Here are some activities to bring joy and delight to your classroom in those few “after the concert” lessons!
Check out our winter specials on these books – plus, use code HOLIDAY10 to save an additional 10% until the end of December! Members save 20-35% when you use your exclusive code!
Here are some videos of our students doing these festive activities:
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Giving the instructions to “Bow, Bow again, Bow faster, keep bowing faster….now the big Ta Da!” is just great holiday fun!
Here’s a holiday favorite from the Music Rhapsody Curriculum. This dance is also included in the book Kids Can Listen, Kids Can Move.
Visit the teachers area free for 3 days to check out the curriculum. Join now to start 2025 with fresh, playful lessons. AND visit the shop and take 10% off your order using coupon code HOLIDAY10. Good for additional 10% to members!
I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work with students and teachers! Thanks for your support! Happy Holidays!
In the spirit of spring and all of the gardens to awaken in the next few months, our featured weekly free lesson and recording in Music Box is “Snail and Mouse.” We use this activity with the tots all the way up to our K-1 Orff classes to demonstrate adagio and allegro in creative movement and expressive music making! Expect squeals of joy!
Here’s some favorites from the video “Puppets with a Purpose: Show Me the Bunny!” This video is a great example of how to promote participation, excitement, and imagination using puppets and instruments in the classroom.
TIP: See the children’s part with the tone block at 2:59 and how to make your own at 4:22.
Want these puppets to make their way to your house? Click here to get your very own. Music Box members, don’t forget to use your coupon code to get 10% off listed prices!
Happy spring! Enjoy this playlist of visuals and activity ideas about April showers bringing growth, abundance, and a superbloom of May flowers.
In Case You Missed It
My new Mini Workshop, Tips for Smooth Sailing at Your Ocean Themed Concerts, is now available! Get a myriad of tips & ideas, including props, orchestration ideas, pitch matching activites, and more! Includes so many treasures!
This week, we had the shocking news of the passing of Denise Gagne. Somehow, we thought she would outlive us all, continuing her passion and drive for music for children. Long, long ago, Denise attended a 4 day teacher training course I presented. I was so impressed with her drive to learn more about early childhood music. Over the past 30 plus years, Denise presented at conferences that I also presented for, leading us to go to each other’s sessions, getting together for a meal, sharing ideas and resources, and go on outings in the area. We will all miss her amazing energy but wow, she left music educators with a wealth of wonderful resources.
Here’s a few photos from a conference in Italy (2008) and a great music making event at my home with our dear friend Susie Davies Splitter (2000).
Using Rhymes in the Rain, the sky is the limit for creativity for you and your young students! New visuals/PowerPoints are now available in our Big Kids Make Music curriculum! Not yet a member? Join the fun!
1. Free Exploration: Instruments in C pentatonic, invite the children to lightly play drips and drops gently on the bars, anywhere they they think it would sound good with the songs and rhymes. Don’t forget to add some quiet beats. TIP! If you can’t hear the song, your playing is too loud!
These two February videos are songs who’s activities offer all of the above!
First up are two videos to share with you students (great for 2-6 year olds when the teacher’s voice needs a break!). After those, see classroom activity videos to see the students in action. (This is with parents in my studio setting where we have permission to video!)
“Music Rhapsody has been so life changing for me! I always used many of your resources but after taking your summer training, my whole class has been restructured in a way that makes everything click! Thank you a million times over!” – Deb Hernandez
So many of us are excited to hear of the warmer weather this weekend. Now its time for some creative melting while playing descending accompaniment on Orff!
Warmer weather and melting snow also reminds me of the time I got to see Subnivean! The melting snow exposed the little City Under the Snow!
The kids LOVE to sing and act out this amazing magical place and learn its for real! Visuals/PowerPoint and lessons are free to members in the curriculum and Music Box.
Huge thanks to Deb Hernandez who took time out to warm my heart! XOXO
“Music Rhapsody has been so life changing for me! I always used many of your resources but after taking your summer training, my whole class has been restructured in a way that makes everything click! Thank you a million times over!”
Dates don’t work for you? Registration is coming soon for training at SMU, Dallas – June 13-15, be the first to know when registration opens. Or you can complete online training anytime!
This week, I’m highlighting one of the kids most favorite mixers. This Valentine dance has the sweetest lyrics:
Heel Toe on the Line, Will you be a friend of mine? (or Will you be my Valentine?). The video is included in this Valentine/Friendship/Love Playlist. The recording includes a B section since I wanted to have a little beat keeping hand clapping with each new friend before it was time to move to the next one!
The Valentine Mixer video, recording, music, lyrics and lesson is free to members here.
In case you missed it! My new mini workshop is now available including a new lesson plan download and PowerPoints for Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly and 3 others:
