Crooked River Choral Project: Part 1
Crooked River Choral Project: FOCUS on American History through Folk SongAuthor: Georgia Newlin Cyndee Giebler has arranged an easy to sing, crowd-pleasing American folksong, The Erie Canal Song. The Crooked River Choral Project is a collection of artful choral music...
Troika! A Fun Winter Folk Dance
The Troika is a get-your-heart-pumpin’-super fun folk dance perfect for any winter celebration, not just the holidays! Inspired by a horse-drawn sleigh, everything about this dance (except the meter) revolves around the number three. "Troika" means "three" in Russian,...
Beginning Recorder and Millions of Cats
Beginning Recorder and Millions of Cats! Admit it; the combination of words for this article’s title caught your curiosity! And no, I’m not referring to the sound of a beginning recorder player, ha-ha! Curiosity is not killing the cat,,.. But what role does the...
The Magic of Puppets
Puppets can interactively teach songs, allowing students to learn melodies through playful engagement rather than mere repetition.
Proactive Advocacy
Proactive advocacy No matter your situation, building a foundation of support that underscores the value of your program is an important priority. We know music programs often face scrutiny during budget cuts, shifts in curricular philosophy, leadership, or a...
Exploration in the Early Years
Exploration in the Early Years I've received a handful of questions about how I structure the early years music classes I teach. Each school's expectations have been different, but the one thing I have come to learn is that students thrive on exploration and...
Framework for PreK Lessons
Frameworks for Pre-K Lessons Are you teaching Pre-K and looking for a bit of inspiration? Maybe you’re looking for a B-12 shot of inspiration for this unique age group! How might you frame your lesson with Preschoolers? This age group needs a lot of variety in...
Project: Preschool
Pre-K students, ages 3-5, represent a unique part in a music teacher's curriculum. Let's say you have the pleasure of teaching this age group. In that case, you likely know that your lessons thrive on a variety of short singing and movement activities that incorporate...
Drum Circle Ideas for the Elementary Classroom
Drum Circle Ideas for the Elementary Classroom Nothing quite spells excitement like a DRUM is placed before a student! Whether you’re using bucket drums, hand drums, or tubanos, the physical act of hitting a drum offers immediate engagement for students. And...
Teacher Talk: Confernece
Teacher Talk: Conference! “Tell me, I forget. Show me, I remember. Involve me, I understand.” ~Carl Orff I hope you are gearing up for an exciting American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA) conference, November 13-16, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa! Filled with rich...