Differentiating Classroom Instruction

Stuck in a rut with your classroom instruction? Are some things "just not working" and need to be changed but you aren't sure how? Find answers and suggestions from the So, La, Mi: Elementary Music Class blog: http://solamimusiced.blogspot.com/2013/12/tips-for-differentiating-instruction-in.html

Music and Milk

Author Leila Viss offers an interesting and thought provoking comparison of music and milk. In her comparison, she also discusses our day-to-day life without music. Read all of the details here: 

http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/what-the-music-industry-can-learn-from-milk/

Proposed Legislation for Early Childhood Education (and the arts!)

This week's current events in the realm of US news includes the Strong Start for America's Children Act. This proposed legislation for early childhood education opportunities includes two specific mentions in the outline of the bill on the inclusion of arts and arts education. Read more details here: http://advocacy.nafme.org/blog/nafme-supports-proposed-legislation-for-early-childhood-learning/

Steady Beat Skills

Kindermusik shares four reasons why steady beat skills matters in early childhood education. The article lists specific areas outside of music that steady beat skills influence. Read all about it at: http://mindsonmusic.kindermusik.com/benefits-of-music/4-reasons-why-steady-beat-skills-matter-in-early-childhood-education/

Music and Brain Development

Music has many benefits and current research from Beijing, China sheds light on how music can influence the development of the cortex Students who started musical lessons before the age of seven had a thicker brain cortex to those students that began music lessons after the age of seven. Read all the details here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/14/music-lessons-brain-child-physical-changes_n_4260917.html?ir=Healthy+Living

Organization and Other Details

If you need some help with organization of daily lesson materials, having an fool-proof method for students to find a partner, or filing your music activities check out this link on Mrs. Miracle's Music Room blog. She shares three ideas that she's borrowed from other teachers that help her classroom run more efficiently. Check it out at: http://www.mrsmiraclesmusicroom.com/2013/11/new-ideas.html

Autumn Rhythmic Identification

Young growing minds need constant reinforcement of new musical concepts. Here's a fun way to reinforce the rhythmic syllables of ta & ti-ti with a hands-on seasonal autumn focus: http://www.mrsmiraclesmusicroom.com/2013/11/autumn-manipulatives.html

Music Substitute

The thought of writing elementary music sub plans can be a daunting task. Mrs. Miracle's Music Room blog explains the benefits and steps to creating a "sub tub."
Learn all about it here: http://www.mrsmiraclesmusicroom.com/2013/11/time-saver-sub-tub.html

Keeping Perspective

With the holiday season quickly approaching, music educators typically have upcoming programs and performances for most if not all their students. To keep your stress level and priorities in-check I encourage you to watch this brief (old) video clip from "Cool Cat Teacher Blog."

http://www.coolcatteacher.com/videos/student-time-management-video/?utm_source=feedly

A Bicycle Built for Two

See the full score of A Bicycle Built for Two in Noteflight here:
http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/d81d18aafb33b67da954b441230dfcfd50e9586b

Noteflight is a free online music notation software. I have used Noteflight at two different teaching posts with my middle school general music classes. I found it to be a very useful tool during our composition unit. My students first learned the basics of composition with blank staff paper and a pencil. Then, after they mapped out 30 measures of chord progressions for the foundation of their composition project, they plugged it into Noteflight and created a melodic line. The students really enjoyed being able to hear their composition while they were creating it and sharing the completed piece with family members at home. 

Noteflight can be used for personal compositions, transcribing music to have a MIDI recording of it, and sharing compositions with other individuals are just a few of the possibilities for using Noteflight.

Animated Vocal Warm-Up

This animated "bee" vocal warm-up is a great visual for young music students as they explore their voices. You can download the PowerPoint file for free at Mrs. Miracle's Music Room blog by scrolling down and clicking on the bee picture. Check it out at:
http://cloud.feedly.com/#subscription%2Ffeed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.mrsmiraclesmusicroom.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault

Buzzing Flea Vocal Warm-Up

This video provides a creative new twist to vocal warm-ups for young voices. Watch the instructor teach the buzzing flea vocal warm-up in a live class with engaged students here http://vimeo.com/32563337

PreK Music Outline

One of my fellow KSU classmates posted this on her blog and it's an incredible resource to have at your fingertips if you ever find yourself teaching PreK music. I found the class outline particularly helpful in guiding you on the journey of PreK music lesson planning. Check it out at: http://mustech.net/2013/10/prekmusic/

Music Center Idea

If you're looking for a new activity to add to your music centers, "Bang!" is a great option. It's a new spin on using flashcards to review and reinforce musical concepts.
Read all about it at: http://colorinmypiano.com/2012/12/06/bang-rhythm-game/

Special Need Students & General Music

Whether you've had extensive experience with special need students in the general elementary music classroom or are new to such an experience, this post is a great refresher or can be used as a resource to get you started.

Read all the details at: http://musiced.nafme.org/interest-areas/collegiate-advisory-council/strategies-for-working-with-special-needs-students-in-the-general-music-classroom/ 

Preparing for Quarter and Eighth Notes

Teaching young students the concepts of quarter and eighth notes can be tricky. Mrs. Miracle's Music Room blog shares four creative ways to introduce this concept to students in a fun and easy to understand manner by relating it to experiences and objects they are already familiar with.
View it all at: http://www.mrsmiraclesmusicroom.com/2013/09/four-ways-to-prepare-ti-ti-and-ta.html

Kindergarten Music-Creative Lesson Ideas

Any early elementary music educator in their beginning years of teaching looking for inspiration should check out all the creative lesson ideas on the blog So La Mi: Elementary Music Class. There are many ideas complete with pictures and thorough descriptions. 

View it all at: http://solamimusiced.blogspot.com/p/kindergartenfirst-grade.html