A BIG thank you to all who took today to get together and have a little fun and talk about what we do as music educators. Thank you to all who moderated and participated! Cannot tell you how much it means for you to help me out with this. Next #musedmot is in the dead of winter January 19th. Something a little different about this next one! Watch the after party video to learn more!

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

List of Recommended Books to Read (Thanks to @MattSkouras for logging them!): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aha-5bqgWauHdGd0enUwaGNyc1JqaEpFYWZaQlVaeUE#gid=0

Link to the #musedmot After Party where I dance and tell all what’s so special about the one in January: http://youtu.be/Zpkvd40Q8jU

The Twitter archive from end of day to beginning!:

musiccargirl14 #musedmot is all over!Thanks to those who watched and participated!Watch the After party announcement: http://t.co/t9LFZWst (yup I’m a dork)
lessonlogs Here’s some great thoughts on Early Childhood Music! Join the conversation! http://t.co/9g1vC9ET #musedmot #musedchat #mused
musiccargirl14 Great time hanging out in the General Music hangout! No one signed up for my After Party..I’m gonna do something epic..#musedmot
lessonlogs Paper practice slips don’t teach music students anything. There’s a better way – http://t.co/VToFLzDV #mused #musedchat #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Just hung out with @MusicEdTech and @noahkeitel on G+, talked a little about Tech and had A LOT of fun! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 General Music Hangout in about 20 minutes @awillis2 is moderating! Come going the Google Hangout fun! https://t.co/gOFlrscC #musedmot
scott_watson RT @MusicEdTech: RT @MusicEdTech: #musedmot I just love Scott Watson’s book. Great post on my blog from him. http://t.co/k8ZK3WhJ
BandGirlSmith @scott_watson My string players are playing more in tune because of it. And both band/orch like to use it. #musedmot
scott_watson Me too! RT @BandGirlSmith: I use Smartmusic daily. It’s on the smartboard for classes, piped through the speakers…#musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MusicEdTech is hanging out over on G+ ready for her session on Technology! Come on over and comment on her wall to join in! #musedmot
musiced20 RT @musiccargirl14: Being an El GM I do a lot of composing with Ss. I use @Quavermusic s T admin panel to assign/listen/grade! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Being a Elem gen teacher I do a lot of composing with Ss. I use @Quavermusic ‘s teacher admin panel to assign/listen/ and grade! #musedmot
noahkeitel @musiced20 I like that aspect of it for sure. Just wondering more listening to the recordings. How often do you use that feature? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @Smartmusic sounds like a great tool! Wish I had an excuse for it lol #musedmot
musiced20 The best thing we’ve seen is that the kids are in the practice rooms all the time and/or taking their instruments home MORE!! #musedmot
musiced20 I think it depends on how often you assign things and how involved you want to be. Can be as much or as little as you want. #musedmot
musiced20 The Ts can see the visual assessment and can listen to it. There is also an Inbox app for iPad/iPhone. Ts can listen and comment. #musedmot
musiced20 @noahkeitel This is a good question. For our HS B/C, the grading scale is set so the assessment part of SM gives the grade. #musedmot
musiced20 Any Finale file can be imported into Smart Music to be used for an exercise. #musedmot
noahkeitel Thoughts on the recording aspect the various tech tools like smart music? Do any of you have time to actually listen to them? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @DLP_DSM: RT @DLP_DSM: Hi to all #musedmot folks – take a look at http://t.co/mqy3yKuM FREE Courses, Lessons, and Resources for your school or st …
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: @smartmusic is a practice tool that is available by subscription. B/C/O is what it is mostly for. #musedmot
musiced20 There are some great rhythm and sightreading exercises on it that could be used general music too. #musedmot
DLP_DSM Hi to all #musedmot folks – take a look at http://t.co/mqy3yKuM FREE Courses, Lessons, and Resources for your school or studio.
musiced20 @smartmusic is a practice tool that is available by subscription. B/C/O is what it is mostly for. #musedmot
BandGirlSmith I use Smartmusic daily. It’s on the smartboard for classes, piped through the speakers. Record classes & lessons, give tests. #musedmot
musiced20 @musiccargirl14 Had to switch devices… #musedmot
musiccargirl14 I don’t have smart music but if someone would like to share? 😉 #musedmot
lessonlogs It’s not really technology, but a great resource for your drumline is @snarescience http://t.co/iHAnZosd – great exercises #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 nope, I don’t have it but you are more than welcome! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 http://t.co/Z4vnBLx7 has a bunch of great songs from all around the world to teach #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @Evernote is a great app/desktop tool combo tool. Takes notes and you can retrieve them anywhere. I use it to put lessons on board #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @noahkeitel it is! My tech department didn’t even know it existed lol #musedmot
BandGirlSmith YES ! RT @musiccargirl14: Want a huge list of tech resources?http://t.co/qJlL7rJh@awillis2 collected a HUGE list of awesomeness #musedmot

