The Anacrusic Podcast

Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m sharing a little life update with all of you!! Yes, I just had my second baby girl, and it has been wonderful, but it’s also been HARD. Today I’m sharing some of my thoughts about change and how it pertains to us as music teachers. What I’ve noticed, what has been helping, and how I think it can help you! (*disclaimer: this episode is super conversational and to...

Today on TAP, I’m chatting with Taylor Middleton all about her experience using technology in the music classroom. In our chat, Taylor shares all of her real life experiences implementing and supplementing her elementary curriculum with technological enhancements. And bonus--she has tips to help you do the same!!   Check out the full show notes here—> https://anacrusic.com/podcast/69   Don’t fo...

Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m talking with Abby Pagryzinski all about life as a middle school choir director. Now, hold the phone, music teacher friends! Even if you don’t teach middle school (and Lord know, I don’t!) our conversation was full of tips and tricks that I KNOW you will find valuable and meaningful for your classroom. Abby and I chat about all the things, including selecting rep...

Today on the podcast I’m talking with Nancy Killoran all about her first year of teacher and the impact it had on her vocal health. Nancy shares her difficult experience and offers tips to music teachers about how to nourish (and legit SAVE!) your instrument that you use each and every day for every part of your teaching.   Check out the full show notes here—> https://anacrusic.com/podcast/67  ...

Today on the podcast, I’m talking with my friend and fellow member of the TpT Music Crew, Lindsey Schroder, all about building classroom culture. I absolutely loved getting a chance to talk with Lindsey, particularly about this topic, because her passion for people and community is absolutely bursting at the seams. I know you’ll love her energy and her approach to building a classroom culture. Spo...

Today on the podcast, I’m chatting with Angela Staron about her experience as a music teacher teaching outside of the United States. Angela shares some great tips and thoughts for any music teachers who might be interested in living that adventurous lifestyle overseas, and share a few things that reminds us that no matter where we are, we all face the same joys and challenges as music teachers!  ...

Today on TAP, I’m chatting with Anacrusic community member Bryson Tarbet about Special Learners in the Music Classroom. This is a topic that is pertinent to all of us as music teachers, since we so often see everyone in our building, and only for a limited amount of time. Bryson has some great tips for how to accommodate all of our students to make sure they have a fulfilling and meaningful musica...

Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m chatting with my friend Kami all about her experience as a Kodály-inspired teacher. This is obviously a topic very near and dear and close to my heart, and Kami and I talk all things training, teaching practice, and how other pedagogical approaches really work together with Kodály-inspired teaching to create a comprehensive toolkit for music teaching.   Check ou...

Today on the podcast I’m chatting with Cat Woo all about setting up your classroom for success. Even as we’re already a couple of weeks (or months!) into the school year, I know that this conversation with Cat will give you some amazing points to think about as you start getting into the groove of the new school year.   Check out the full show notes here—> https://anacrusic.com/podcast/62   Don...

Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, we are kicking off Season 4 with a BANG!! This season is all about community, and I can’t wait for you to hear the inspiring stories from music teachers just like you who are all a part of The Anacrusic Community. Make sure that you join the TAP Insiders Group on Facebook to interact with all of your amazing colleagues throughout our next several weeks together. Aft...

Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m keeping things short and sweet (I mean, for real this time) as we wrap up Season 3 and look ahead to the new school year. I’m sharing some exciting announcements, a brand new FREE resource for your lesson planning, and my favorite TAP episodes to jumpstart your school year!   Check out the FREE lesson planning guide here → https://anacrusic.com/lesson   Want mor...

Today on TAP, I’m sharing Part II of The Ultimate Back to School Checklist for Music Teachers. If you haven’t listened to Part I, that is a great place to start (click here to listen→ https://anacrusic.com/podcast/58 ) Today we’re wrapping up the rest of the things you should be thinking about as the school year kicks off again. We’ll chat setting up your classroom for active music making, plannin...

