Most music resources available for teachers 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.
Those last few music classes before the holiday break can be difficult – kids are feeling distracted and excited, it’s not a great time to introduce new concepts, and you need something that can engage your kiddos while hopefully addressing at least a few curriculum expectations. Here are some Christmas music activity ideas I’ve used […]
Looking for elementary Christmas concert themes for your school? Here are some ideas for Christmas concert themes that are simple to put together, yet are interesting and original. Click here if you’re looking for Christmas Concert Song ideas for your class, rather than the whole school. Why choose Christmas concert themes? When you don’t choose a theme […]
Teaching rhythm in lower elementary can be difficult to keep interesting, as it’s one of those concepts that takes a lot of repetition for students to internalize. It can be tiring to keep coming up with new strategies or worksheets to work on the same skills. Rhythm grids are fun rhythm worksheets that can be […]
Looking for Halloween music lessons and activities? The month of October is an excellent time to include some Halloween fun into your music lesson plans. Here are some music suggestions and activity ideas to help with your lesson planning. Halloween Music Listening There are lots of Halloween themed pop hits (I’m sure you don’t need […]
Trying to teach the Ontario Music Curriculum without the right tools? The Ontario Music Curriculum is an ambitious document that sets a high standard for teaching music in Ontario. But how do you teach it? Unfortunately, this standard is out of reach when the vast majority of teachers do not have the training or musical […]
Looking for music texture lesson plan ideas? Music texture in the primary grades is all about training students’ ears to hear the different layers of sound, and to start to develop skills like part singing. Here are some tips and tricks to get you started with your lesson plans, even if you’re not a music […]
Teaching the elements of music and looking for worksheets? Doodle-style notes are all the rage in science and math, but doodling notes are actually a natural choice for music classes as well – especially when you’re hoping to make music theory worksheets a little more interesting. What are doodle-style notes? Doodle-style notes are structured worksheets […]
Looking for tips on how to teach dynamics in music class? Dynamics in music can be a lot of fun to teach, because of all the dramatic pieces of music you can use as examples. Here are some tips and tricks to get you started, even if you’re not a music specialist. What are dynamics […]
Looking for emergency elementary music sub plans for now… or in the future? The single most important strategy for music sub plans (especially when it is a true emergency) is to have a substitute teacher kit (or “sub tub”) ready to go in advance. That way, you can just write “see sub tub” and feel […]
Music listening activity ideas for your elementary lesson plans. Stretch out / music reflection This is a great activity for the end of class, especially if you’re like me and have SO MUCH FUN during music class that you have a reputation for getting the kids all riled up… (sorry not sorry). Play a piece […]
Beat vs Rhythm Grade 1 Looking for help with a beat vs rhythm lesson plan? Beat and rhythm, although a grade 1 expectation, can be deceptively difficult – especially if you are not a music specialist. Understanding the difference between beat and rhythm is the first and most fundamental concept in the “duration” element of […]
I have been in charge of Elementary Christmas concerts for a long time. One of the most important things that I do in preparing elementary classes for their concerts is teaching them the song they are going to sing. Occasionally, a few of the classes don’t make it onto my music class schedule, which means […]