Chaotic Harmony

Crystal talks about a blog post she recently published on the ACEMM website in collaboration with Lisa Sempsey. Lisa recalled a conference session she attended as a new teacher in which the presenter encouraged participants to beg, borrow, and steal ideas from other teachers as they grew in their craft. AOSA www.aosa.org American Orff Schulwerk Association The American Center for Elemental Music a...

Crystal talks about the article she co-wrote with Drue Bullington for the Winter 2022 Orff Echo. She and Jon unpack the content and discuss what makes a great educator. Round of the Week: Join Me in Our Circle, folk song, lyrics Crystal Pridmore Spiccato: Dominos Drue Bullington www.druebullington.com AOSA www.aosa.org American Orff Schulwerk Association The American Center for Elemental Music and...

Jesse is back this week to share in detail his process for creating a collaborative all-school album with his students. How do they take part in the digital audio workshop and learn how to build songs? Round of the Week: Track from Jesse’s Album- Pajamas All the Time Spiccato: Lego Minifigures Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jon...

Jesse Rogers talks about building his music program at a different site than he was working for when we last talked to him in 2019. He is passionate about involving as many students as possible in the music making process, and he’s doing that through music production. Band Lab Chrome Music Lab Quaver Round of the Week: Dynamite! Round from YouTube Channel Musical Futures Spiccato: Sticky Notes Our...

Our undergrad and credential programs tried to prepare us to enter the classroom, but we both had plenty left to learn when we started teaching. In this episode, we talk about what we wish we had known before we got our full time teaching jobs. Spiccato: Shoebox Round of the Week: Walking Walking Teaching quarter, eighths, quarter rests, articulation Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Insta...

This week we talk about the pile of challenges educators are facing. From large numbers of student absences to staff absences to the sub shortage to changing COVID protocols, this year has lead to an epic teacher struggle. We are here to let you know that we’re right there in it with you, listeners. Spiccato: Shruti Box Round of the Week: Come to School Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on In...

Jessandra and Leah are back to talk about the challenges they have faced this school year and the joys that keep them going. They also share words of wisdom for people entering their first year teaching this next school year. Spiccato: Butterfly/ TidePool Nets Round of the Week: Frog in the Bog Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jo...

Jessandra and Leah join us this week to talk about starting their teaching careers in 2021 after experiencing student teaching during distance learning due to COVID quarantine. We learn how these passionate teachers decided to make music education their professional paths. Spiccato: Rice Paddle Round of the Week: Love Round Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Cr...

This week we talk about Zaretta Hammond's ideas about the 3 layers of culture and how to be a culturally responsive teacher when you teach hundreds of kids. Spiccato: Magic Wand Round of the Week: The Birthday Round Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonathan Seligman: @mrSeligman Email: chaoticharmonyclassroom@gmail.com Bryan Prid...

This week we answer a listener email about our daily classroom practices. We get into how they have changed, especially since coming back from distance learning. We mention the books Lazlo Learns Recorder by Vicky Weber and Fluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner. Spiccato: Magic Bag Round of the Week: A Round is a Circle Tom Chapin Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube C...

This week we dig more into the root causes of burnout. We talk about Brene Brown's book Atlas of the Heart and her compilation of the research about Stress and Overwhelm and how they specifically correlate to music educators teaching in this post lockdown reality. Spiccato: Toilet Plunger Round of the Week: This Pretty Planet by John Foster and Tom Chapin Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on...

This week we talk about Jon and Crystal’s plan to put on a winter showcase. It’s not virtual, but it’s not entirely in person either. We also discuss what things we plan to keep or change here in the “after times.” Spiccato: Cotton Balls Song of the Week: Mrs. Pridmore’s Snowball Scarf Song Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Crystal Pridmore: @FinneyVAPA Jonath...

This week we recap Crystal’s webinar through Teaching With Orff titled “Becoming a Burnout Resistant, Trauma Informed Music Teacher.” This school year has been different than any other year as the world comes back into “analog” learning. Teachers, students, and admin are all dealing with burnout and trauma in simultaneous and vastly different ways. How we choose to process that trauma and move for...

