The Elementary Music Teacher Podcast: Music Education

In this episode, we dive into what it truly means to be an exceptional music teacher. We'll explore five key areas that define your greatness as an educator, from lesson planning to performances, assessments, teaching methods, and your unique personality. Discover how you can confidently embrace your individuality and teaching style while making a profound impact on your students' musical journey. Tune in for valuable insights and inspiration to become the best music teacher you can be - which, for sure, you already are! You just have to realize it! Check out this episode's blog post Enroll in the Curriculum Design Roadmap Course Grab your free ⁠⁠⁠Simplifying Lesson Planning guide.⁠⁠ Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠

In this episode, I'm excited to share an insightful conversation with Stephanie Nantell, a passionate advocate for music education. We explore the importance of music education, the challenges teachers and programs face, and the strategies to advocate effectively for music programs. Also, check out my latest blog post and find the key takeaways that we have from this conversation! Stephanie Nantell is the Senior Director of Programs at Education Through Music. Her journey from a music educator to her current role at Education Through Music (ETM) reflects her unwavering commitment to music education. Stephanie explains that one of the driving forces behind her transition to ETM was the organization's unique mission – not to compete with public schools but to create more music teacher roles and educational opportunities for students across New York City. __________ Enroll in the Curriculum Design Roadmap Course Grab your free ⁠⁠⁠Simplifying Lesson Planning guide.⁠⁠ Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠

In this special episode of the Elementary Music Teacher Podcast, I'll be sharing a personal story of unexpected twists and turns in my teaching journey. While I was diligently preparing for a virtual teaching role, life threw me a curveball that led to an incredible adventure of self-discovery and growth. Join me as I delve into the lessons I learned from this experience and how they can apply to your life and career. Key Takeaways: Embrace Change: Life rarely goes as planned, and it's essential to adapt and seize new opportunities when they arise. Listen to Your Heart: Trust your instincts and make choices that align with your values and lifestyle. Don't Be Afraid to Evolve: Your career path may take unexpected turns, and that's okay. Embrace growth and new experiences. Seek Support and Guidance: Don't hesitate to reach out to your support system for advice and insights when facing tough decisions. Stay True to Your Passion: Pursue your passions, even if it means juggling multiple responsibilities. Your dedication will shine through. Be Vulnerable: Sharing your struggles and uncertainties can inspire and resonate with others. Lean on your community when needed. This episode reminds us that life's journey is filled with surprises, and each experience contributes to personal and professional growth. Whether you're facing lemons or sipping lemonade, trust in the path that unfolds before you and continue making a positive impact in your students' lives. Tune in to the full episode for a heartfelt and inspiring narrative that will resonate with educators and anyone navigating the twists and turns of life's journey. _________________________ Sign up for the Curriculum Design Workshop Grab your free ⁠⁠⁠Simplifying Lesson Planning guide.⁠⁠ Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠

In this episode, the topic of nurturing musicianship in the elementary classroom is explored. Dr. Houlahan, an expert in music education, discusses the importance of developing musicianship in both teachers and students. Drawing from his experience in different parts of the world, he highlights the value of integrating music theory and performance skills. He emphasizes that teachers should approach music education as both musicians and educators, enabling them to engage students effectively. Dr. Houlahan also introduces the concept of "Sound Thinking Interactive," a comprehensive program designed to support music teachers by providing curriculum resources, lesson plans, assessment tools, and professional development. The program aims to bridge the gap between technical instruction and artistic expression, fostering a passion for music and a strong foundation in music literacy skills among students. Micheál Houlahan is a Professor of Music Theory and Aural Skills and currently serves as the Chair of the Tell School of Music at Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He received an Irish Arts Council Scholarship for graduate studies at the Liszt Academy in Hungary and a Fulbright Research Scholarship for doctoral studies in Music Theory at the Catholic University of America in the United States after graduating from St. Patrick’s College, Ireland. His research has also received support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Dr. Houlahan has obtained Licentiate diplomas and Fellowships in Piano Performance from Trinity College and London College of Music, London. He has lectured extensively on music theory and Kodály studies in Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Estonia, Netherlands, England, and China. In 2016, he was awarded the Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, the Hungarian Government invited him to present a lecture on his research and teaching at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He was also a featured clinician for the 2017 Texas Music Educators Conference. Dr. Houlahan is currently a member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) accreditation commission and serves as an Accreditation Team Leader and Visiting Evaluator for NASM. He was a guest speaker at the Forum Among Leaders of Higher Music Institutions, China Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China, in 2017 and served as an Honorary Professor (2017-2020) at the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Chinese National School of Music and China Conservatory of Music. Dr. Houlahan collaborates with Dr. Tacka; they have authored numerous books, chapters in books, and articles. Check out their works at: https://soundthinkinginteractive.com https://www.youtube.com/@kodalytoday2289/playlists https://www.facebook.com/groups/1469799603314646/ Enroll in the ⁠Sound Thinking Interactive Subscription Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the HARMONY membership ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠

In this episode, I’m delving into the crazy world of classroom management. If you’ve been following along, you know that we’ve touched on classroom management before, but today, I want to take a fresh approach. So, let’s dive in and explore how I’m rethinking classroom management as I head back into teaching. Get ready to challenge some old beliefs and discover new ways to create an engaging and harmonious learning environment. Also, check out my episode blog post here: 5 Ways to Rethink Classroom Management. Enroll in the ⁠Sound Thinking Interactive Academy Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the HARMONY membership ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠

In this episode, we're thrilled to have Bill Henry back with us, and today, we're delving into the world of recorders and the art of teaching them in an engaging way. If you're ready to infuse your recorder lessons with excitement and creativity, you're in for a treat! Let's dive in as Bill shares his insights and strategies to make recorder lessons not only educational but incredibly enjoyable. Bill Henry, with over 17 years of teaching experience in the Maryland public school system, has dedicated his career to shaping young minds through music. He also runs a popular YouTube channel called "Mr. Henry's Music World," with over 50,000 subscribers and millions of views. Bill's dynamic approach to music education engages teachers and students across the globe, and today, he's here to share his expertise on teaching the recorder with enthusiasm and creativity. Read the blog post that goes along with this episode here Find out more about the Modern Lab recorder course Grab your free ⁠⁠⁠Simplifying Lesson Planning guide.⁠⁠ Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the HARMONY membership ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠

Today's episode is truly special as I open up about a chapter of my life that's been in the making for a while. Yes, you guessed it – I'm talking about returning to the classroom after a significant hiatus. My journey back to teaching has been a blend of excitement, challenges, and self-discovery, and I'm here to share my insights, personal experiences, and practical tips that I hope will be of immense help to all the wonderful teachers out there who are considering or embarking on a similar path. In full transparency, a month ago, I found out the virtual school I would be teaching at decided not to open their doors after all. But... I'm excited that I'll be teaching preschool and elementary music at a private school and will be talking about this more in September on the podcast and right here on the blog. So, stay tuned for that! Read the blog post that goes hand in hand with this episode right here Sign up for the Reflect and Renew challenge Grab your free ⁠⁠⁠Simplifying Lesson Planning guide.⁠⁠ Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the HARMONY membership ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠

As we wrap up our summer series, I'm thrilled to share some valuable insights into the world of in-person professional development. While I won't cover every single opportunity out there — the list can go on and on! — I'll provide you with some useful tips and ideas to explore. Check out the episode blog post for links and tips on finding in-person PD opportunities near you. Sign up for the Reflect and Renew challenge Enroll in music teacher PD at F-FLAT LEARN Grab your free ⁠⁠⁠Simplifying Lesson Planning guide.⁠⁠ Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the HARMONY membership ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠

This week’s topic is all about online professional development opportunities for music educators. There are so many great ones out there, and while I can’t cover them all, I’m going to share some that I’ve personally been a part of, whether as an attendee or a presenter. From symposiums and summits to memberships and courses, these platforms offer a diverse range of topics and insights to enrich your teaching practices. You can find all the links on my latest blog post. Grab your free ⁠⁠⁠Simplifying Lesson Planning guide.⁠⁠ Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the HARMONY membership ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music⁠⁠

Welcome back to another summer series episode of the podcast! Today, we continue our exploration of inspiring music education resources, but this time focusing on social media accounts. These platforms have become valuable spaces for music educators to connect, collaborate, and discover new ideas. From Facebook groups to Instagram and LinkedIn, let's dive into the vibrant community of music educators making a difference in the digital world. Grab your free ⁠⁠⁠Simplifying Lesson Planning guide.⁠⁠ Sign up for⁠⁠⁠⁠ teacher coaching ⁠⁠⁠⁠or ⁠⁠⁠⁠business coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Jessica. Find out more about the HARMONY membership ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find out more about the Curriculum Design Roadmap course ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠ Get your copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Make A Note: What You Really Need to Know About Teaching Elementary Music