The two words we hear in education more than anything else: Classroom Management. One of my former colleagues and close friends has a plaque in her office that says, “I teach music, what’s your superpower?” No group of words has ever been more true.
Festival Music in MakeMusic Cloud
What an exciting (and busy) time of year! No doubt you are deep into rehearsals for your December performances and then a well-deserved holiday break.
Power Up! The Foundations of Music Literacy, Part 2
Alicia DeSoto & Chris Meredith are currently band directors at Lewisville High School in Lewisville ISD, TX.
Literacy: the ability to read and write
Music Literacy: the ability to read, write, and play music
Click here to read part 1.
Open this when you need some inspiration
Thank you for your work in music education! Even on the hardest days, your students are still so lucky to call you their teacher.
Power Up! The Foundations of Music Literacy, Part 1
Alicia DeSoto & Chris Meredith are currently band directors at Lewisville High School in Lewisville ISD, TX.
Literacy: the ability to read and write
Music Literacy: the ability to read, write, and play music
What can we do as music educators to develop music literacy in our classrooms, with the same level of detail and care that elementary school teachers pour into their young readers and writers?
Music for the Holidays
We don’t need to remind you that December performances are right around the corner—your opportunity to spread holiday cheer while showcasing the skills your students have been working on this semester.
Jazz Ensemble Rehearsal Tip: What to Listen To?
When I work with jazz ensembles on style and phrasing, I strongly emphasize that everyone needs to know what instruments they are listening to – and why.
Quick Rehearsal Tip: Creative Warmups for Jazz Ensembles
The jazz ensemble warmup is a great opportunity to teach some scales that are useful in jazz improvisation. Common modes like mixolydian or dorian will help get the players moving around their horns and will also give them some basic improvisational tools.
Classroom and Rehearsal Tips for Choral and Instrumental Programs
Having enjoyed more than thirty years in choral classrooms, I’ve had lots of experience with what works, and what doesn’t.
Beginning Jazz Improv Strategies
Beginning improvisers need our support. We can give them a blues, mixolydian, or dorian scale, but a scale is not a strategy.