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December 13, 2015

Jingle All the Way – Ideas for December

“I can do this.  I can do this!  I’ve only got one more week….  ONE MORE WEEK!”   Does that mantra sound familiar?  I know that many of you are also psyching yourself up for one more week of high-energy kids who are sugared up from holiday parties and are […]
5 ideas to extend lessons and create variety when teaching folk songs!
November 22, 2015

I’ve Taught this Folk Song, Now What?!

If you’ve read any of my blog so far you know that I love teaching folk songs.  Folk songs are great songs with catchy tunes, are excellent for cultural and historical references, and usually have some sort of movement or dance component.  What an exciting way to expand vocabulary!  What an […]
This favorite folk song is great for teaching song form.
October 10, 2015

Turn the Glasses Over – Playing with Form!

I love teaching this fun little folk song, “I’ve been to Harlem” a.k.a. “Turn the Glasses Over,” to my students!  I learned the basic version of the song at my Orff Level 1 training a few years ago and have been playing with how to teach the lesson ever since.​  This year […]
Rain Rain Go Away - Lesson Ideas, extension activities, and videos to use with your class.
May 8, 2015

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

I had so much fun with this lesson today that I just had to share.  I’m continuing to work on sol-mi songs with my Kindergarten friends and had it in my lesson plans to go back and revisit “Rain, Rain, Go Away!”  I always love teaching this song around this […]
Two videos to get your students up and moving in music class!
February 13, 2015

Film Friday – Gummy Bear and Dinosaur Stomp

I think that we all have the one class that walks in the door a little squirrely every time.  They fidget and chat and need something to help them focus before you’re going to get ANYTHING done in class.  You can start with echo clapping, a poem, a game song, […]
O Tannenbaum - Teaching about a tree!
December 13, 2014

O Tannenbaum!  Teaching about a Tree!

Holiday carols are so much fun!  I love introducing my students to carols because they give you a chance to spark the kids’ interest and teach them about other countries, time periods, and (in some cases) different languages.  In that regard they are much like folks songs because they open […]
If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands - Blog Post
November 1, 2014

If You’re Happy and You Know It!

  “If You’re Happy and You Know It” is a classic children’s folk song and is so wonderful for so many reasons.  It gives you a chance to talk about improvising new lyrics and coming up with variations.  It gives you a chance to define the word “lyics.”  It allow […]
Why should you teach folk songs, what resources to use, and how to go about doing it!
October 4, 2014

Why Teach Folk Songs? – Resources, How-to, and More

I remember when I first started teaching elementary music I spent my first few months teaching fun songs from the written textbooks that I had access to, favorite lessons from local music workshops, and memorable songs from my own childhood music classes.  But then I hit a wall.  When I […]
Five awesome things I found on Pinterest this month!
May 14, 2014

Five Favorite Pins of May – 2014

OMGoodness, don’t you love that it’s already May!  I can’t believe the school year is almost over… or at least I say that when my principal is around.  Truthfully, I’m excited for summer and all the new learning, relaxation, and project time that it brings.  I will admit, I spend […]
Here's a new song you can use with your primary grades and ideas about how to build a concert around it.
February 3, 2014

Love Bugs – A New Valentine’s Day Song and Program!

I had an upcoming Valentine’s Day concert with my Kindergarten kiddos and needed a perfect song to tie everything together.  I did a little brainstorming, sat down at the piano, and came up with a silly little Valentine’s Day Song called “Love Bugs!”  I knew I just had to share […]
A GREAT song to teach cumulative form and to get kids moving!
February 2, 2014

The Green Grass Grew All Around

“Green Grass Grew All Around” never fails to excite and delight my students.  No matter their mood when they walk in, this song bring out big smiles and gets kids excited about class.  What’s more, this song is especially great for English Language Learners (abbreviated to ESL/ELL in many places) as it involves some […]
Use every Happy Birthday moment to teach the students theme and variation!
January 20, 2014

Happy Birthday – Teaching Theme and Variation

I try and use all my teaching time wisely.  I’ve worked really hard to get procedures in place so that I can start class right when kiddos walk in the door and keep the pace going until they’re walking out.  There’s not a lot of “downtime” for me unless the kids […]
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