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.
Power Up! Smart Solutions for Solo Contest
Alicia DeSoto & Chris Meredith are currently band directors at Lewisville High School in Lewisville ISD, TX.
We have been using MakeMusic Cloud (formerly SmartMusic) for a number of years now and one of our favorite applications is the impact of providing students with accompaniment tracks for their solos that can be adjusted for the performance speed of each individual performer.
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?
Power Up! Visual Rhythms
Musicians are multitaskers. Our brains, fingers, and bodies do so many things all at once to perform with our instruments.
4 Tips to Help Non-String Players Teach Strings
Teaching string instruments can be daunting if you are not a string player yourself. Below, I’ve highlighted four areas of focus you can use if you find yourself teaching a string class with little to no experience.
Power Up! The LAWS of Tone and Dynamics
Musicians are multitaskers. Our brains, fingers, and bodies do so many things all at once to perform our instruments. When approaching practice, I encourage students to break things down into small OMGs–Obtainable Musical Goals–rather than attacking everything at once.
Power Up! Fingerboard Geography for the Intermediate and Advanced String Musician
Musicians are multitaskers. Our brains, fingers, and bodies do so many things all at once to perform with our instruments.