Listening Activities

Tech Talk Tuesday – iPads in the Music Classroom: 5 Best Apps for Music Class

So this is my 3rd year using iPads in my music classroom. When I moved to Clark Creek Elementary STEM Academy to open the school in 2012, I piloted a 16-iPad lab as a part of a music technology pilot. Since Clark Creek is a STEM Academy, this was a perfect pairing of the ArtsContinue reading “Tech Talk Tuesday – iPads in the Music Classroom: 5 Best Apps for Music Class”

Winter Olympics 2014 Music Class Activities

I confess….I am an Olympics-addict. I love the Summer Games, I love the Winter Games, I love any of the Games. I feel like as soon as the last Games ends, I am counting the months until the next one. Has anyone else figured it out it is a much longer wait from the endContinue reading “Winter Olympics 2014 Music Class Activities”

"In the Hall Of the Mountain King" Listening Activities

I love Halloween time because its the perfect time of the year for listening to “spooky” music. One of my favorite “spooky” pieces for Halloween is “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from The Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg. Classicsforkids.com has a great resource this month that includes a listening map, biography of Edvard Grieg,Continue reading “"In the Hall Of the Mountain King" Listening Activities”

Happy Birthday, Star-Spangled Banner!

Friday of this week, September 14th, is the 198th birthday of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” After a night of constant bombardment on Fort McHenry at the mouth of the Baltimore Harbor, Francis Scott Key woke to see the American flag still flying in the dawning sunlight. He was so moved in the moment that he wroteContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Star-Spangled Banner!”

Patriotic Music Resources for Patriot Day and Veteran’s Day

With Patriot Day and Veteran’s Day coming up very soon, I thought I would share with you some patriotic music resources. I hope you are able to use them in your classroom and can share a little patriotism with your students! Great Video on the History of our National Anthem, the “Star-Spangled Banner” “Fifty NiftyContinue reading “Patriotic Music Resources for Patriot Day and Veteran’s Day”

"Peter and the Wolf" Matching and Coloring Page

“Peter and the Wolf” Instrument Coloring Page Last week I posted two entries about using centers to reinforce the instruments of the orchestra and using “Peter and the Wolf” as a vehicle for introducing the instruments and their sounds. If you haven’t read them, please check them out!! Today, I started my Kindergarteners on aContinue reading “"Peter and the Wolf" Matching and Coloring Page”

Instruments of the Orchestra Lesson | Peter and the Wolf

Last week I posted about my love of using centers in the music classroom. My post included a complete centers unit, focused around the Orchestra Instrument Families, an important concept for all music learners. If you didn’t see my post, check it out HERE! You can also download the unit HERE! When I introduce the instrumentsContinue reading “Instruments of the Orchestra Lesson | Peter and the Wolf”

Using Centers in the Classroom | Orchestral Instrument Families Centers

Learning about and recognizing the instruments and instruments families of the orchestra is an essential concept in music education. What better way to reinforce and extend the learning of the orchestral instrument families than through the use of CENTERS!! Why I Love Centers…. Student-Directed Learning Centers allow student-directed learning, which is where I think effectiveContinue reading “Using Centers in the Classroom | Orchestral Instrument Families Centers”

Introduction to Soprano Recorder Music Video

This is a short video I made to use in my elementary music classroom to introduce the recorder. It has been very effective and my students seem to really get into it! This video makes the recorder “cool” and makes the students excited to play! I use it at the beginning of the first recorder classContinue reading “Introduction to Soprano Recorder Music Video”

Friday Flashback: The Snowman

A True Classic A timeless, classic in my house since childhood has been Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman. It is not Christmas until we have watched the short film and read the book. This picture is of our original VHS tape (remember those?!?) that parents have allowed me to inherit and continue the tradition with myContinue reading “Friday Flashback: The Snowman”