musiccargirl14 For those Ensemble Directors out there @pisanojm has created the A.P.S Music Master pro app. It is an amazing app! #musedmot
noahkeitel @musiccargirl14 That’s great! I’m not teaching in the classroom (as I’m working on LessonLogs) but this is a fabulous tool! #musedmot
BandGirlSmith @noahkeitel: Okay, going to look into this after judging is done! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @BandGirlSmith Yup! Plug in Apple TV to projector instead of desktop and it’ll grab your Ipad wirelessly #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 turned me on to Wavepad app as a recording tool. I use that and Garageband to record Ss performing! #musedmot
BandGirlSmith @musiccargirl14 So it’s the reverse of splashtop running my computer. Interesting!!!! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @BandGirlSmith It projectsyour Ipad wirelessly through Airplay.Use apps on your device with whole class watching and participating #musedmot
BandGirlSmith @musiccargirl14 It’s only $99? I have a smartboard though. I might have fundraiser money left! Just to learn more would b worth $#musedmot
musiccargirl14 @noahkeitel never too forward! Love promoting new tool! #musedmot
BandGirlSmith @noahkeitel Interesting! I need to look at this. I have lessons that go up to 14 kids in a group. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @BandGirlSmith $99 goodness that can totally be used instead of smart board! #musedmot
BandGirlSmith @musiccargirl14 Okay, I don’t have one of those!!!!! WANT! #musedmot
noahkeitel Hope it’s not to forward to mention a tool I built. It works awesome w/ MS kids and group lessons. http://t.co/zK32nAYr #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @BandGirlSmith Very Very true! That’s how I convinced my admin to snag me an Apple TV for classroom 🙂 #musedmot
musiccargirl14 If you haven’t heard of them yet @joytunescom has some GREAT apps. Recorder Master and Dust Buster ACTUALLY improve Ss perf.! #musedmot
BandGirlSmith @musiccargirl14 And the speed of my class is faster with it in front of me or walking around the room! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @BandGirlSmith best thing ever! Hate turning around to write something on board and I hear *smack* “Ms. DWINAL! HE HIT ME!” lol #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @BandGirlSmith Me too, I have both the regular Splashtop app and the IWB Splashtop app #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @BandGirlSmith Awesome! Which app do you use? #musedmot
BandGirlSmith Love using mine to run my comp/IWB! RT @musiccargirl14: My Ipad is my favorite tool in class. Can use it for apps or as IWB slate #musedmot
musiccargirl14 My Ipad is my favorite tool in class. Can use it for apps or as IWB slate #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Farmer Joe and the Music Show works great into my K lessons on long and short sounds (we use animal sounds as examples) #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Pete the Cat is a great series too, I can easily get my Ss singing/playing/ and moving along with that one cool kitty #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Looking for a great read forK-2?Here are some good ones:Freddie the Frog series teaches students the music basics and keeps it fun #musedmot
musiccargirl14 http://t.co/tAq5VA8D is the ultimate blog/website with lots of articles from music tech experts #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Want a huge list of tech resources? Visit http://t.co/Wt15mRrW @awillis2 has collected a HUGE list of awesomeness #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Hey! It’s another resource super session! I’m going to just start spouting off things I use until somebody joins in lol #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Looks like @MsEstep might have lost her connection. I’ve got a resource session coming up. stay tuned and bring a resource! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 I try to integrate through grade level shows as a elem gen teacher. 2nd grade learns bugs so we’re doing a show on bugs this year #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsNystedtMusic Can’t wait to hear more! #musedmot
MsNystedtMusic @musiccargirl14 I will keep you updated as it progresses! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsNystedtMusic Integrating art was hard for us too, we left it up to the teacher and she had some great projects turn out #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsNystedtMusic That sounds like a really cool project! #musedmot
MsNystedtMusic @musiccargirl14 We are still trying to figure out a more meaningful art component other than just illustrating the lyrics. #musedmot
MsNystedtMusic @musiccargirl14 Ss are composing jump rope rhymes and notating the rhythm and in PE they are doing the actual jump roping… #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsNystedtMusic cool! details? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 writing prompts that relate to what they are learning #musedmot
musiccargirl14 In the elementary setting reading and writing is so easy to integrate I have a library of kids books we read and my older Ss have #musedmot
MsNystedtMusic PE, art, and I are integrating our curriculum later this year working on jump rope project. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 For those out there listening (first..join in!) All the tweets from today will be archived and posted later! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep uh oh 😦 #musedmot
MsEstep Trying to reboot my modem again…painfully slow 😦 #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep Got some heavy duty recognition for it from admin. Doing a smaller project on stats and prob. this year #musedmot
MsEstep @musiccargirl14 that’s very cool. I may have to approach our PE teachers. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep and they learned how to graph and look at graphs in art. took pre and post tests in Media #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep used the music in PE to collect and graph data comparing tempo of music to heartbeat and graphed it in PE and Media #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep Data put into graphs. Our Ss scored low in that area on State testing so we made music in my class on iPads, #musedmot
MsEstep @musiccargirl14 what type of data? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Last year the specialists team at my schools banded together for a grant project. Focused on Analyzing and Interpreting Data #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep sounds awesome hope to hear how it goes #musedmot
lessonlogs Incorporate music in your classroom! Idea: Math Education on the golden ratio & how it’s found in music! #edchat #musedmot #mused
MsEstep @musiccargirl14 Not yet, but soon. Will really kick it in later in October. Hoping the movie will end up w/PG13 for #fieldtrip #musedmot
musiced20 “I do a beginning band activity with counting that would lend it self well to skip counting, now that I think about it.
#musedmot”
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep Thanks awesome! I love that story! Are you meeting together with them and talking about what you’re doing? #musedmot
musiced20 RT @MsEstep: my choir is doing a unit w/ a simplified novel of Les Miz. Singing songs from it. Hist. & eng teachers also doing it. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: RT @musiced20: Graphing points on a plane could be compared to notes on the staff. C4 is lower on the grand staff is lower than C6 #musedmot
MsEstep #musedmot my choir is doing a unit w/ a simplified novel of Les Miz. Singing songs from it. History & eng teachers also doing it. #musedmot
musiced20 Graphing points on a plane could be compared to notes on the staff. C4 is lower on the grand staff is lower than C6 #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20:Teaching equations = composing.If you add a note value to a measure,has to equal whatever time signature youre in. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 I have a good feeling I’ll be using a lot of these lol #musedmot
musiced20 Teaching equations = composing. If you add a note value to a measure, it has to equal whatever time signature you’re in. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: Make a song for skip counting or math facts. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: Note values in a song. Number of times it took each class to get a skill right. #musedmot

musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: Ive been thinking about the stats thing. You could post a chart with stats of comparisons between music classes. #mused mot

musiced20 Make a song for skip counting or math facts. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 I’ve been having some cute geography moments with my 1st graders who are doing a show about Africa. We all gather around my maps #musedmot
musiced20 Note values in a song. Number of times it took each class to get a skill right. #musedmot
musiced20 I’ve been thinking about the stats thing. You could post a chart with stats of comparisons between music classes. #musedmot
MsEstep @musiccargirl14 @musiced20 it’s always good to share ideas! 🙂 #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep Wonder if @musiced20 has any math and music ideas? 😉 #musedmot
MsEstep @musiccargirl14 Same here…aside from basic math I’m clueless. Science could be a little easier, but still weak for me. #musedmot
musiced20 @MsEstep A lot of it for me at the elementary level involves teaming up with classroom teachers putting music into daily routine #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep that’s a good question,not always easy.I find geography and writing and reading easy, math and science is a little harder #musedmot
MsEstep An integrated curriculum should be a 2-way street. Time constraints can make that difficult though. #musedmot
MsEstep @musiccargirl14 I think it’s easy to find ways to add music to other classes. How often do we add other classes to music? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep A lot of it for me at the elementary level involves teaming up with classroom teachers putting music into daily routine #musedmot
lessonlogs Providing Music Educators w/ a tool to decrease their workload & increase student learning! http://t.co/oTONrZmA #musedmot #edchat
MsEstep When talking about Integrated Curriculum, what does that look like to you? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @lessonlogs: Music can be integrated seamlessly into #history classes! Do a unit on the musical #renaissance! #musedmot #mused #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsEstep yay! If you disappear We’ll know what happened lol #musedmot
lessonlogs Music can be integrated seamlessly into #history classes! Do a unit on the musical #renaissance! #musedmot #edchat #mused
MsEstep The Internet is NOT my friend today, but it’s up & running for now and some #musedmot chat 🙂
MsNystedtMusic Thanks for the book recs, everyone! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 I think we’ve got a pretty good list! Thank you so much @musiced20 for moderating! #musedmot
musiced20 Thanks, everyone! Go refresh your coffee and use the little girl’s room. Integrated Curriculum is next! @MsEstep !!!! #musedmot
MsNystedtMusic RT @musiccargirl14: RT @musiccargirl14: Our Integrated Curriculum #musedmot chat is in just a few minutes with @MsEstep ! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 hhmm, any books we missed?? #musedmot
musiced20 RT @MusicEdTech: @musiced20 Rhis is an outstanding resource. Worth the $5. #musedchat #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Sounds great! RT @musiced20: BTW, I will compile this list weve made and post it on my blog. Ill tweet the link later! #musedmot
MusicEdTech @musiced20 Rhis is an outstanding resource. Worth the $5. #musedchat #musedmot
musiced20 BTW, I will compile this list we’ve made and post it on my blog. I’ll tweet the link later! #musedmot
MusicEdTech @musiced20 Thanks! #musedmot
musiced20 Any last minute additions? We’re down to a few minutes left. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @MusicEdTech: RT @MusicEdTech: “@musiccargirl14: Hey, how about a list of reads written by some of our favorite Music ed PLNer’s? #musedmot” me, too! …
MusicEdTech “@musiccargirl14: Hey, how about a list of reads written by some of our favorite Music ed PLNer’s? #musedmot” me, too! http://t.co/zzso39se
musiccargirl14 Our Integrated Curriculum #musedmot chat is in just a few minutes with @MsEstep ! #musedmot
musiced20 RT @musiccargirl14: If youve never read it:Thomas Rudolphs and Jim Frankels Youtube in Music Education is worth a look! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 If you’ve never read it:Thomas Rudolph’s and Jim Frankel’s Youtube in Music Education is worth a look! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: Heres one more from the PLN on technology:iBooks from Chris Russellon iPads in Music Education http://t.co/zn4PZvbk #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @MusicEdTech: #musedmot I just love Scott Watsons book. Great post on my blog from him. http://t.co/FEMZlLex #musedmot
musiced20 @techinmusiced is his twitter name. He’ll be at WMEA and TMEA. #musedmot
musiced20 Here’s one more from the PLN on technology: iBooks from Chris Russell on iPads in Music Education http://t.co/mhHxDIa9 #musedmot
MusicEdTech #musedmot I just love Scott Watson’s book. Great post on my blog from him. http://t.co/k8ZK3WhJ
musiccargirl14 Agreed! She’s moderating A G+ chat 2day! RT @musiced20:@musicedtech is an unending resource for music technology and creativity! #musedmot
musiced20 Barb Freedman @musicedtech is an unending resource for music technology and creativity! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 “The Way Children Learn Music” was a very good one! #musedmot
musiced20 RT @musiccargirl14: Another rec. to PREOrder is @MusicEdTechs Teaching Music Through Composition: A Curriculum Using Technology ! #musedmot
musiced20 I really enjoyed reading the book about MLT, and @rizzrazz is a big proponent of MLT. Doing outstanding things with it. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 I’m so excited! I wish it was February already! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Another recommendation to PREOrder is @MusicEdTech’s Teaching Music Through Composition: A Curriculum Using Technology ! #musedmot
musiced20 @musiccargirl14 I’ll have to check that one out! I can’t wait to hear you 2 speak at TI:ME/TMEA! #musedmot
musiced20 Some of the late spring/summer musedchats focused on MLT, and the book we read together was “The Ways Children Learn Music.” #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 Very true, those guys have some great stuff! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Technology Integration in the Elementary Music Classroom by @awillis2 is another recommendation #musedmot
musiced20 If you want lesson resources/videos/etc, check out http://t.co/J4gj7pzI I am not a paid spokesman. Just a brilliant free source #musedmot
MusicEdTech Online course, grad or prof dev credit, Teaching Music w/GarageBand starts THIS Wednesday, Oct 3. http://t.co/1do0i5bd #musedchat #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @BandGirlSmith awesome! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @lessonlogs yay! #musedmot
musiced20 I also have to put in a shoutout for great curriculum people, if lesson resources are what you’re after. #musedmot
lessonlogs We’ll be here all day! Hoping to bring @jazzhousekids into this conversation! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: The last book was written by @richardmccready @robinhodson @jimfrankel and @feinhaverford #musedmot
musiced20 All of those people are worth following on Twitter. #musedmot
BandGirlSmith #musedmot Going to be checking in on-and-off…judging Band chair placements today, too!
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 good combo, I’m reading through both currently #musedmot
musiced20 The last book was written by @richardmccready @robinhodson @jimfrankel and @feinhaverford #musedmot
billselak @musiced20 Busy day, but I’ll be checking in. #musedmot
musiced20 That book and “Making Music with GarageBand and Mixcraft” are going to be the basis of my music tech class next year. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Hey, how about a list of reads written by some of our favorite Music ed PLNer’s? #musedmot
musiced20 If you’re into the tech stuff, @scott_watson ‘s book “Using Technology to Unlock Musical Creativity” is a must read. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @noahkeitel Thanks for tuning in! #musedmot
noahkeitel Watching off and on right now! Great recommendations! #musedmot

