Pop Music Archives - Make Moments Matter

November 15, 2014

Pharrel’s “Happy” Song to Teach Musical Form

Lesson Ideas

I love Pharrel’s “Happy” song and I know that my kids do too! This summer I was brainstorming a way to use the Happy song in my classroom and it struck me that I could so easily use this fantastic song to teach form to my students. I developed the […]

Taking a famous, kid-favorite theme song and making it new!

February 28, 2014

Film Friday — Angry Birds Cover

Lesson Ideas

In this fun video, the musicians of the band/group Pomplamoose use video and musical editing to cover the theme from the Angry Birds game. My students are still absolutely obsessed with Angry Birds and not a day goes by that someone doesn’t walk by wearing a t-shirt with some sort […]

Star Guitar by the Chemical Brothers as a video listening map.

February 7, 2014

Film Friday – Star Guitar as a Listening Map

Lesson Ideas

Sometimes you need to mix up your music listening examples. We’re not doing our kids justice if we only stick to classical. We need to engage students with music that is culturally relevant and prepares them for a lifetime of music-making. I want to instill in my students a love […]

Best Boomwhacker playing ever! Videos to inspire your students!

November 15, 2013

Film Friday – Plastik Music — Boomwhacker Craziness!

Lesson Ideas

If you love boomwhackers, then you need to see these videos! Plastik Music is a musical group that takes famous songs and arranges them for boomwhackers and a variety of other found/converted/created instruments. Here’s a quick blurb from their website: “From Mozart to Motown, Plastic Musik puts a RADICAL twist […]

A perfect video to teach dynamic differences like piano and forte.

November 8, 2013

Film Friday – Teaching Piano and Forte!

Lesson Ideas

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I LOVE using videos to reinforce concepts that I’m teaching in class. Videos grab the attention of students and inspire them to look deeper and connect. I especially love it when I can use music videos of contemporary artists to explain […]

November 1, 2013

Film Friday! – Around the World – Teaching Ostinato

Lesson Ideas

From the very first time I saw this video, I knew it would be perfect to show to students. “Around the World” is a famous song by the band Daft Punk and this is the music video that was created to accompany the song. The famous director/artist Michel Gondry […]

Music has the power to make us move! Check out this video to see how music inspired one man!

October 25, 2013

Film Friday – Nathan Barnatt dances to Pop Culture

Lesson Ideas

This is a truly fantastic video that will really get your kids talking. Nathan Barnatt is an American actor, comedian, dancer, and filmmaker who is known for his amazing dance skills. In this video, the official music video for the mash-up hit “Pop Culture,” Nathan plays a nerdy guy who […]