Although I don't have a piano lab in my classroom, technology has made it possible for me to teach my middle schoolers keyboard for no expense. Today I describe how I use a free piano keyboard app in my classroom.

The Tension Between Expediency and Rigor

Sep 24th, 2014 6m 25s

Today I discuss what it takes for our music instruction to be rigorous, and why it is important to avoid falling back on expedient but shallow ways.

Responding to Music in the Core Arts Standards and Beyond

Sep 23rd, 2014 5m 47s

Responding to music is beneficial to composers, performers and listeners alike. It is also a natural way to support common core standards without giving up teaching music for literacy. Join me to learn how to effectively use the responding proc

Philosophical Musings on Art and Music

Sep 22nd, 2014 5m 25s

Why is music a core subject? What place does music have in the communities of academics and scholarship? Today I turn to philosophy to examine the value of music in human life.

What Your Students Will Tell You

Sep 19th, 2014 4m 29s

Today I discuss the cues, clues and hints our students give us that help us know what they need and how they want to learn.

Two Realms of Childhood

Sep 19th, 2014 4m 48s

Music inhabits a slightly different realm in the world of a child than stories and story characters. Today, I discuss how music notation fits into these realms.

Easing Musical Transitions

Sep 17th, 2014 6m 10s

Why are transitions in music so difficult to perform well? Today I give a possible answer. You will find it helpful to refer to the musical example in the blog post today, at mramusicplace.wordpress.com

For Our Students, ‘Careers In Music’ Isn’t Just About the Future

Sep 16th, 2014 5m 35s

While we do want to inform our students of career choices in music, teaching them about music careers is also a great platform for classroom music activities now.

Fostering the Desire to Sing in Reluctant Singers

Sep 15th, 2014 5m 16s

Why are some adolescent students reluctant to sing, or even refuse to try at all? Today, I give two answers to this question, and discuss ways to get your teens singing.

Is Meter The Overlooked Element In Your Teaching?

Sep 12th, 2014 4m 42s

Meter detection is probably an innate ability, but meter is also something many listeners, especially students, overlook. Today I share some assessment results and what they told me about teaching meter in my music class.

What’s An Effective Way To Teach A New Song?

Sep 11th, 2014 4m 26s

I love that my students love to sing, but sometimes it's hard to get them to stop singing, and just listen. This is especially true when I am teaching them a new song in General Music class. Today I offer some practical suggestions on how to ge

What Is An Effective Instrumental Routine for Instrumentalists?

Sep 10th, 2014 6m 11s

Many have noted that teaching students how to practice is at least as important as teaching them what to practice. In this episode, I explain a practice routine that will, if followed, yield impressive results.

Teaching Beat Divisions Is Essential To Teaching Rhythms

Sep 9th, 2014 5m 21s

Although we all have our students move to the beat of music, teaching them the subdivisions of the beat is too often overlooked, or approached with methodological uncertainty. Today, I discuss the importance of teaching beat divisions, and offe

An Annotated General Music Lesson Plan

Sep 8th, 2014 5m 25s

Today, I share a lesson plan for first grade general music, and explain it as I go along.

What Are Different Kinds of Movement Used in Music Classes?

Sep 5th, 2014 5m 12s

Today I discuss how to use movement for music education, and the importance of music in experiencing and understanding music.

What Is Music Literacy?

Sep 4th, 2014 5m 52s

Any credible definition of music literacy has to go a lot further than worksheets and note naming. Today I discuss what music literacy really is.

Teaching Students To Manage Their Emotions

Sep 3rd, 2014 6m 4s

Today I share a theory form Psychology that provides tools for teachers to teach their students how to effectively manage their emotions, and prevent classroom disruptions and conflicts.

When Students Exactly Learn What We Did Not Intend To Teach

Sep 2nd, 2014 5m 59s

Sometimes, we teachers think we are teaching one thing, only to find out that our students learned something very different, and now have a misunderstanding to unlearn. Today I give to examples of methods sometimes used that can have this resul

Reflections On A New School Year

Aug 29th, 2014 5m 36s

Getting a good start is always important. Teachers do some really important things for students all year, but some of them are especially helpful in strengthening or starting good habits and attitudes that will carry the year. Today I discuss s

How To Use The Core Arts Standards To Teach Students To Interpret, Evaluate, and Rehearse

Aug 28th, 2014 5m 16s

At this stage in the performing process, students arrive at the creative work, and the part we more often think of as being part of preparing music for performance. If the previous stages have been carried out well, putting the results together

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