musiccargirl14 @musiced20 agreed! Kalani and Will Schmid are amazing! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @MsNystedtMusic yay! All the tweets are being archived too 🙂 #musedmot
musiced20 @musiccargirl14 I sat in on a World Music Drumming clinic last summer. Amazing stuff! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Yes! C’mon lurkers you know you want to come out and play lol #musedmot
MsNystedtMusic I’m here…and adding books to my goodreads list 🙂 #musedmot
musiccargirl14 I do a lot of drumming stuff in class and use a lot of materials from Kalani. Great inclusive activities for all students #musedmot
musiced20 Hey, lurkers, give us a wave and let us know you’re out there watching! #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 Sweet! #musedmot
musiced20 @musiccargirl14 I think there might be some exercises that they would enjoy. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 Would it be good to use in Elementary chorus setting for ear development? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: RT @musiced20: “The Mind’s Ear” by Bruce Adolphe is a fabulous book for developing the ear in a really creative way. #musedmot
musiced20 One of my music professors in undergrad used it with us from time to time. #musedmot
musiced20 The Mind’s Ear by Bruce Adolphe is a fabulous book for developing the ear in a really creative way. #musedmot
musiced20 Looking one up. Left it at school… #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 whichever, chorus, band, general #musedmot
musiced20 @musiccargirl14 General music? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Any book recommendations that have activity suggestions for lessons? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 oh cool! #musedmot
musiced20 The website gives you a good overview of the process, but “Shaping Sound Musicians” is a great curriculum planning guide. #musedmot
musiced20 @musiccargirl14 Basically it’s a guide for planning rehearsals and rehearsal cycles teaching all aspects of the music. #musedmot
lessonlogs RT @musiccargirl14: RT @musiccargirl14: “Teach Like a Champion” is for all teachers carries very well over to music #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 oooo lol #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 what does the project do? #musedmot
musiced20 http://t.co/lZBNO5AI #musedmot
musiced20 I’m finding that people outside WI don’t always know about the CMP project. Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance. #musedmot

