Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium: Drums
At the beginning of the school year, when choosing an instrument to introduce first to students, drums (tubanos) would be high on the list of what I’d put in front of them. Am I crazy? Maybe, but I want students to understand how to approach an instrument...
Percussive Play: Building Rhythmic Skills Through Partwork, Poetry, and Movement By Roger Sams and Michael Vasquez
It’s the start of the year! You can't wait to pull out instruments! You question whether or not to bring out the big instruments…maybe work up to them. Starting the year slowly and surely by introducing unpitched percussion (UPP) can be a great way to ease into your...
Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium: Recorders!
Recorders! It had such a positive impact on my elementary music experience that it's to blame for starting me on my musical path! The rest is history and here I am, full circle as an elementary music teacher! Now, I know you’re excited and committed to including the...
Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium: Unpitched Percussion
I have walked into classrooms that have 40 triangles but only 10 strikers, an entire box full of shekeres in 3 different sizes, and jingle bells to outfit the entire school, but not one decent hand drum or pair of claves! This has kinda been my world since jumping...
Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium: Mallets For Barred Instruments
Mallets make a difference….a big difference! The mallets you choose to use will affect everyone’s overall playing and listening experience. When it comes to selecting mallets, both teachers and students prioritize two important factors: how the mallet feels in...
Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium: Barred Instruments
Melodic percussion instruments, or barred instruments like xylophones, glockenspiels, and metallophones are the quintessential set of instruments used in many elementary music settings. They are valuable when accompanying singers, but are even more so when students...
Introduction to Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium
Hey! Hi, friend! I’m talking to you! You! The new teacher of elementary music; Or you, who is reflecting on the school year that has passed and is thinking about how you might like to extend the learning; Or you, who is contemplating if the new year coming up is...
Room Organization & Storage, Part II
Hi Again! Here is Part II of DRUE BULLINGTON's fantastic article, as originally seen at Teaching With Orff, discussing all things storage and organization! Thanks again, Drue! The Active Music and Movement Classroom: So Much Fun “in Store!” Drue M. Bullington...
Room Storage and Organization, Part I
Hey! I hope this finds off to a great start in your school year! For me this year, I am in a new-ish room, kinda. I may have mentioned our school continues to undergo a major renovation. My room has been painted, new windows installed, same beautiful hardwood...
Breaking the Ice, Part II
Breaking the Ice The Start of School, Part II I was curious about how others start their year in the music room, so I asked a handful of people who so graciously contributed by offering their tried and true ways, thank you! There seems to be a common theme around...