by Corbett | Apr 8, 2025 | Movement, Product Reviews, Resources |
My concert is this week! The theme is “Landscapes.” We’ve taken a creative approach, shaping the music to reflect the ideas and sounds of different landscapes, making our performance into a bit of an immersive musical journey. Our process started with a simple...
by Jennifer Shaw | Mar 18, 2025 | Movement, Product Reviews, Resources |
Meaningful Movement: A Music Teacher’s Guide to Dalcroze Eurhythmics by Marla Butke and David Frego is a practical and easy-to-use resource for music educators who want to integrate Dalcroze-inspired movement into their teaching. With a clear structure and engaging...
by Jennifer Shaw | Mar 10, 2025 | Resources, Teacher Talk |
In my classroom, I drew and cut out two objects that looked like toolboxes. One is called the rhythm toolbox, and the other is the melody toolbox. I often tell students that they have two toolboxes at their sides, one for rhythm and the other for melody, to help...
by Jennifer Shaw | Mar 3, 2025 | Lessons |
To music teachers, March means one thing…. It’s Music In Our Schools Month! The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) proudly created and celebrates this month the 40th annual Music In Our Schools Month. This year’s theme, “United Through Music,”...
by Jennifer Shaw | Feb 20, 2025 | Lessons |
Being relatively new to my school, I’m still adjusting to a schedule where I see students only once a week—a major shift after 21 years of seeing them twice a week. This change has required me to recalibrate my expectations, activities, and overall approach. In the...
by Jennifer Shaw | Feb 20, 2025 | Lessons, Teacher Talk |
For a long time, I watched my colleagues, who were homeroom teachers, regularly implement learning centers in their classrooms. I loved what I saw: students demonstrating independence, experiencing different opportunities for socialization, and receiving one-on-one...
by Jennifer Shaw | Feb 3, 2025 | Lessons |
Snowflakes Lesson Extension Create a “snowflake dance” Begin class with a “piano story” that explores the motions of floating, twirling, and whirling. Be sure to improvise in a compound meter. Show images of different patterned snowflakes making mention that no two...
by Jennifer Shaw | Feb 3, 2025 | Lessons |
“Snowflakes that stay on my nose and my nose and my lashes.” ~Oscar Hammerstein Ii / Richard Rodgers from The Sound of Music Waking up to a fresh snowfall is a beautiful site, delighting children and teachers alike! Ha-Ha! As we approach the winter solstice, enjoy...
by Jennifer Shaw | Jan 27, 2025 | Lessons, Teacher Talk |
February 2nd is National Ukulele Day! Yes, it’s true! A day made special for ukulele! Thinking about incorporating the ukulele into your curriculum? Ukuleles can be an excellent tool for teaching melody, rhythm, harmony, form, and style concepts. And simply...
by Paul Boggs | Jan 13, 2025 | General Posts |
Crooked River Choral Project: FOCUS on the poetry of Robert LouisStevenson Roger Sams has put together three joyous songs for young choirs based on the poetryof Robert Louis Stevenson. They can be performed separately or combined as a suite. Robert Louis Stevenson...
by Paul Boggs | Jan 13, 2025 | General Posts |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Dec 9, 2024 | Lessons, Movement |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Dec 2, 2024 | Lessons |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Dec 2, 2024 | Teacher Talk |
I am consistently surprised by the magic that puppets bring to the music classroom! What I mean is that the connection kids make, including separating my voice from the puppet’s character, always pleasantly shocks me! The puppet can request just about...
by Jennifer Shaw | Nov 18, 2024 | General Posts, Teacher Talk |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Nov 18, 2024 | Teacher Talk |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Nov 18, 2024 | General Posts, Resources, Teacher Talk |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Nov 18, 2024 | General Posts, Resources, Teacher Talk |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Nov 4, 2024 | General Posts |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Nov 4, 2024 | Conference Materials, Teacher Talk |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 31, 2024 | Resources |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 31, 2024 | Resources |
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...
by Paul Boggs | Oct 31, 2024 | Resources |
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,...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 31, 2024 | Movement |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 30, 2024 | Curriculum |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 30, 2024 | Curriculum |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 28, 2024 | Back to School, Teacher Talk |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 28, 2024 | Back to School, Teacher Talk |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 28, 2024 | Teacher Talk |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 28, 2024 | Teacher Talk |
Something has been on my mind that is important to share with you! Collaborating with MIE is exciting for me in a couple of different ways. About 2 years ago, I reached out to Beth Ann Hepburn to answer a call put out by AOSA about mentoring teachers. I’ve always had...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 25, 2024 | Resources, Teacher Talk |
Concerts! How many of you are already thinking about concerts for this year? You might be, especially if it’s been scheduled in December or sooner! Concert performances are exciting, especially for the kids, and they can demonstrate all the great things you do in the...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 25, 2024 | Resources, Teacher Talk |
Concerts! Part II Ah concerts….sometimes a double-edged sword. Process over product or product over process, getting a framework in place is a good starting point. I am committed to having our concerts reflect much of what we do in the classroom. I will...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 25, 2024 | Lessons |
Mallet Technique I am certain that you discussed mallet technique in your Level’s courses, so as you already know, how we hold a pair of mallets to strike barred instruments really affects the quality of sound! Here are a few tips for correct mallet grip: Use a...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 24, 2024 | Lessons |
First Grade Barred Instrument Lesson: Exploring Sound with Frog and Toad Objective Students will explore sound using barred instruments while practicing good mallet technique, focusing on allowing the mallet to bounce off the bar. Materials Barred instruments...
by Jennifer Shaw | Oct 24, 2024 | Lessons |
Exploring Unpitched Percussion Lesson I LOVE the creative possibilities in the music room during October! From songs like, “Who Has Seen the Wind,” to poems and “B” sections about leaves falling, and of course Halloween, I find that students’ imaginations burst with...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | Curriculum |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium, Product Reviews |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium, Product Reviews |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | Building Your Classroom Instrumentarium |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | 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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | Back to School |
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....
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | Back to School |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 7, 2024 | Back to School, Teacher Talk |
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...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 3, 2024 | Back to School, Movement |
I am a BIG fan of folk dancing! I’ve chosen to weave it throughout my overall curriculum, K-5. Simply put, folk dancing joyfully brings people together. It’s community building at its best! I’ve used it in the classroom to break the ice at the beginning of a school...
by Jennifer Shaw | Sep 3, 2024 | Back to School, Teacher Talk |
You’re back! How are you feeling? You gonna make it? I know, the weather still feels like summer, your circadian rhythm is out of whack, your schedule is still being tweaked, AND you know it’s just going to take a little time to get in your groove. Hopefully,...
