The Elementary Music Teacher Podcast: Music Education

It’s March which means it’s officially music in our schools month!  Your students may have heard you mention this, but aren’t quite sure what exactly it means.  First of all, talk about why music in our schools month exists.  Of course you’re teaching music all year long and not just the month of March.  The first National Music in our schools month occurred in 1973 in New York and now is a national event in the US.  Having a month set aside to truly focus on advocating and celebrating music education is so awesome.  In this episode we’ll focus on ways to help your students understand why music in our school month matters and give them reasons to advocate and celebrate right along with you. Blog posts and links mentioned in this episode: 3 Reasons Music in Our Schools Month Matters How to Integrate Music and Reading for Kids (see links to social studies, science, and foreign language blog posts on my website) Music and Math Integration Ideas for Kids FREE 5 Day Music Integration Into the Core Subjects Email Course 5 Life Lessons Marching Band Teaches Kids Find out more about and sign up for the HARMONY membership waitlist here. Head to my website to grab your free music teaching resource. Join the Elementary Music Teacher Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and you can watch the Thursday Facebook lives on my Facebook page The Domestic Musician. I'd love for you to leave a rating and a review of the podcast on I-tunes, be sure to share the podcast with any music teacher friends who would find it helpful and be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

Advocating for your music program can come in many different forms.  In this conversation with Rainy Barton, we discuss ways to advocate for yourself with your administration, the families of your students, and in the community.  You'll hear so many awesome tips and get some new ideas that you can begin trying right away.  Rainy Barton graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelors in Music Education and is currently in the process of receiving her Orff-Schulwerk certification. She absolutely loves the Orff-Schulwerk and Kodaly methods and implements them both within her classroom on a regular basis. She is also currently a member of the Florida Music Educators Association, and its subgroup FEMEA (Florida Elementary Music Educators Association). As far as Whimsically Musical goes, Rainy has always thought of herself as a whimsical person. She likes to go against the grain and come up with new and exciting things, and live life to the fullest. That’s why she started a blog, a YouTube Vlog, a TPT store, and a Facebook page. Rainy's goal is to help other music teachers in the teaching community by sharing what she's learned about activities that work well, classroom behavior management strategies, etc. She feels we all work better as a team, and loves meeting other teachers and getting to share our teaching journeys together! You can connect with Rainy here: Website: whimsicallymusical.com Instagram: @whimsicallymusicalteacher Facebook: Whimsically Musical YouTube: Whimsically Musical  Find out more about and sign up for the HARMONY membership waitlist here. Head to my website to grab your free music teaching resource. Join the Elementary Music Teacher Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and you can watch the Thursday Facebook lives on my Facebook page The Domestic Musician. I'd love for you to leave a rating and a review of the podcast on I-tunes, be sure to share the podcast with any music teacher friends who would find it helpful and be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

This episode is with the amazing Katie Wonderly of Ms. Wonderly Makes Music.  I LOVED this conversation and we talked about so much including using technology, teaching during a Pandemic, how to use social media while still being you, and letting go of imposter syndrome.  Katie is so real and authentic and this episode will feel like you're a part of a conversation with a friend.  The main thing I want you to walk away from this episode with is to remember that there is only one you and your students need the exact teacher that you are. Katie Wonderly is a fifth-year elementary music teacher, making music in Oklahoma with 550 of her favorite young musicians. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from Oklahoma City University in 2015 and has completed two summers of master's coursework in Kodály Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma. She was recently named the Oklahoma Music Educators Association's Outstanding Young Music Educator of the Year and is the current Putnam City Schools District Teacher of the Year.  Katie utilizes social media to connect with educators and community members around the world. She shares her journey as a music educator, featuring favorite resources, classroom decor, organization tips, lesson ideas, technology tools, and more. Katie believes every classroom should be a place where creativity, community, and diversity are embraced and encouraged. She is passionate about teaching music by all people to all people, ensuring that every student leaves her room knowing their voice matters, and that they are an essential part of the ensemble. You can connect with Katie here: Website: mswonderlymakesmusic.com Instagram: @mswonderlymakesmusic Facebook: Ms. Wonderly Makes Music YouTube: Ms. Wonderly Makes Music Find out more about and sign up for the HARMONY membership waitlist here. Head to my website to grab your free music teaching resource. Join the Elementary Music Teacher Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and you can watch the Thursday Facebook lives on my Facebook page The Domestic Musician. I'd love for you to leave a rating and a review of the podcast on I-tunes, be sure to share the podcast with any music teacher friends who would find it helpful and be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

