role for early childhood development. The act of performing and listening to music helps social emotional, intellectual, and motor skill development. It should be a priority for schools to maintain their music programs. References Blasco-Magraner, Jose Salvador, Bernabe-Valero, Gloria, Marin-Liebana, Pablo, and Moret-Tatay, Carmen. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8037606/ "Effects of the Educational Use of Music on 3- to 12-Year-Old Children's Emotional Development: A Systematic Review." (April 1, 2021) Accessed 5-12-2024 Burak, Sabahat. "The Effect of Musical Play on the Social Skill Development of Primary School Students." (November 29, 2023) https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1416190.pdf (Accessed 5-12-2024) Jenkins, JS. "The Mozart Effect" April 2001 p170-172. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1281386/ (Accessed 5-12-2024) Information. "The Powerful Connection: How Combining Maths With Music Can Improve Students' Scores." https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/176-information/study/23819-the-powerful-connection-how-combining-maths-with-music-can-improve-students-scores.html June 29, 2023. (Accessed 5-12-2024) Wan, Catherine Y. and Schlaug, Gottfried. "Music Making as a Tool for Promoting Brain Plasticity Across the Life Span." https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1073858410377805 October 1, 2010. (Accessed 5-12-2024) Nwokenna, Edith N., Sewagegn, Abatihun Alehegn, and Falade, Temitope Ayodeji. "Effect of Educational Music Invervention on College Students' Aggressive Behavior." January 6, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9829255/#:~:text=Results%3A,counterparts%20in%20the%20control%20group. (Accessed 5-12-2024)  After a big school performance, it's important to celebrate by having a music fun day, watching a music related movie, or doing their favorite activity, like boomwhackers. But this is also a great opportunity to reflect on what they did personally and as a class and tie it into the musical topics you've been learning. A post-concert evaluation will help give your students the words to express themselves. If the concert went bad, what exactly happened? How can we learn from it and do better next time? If the concert went well, what did they do that made it so great? How can the class improve for next time? Kindergarten Concert Assessments An evaluation for kindergarteners could be as simple as asking two questions: 1. Raise your hand and tell me what did you like about the concert? 2. What do you think could have been better? Most of the time, little hands will shoot up into the air to eagerly tell you what they loved. They may have loved everything. This is a good opportunity to focus them in on some basic music vocabulary words they can use to express themselves. Did they love the dancing, the blended voices, the forte sound? 1st through 5th Grade Concert Evaluations Singing Singers can evaluate if they were in-tune, if they shouted, or if they used correct singing technique. They can take a moment to reflect on their own singing and then also reflect on the group as a whole. Just make sure they don't point out someone particular and make that student feel bad. Memorization Memorization is an important part of a vocal musical performance. Younger students may feel like they knew all of the words when really some words were mumbled and some lines were missed. For K-1st grade, I recommend using a positive reinforcement activity to work on lyrics. Play a singing game where each student sings one line of the song. If they can sing the entire song without one line going missing as a class, you can reward the class with a sticker. By the time students get to second grade, they are familiar with written evaluations. You can download my free evaluation to use for your class located below or make one of your own. Did students have all the lyrics and movements memorized? Were they relying on other students or the teacher to help them through the song? Musical Expression A great concert is also a musically expressive one. This is a good opportunity to remember all the concepts you've been teaching and evaluate if they and the class as a whole did those things. Was there dynamic? Was the rhythm together? What could have been better? Ensemble It's a good idea to highlight what makes a group sound good. Blending is an important part of a vocal performance's sound. Were all the lyric vowels open and resonating? Were the consonants crisp and everyone could understand the words? Was the sound of the group blended or were a few people sticking out? Middle and High School Post-Concert Evaluations Upper school students may feel shy when it comes to evaluating themselves. This is a great time to let them write out their evaluation on a worksheet. (I have a link to a free one below.) Have students list three things they did well and three they could improve upon. Then, flip the page and list three things the group did well and three things the group could improve upon. After students have written their evaluations, ask students to raise their hands if they would like to share and have a discussion together. I hope these post-concert tips help for a great performance assessment. Remember to keep the class moving in a positive direction. As a music teacher, giving the joy of music to students is the most important thing and it should always come across in the way we speak. Help them feel proud of their accomplishments by giving them the words to express themselves and remember to celebrate. Download a FREE Performance Evaluation (1st-2nd Grade) 
Download a FREE Post Concert Class and Personal Assessment (3rd Grade +)
 Types of Vocal Microphones and Their Uses
