Most music teacher resources are written by specialists, and designed for other specialists to use. But if you’re not a trained music teacher, these programs are intimidating and difficult to understand.
It IS possible to teach a quality music program – even without any formal training. All you need are resources that break down the concepts in a way that both you – and your students! – can easily follow.
Not sure where to start teaching primary music? You can do this! Try out this whole month of music lesson plans for Grade 1. (Psst – they’ll work for any primary class, especially if you’re just getting started.)
Looking for tips on how to write better performing arts lesson plans? This three-step method is simple and easy to follow for effective lessons every time. Part 1: Arts Building block (technique instruction) The first step in your lesson plan is identifying what specific building block (skill or concept) your students will be learning about. […]
recorder lessonsrecorder lessons for kidsrecorder lessons free printablerecorder lesson plansbeginner recorder lessonsteaching recorder lesson plansbeginning recorder lessons In the mid 1900s, Carl Orff (the German composer famous for his cantata “Carmina Burana”) began developing the recorder as a music education tool. Today, many, many elementary schools continue to use recorders because they are inexpensive and […]
How to teach time signature in elementary music Teaching elementary students about time signatures in music can be a fun and engaging experience. By incorporating hands-on activities, you can help them grasp the concept easily. Step 1: Understand beat It is impossible to start teaching time signatures without ensuring that students first understand the concept […]
September can be a hopeful but also stressful month for teachers, as we try to make sure that we are starting out on the right foot with EVERYTHING. Often, subjects like music can get pushed to the backburner, especially if you are a non-specialist who is required to teach music to your own class, or […]
As an elementary music teacher, you know that rhythm is a fundamental element of music. It sets the foundation for melody and helps create the overall musical structure. One effective tool that can enhance your students’ rhythmic understanding is rhythm dictation. Rhythm dictation is when students listen to music and write down the rhythmic patterns […]
Music Lesson Plans Grade 2 The grade 2 music curriculum is all about setting up a strong foundation in basic concepts. Repetition is extremely important, especially with core concepts in beat, rhythm, and pitch. I strongly recommend teaching the concepts in the following order, as it is easy to build each skill on the back […]
I want to introduce Buffy simply by daring you to listen to this song without bopping your head along. Seriously – every class I have ever played this song for IMMEDIATELY asks me to play it again as soon as it finishes. The music itself is enough to grab you – but the fact that […]
Black History Month Music Lessons: Ella Fitzgerald Looking for some quick Black History Month music lessons for your classes? Here are some free resources for teaching a music lesson all about Ella Fitzgerald. Introduction to Ella Fitzgerald Teaching Points: Links: Introduction to Scatting Scatting Teaching Points: Scatting Links: Introduction to Scatting and Sampling How Ella […]
What is articulation in music? While musical elements such as rhythm and melody change the basic movement of the music, articulation refer to HOW the music is played or sung. The most common types of articulation are staccato and legato, which refer to how the notes are connected as they are played, and accents, which […]
Fall is such a fun time to teach music because there are so many great songs and activities that you can pull into a fall theme. Song Ideas for Your Fall Music Lessons Free Fall Music Printables from Prodigies Fall Music Lessons – Lesson Plans for Autumn These grade level specific lesson plans include a […]
First day of music class activities for elementary The first day of a new school year can be stressful for any teacher, but it can be even more nerve wracking when you are teaching a subject that is not in your wheelhouse. Many teachers are asked to teach music without any prior experience or training […]