February is Black History Month and celebrating the amazing black musicians, musical artists, and styles of music from black culture is so important.  But, celebrating black history all school year long is equally important and in this episode we'll talk about why. Consider these questions throughout the school year in your music room: What do you have posted on your walls? What books are you reading to your students? What cultures are you representing and teaching about? What songs are your students learning? Find out more about and sign up for the HARMONY membership waitlist here. Head to my website to grab your free music teaching resource. Join the Elementary Music Teacher Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and you can watch the Thursday Facebook lives on my Facebook page The Domestic Musician. I'd love for you to leave a rating and a review of the podcast on I-tunes, be sure to share the podcast with any music teacher friends who would find it helpful and be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

In this episode, I give you ways to talk to your family and friends about what you REALLY do as a music educator and how to explain to them why you need their support now more than ever including:  Explain what you do  Tell them why you’re tired  Show them a sample lesson you’ve recorded  Be proud of yourself and share your work  Tell them it’s changed so much since they were in school  Help them realize that working with kids is way different than working with adults in an office job Explain what you deal with as a music teacher on a personal and day to day basis with your colleagues and students  Talk to them about expectations put on you and how if you vent to them it’s not because you hate your job that sometimes you just need a sounding board Invite them to come and see your students perform during a non covid time of course  Tell them how they can support you whether it’s your spouse, a friend, or other family members who you’re needing support from  Find out more about and sign up for the HARMONY membership waitlist here. Head to my website to grab your free music teaching resource. Join the Elementary Music Teacher Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and you can watch the Thursday Facebook lives on my Facebook page The Domestic Musician. I'd love for you to leave a rating and a review of the podcast on I-tunes, be sure to share the podcast with any music teacher friends who would find it helpful and be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

Preparing to have a substitute teacher in the music room is so tough.  Most of the time you get a non-musical sub, and knowing what to leave for them and how to keep it simple for yourself is a bit tricky.  In this episode, Liz Kutschke gives some amazing advice about how she prepares for having a substitute teacher and shares her struggles in how to keep moving forward as a teacher when you're dealing with anxiety. Liz Kutschke is in her 11th year teaching Elementary Music.  She began her career in the Chicago suburbs, but now she teaches in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Over the years, Liz has been fortunate to work with a wide variety of school populations, including private, public, Dual Language, Gifted, self-contained special needs, and most recently International Baccalaureate students.  Her classroom is Kodály- and Orff- inspired, with the hope that her students become joyful music makers. When she's not teaching, Liz enjoys walking her corgi mix Sadie, relaxing with her husband Steve, and creating resources for Mrs. Cookie's Music Room. You can connect with Liz here: Website: mrscookiesmusicroom.com Instagram: @mrscookiesmusicroom Facebook: Mrs. Cookie's Music Room TikTok: @mrscookiesmusicroom Find out more about and sign up for the HARMONY membership waitlist here. Head to my website to grab your free music teaching resource. Join the Elementary Music Teacher Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and you can watch the Thursday Facebook lives on my Facebook page The Domestic Musician. I'd love for you to leave a rating and a review of the podcast on I-tunes, be sure to share the podcast with any music teacher friends who would find it helpful and be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