musiced20 Another book that I’m still working on getting completely through is “Shaping Sound Musicians.” It explains WI’s CMP project. #musedmot
musiced20 RT @musiccargirl14: RT @musiccargirl14: “Teach Like a Champion” is for all teachers carries very well over to music #musedmot
musiced20 @MrAhrens If I ever were to do an advanced conducting degree, he would be my choice to study with. His passion is amazing. #musedmot
MrAhrens @musiced20 I love Peter Boonshaft #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @lessonlogs: Musicians Guide To Home Recording (Mclan) – great book to get some tips on how to record your ensemble #musedmot
musiccargirl14 Teach Like a Champion is for all teachers carries very well over to music #musedmot
lessonlogs Musician’s Guide To Home Recording (Mclan) – great book to get some tips on how to record your ensemble during practice/concerts #musedmot
musiced20 So what is on your recommended reading list? #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 i’ll have to add those to my list! #musedmot
musiced20 The books apply to band specifically, music in general, are very conversational, and he just gets “it” if you know what I mean. #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: RT @musiced20: He has written “Teaching Music with Passion,” “Teaching Music with Promise,” and “Teaching Music with Purpose.” #musedmot
musiced20 He has written “Teaching Music with Passion,” “Teaching Music with Promise,” and “Teaching Music with Purpose.” #musedmot
MrAhrens Good morning #musedmot. I’ll be lurking in the back from time to time. Looking fwd to your input.
musiced20 My absolute favorites, which are band focused, but are just good stuff for anyone are the series from Dr. Peter Boonshaft. #musedmot
MsEstep RT @musiccargirl14: RT @musiccargirl14: #musedmot Twittersessions start at11am set! @musiced20 is moderating at11am, @MsEstep is moderating at12pm http://t. …
musiced20 This hour we’re discussing the best book to read for music educators. I’m a band director, so some of mine are band skewed… #musedmot
musiccargirl14 @musiced20 Thanks for starting us out! #musedmot
musiced20 Ok, welcome to one of the best days of PD you’ll have…in your jammies or on your deck. Warm up your coffee cup. Here we go! #musedmot
MsNystedtMusic RT @musiced20: RT @musiced20: Gather your book lists and join us in 5 minutes for “Books Every Music Educator Should Read!” #musedmot
musiccargirl14 RT @musiced20: RT @musiced20: Gather your book lists and join us in 5 minutes for “Books Every Music Educator Should Read!” #musedmot
musiced20 Gather your book lists and join us in 5 minutes for “Books Every Music Educator Should Read!” #musedmot
MsNystedtMusic RT @musiccargirl14: RT @musiccargirl14: First #musedmot session on “Books Every Music Educator Should Read” with @musiced20 in about 10 min! #musedchat
musiced20 RT @musiccargirl14: RT @musiccargirl14: First #musedmot session on “Books Every Music Educator Should Read” with @musiced20 in about 10 min! #musedchat
MusicEdTech RT @musiccargirl14: RT @musiccargirl14: First #musedmot session on “Books Every Music Educator Should Read” with @musiced20 in about 10 min! #musedchat
musiccargirl14 First #musedmot session on “Books Every Music Educator Should Read” with @musiced20 in about 10 min! #musedchat
tsaxman28 RT @musiccargirl14: #musedmot sessions start at11am set! @musiced20 is at11am, @MsEstep is at12pm http://t.co/w1XalRF4 #mustech220
lessonlogs Make sure to check out our blog & join the conversations – We’d love to hear from you! http://t.co/FeQExOg8 #musedmot #mused
noahkeitel Well, I can start this out – “Nurture Shock”. Not specifically music but the chapter on ‘praising a child’ is applies to all kids #musedmot
lessonlogs Hi everyone! Excited to spend the day with the #musedmot folks! Isn’t #technology great!
lessonlogs RT @musiccargirl14: RT @musiccargirl14: #musedmot Twittersessions start at11am set! @musiced20 is moderating at11am, @MsEstep is moderating at12pm http://t. …
brophycat RT @musiccargirl14: RT @musiccargirl14: #musedmot Twittersessions start at11am set! @musiced20 is moderating at11am, @MsEstep is moderating at12pm http://t. …
heistes Unfortunately can’t participate in #musedmot. Drumline rehearsal 10:30-12:30, full band 1:30-4:30 and then leaving for a band competition!!
musiccargirl14 #musedmot Twittersessions start at11am set! @musiced20 is moderating at11am, @MsEstep is moderating at12pm http://t.co/zCGEcfEz … #musedchat
musiccargirl14 It’s #musedmot! G+ sessions are at 2pm https://t.co/vOFw1Vhc , 3pm https://t.co/gOFlrscC, 4pm https://t.co/idCrAdZk Sign up now! #musedchat
noahkeitel Good morning #musedmot! Excited to hear everything you have to say today!

