The Elementary Music Teacher Podcast: Music Education

Preparing to have a substitute teacher in the music room is so tough.  Most of the time you get a non-musical sub, and knowing what to leave for them and how to keep it simple for yourself is a bit tricky.  In this episode, Liz Kutschke gives some amazing advice about how she prepares for having a substitute teacher and shares her struggles in how to keep moving forward as a teacher when...

Have you ever seen a baby crawl?  Each child learns to crawl at different times and does it when they're ready.  They then also learn how to walk in their own time frame.  Just like a baby, you have to learn the basics first this school year, just like when you were a brand new teacher.  Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is teaching.  You’ll always be evolving and cha...

The year of 2020 was probably one of the hardest years many of us have ever faced.  Right along with you, I had to pivot with what I talked about on this podcast.  I knew I still wanted a sense of normalcy with helping you to be the best music teacher and to keep moving forward with confidence, but I also knew I needed to have episodes, both solo and with amazing guests, about the REAL c...

Maybe you feel like you're on a music teacher island, especially this school year.  You already feel alone as an elementary music teacher, and this year, you're craving a sense of community and a support system more than ever.  In this episode, you'll hear from 5 music teachers, just like you, who are a part of the HARMONY membership community.  They share their stories of joining t...

The overwhelm is so real right now.  In this episode, I share a story about how I had a tech week from heck, how I continued moving forward, and I want to help you to do the same.  It's so important to keep moving forward no matter what.  A lot of it is about mindset, although this doesn't mean that everything is all sunshine and rainbows, but about focusing on the bigger goal which...

This school year, you've probably had to adapt instruction... like a lot.   This "new normal" can cause serious feelings of overwhelm, and to be honest, you probably miss teaching music like you usually get to in a regular school year.  In this episode, I'm joined by Taylor Nardone, who shares how he's adapted his instruction for his students.  He talks about finding the silver...

As a music teacher, you know the Winter months (especially December) can be the most stressful time of the year!  You want to have joy during the Winter months, but it's so hard trying to meet the needs of your students while their energy levels go way up.  Have you heard the phrase "if you can't beat them, join them?"  This is kind of the philosophy you should have in the colder mo...

Today's episode is with Steve Giddings, from stevesmusicroom.com , who is an amazing music educator not afraid to think outside of the box.  In this episode, we discuss rock and popular music ensembles and also what informal learning really is.  We also talk about creativity in the music room and how to help your students be their most creative selves while letting them be in control of...

2020 has been one for the record books and it’s been a lot to deal with.  It’s so easy to only see the negative parts of this year because that’s what’s thrown in our faces literally every second of every day.  But, when you stop and think about what you’re thankful for, focusing on the good will help you to remember there’s more to be thankful for than you realize. In this episode, I'm...

Are you wanting to do performances or programs with your students, but it seems a bit "tricky" this school year? In this episode, I'll share some simple ideas to still have amazing performances with your students and to help you think outside the box a bit.  These are several ideas mentioned in the episode you can share with the other students, teachers, and families: Record the kids singing...

I met Courtney virtually at the International Music Education Summit.  We were both presenters, and after attending her session, I knew I needed to have her on the podcast.  Courtney has such a heart and passion for teaching her students and they absolutely love her music classes.  She has a unique way of making music education relevant to her students.  One of the things I lov...

Let's face it.  Every lesson will not go according to plan.  There will be lessons that bomb in one way or another.  The important thing is to know it's not just you and that this happens to every teacher at one point or another.  Also, keep moving forward and don't give up or think this makes you a bad teacher if things don't go well on a certain day.  In this episode, I'...

In this episode, I sat down to talk with Bill Henry all about his music podcast for kids, teaching with e-learning, and his advice around using creativity in your classroom.  Bill Henry is a 14-year elementary music teacher for Cecil County Public Schools in Maryland and was the 2020 Teacher of the Year nominee for Perryville Elementary School. Bill has presented for the Maryla...

Every single music teacher is different and that's a good thing!  How boring would it be if everyone was exactly the same?   In this episode, taken directly from a Facebook live I did, I'm talking about how you get to still be you even while using technology to teach.   Technology doesn't replace you as a music teacher, even if it feels like that some days, and in this episode you'l...

In this episode, Jenny Delacruz talks about how to help kids cope with the impact of COVID-19.  During our conversation, we discuss not just COVID, but also how books can help kids process trauma of all kinds.  She explains how to incorporate books into the music room and why it's so crucial we continue reading to kids. Jenny Delacruz is a Haitian American Writer, a wife, and a mother of...

In your teacher life, things can get so stressful.  You constantly have things swirling around in your mind and it can cause you to feel stuck.   This episode will help you to process through those "what if" questions like... "what if my students can sing" so you can move forward with confidence in your teaching.  Get the "What If" graphic organizers on my TPT store here.  Join...

Today on the podcast, I'm talking to Stephanie Leavell about songwriting AND teaching music to preschool and kindergarten students.  We talk about her process for songwriting and how she doesn't complicate it, teaching music, using music for transitions, and musical cues that work amazingly well with the littlest of students.  Stephanie Leavell is a board certified music therapist, music...

These are 5 tips that work great when it comes to helping your student teacher thrive.  Of course there are more ideas I could share, but these are my favorite ideas that I’ve shared with teachers when they ask me where to start with a student teacher.  Go to coffee or invite them to meet you before they ever step foot into your classroom, whether that be in person or virtually.   K...

Robert Franz joins me on the podcast to talk about his experience being a director and a conductor and how he is passionate about bringing live music to kids.  He also discusses why active listening is so important and shares ways he goes about doing this with kids through in person concerts and while kids are at home learning.  Acclaimed conductor, Robert Franz, recognized as “an outsta...

This school year, you may find yourself with a crazy schedule.  Not only are you possibly teaching virtually, on a cart, in person, or a combination of all of the above, but you also might have a schedule that looks like a complete hot mess. In this episode, I'm break down the crazy schedules you might find yourself with and will provide you with action steps to help you move forward.  J...

This episode is a conversation about inclusion and literature in the music room.  Charissa does a fantastic job of breaking down what inclusion is, how to help all students to feel included in the music room, and why using a variety of literature in your music room is so important. Charissa Duncanson has taught K-5th grade general music in the Metro Detroit Area for six years. Born and raised...

I can't WAIT to share this episode with you today.  My book "Make A Note: What You Really Need To Know About Teaching Elementary Music" is available.  This book has been on my heart to write for several years now and I'm excited to share a portion of the book on today's episode.  The book goes into detail about what you need to know about: Life Feelings The first year Teaching music...

Today's episode is a such a great conversation with Darlene Machacon.  We're both pianists AND music teachers, and we talk about how to bring that unique perspective into the music room.  Darlene talks about how she goes about planning her lessons and why she leaves space in her planning to add in new activities she finds throughout each month.  Also, she talks about the importance...

Teaching music virtually is something you may have never thought you would be doing.  It's a learning curve and comes with it's own unique challenges, especially if it's out of your comfort zone. With COVID-19, so many teachers became virtual teachers all of a sudden.  I asked my friend Michelle Rose to come on the podcast to talk about her experience with virtual teaching so that you ca...

So much has been on my heart lately, especially in regards to going back to school.  The worry, anxiety, and overwhelm parents, students, and teachers alike are facing is surreal.   I wanted to record this episode today for a couple of reasons.  First of all, you're not alone.  I'm praying for you as you go back to school and completely get the feelings you're probably feeling....