A Bicycle Built for Two

Click here to view my project ("A Bicylce Built for Two")
To be honest, Noteflight was not my favorite program for basic notation.  But I was able to find both pros and cons related to my experience with Noteflight.  First of all, the price was right for the program.  Music programs across the country routinely face budget cuts and other financial hardships.  So, when you find something that is FREE, you tend to remember it!  Overall, the program seemed relatively user friendly.  However, I found myself becoming more frustrated with the little things that never seemed to go right...I guess that a program should be able to read my mind (haha). 

When thinking about the field of music education and the Noteflight experience, it would be extremely simple to incorporate this notation program into any curriculum.  From an assignment perspective, students could easily share work with teachers and other students.  The online format of Noteflight would allow various individuals to critique/comment on someone's score, while still being able to promote creativity and individuality.  Students would also be able to work collaboratively on a given piece.  All of these things, as well as the price for the program, make Noteflight a valuable resource to remember.

World Music Lesson Plans

Hello everyone!  I just got this through my PLN.  If you are looking for some good resources to teach World Music lessons, look no further.  Fun Music Company has produced a great resource that is perfect on any budget.  Student books and 14 individual lesson plans / presentations for only $40!  I consider that a deal!  Check it out! 

Incredible Performance!

I found this video and thought that it was AMAZING! A solo pianist first performs, but then she describes the method of composition. To top it all off...she has a volunteer from the audience select five pitches which is immediately turned into a very expressive piece of music through improvisation.

Even though some consider improvising a difficult skill to master, Jennifer Lin makes it look like child's play. Just thought that I'd share it with you all!

Great Website with Great Resources

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am always looking for helpful websites and how to incorporate them into my classroom.  Check out this site from the NY Philharmonic!  It has several great points...famous composers, conductors,  & soloists (all with a short bio), games, instrument identification, and even basic composition/orchestration activities.  If you get a chance, I think that it might be well worth your time...especially if you are an elementary general music teacher.

Who wants some free money? How about some new supplies?

I thought that I should share a recent expereince with all of you!  My classroom, similar to several around the country, has an instrument inventory that needs to be updated.  Some classroom materials are definitely usable, but others are either severely damaged or beyond repair.  However, budget constraints don't really allow me the opportunity to purchase new instruments that would total about $10,000.  Through the help of a local insurance representative, I learned about a website known as Donors Choose.  This is a great site to post "projects" that need some help to be funded.

I will be honest, I wasn't sure about the success of the site, but through the generosity of perfect strangers, some of my materials are in the process of being replaced.  (My first project of $400 was completely funded in 6 days!  Another $400 project was funded in about 4 days!)  If you have budget problems and can't seem to find the extra money within your district, don't forget about those who still want to help!  Who wants some free money for their classroom?  Who needs some new supplies?  If you answered yes to either of these, take a few minutes to check out the website.  

Music Education Resources

The music program at Highland Park Elementary (Lee's Summit, MO) has a great website that is full of resources for any music teacher.  I would recommend the teacher resources section of the site, but there are tons of good examples and activities about how to incorporate music technology into everyday music education.

(As a side note...if you go to a state music conference and Greg Foreman is presenting, I would strongly recommend going to his sessions.  He has a lot of great ideas and is willing to share anything with a fellow music educator.)

ENJOY!

Music Theory Skills - Ear Training

Hey everyone! I can't speak for the rest of you, but I am always trying to find some new websites to help some of my private students with various musical concepts. This website just came to my attention from the Music Matters Blog. It's called the Theta Music Trainer and if you get time, check it out! I played the paddle game and it seems to really work on ear training. Although some of the games are not accessible without creating a FREE ACCOUNT, students should be able to get some good training time out of the non-account holder games.

3 year old Jonathan conducting to the 4th movement of Beethoven's 5th Sy...

Ok...so I have a feeling that this kid has some musical parents! Whether you like what you see or not...as a general music person teaching PreK-4th Grade, this is the kind of passion that makes me go to work everyday! I would love it if I had a classroom full of students with this excitement for music!

Jack Stamp - Why Music Matters

Hello!

Hello Everyone!  This blog was created as part of a set of requirements for the Kent State University Master of Music Education Program.  This blog will be used to reflect on various course readings as well as to jot down some thoughts throughout the program. 

For those of you that I have worked with before...welcome back to another course!  For those of you that are relatively new to the program, I look forward to working with you all.