Practice Tips

You can never have enough tips to help motivate students to practice more.  Here is an article with 20 tips that can be used in your classroom.  A good idea would be to print these off and post them on your wall so your students see them every day.

http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/20-practice-tips/

Joystick Euponium

With our discussions this week focusing on this point, I decided to look more into different technologies that could be used in a music class.  Here is an article that looks at some different technologies that could be utilized in a school, included a joystick euphonium.

http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-class-school-participation#comment-85160

Musicians...before they were famous

This is an interesting site I found giving different musicians and what their lives were like "before the were famous"  This could be used in a music history or music appreciation class.

http://musiced.about.com/b/2011/04/18/before-they-were-famous.htm

YouTube in the Classroom

This site seemed extra appropriate this week as this is one of the things we have been exploring.  This site offers ideas on how to use YouTube in your class and how to incorporate other means of technology such as the "flip-cam"  Enjoy!

http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/make-youtube-yourtube/

Legal Music Downloads

One of the best parts about the internet in our classroom is the ability to find music for our students to listen to and analyze.  With the restrictions on downloading, this article shows you different websites that offer free music downloads that can be used in your classroom.

http://musiced.about.com/b/2011/04/11/download-music-legally-2.htm

Musescore and Noteflight

Here is an article talking about the importance of student's learning music by notating it.  The author is just starting to explore both Musescore and Noteflight.  I thought it was interesting because we are also exploring these two notation software.

http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/which-one-is-write/

Jazz Musical Instruments

I love doing units on jazz music with my groups, especially my 5th graders.  I'm always looking for different ideas  to use for teaching these units.  This article talks about the most commonly used instruments in jazz music and goes into detail about each instrument.  A quick and easy reference for any teacher.

http://musiced.about.com/b/2011/04/03/jazz-musical-instruments-3.htm

Talking to audiences during performances.

I can't begin to tell you how important I think it is to inform an audience about the type of music you and your group are performing, especially classical music.  Many people today know so little about Classical music and all of the interesting stories that can accompany a piece.  This article talks about why it is important to talk to your audience.  I like to make my students talk to the audience so they work on their public speaking as well.  Just an added idea for you.

http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/why-talking-to-audiences-is-essential-when-playing-classical-music/

Music Studies Create a Positive Impact on the Brain

We've all heard the argument that music positively influences children.  Well here is an article with some facts to back up that statement.  Especially for me having just had a baby, I plan on getting her involved in the arts and music as early as possible...I mean I need to have some way for her to make it through college and I think a music scholarship would be ideal!!

http://www.foundationformusiceducation.org/archives/745

Time to go back to school

We've all made the decision to go forward with our master's degree in music education, but what about after that.  Going on to attain a doctorate is not only expensive but time consuming.  Here is one person's decision to move on with the education and some reason why they made this decision.  I'm not sure I'm quite there yet and ready to move on past my master's, but maybe one day!

http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/making-the-decision-to-go-back-to-school%E2%80%A6/