This is a tough time of year for everyone. In our school it is finally spring weather after a long winter with more snow days than anyone can remember. We’ve just started our state testing window, right after spring break. My final concert is done and I’ve moved through my end of year growth assessments…
To App or Not to App: Nutcracker Story Books
We’re in the last week before the winter break begins. And, like every other elementary school in the world, our children are wild! Throw in the first snow of the season (with snow day) plus a full moon and we’re all more than ready for a vacation when the last day finally rolls around. In the…
Choosing Video to Support Lesson Concepts
We all have done this from time to time. No voice but no sub? Pull a DVD from the tub! It is a necessary option when you’re stuck at school too sick to teach or have the endless chain of non-music substitutes. But we’ve also heard horror stories about those teachers who use video as…
Tech Tips: Background Lesson Tracks With GarageBand
This is a demonstration of how to use your iPad and GarageBand to make a background track for a lesson activity. It is quick, simple and can add a lot of spark to your lessons!
Tech Tips: Changing Pitch and Tempo of an MP3 File
If your classes are anything like mine, they LOVE to sing with MP3 accompaniment. I subscribe to “Music K-8” and use many of their selections, which are perfect for content and range. Every once in a while though, I run into a situation where the tempo and pitch are not quite right for a group. If one or…
MacGyver It!
Repairing Orff Instruments My students love to work with our Orff mallet instruments. We only have 10 at the present time and there won’t be a budget to purchase more in the near future let alone replace what we currently own. To make matters worse our building went through a fire about 9 years ago…
digitalDoReMi 