Today on TAP, I’m sharing Part I of The Ultimate Back to School Checklist for Music Teachers. Now, this isn’t all about how to get your bulletin boards ready or what songs to do on the first day, but it is all about setting up systems to make your classroom successful in the new year. I’m chatting how to set up some rules & procedures, as well as your opening & closing sequences for your l...

We’re coming off of two episodes where I shared some of my favorite resources for lessons, both curriculum guides and song collections, was well as some other things you can use to enhance your lessons by way of manipulatives, story books, and other little somethings to give it pizazz.   But the question still remains: how do you choose what songs to put into your lessons? How do you sift through...

Today on the podcast, in part II of this two part series, I’m chatting all about where to find STUFF for your music classroom. If you’re looking for some great ways to include lesson enhancements and make your teaching come alive, this is the place to be!! Today I’m sharing all about manipulatives, technology, and some additional teaching resources you might not have thought of before.   Check out...

Today on the podcast, I’m chatting all about where to find STUFF for your music classroom. If you feel like you don’t have a good library of resources to create meaningful and engaging lessons for your students, today’s episode is for you! I’m sharing my 10 favorite printed resources (of the moment) for all things active music making in the elementary general music classroom. Everything from song...

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m talking all about why you need to take a break this summer. So much of our identity as music teachers is wrapped up in what we do, and while it’s important to grow professionally and musically in the summer, it’s also important to take a moment to breathe while we have the chance. Today’s chat is your signed permission slip to chill out a little bit...

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m chatting with Alicia McCormick all about her first year as an elementary music teacher. Whether you are a first year teacher, a fifth year teacher, or have been teaching for many many years, I have no doubt that her optimism and excitement for teaching and getting intentional about what happens in the music classroom will inspire and motivate you.  ...

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m with my friend, Jessica Grant, from the Afternoon Ti Podcast. Jessica is a fabulous general music teacher, who just so happens to teach general music in middle school. You better believe that she has all the tips on developing relationships and making magic happen inside of the middle school music room.    Check out Jessica’s podcast here→ http://af...

Did you hear? The doors to my program, The Sequencing Solution are open for a limited time! Click here to join today → anacrusic.com/tss   Today I’m sharing my 5 Tips for Lesson Planning. This past week, I hosted a Free Music Teacher Workshop, “The Ultimate Music Lesson Planning Roadmap.” But in case you missed it, I wanted to make sure all the TAP listeners had a chance to get a little peek insid...

PSST!! Have you signed up for my FREE lesson planning workshop yet? It’s the ultimate music lesson planning roadmap: how to plan the perfect lesson without the overwhelm. Snag your seat here→ anacrusic.com/lesson   Today on the podcast I’m answering questions from YOU, the Anacrusic community. These are questions that have been submitted via the Anacrusic Facebook page, the TAP Insiders Group on F...

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m talking about five times we need to give ourselves grace as music teachers. And trust me, there are WAY more than five.   Music teachers are perfectionists. Take a moment and let that sink in, because odds are it is 100% the truth. (Or, you know, at least 80%). I saw this meme on Facebook the other day that said something about rewriting something o...

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m chatting with the fantastic David Row. If you don’t know David from his wonderful blog, podcast, or weekly facebook lives, you are in for a complete treat. Aside from being a terrific Orff-inspired pedagog, David is one of the friendliest people I have ever had the pleasure of interviewing on the podcast. Today, we talk candidly about what it’s real...

Today on TAP, I’m chatting with my friend Victoria Boler of We Make the Music about all things planning and assessment. When I first came across Victoria (on Instagram, of course), I felt like we were music teacher kindred spirits--and after talking with her more, I know that we are. The way she thinks so beautifully about sequencing and big picture music teaching is 100% my jam. Today she’s shari...

Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, we’re continuing our conversation all about children’s choir. This time, my good friend and all things choir guru, Beth Philemon, is joining the conversation. She’s sharing some super important tips about why you should start a choir, auditioning, and thinking about meaningful repertoire for your students.   Check out the full show notes & resources mentioned in...