If you’re a first year elementary music teacher, you are probably wondering one big question: What do I actually teach?! Of course, you know that you need to teach rhythm and melody but… What else? What rhythms? What melodies? What other things? In what order? In this blog post, we’re going to talk all about… Continue reading What do I teach in elementary music?
Category: Elementary Music
Everything about teaching elementary music! Instruments, classroom management, songs, etc.
4 Most Helpful Tips for the Beginning of the Year in Elementary Music
Have you ever heard someone say teachers don't smile until Christmas? Well, don't fall for it. But they say that because the beginning of the year is the most important part-- it sets the tone for the rest of the year. I would venture to say the first few weeks of elementary music are the… Continue reading 4 Most Helpful Tips for the Beginning of the Year in Elementary Music
Ocean Themed Folk Songs and Ocean Animal Composition Activities
Maybe it's because I live in Savannah, Georgia (on the coast), but I love including ocean themed folk songs, listening activities, and lessons in my elementary music classroom. Every culture around the world has water-themed songs, and most also have ocean songs, which make it a great place to start including pieces from around the… Continue reading Ocean Themed Folk Songs and Ocean Animal Composition Activities
Helpful Tips for First Year Elementary Music Teachers
If you’re reading this, chances are you are a first year elementary music teacher-- or about to become one. You probably just got hired, and you are so excited. But…. Also a little bit scared. Don’t worry-- all first year elementary music teachers feel scared, anxious, and overwhelmed. All first year teachers feel that way.… Continue reading Helpful Tips for First Year Elementary Music Teachers
Easy + Fun Ways To Teach Sol + Mi With Star Light, Star Bright
Star Light, Star Bright is a fun folk song to teach kindergarten, first grade, and second grade elementary music students about sol and mi or quarter and eighth notes. Although the song is quite common, these lessons are not. Make sure you read down to the extensions so that you get all of the ideas… Continue reading Easy + Fun Ways To Teach Sol + Mi With Star Light, Star Bright
Little Silver Moon : a Chinese Folk Song Lesson for Quarter Rest
Do you ever find a folk song that you didn’t know existed, but once you did, you couldn’t believe you hadn’t ALWAYS had it? That is how Little Silver Moon is for me. I discovered it at the beginning of this year, and I am now obsessed-- and so are my second graders! Little Silver… Continue reading Little Silver Moon : a Chinese Folk Song Lesson for Quarter Rest
The Best Movement Activities For K-1 Elementary Music Lessons
If you want your students to be engaged, you need to have movement activities in your classroom. Movement allows students to feel things in their bodies, get the wiggles out, and be actively engaged in the lesson. In this post, we’re talking about 10 of my favorite lower grade movement activities. This is certainly not… Continue reading The Best Movement Activities For K-1 Elementary Music Lessons
6 Easy + Fun Elementary Music Lessons for Cinco de Mayo
Looking for some fun and easy lessons for Cinco de Mayo? These lessons are perfect to celebrate Hispanic culture, or practice some related ideas. I'll keep the introduction short, so let's get started! Want some free resources? Join the FREE Resource Library! After joining, you’ll get access to a library with powerpoints, lyric sheets, quizzes,… Continue reading 6 Easy + Fun Elementary Music Lessons for Cinco de Mayo
En la Pulga : Easy Hispanic Folk Song Lesson for 3 grade
You know those songs that you learn and just fall in love with? This is one of them. I came across it in one of my textbooks as I was looking for ideas for Hispanic Heritage Month, and I’ve used it every year since them. In this article, we’ll go through this super simple lesson… Continue reading En la Pulga : Easy Hispanic Folk Song Lesson for 3 grade
6 Ways to Teach What a Wonderful World for Elementary Music
April is Jazz month! The last few weeks, we’ve been talking all about ideas for teaching jazz (you can check out ideas for upper grades here or for lower grades here). Today, we’re talking all about activities for What a Wonderful World in elementary music. I use this song with every grade level, just with… Continue reading 6 Ways to Teach What a Wonderful World for Elementary Music