Episodes
May 19, 2023
Episode 16 - Rhythm is Gonna Get You: Inspiring Creativity and Improvisation Through Drumming in the Music Classroom
In today's episode, we're diving into the exciting world of drumming activities in the elementary music classroom. Join me as I explore creative and interactive ways to incorporate drums and rhythm into your lessons. Get read...
May 10, 2023
Episode 15 May Madness Sanity Savers 7 Tips When You’re Taking Your Music Class Outside
Get ready to step outside of the classroom and dive into a world of musical adventure. Whether you're looking to review note values with Four Square, get your students bouncing to the beat with Bouncy Ball Note Values, or sne...
May 3, 2023
Episode 14 - 5 May Storybooks to Engage & Entertain Your Students in the Music Classroom
5 May Storybooks to Engage & Entertain Your Students in the Music Classroom. Today we're going to be discussing five fantastic storybooks that you can use to engage and entertain your students in the music classroom this May....
April 26, 2023
Episode 13 - Move it Groove it - 9 Ways to Add More Movement to Your Elementary Music Classroom
Welcome to the Move it Groove it podcast, where we explore creative ways to incorporate movement into your elementary music classroom. Today's episode is all about adding more movement to your lessons. First off, we'll be dis...
April 19, 2023
Episode 12 - Concert Crunch Time Three Strategies for the Elementary Music Teacher
Concert season is approaching (or maybe it's already here for you). In this episode we'll help elementary music teachers navigate through the challenges of concert season. Today's episode will focus specifically on 3 strateg...
April 12, 2023
Episode 11 - Combat the Crazy - A Music Teacher's Guide to Surviving Test Week
Rules for activities during testing weeks: Review only Use your most fun activities No thinking involved High engagement Little to no talking Keep it quiet What to teach during testing week: Steady beat activities Fun manipul...
April 5, 2023
Episode 10 - Discover the Magic of Reading to Your Students - 7 Storybooks for Spring
Seven Spring Storybook Lessons: Little Rabbit Foo Foo by Michael Rosen and Arthur Robins This storybook is great to teach: melody, instrument play, movement Good News, Bad News by Jeff Mack This storybook is great to teach: m...
March 29, 2023
Episode 9 - Author Spotlight: The Mind Behind the brand new children's picture book, The Showdown Symphony
Join me as I interview Kevin & Leah Klein, authors of the brand new storybook, The Showdown Symphony . They've written an adorable new picture book that is Peter & the Wolf-esk, with a theme for each adorable animal and a fu...
March 22, 2023
Episode 8 - Cracking the Code: 3 Proven Strategies to Engage Big Kids During Concert Prep
Three Tips for Choosing Concert Rep Your Big Kids Will Connect With 3 Tips for Choosing Concert Rep: Let your students choose the music. Break out the cool manipulatives. Let them design the way they want to present the song....
March 15, 2023
Episode 7 - How to Use Your Spidy Senses to Help Your Exceptional Learners Feel Comfortable in Your Music Classroom
How to Use Your Spidey Sense to Help Your Exceptional Learners Feel Great in Your Music Classroom Tips for Using Your Spidey Senses: Always be watching your students’ expressions. Just because they can’t participate in the sa...
March 8, 2023
Episode 6 - Rising Stars: Unleashing the Superpowers of Your Exceptional Learners!
“We rise to great heights by a winding staircase of small steps.” - Francis Bacon Recognize that watching your exceptional learners take teeny tiny steps will be one of the most fulfilling and joyful parts of your job. Except...
March 1, 2023
Seuss Up Your Life - 5 Life Lesson from Dr. Seuss to Boost Your Motivation
Five Life Lessons from Dr. Seuss: Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. Why fit in when you were born to stand out? You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes....
Feb. 22, 2023
Harmonizing Differences - Teaching Acceptance in the Music Room
Harmonizing Differences - Teaching Acceptance in the Music Classroom Through music, we can teach about different cultures, different religions, different socioeconomic statuses, peoples’ minds, and bodies that work differentl...
Feb. 15, 2023
Let the Rhythm Move You: 5 Incredible Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Your Music Classroom!
How to Celebrate Black History Month in the Music Classroom 3 Storybooks to Use During Black History Month Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford Charlie Parker played Be Bop by Chris Raschka Rap a Tap Tap, Here...
Feb. 14, 2023
From Train Wreck to Rock Star Music Teacher
The origin story of the Happy Music Teacher! In this episode I share what my classroom was like during my first few weeks of teaching and believe me, it wasn’t pretty. But I figured it out, and I want to help you figure it ou...
Feb. 12, 2023
5 Steps to Starting the Next 6 Months of Your School Year with a Bang
Five Steps to Start the Second Half of the School Year Off Right Get back into the routine with a fluffy lesson. Review your procedures and transitions - inside of an actual lesson if you can. Revamp and change the things tha...
Feb. 12, 2023
7 Types of Lesson Plans to the Second Half of Your Year So Much Fun
7 Types of Lesson Plans to Make the Second Half of Your Year So Much Fun Review Transitions and Procedures by incorporating them into your lessons. Icebreakers Form lessons All play around the circle using Orff instruments Re...