Dynamic Microphones Dynamic microphones are a great choice for solo singers or speakers. These microphones use a diaphragm, voice coil, and magnet to turn a sound wave into an audio signal. They capture sound within a medium frequency range. This means that it will not pick up as much background noise or feedback. They are durable and will take being dropped on the ground, which makes them very user friendly. Dynamic microphones can handle high sound levels before they distort. Good uses for dynamic cardiod microphones are singers or speakers who are holding their own mic and drum sets. Dynamic microphones are: 1. Durable 2. Can take high volume of sound before distorting 3. Reduce ambient noise 4. User-friendly 5. Affordable  Condenser Microphone Condenser microphones Condenser microphones are often used in recording studios to record very high quality, pure sound. The sensitivity of condenser mics make them good for picking up the details of a studio vocal. They have thinner diaphragms with an electrically charged backplate. If you rub your clothes in front of a condenser mic, the mic will pick up the sound of the fabric. I've seen people use studio condenser microphones to capture live performance groups, but I would not recommend it, because these microphones are less durable and may break when dropped. They are also more sensitive to extreme temperatures. Condenser microphones require something called phantom power to operate. You will need a mixing board or interface with 48v phantom power to use a condenser mic. They can be more expensive than the dynamic microphones, but if it suits your needs then it is well worth purchasing the correct microphone rather than trying to save money. Condenser microphones: 1. Offer greater detail 2. Have a wide dynamic range 3. Need phantom power (48v) 4. Can be expensive  Overhead Microphone What Mic to Use for Indoor Choirs and How to Place Your Mics Use several overhead condenser mics to amplify the sound of a choir. Mics should be placed 2-3 feet above the head of the tallest singer and 2-3 feet from the front row of singers. If using three microphones the two microphones located at the outer edge of your group should be 6-9 feet from the center microphone. This is a good use for the condenser microphone in a vocal performance setting. It creates a smooth warm sound. These microphones normally stay up, so may not be broken from the stage tear down and handling of the mics. Don't overdo the amount of mics, or you will get feedback.    Omnidirectional Microphones Omnidirectional microphones pick up sound equally from every direction. This type of microphone is good to use when recording a large group of instruments or people. It is not the best pick for live performance when we would want to block out the sounds of the audience.  Bidirectional Microphones
Bidirectional microphones pick up sound from the front and back of the microphone. This type of mic is best used to pick up both the audience and speaker. This mic could be used for a duet. Ribbon microphones are naturally bidirectional. Try not to get overwhelmed by the choices of microphones available. Think about what is right for your group. Every performance has its own special needs. Click the link to learn some quick tips for smooth rehearsals before a concert.  Concert season is here and it's time for the dress rehearsal. It's easy to obsess about the musicality of your upcoming performance. Yet, there are so many other things to remember which go into a good show and make everything run smoothly. Don't forget to check these concert to-dos.
1. Don't forget to tune Everything was ready, you were running around making sure not an issue occurred. The group looked good. They got up on stage and you gave them a great introduction. Then, they started playing and you realized they were out of tune! Now the song has already started. You are horrified. Don't let this happen to you. You will be busy, so pick a good student to oversee tuning. And then put it on your list to check their tuning! 2. How are you entering and exiting the stage? Practicing entering and exiting the stage is very important to do during a dress rehearsal. This will give your group a professional feel. Believe me, someone will try to run across the stage to get to their place. Show them how you want them to get up and down from risers. How should they hold their instrument in rest position. When should they exit. Will they take a bow? 3. Don't leave your chords in a mess If you have little ones on the stage or even a nervous adult, be careful to wrap your chords. Don't leave a bundle of cables anywhere on the stage. You can tape down long cables so no one will trip over them and keep everything nice and neat. You'd be surprised how easily feet can get tangled. 4. Do you have extra batteries for your wireless mics? You used the mic during rehearsal and it was working. Now, it's the concert night and the mic is flickering on and off. Make sure to have lots of fresh batteries. If you can, even keep an extra mic on the sidelines. In fact, having extra cables is a good practice as well. Don't let a good concert get canceled because of technical issues. Click the link to learn about what mics to use for your performance. 5. What are you going to say between songs? It's a good idea to plan what you will say between songs. Some people can just wing it, but most of us deal with nerves. You can write out the entire script or give yourself some flashcards with a few notes on them. Writing a script will also help you sort out those transitions and make sure the flow of the concert is just right. 6. Did you plan for transitions? Speaking of transitions, if there will be a costume change, or class change, plan, plan, plan. You should practice all transitions ahead of the concert. You should also plan on keeping the audience occupied with some additional jokes or catchy story while people are scrambling behind the stage. If you know exactly how long these transition will take, you can plan to fill up the time and not have an unusually awkward pause. 