This week we hear how 2021’s AOSA conference went for Jon. He loved the focus on cultural responsibility and social justice in the classroom--from Doug Goodkin’s session on Joy, Jazz, and Justice to the powerful session on Japanese American Internment through song and movement with the Inoyue sisters. Do listen to hear how these powerful ideas can be utilized in the classroom. Spiccato: Electric C...

In this episode, Crystal & Jon talk about what teachers need to really thrive in their workplace. From physical to emotional and everything in between, the need teachers have are wide ranging and vary in different geographic and professional environments. Spiccato: Dinosaur Dance by Sandra Boynton Round of the Week: Song Rocky Mountain and Walking Home Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Ins...

It's August! It's a new school year! And this is Marc's last episode as he's taken the position of Chula Vista's Visual and Performing Arts coordinator. In this episode, we reflect on the many transitions happening, on how we we're getting old and don't understand Zoomer memes, on what it means to be getting mature in the profession, and we look to what is to come during this new season and new ye...

This whole year, Chula Vista VAPA has been in distance learning. I'm sure many of you music teachers have been in the same. This week, we talk about what we anticipate as things come back in. After over a year of seeing us only on computers, how are we going to bring kids back into the analog classroom? Do things change? How do we navigate the parameters? We tackle all this, so join us! Spiccato:...

We get it. We’re music teachers. We understand what we do and we understand our value. But to outsiders, it’s hard to define what we do. After all, it just looks like we’re only having fun. So what do music teachers do and how specifically do we help grow children? Crystal, Marc, and Jon dig deep into this discussion. Join us! Song of the Week: "Gak Goon Went the Little Green Frog" Our Social Medi...

It's May. At least in California, COVID is easing up. So let's check in! In this episode, Crystal, Jon, & Marc reflect on how we've been the past three months, discuss how COVID has provided opportunities for confidence to grow, and what do we want to use when we eventually go back in person. Join us! Song of the Week: "Follow Me" Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or You...

In this episode, Crystal, Jon, & Marc talk about what teachers need to really thrive in their workplace. From physical to emotional and everything in between, the need teachers have are wide ranging and vary in different geographic and professional environments. Song of the Week: "Johnny Grim" lesson by Mr. DelGaudio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljXXJ8BO4fk&ab_channel=MrDelGaudio Mr DelGaudio's...

In this episode, Crystal, Jon, & Marc talk about how each of them is handling concerts during this year of distance learning. They also examine patterns of behavior in their personal and professional lives that they want to change. Song of the Week: "The Leaf Man" round by Crystal Pridmore Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Marc Keehmer: @mrKeehmer Crystal Prid...

In this episode, Marc, Crystal, and Jon talk with Manju Durairaj about a wealth of topics—from cultural responsiveness to appreciation vs. appropriation to using technology in a 21st century music room, to teachers creating content and materials relevant to their classroom. Join us! Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Manju Durairaj: @manjudurairaj Marc Keehmer:...

In this episode, Marc, Crystal, and Jon share a nugget of wisdom as well as an activity they're experimenting for this trying year. It's different year. A weird one. But all three share insights from a different perspectives to ensure our community that we don't go too far one way. Song of the Week: "This Land is Your Land" Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Ma...

In this episode, Crystal, Jon, Zoe & Marc talk to Dr. David Frego about creating a culture of movement in the classroom through Dalcroze Eurhythmics. This episode was recorded in March 2020 before the COVID shutdown. Song of the Week: "The Scat Song" or "The Doo Doot Round" Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Marc Keehmer: @mrKeehmer Zoe Kumagai: @msKumagai Crys...

In this episode, Crystal, Jon, & Marc talk about the 2020/2021 school year. We check in with each other on how teaching is going, and how distance learning isn't perfect, and we as teachers need to show ourselves a little bit of grace. Song of the Week: Casillas Elementary Alumni Choir present Switchfoot's "Float" Our Social Media: @CHClassroom Find Us on Instagram, Twitter or Youtube Marc Keehmer...