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...
List of Grants for Music Educators
I’m certain there are more grant possibilities out there, but here is a start! And hey, just try. Be your authentic self and try. What’s the worst that can happen? They say no and you move on to the next application. You got this, good luck! Found on the American...
Tips for Grant Writing
Tips for Grant Writing There are institutions, organizations, and companies that really want to support music teachers through grants. It could be yours for the taking, but most often, to ask means writing a grant. Begin by creating a sentence or two (but keep it...
Writing Grants
Writing Grants I had a little side-chapter in my career that included starting a nonprofit concert series called, Underground Classical. Its focus was to highlight classically trained musicians who performed completely out-of-the-box repertoire. Beat-boxing flutists,...
Making It Work: Family Folk Dance Night
Folk dancing is one the most popular components in our lower school music curriculum. Through controlled chaos the dance consistently brings a sense of joy and a feeling of community to its participants. In a subtle way folk dancing encourages risk taking, exercises...
Purposeful Pathways, Part 2: Unlimited Potential
Purposeful Pathways: 1 Rhyme, 5 years! Pathways, possibilities, opportunities…it all points to students learning about music by making music. Purposeful Pathways is designed to be fluid and flexible, allowing you to choose from multiple pathways, making it so...
Purposeful Pathways, Part 1: Abundant Possibilities:
Imagine: Just before walking out of the building on the last day of school, eager to greet your well deserved summer, you’re informed by your principal that you will be teaching a different grade next year, in addition to what you already teach (cue the distressed...
Framework of Choices, Sub-Plan Ideas, Part II
Framework of Choice Sub-Plan Ideas, Part II Whether it’s you or your sub, having a list of possibilities to use for your music class is reassuring and helpful to everyone. Create a framework to work within. Maybe begin with a video, followed by quiet background...
When The Cat’s Away, The Mice Need To Play! Sub-Plan Ideas
When The Cat’s Away, The Mice Need To Play! Sub-Plan Ideas There are times when I would rather go to school and push through feeling lousy than make sub-plans. Our subs are typically not musicians or music teachers. And on top of it all, our students need us to be...
Teacher Talk: Perspective
Teacher Talk This is such a Roger Sams phrase! It makes so much sense! Of course, you know what teacher talk means…all those thoughts, good ideas, insecurities, doubts, and small gems of victory we carry around with us that in many ways might only make sense to us...