When introducing a new pitch to your students, you want them to experience it in many different ways. Singing, playing on an instrument, moving, touching, tasting…well, maybe not that last one. But you get the idea. Once you put a name on that new sound, it should be super familiar. So

The quarter/beamed eighth note combination (or ta and ti-ti, du and du-de, etc.) is typically the first experience with rhythm in most elementary music classrooms. In order to lay a solid foundation and ensure our students understand the concept of one and two sounds on the beat, we need to provide many opportunities for them to

My kids LOVE centers in music class, and I do too! They are fun, engaging, and perfect for a low-key day in the music room. However, there needs to be some prep work done ahead of time to make sure your centers run smoothly. Jumping into centers or stations without

When it comes to apps and websites for my classroom, there are few as indispensable as Seesaw. I find myself using it several times a week! It is perfect for sharing student work, pictures, and video–giving families a glimpse into the classroom and creating a two-way avenue for communication. Interested

When teaching rhythm and beat to your elementary students, you might find yourself in a bit of a pickle. You know there’s a difference between the two, but you’re having trouble getting that across to your students. Or, they already have rhythm and beat confused in their heads, and you

I first learned about Specdrums in a blog post by Amy over at Music a la Abbott. She and a few other elementary music bloggers were piloting these musical rings in their classrooms and sharing their thoughts through their blogs and social media accounts. I thought they were the coolest! The

Introducing the concept of pitch to your youngest students may seem like a daunting task. No matter how much you plan, you feel like they are just not getting it. Lessons are falling flat, and your students aren’t engaged. Trust me, I understand! It took several years of trying different

We all know how valuable hands-on learning experiences are for our students. But sometimes, the thought of planning and executing lessons like these feels daunting. You aren’t sure where to start or what to use. Where do I find materials? How much will it cost? Are they durable enough for

“But I think I love fall most of all…” Fall is definitely my favorite season. Since I live in the south, we have stupid hot late springs and summers. Fall won’t show up until mid-October for us, but when it does, it’s heaven! Fall is a fun time in the

For so many teachers, our classroom is our second home. Think about it–eight hours a day, five days a week, for 36ish weeks a year? If we spend that much time in our classrooms, they should be spaces that make us feel good! We don’t want to feel cluttered or

I don’t know about you, but for me, there’s nothing like beginning a brand new school year! Starting fresh with a blank slate is such an exciting feeling. And I know I am not alone in my love of new school supplies! But one thing that may not feel so

We’ve all been there: it’s Sunday night (or Monday morning 😳), and you’re scrambling to come up with lesson plans for your music classes. Plans for your older grades are complete, but you’re STRUGGLING to think of engaging lessons for your younger students. Having a curriculum outline for each grade