Have you ever seen a baby crawl?  Each child learns to crawl at different times and does it when they're ready.  They then also learn how to walk in their own time frame.  Just like a baby, you have to learn the basics first this school year, just like when you were a brand new teacher.  Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is teaching.  You’ll always be evolving and changing for the better.  So, keep learning the basics and keep it simple.  Don’t worry about making things fancy or try to keep up with the Joneses, but just do the best you can.  Keep crawling, then you’ll notice it will begin feeling more like a walk which is maybe where you’re at now.  You’re not exactly where you want to be and are of course learning new things like you always will, but it’s becoming a bit easier to adapt instruction and to teach with the hand that was dealt to you.  In this episode, I'll share with you ways to keep things simple and to not put so much pressure on yourself so you can turn that crawl into a walk, which will in return turn into a run. Find out more about and sign up for the HARMONY membership waitlist here. Head to my website to grab your free music teaching resource. Join the Elementary Music Teacher Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and you can watch the Thursday Facebook lives on my Facebook page The Domestic Musician. I'd love for you to leave a rating and a review of the podcast on I-tunes, be sure to share the podcast with any music teacher friends who would find it helpful and be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

The year of 2020 was probably one of the hardest years many of us have ever faced.  Right along with you, I had to pivot with what I talked about on this podcast.  I knew I still wanted a sense of normalcy with helping you to be the best music teacher and to keep moving forward with confidence, but I also knew I needed to have episodes, both solo and with amazing guests, about the REAL challenges you've faced in 2020.  So, each episode was recorded with you in mind. In this recap episode, you'll hear snippets from the most downloaded episode of 2020.  Happy New Year and I KNOW 2021 will be the best year ever!  If you can get through all of the things in just one year, imagine how much you'll be able to achieve moving forward into this upcoming year.  Find out more about and sign up for the HARMONY membership waitlist here. Head to my website to grab your free music teaching resource. Join the Elementary Music Teacher Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and you can watch the Thursday Facebook lives on my Facebook page The Domestic Musician. I'd love for you to leave a rating and a review of the podcast on I-tunes, be sure to share the podcast with any music teacher friends who would find it helpful and be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

Maybe you feel like you're on a music teacher island, especially this school year.  You already feel alone as an elementary music teacher, and this year, you're craving a sense of community and a support system more than ever.  In this episode, you'll hear from 5 music teachers, just like you, who are a part of the HARMONY membership community.  They share their stories of joining the membership, what they've gotten out of it, and how it's helped them even during this time of uncertainty.  The thing about stories is that you can always see yourself in one.  Whatever your story looks like, our community is waiting for you with open arms and we can't wait to rally around you and support you just like HARMONY members are already doing each and every day.  Join the HARMONY membership today by heading here. 

The overwhelm is so real right now.  In this episode, I share a story about how I had a tech week from heck, how I continued moving forward, and I want to help you to do the same.  It's so important to keep moving forward no matter what.  A lot of it is about mindset, although this doesn't mean that everything is all sunshine and rainbows, but about focusing on the bigger goal which is your students! Your bigger goal won't look like anyone else's either.  Please keep this in mind and remember it's not the way another teacher does it, not the way you think you should be doing it, and not even the way you did it last year, but the way your students need.  Yes, that means you'll be adjusting and modifying lesson plans all year long (like you've already been doing).  But, think about how resilient you've been and how much you've learned from doing the hard things! As you’re so busy teaching, you don’t have time to stop and think about what’s working or what you want to do moving forward.  You might be busy comparing yourself to other teachers and that’s keeping you stuck. The word of the year is pivot and we've been doing a lot of that lately.  While pivoting, it can feel like you cant ever get your bearings and there's just too much going on in your mind with a thousand browser tabs open at all times. Find out more about and sign up for the HARMONY membership waitlist here. Head to my website to grab your free music teaching resource. Join the Elementary Music Teacher Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and you can watch the Thursday Facebook lives on my Facebook page The Domestic Musician. I'd love for you to leave a rating and a review of the podcast on I-tunes, be sure to share the podcast with any music teacher friends who would find it helpful and be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook.