Chaotic Harmony Classroom

Where were you when the world shut down? March 13th marks the 5th year anniversary of COVID in the US. Jamie, Jasmine, Jonathan, and Sasha reflect on where they were five years ago, the WILD stories of online learning/teaching, and what they've gained from the pandemic. Don't forget to cast your vote on the Video Game For the Music Class Fantasy Draft (ends March 10 2025): forms.gle/JAvXwWowhPiSFR...

Sasha is back! She shares her story of growing up with a learning disability and how that affects how she approaches teaching. Don't forget to cast your vote on the Video Game For the Music Class Fantasy Draft (ends March 10 2025): forms.gle/JAvXwWowhPiSFRjJ9 Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram and YouTube. Support us on Patreon: Patreon.com/CHClassroom Jonathan Seligman: @mrSeligm...

Professor at SDCC, community organizer, and parent of Jonathan's students: Dr. Kirin Macapugay joins the chat! This is a very thoughtful episode, where Kirin talks about the value of our work, how to advocate for music education, and the difficulty of being a community organizer while being a teacher. Have thoughts? Join us! Don't forget to cast your vote on the Video Game For the Music Class Fant...

Come on and feel the Duh Mwahh! Crystal, Jonathan, and Rodnalyn chat about our experiences on the latest Orff Conference - at Des Moines, IA. We share our thoughts, our favorite sessions, and what we’d love to see from next year. We have some friends from across the country share their thoughts too. Come join us and share YOUR thoughts in the comments. Spiccato: Sleeping Bag Round: Viva La Musica...

Let's have some fun! Today, Jonathan and guests from AROSA bring what they think are the best soundtracks from video games that align with the 8 Laban Efforts. Who decides what's the best? YOU DO! (After Part 2 comes out). So listen as we four bring some great video game music to you! Song of the Week: Saeya Saeya Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram and YouTube. Support us on Patre...

What is backward planning? How DO you get your students to have something presentable for an audience? And shows are a lot of work… why even put ourselves through all of it? This week, Jon and Crystal tackle how to plan lessons that lead to a performance to be proud of. Spiccato: Wrapping Paper Round: Little Tommy Tinker Our Social Media: @ CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crys...

This week we are BACK from fall break. Jon and Crystal recap our vacation adventures. We also celebrate Jon Seligman being named a Music Teacher of Excellence by the Country Music Association! He flew out to Nashville, TN for the awards ceremony. Jon has also been busy here at home attending the MegaArts Conference. Spiccato: Halloween Pumpkin Round: Black Socks Our Social Media: @ CHClassroom Fin...

Crystal and Jon are back! Today, we discuss TK. Transitional Kindergarten! We talk about what it is (because not all states have it universally), why it is, and how it is. If you teach TK or PreK, or your district is moving that direction, this is an episode for you! Let us know your thoughts! Spiccato: Bean Bag Chair Round of the Week: Laugh Ha Ha! Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Crystal Pridmore:...

Today, Rachel Pac joins the chat! She talks about her deep perspective as a young educator, sharing what it was like taking undergrad online amidst COVID and sharing the barriers of becoming a music educator - especially for teachers of color. It's a great talk, so do join us! Our Social Media: @ CHClassroom Crystal Pridmore: @ mrs .pridmore Jonathan Seligman: @ mrSeligman Rachel Pac: @ rachelpr0f...

Oh hey! We have a bonus episode. Here, Jonathan talks with Pauline Crooks and her perspective as an admin. She shares about the annual Mega Arts Conference that's coming up and the importance of connecting with everyone on your team as an arts educator. Come join us! Sign up for Mega Arts Conference 2024 today!  lnkd.in/gKmBKnyg Our Social Media: @ CHClassroom Crystal Pridmore: @ mrs .pridmor...

Jon and Crystal are back in the classroom and back podcasting for season six! We talk about changes at our schools and our favorite back to school activities and procedures. Spiccato: foam roller Round of the Week: Follow Me Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonathan Seligman: @mrSeligman  Email: chaoticharmonyclassroom@gmail...

Welcome back! Olivia Ramirez joins the chat, talking about her journey of being an educator and her life-long passion of becoming a better teacher. Her insight is deep - come join us! Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Crystal Pridmore: @mrs.pridmore Jonathan Seligman: @mrSeligman Olivia Ramirez: @ohheyyyolivia Email: chaoticharmonyclassroom@gmail.com Crystal Pridmore is a co-host of Chaotic Harmony C...

Joshua Block & Betsy Sebring, the fabulous AOSA Teacher Educators leading this year’s Chula Vista Level 2 course, join us to share their own music education journey. Spiccato: Stick Unicorn  Round of the Week: Derry Ding Dong Dason Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonathan Seligman: @mrSeligman  Email: chaoticharmon...

We're wrapping up our last school days of the 2023-2024 school year. We share our own traditions and routines for the final classes of the year. AND Marc is back with a big life update! Round of the Week: Summertime by Rob DelGaudio Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonathan Seligman: @mrSeligman  Email: chaoticharmonyclassro...

Admin love them, teachers love to hate them. Do those “I can” statements hold any value? Our opinion has evolved over the last few years. Spiccato: bubble wrap Round of the week: Hotaru Koi Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonathan Seligman: @mrSeligman  Email: chaoticharmonyclassroom@gmail.com Bryan Pridmore is a financial...

Funny how most of the lessons we learn as teachers are learned in the School of Hard Knocks. This week we share what we wish we had known as new teachers. Spiccato: Origami paper Round of the Week: Frere Jacqus in a minor key Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonathan Seligman: @mrSeligman  Email: chaoticharmonyclassroom@gmai...

We've been sitting on it for a while, but here it is! Our thoughts on NAMM. Actually, 8 peoples' thoughts on NAMM. We interview Darlene Machacon, EJ Villanueva, Anna Ambata, Rhegan Lesher, Marc Keehmer, and Nora Hernandez to share their thoughts on the amazing trade show. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Jonathan Seligman - @mrSeligman; jonseligman.com Crystal Pridmore - crystalpridmore.com Anna A...

We’ve said it before- our upper elementary students are COMPLETELY different than their lower grade counterparts. We almost have to become a completely different person when we teach 4th-6th graders. What does that look like for us? What are we working on to engage them?  Spiccato: What Do You Meme? Round: To Ope Their Trunks Why are upper graders so different? What happens that makes them so...

This week, Crystal and Jonathan talk about what went well during our winter concerts, what we want to focus on in 2024, and how we can find some joy in our work and personal lives this year. As always, we look into ways we can work more rest and balance into our busy lives. Spiccato: The World’s Smallest Violin Round of the Week: Bele Mama Episode 86: Ensembles and General Music- An Impossible Bal...

Dr. Sarah Gulish from F-Flat Books joins Crystal and Jon this week! While at NAMM, we discuss her business, how she strives to uplift differing voices and bring equity to a broken system. Spiccato: Drumstick Pens Round of the Week: Grandma Moses Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonathan Seligman: @mrSeligman F-Flat Books: @fflatb...

It’s a common story- one elementary music teacher is expected to teach general music, choir, and instrumental ensembles. This comes with many challenges, and we talk about what that means in our teaching lives. When we strive for excellence, what does that look like when we are stretched too thin? Spiccato: Audience Participation Ideas Round of the Week: Pepperoni Pizza (To the tune of Kookabura)...

This week, Crystal and Jonathan talk about what went well during our winter concerts, what we want to focus on in 2024, and how we can find some joy in our work and personal lives this year. As always, we look into ways we can work more rest and balance into our busy lives. Spiccato: The World’s Smallest Violin Round of the Week: Bele Mama Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitt...

This week on Chaotic Harmony, Crystal and Jon catch us up on their teaching lives as well as AOSA Conference! There was a ton to experience and both brought some valuable thoughts and wishes for the future. Song of the Week: "We Are Young" by Eric Dozier Spiccato: Solar Powered Calculators Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonatha...

If you've ever hosted a student teacher, you know it's an exciting challenge to help someone launch into their new career. We talk about the lessons we've learned as we've hosted student teachers, reflect on things we learned when we WERE student teachers, and share our goals for the teachers we host.  Round of the Week: Welcome by Avon Gillespie Spiccato: Rubber Pig Dog Toy Our Social Media:...

It's a brand new school year! Jon and Crystal have been hard at work and are nearly finished with Quarter 1 in our year-round schools. We catch up on our summers and talk about our goals for the coming school year. Round of the Week: Sneakers by David Thaxton Spiccato: Plastic Spoons Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonathan Seli...