The Anacrusic Podcast: Purposeful, Sequential, & Joyful Music Education

Today on TAP, I’m sharing Part II of The Ultimate Back to School Checklist for Music Teachers. If you haven’t listened to Part I, that is a great place to start (click here to listen→ https://anacrusic.com/podcast/58) Today we’re wrapping up the rest of the things you should be thinking about as the school year kicks off again. We’ll chat setting up your classroom for active music making, planning for the whole year at a glance, and improving parent communication.

Today on TAP, I’m sharing Part I of The Ultimate Back to School Checklist for Music Teachers. Now, this isn’t all about how to get your bulletin boards ready or what songs to do on the first day, but it is all about setting up systems to make your classroom successful in the new year. I’m chatting how to set up some rules & procedures, as well as your opening & closing sequences for your lessons.

The question still remains: how do you choose what songs to put into your lessons? How do you sift through all the things and pick the very best? And how do you ensure that your choices align with your school community and teaching philosophy?  Today I’m going to share the 5 criteria I use when selecting a song and deciding whether or not it is the magic sauce for what I’m looking to cultivate in my music classroom. 

Today on the podcast, in part II of this two part series, I’m chatting all about where to find STUFF for your music classroom. If you’re looking for some great ways to include lesson enhancements and make your teaching come alive, this is the place to be!! Today I’m sharing all about manipulatives, technology, and some additional teaching resources you might not have thought of before.

Today on the podcast, I’m chatting all about where to find STUFF for your music classroom. If you feel like you don’t have a good library of resources to create meaningful and engaging lessons for your students, today’s episode is for you! I’m sharing my 10 favorite printed resources (of the moment) for all things active music making in the elementary general music classroom. Everything from song collections, listening lessons, movement ideas, and instrument activities are on the list.

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m talking all about why you need to take a break this summer. So much of our identity as music teachers is wrapped up in what we do, and while it’s important to grow professionally and musically in the summer, it’s also important to take a moment to breathe while we have the chance. Today’s chat is your signed permission slip to chill out a little bit this summer.

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m chatting with Alicia McCormick all about her first year as an elementary music teacher. Whether you are a first year teacher, a fifth year teacher, or have been teaching for many many years, I have no doubt that her optimism and excitement for teaching and getting intentional about what happens in the music classroom will inspire and motivate you.

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m with my friend, Jessica Grant, from the Afternoon Ti Podcast. Jessica is a fabulous general music teacher, who just so happens to teach general music in middle school. You better believe that she has all the tips on developing relationships and making magic happen inside of the middle school music room.

Today I’m sharing my 5 Tips for Lesson Planning. If you feel like you have been riding the hamster wheel of planning, and things are just a little too spur of the moment week to week, then this podcast episode is for you. In this workshop you’ll learn why having a template for the way you structure your lessons will free you from wonder, “What should I teach in 1st grade today?” and give you the confidence of knowing what comes next. The outcome? Planning more efficiently and effectively.

Today on the podcast I’m answering questions from YOU, the Anacrusic community. These are questions that have been submitted via the Anacrusic Facebook page, the TAP Insiders Group on Facebook, or through Instagram. Check out the full show notes & resources mentioned inside this episode here—> https://anacrusic.com/podcast/50

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m talking about five times we need to give ourselves grace as music teachers. And trust me, there are WAY more than five. Music teachers are perfectionists. Take a moment and let that sink in, because odds are it is 100% the truth. (Or, you know, at least 80%). But over the last couple of years, I’ve learned to let this perfectionism thing go, at least as much as my Type A brain will let me. Because the truth is, perfectionism isn’t real.

On today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m chatting with the fantastic David Row. If you don’t know David from his wonderful blog, podcast, or weekly facebook lives, you are in for a complete treat. Today, we talk candidly about what it’s really like moving to a new campus (something we’ve both done a TON of), and why you shouldn’t feel guilty about making the move.

Today on TAP, I’m chatting with my friend Victoria Boler of We Make the Music about all things planning and assessment. When I first came across Victoria (on Instagram, of course), I felt like we were music teacher kindred spirits--and after talking with her more, I know that we are. The way she thinks so beautifully about sequencing and big picture music teaching is 100% my jam. Today she’s sharing some of her process for planning and how assessment is all tied in.

Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, we’re continuing our conversation all about children’s choir. This time, my good friend and all things choir guru, Beth Philemon, is joining the conversation. She’s sharing some super important tips about why you should start a choir, auditioning, and thinking about meaningful repertoire for your students.

Today on TAP, I’m chatting about one of the areas that I LOVE, but one that I’m still learning about and growing in myself—the children’s choir. In this series of episodes, all about back to basics, I think it’s important to share those things that are (or once were!) outside of my comfort zone. Conducting a choir? It used to be one of them. But I realize now, several years and choirs later, that leading a choir is still teaching music. And THAT, I was called to do.