How to Disinfect Instruments the Quick & Easy Way With Hula Hoops
One particular week this past winter, I caught some of my preschool kids sucking on their sit spots. Ew!! The classes were also getting smaller and smaller, from kids staying home with the flu. Then COVID-19 came. We closed mid-March, but before that, I was wondering...
What are Boom Cards? A Quick & Easy Overview!
Have you been wondering what the big deal is with Boom Cards? Here’s a quick and simple intro to a powerful classroom tool!
8 Easy Music Ideas To Send Home When School Is Cancelled
With cancellations occurring across the country, there are still ways your youngest music students can stay musical while school is out. You could also send this out at the beginning of the year for parents or caregivers to refer to during snow days. I teach ages 2 -...
A Marching Band Fingerplay Lesson for Toddlers & PreK
My toddler and Preschool music classes love this fun fingerplay lesson on marching bands! It includes singing, movement, and playing instruments. They’ll all want to join the band after these activities! Even though they were made for Pre-K, tots and Kindergarten enjoy theses lesson plan ideas!
ICYMI: Networking for New Music Teachers
I recently wrote a blog post on the importance of networking for The Music Crew. Just click on the image below to check it out!
Sneaky Practice Charts For Instrumental Students This Year
Here's another tool in your toolbox for getting music students to practice their instruments at home. It's part of the foot-in-the-door phenomenon and works well for all sorts of tasks that we tend to put off. The foot-in-the-door technique is a way to coerce someone...
A Fun and Easy Singing Game for “Five Fat Turkeys”
Need an engaging song to sing with your primary students this Fall? Five Fat Turkeys is a popular one and here's a little game I came up with to keep the kids interested while providing plenty of opportunities to sing as a class. I've also just added an adaptation for...
How to Use Simple Routines for Classroom Management in the Music Room
Did you know that simple routines in your music classroom can knock out a majority of unwanted behaviors? If you don't have a clearcut routine for most of your lessons, your students walk in not knowing what to expect. Routines also help students transition from...
How to Use a Music Bracket in Your Classroom
Happy March! Everyone's making their March Madness brackets, why not channel some of that excitement towards music history and appreciation? I got this idea from my amazing former co-worker a few years ago who made a book bracket for the media center. I think the big...
How to Make Clothespin Puppets for Shy Singers
It's common to have primary music students who are reluctant to sing or even say their names. Since puppets in music class help shy kiddos sing, why not make inexpensive puppets for everyone with clothespins? Try using them for warm-ups, vocal play, call &...