7. Will you serve food? The concert may be an hour or longer, but people will be smiling when refreshments are served afterwards or during an intermission. Serving food to the musicians as well gives a great opportunity to celebrate the performance and a job well done. 8. Do you have clips to hold down sheet music if you're outside? If your concert takes place outside, make sure to clamp down the music. If you don't have clamps, you may have to resort to tape, although that ruins the sheet music. Watch out for page turns as well. On a windy day, when all the music is clamped down, it will be very difficult to turn pages. It may be important to factor this in and make sure a few tunes are memorized. 9. Do you have lighting for the music? If your concert is inside in the evening and lights will be dimmed, be sure to get some lighting on the music stands. It would be very terrible to get to the concert and not be able to see the music. Yes, this has happened! Music stand lights are readily available, so plan ahead for it and test out the lighting when you do your dress rehearsal. 10. Did you remember the program? Don't get caught without a program. It looks professional and helps the audience know what the overall plan of the concert is. Programs are a good place to highlight your soloists. You can also give background information about the music or a special guest performer. Concert programs make a good keepsake for that proud parent as well. I hope all these tips help your concert turn out great. Just remember above all else, to have fun. When you enjoy the performance, that energy will rub off on the musicians and they will also enjoy the show. To download a free post-concert evaluation for your students click here.  It seems like we are just coming back from summer break and already the anxiety over Winter/Christmas Concert is looming. After a few years, it gets more difficult to pick songs that your students haven’t performed yet, and so begins the internet search. Or you’ll get that kid who says, “Teacher, we performed that in 2nd grade,” while rolling their eyes! A few things to consider… It’s a good idea to be in communication early on with your principal. Find out the rules about performing or not performing religious music. Find out what the style of your principal is. You are not only pleasing kids and parents but your superiors as well. Some principals are really easy going while others will micro-manage every aspect and comb through every lyric. I like to have a meeting with my principal at the beginning of the school year and then email them the concert links and lyrics (with any changes) as soon as I can. Be sure to tell them that this is a work in progress so they can put their input into it as well. Here are a few ideas for Winter Concert Themes with some song examples.  Santa Claus Concert A Santa themed concert can be really fun, and if you know someone with a Santa costume, you can bring them out at the end to spread the holiday cheer.
 Winterland Every one likes snow in December. Try a concert with a Winterland theme.
 Rock and Roll Theme Everyone likes an upbeat concert. Let’s rock and roll!
 Silent Night Christmas
 Christian Music If you teach older students or at a Christian school, consider a Christian themed concert.
 Hollywood Christmas We all love our favorite Christmas movies during the holidays. Pick some songs from films and television.
 Simple Gifts What is winter without the spirit of giving? Try a gift based winter concert theme.
 Christmas Tree Theme Trees are mentioned in many Christmas songs and winter poems.
 Christmas Around the World Christmas music has a rich history all around the world. A Christmas around the world concert can help kids with different cultural backgrounds feel included.
 Shiny Bells How many songs mention bells? Try a shiny bell themed concert and even bring out the jingle bells for the little ones to play.
 Multi-Cultural Holiday Traditions You can celebrate different winter and holiday cultures such as Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa as well.
 Peace
After all the hustle and bustle is over, hopefully we are filled with peace. Here are a few songs for the occasion.
There are so many songs that it would be impossible to list all the themes and songs for each, and of course there is a lot of overlapping in the lyrics. Use this as a beginning and let us know in the comments if you have any more ideas!  Break the Year Up By Month
Start with the school calendar to mark out all the performances for the year and any important events and then choose a theme for every month along with a music concept. Hint: Center the theme around whatever is happening in your performance so things will flow easily when you get busy. Examples of themes are space, scary stuff (for October), animals, rainy days, or the seasons. Examples of musical concepts are rhythm, performance, dynamics, or intervals. Break Up the Month By Week Use the school calendar to mark off any days off and then create activities for each week. I break my class planning by age. Preschool, K-2, 3-5, Middle School, and High School. Let your fun theme help you find activities. You can create folders or notes to help you brainstorm and find the most engaging activities. Use the State Standards Use your music state standards to help complete your lesson planning. Notice I didn't say start out with this? I find it much easier to plug the standards in and use it to polish up anything that I may be missing, than to start with these. I'm sending you a free example of my Music State Standard Checklist for Florida to use as a template and a starting point for your own. Just plug in your own state standards and begin! |
Angela BondMusic Teacher/ Musician/ Owner of Plum Rose Publishing Categories |
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