Episodes

Don't Sweat the Concert - It's Gonna be Fine
May 6, 2025

Don't Sweat the Concert - It's Gonna be Fine

Are you feeling that familiar knot of anxiety tightening in your stomach as your concert approaches? You're pouring your heart into rehearsals, but all you hear are forgotten lyrics and excuses about why they can't be at the ...
Exhausted Teacher Barely Holding it Together - Mindset Shifts to Make it To the End of the Year
April 30, 2025

Exhausted Teacher Barely Holding it Together - Mindset Shifts to Make it To the End of the Year

Feeling like you're running on fumes with the end of the school year in sight? Are you an exhausted teacher just trying to make it to the final bell? You are definitely not alone! This week on The Happy Music Teacher, we're t...
Testing Week Doesn't Have to Suck - Quick Strategies for Quiet Activities
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...
Beyond the Bunny - 3 Spring Picture Books for Your Music Class
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...
Conquer the Zombies by Gamifying Your Music Classroom
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...
Drowning in Sticky Notes?  Get Your Music Teacher Life Organized
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,...
Your New Teacher BFFs Await—How to Build Stronger School Connections
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...
Spring Books for the Music Classroom
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...
Teaching Music Shouldn’t Be This Hard! Tips for Music Teachers Who are Over It
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...
Teaching Tiny Musicians - Make Music Magic for Your Littles
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...
Spice Up Your Music Lessons for Big Kids
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...
Engage Your Music Class with Brain Breaks and Play-Alongs
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...
February Picture Books for Your Music Classroom
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 ...
How to Increase Engagement in Your Elementary Music Room with Friendly Competition/Ep95
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...
3 Ways to Fight Exhaustion in the Music Classroom
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...
Running Your Elementary Choir - 3 Mistakes Teachers Make/Ep93
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 ...
Winter Storybooks for the Music Classroom - Ep 95
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...
Fresh Start for the New Year in Your Music Classroom
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...
How Savvy Music Teachers Get Rest During Their Holiday Break - Ep90
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...
3 Holiday Tips for Music Teachers - Ep89
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...
Time-Saving Strategies for Planning Your Music Activities
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 ...
Strealine Your Music Classroom Planning - Ep87
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...
Holiday Stress Relief for Elementary Music Teachers
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...
5 Ways Music Helps Kids Learn and Grow Ep85
Nov. 13, 2024

5 Ways Music Helps Kids Learn and Grow Ep85

Five Ways Music Help Kids Learn and Grow In this episode, we dive into how music impacts children’s learning and development. Music not only entertains but also strengthens cognitive abilities, enhances brain growth, and boos...