The Happy Music Teacher
Feeling alone in the craziness that is your classroom? Looking for someone to rescue you from the exhaustion and overwhelm of your everyday music teacher life?
Hi, I'm Jeanette. A passionate music teacher with over 2 decades of experience working with students, balancing the mayhem, and helping educators like you navigate the chaos.
Join me as we explore what makes teaching general music so darn hard, tackle the unique challenges we face, and transform our music teacher lives so that every day brings happiness to our music classrooms.
Recent Episodes
April 16, 2025
Testing Week Doesn't Have to Suck - Quick Strategies for Quiet Activities
Testing week is here, and if your music room feels like a silent movie marathon with a side of stressed-out students, you're not alone. Their schedules are off, energy levels are low, and anything beyond the simplest task fee...
April 2, 2025
Beyond the Bunny - 3 Spring Picture Books for Your Music Class
Picture this: Your students are completely engaged, their imaginations sparked by familiar stories, and they're learning key musical concepts without even realizing it. You'll discover how to: Explore dynamics with the hilar...
March 26, 2025
Conquer the Zombies by Gamifying Your Music Classroom
If your students’ energy level is more ‘zombie shuffle’ than of ‘happy dance, I’ve got the cure! It’s time to bring them back to life by gamifying your music classroom! Games are a game-changer (pun intended) when it comes to...
March 19, 2025
Drowning in Sticky Notes? Get Your Music Teacher Life Organized
Are you drowning in planners, sticky notes, and to-do lists that never get used? You are NOT alone! We music teachers are BUSY, and staying organized feels like an impossible dream. But don’t worry—I’ve been there, done that,...
March 12, 2025
Your New Teacher BFFs Await—How to Build Stronger School Connections
Ever feel like the only teacher in the building who isn’t in the loop? Connecting with colleagues and feeling respected as part of your school team can be a challenge—but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode, I chat with Ku...
March 5, 2025
Spring Books for the Music Classroom
Students bouncing off the walls? 🌸☀️ Keeping them engaged this time of year can feel like a losing battle, but don’t worry—I’ve got your back! In this episode of The Happy Music Teacher , we’re diving into the best spring boo...
Feb. 26, 2025
Teaching Music Shouldn’t Be This Hard! Tips for Music Teachers Who are Over It
Ever wish you had a secret stash of tried-and-true tips to make your music teaching life easier? What if you could get 100 of them—all in one place? Teaching music is an incredible job, but let’s be real—it can also be exhaus...
Feb. 19, 2025
Teaching Tiny Musicians - Make Music Magic for Your Littles
Teaching Tiny Musicians can be both adorable and overwhelming. Do you dread the days when PreK or Kinder walk through your door? I get it—I used to feel the same way until I figured out how to capture their attention and keep...
Feb. 12, 2025
Spice Up Your Music Lessons for Big Kids
Spice Up Your Lessons for Big Kids in the Elementary Music Room Want to spice up your music lessons for big kids but find that fun activities quickly turn into chaos? In this episode of The Happy Music Teacher , we’re tacklin...
Feb. 5, 2025
Engage Your Music Class with Brain Breaks and Play-Alongs
Engage Your Music Class with Brain Breaks and Play-Alongs Looking to revolutionize your elementary music classroom with more engaging activities and fun for everyone, even you? Join us for an illuminating conversation with Br...
Jan. 29, 2025
February Picture Books for Your Music Classroom
February Books for Music Class In this episode, we're diving into three powerful storybooks perfect for February: Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli, My Heart by Corinna Luyken, and Follow the Drinking Gourd by ...
Jan. 15, 2025
How to Increase Engagement in Your Elementary Music Room with Friendly Competition/Ep95
🎶 Ready to discover how to increase engagement in the music room? In this episode, I’m sharing my favorite tips for using friendly competition to spark excitement and participation among your students. We’ll dive into why com...
Jan. 8, 2025
3 Ways to Fight Exhaustion in the Music Classroom
3 Ways to Fight Exhaustion in the Music Classroom Are you ready to fight exhaustion in the music classroom and reclaim your energy? In this episode, we tackle a common dilemma faced by music teachers: how to manage the overwh...
Jan. 4, 2025
Running Your Elementary Choir - 3 Mistakes Teachers Make/Ep93
🎶 Running Your Elementary Choir - 3 Mistakes Music Teachers Make 🎶 In this episode of The Happy Music Teacher , Jeanette teams up with Bethany Main to tackle the chaos of running your elementary choir . Drawing from years of ...
Jan. 2, 2025
Winter Storybooks for the Music Classroom - Ep 95
Winter Storybooks for the Music Classroom In this brand-new monthly episode, I’m sharing my favorite winter-themed books and how you can use them to inspire meaningful lessons in your music classroom! This month, I’m highligh...
Dec. 26, 2024
Fresh Start for the New Year in Your Music Classroom
Ready to hit the reset button and kick off your new semester with clarity and creativity? This episode of The Happy Music Teacher podcast is all about giving you the tools to refresh your curriculum and lesson plans so you ca...
Dec. 18, 2024
How Savvy Music Teachers Get Rest During Their Holiday Break - Ep90
Are you ready to enjoy your holiday break while actually feeling rested? In this episode of The Happy Music Teacher , we’re exploring how savvy music teachers actually get rest during their holiday break . Let’s face it: as t...
Dec. 11, 2024
3 Holiday Tips for Music Teachers - Ep89
🎄 Holiday Tips for Music Teachers: Surviving the Season with Joy and Ease! 🎶 The holiday season is a whirlwind for music teachers, filled with concerts, rehearsals, and endless to-dos both at school and at home. In this episo...
Dec. 4, 2024
Time-Saving Strategies for Planning Your Music Activities
Time-Saving Strategies for Planning Your Music Activities Transform your planning process with time-saving strategies for planning your music lessons! 🎶 In this episode, we focus on two essential tools to help music teachers ...
Nov. 27, 2024
Strealine Your Music Classroom Planning - Ep87
Streamline your music classroom planning with this insightful podcast episode designed to help music teachers tackle the unique challenges of lesson preparation. In this episode, we discuss why having a structured plan for pl...
Nov. 20, 2024
Holiday Stress Relief for Elementary Music Teachers
Holiday Stress Relief for Elementary Music Teachers The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for elementary music teachers, and the pressure of performances, rehearsals, and year-end activities can cause str...
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