It’s almost here! The 2nd running of Music Ed Motivation Day the multiplatform social media web day for music educators is close to just a week away with lots left to do! Mark your calendars, make sure you’re signed up to Twitter, the Music Teachers Facebook Group, and Google +..and DON’T BE AFRAID TO VOLUNTEER! Moderators still needed!

Here is the official webpage with all the links and up to date information: http://www.cdwinal.com/musicedmotivationday.htm

Here’s what is going to happen:

1.) Starting early in the morning on Facebook I will start posting topics for teachers to begin the conversations, they will be about anything from resources, to integrating, to unique ideas for the classroom. Be sure to search for http://www.facebook.com/groups/musicpln/ and ask for entrance so you can be a part of the action!

2.) Starting at 11am on Twitter search for the hashtag #musedmot to be involved in the twitter chats listed below:

11am est– Reading list: Books every music educator should read Moderator @musiced20

12pm est-Integrated curriculum: How can we help our regular classroom colleagues get music into their lessons? (Project ideas, activity ideas, etc.) Moderator @MsEstep

1pm est– Resource Session: Share your successful resources you use in your classroom

Be sure to join in and share your tools, thoughts, and experiences about the Twitter topics. At 2 pm the #musedmot hashtag will switch to a back channel to share notes and thoughts about the Google Plus On Air Hangouts that begin at 2pm est.

3.) Starting at 2pm est Google plus Hangouts will begin. To join in a hangout visit the moderators G+ page some time during the week by clicking on their name on the official Motivation Day homepage. They will have a short post up on their wall where those who want to part take in the video discussion can signup. (If you have signed up to mod a G+ chat, no worries, I will send out a little message about it soon!) First come first serve and they can have up to 9 other people in the hangout while others can watch the chat live from the moderators homepage and ask questions or give comments in the comments box, later as each chat is automatically recorded onto Youtube for later.

The G+ schedule is as follows:

*There are many open spots for Google + moderators still available! Please consider moderating, the whole day is filled with great conversations because we have amazing moderators step up to the plate to get those conversations going!

Every discussion will be archived for later watching and reading! Want to see what went on last Music Ed Motivation Day? Visit: http://wp.me/pHofe-61

If you’re interested in getting involved in anyway whether it is moderating, spreading the word, or what ever else you had in mind. Feel free to get in contact with me by leaving a comment here, email me at cedwinal@plymouth.edu (dwinalc@yahoo.com is also there if needed), or send me a message on Facebook or Twitter

It’s the beginning of the year, you and your students are excited to start a new. New songs, new lessons, and new equipment. When it comes to any equipment in the classroom it’s important to lay down a set of rules and procedures on how to use it so students will know proper use and it will stay out of the grasp of the looming junk pile of broken, improperly used tools.

Over the past week I’ve spent most of it laying down the laws of using our netbook carts while showing them how to maneuver the internet to http://www.quavermusic.com starting the process of getting almost 300 students onto my Teacher Admin Panel classes. It’s a long process of getting them acquainted to procedures and rules but it pays off when the tech projects begin later on in the year and my help line goes from 20 to 1 or 2.

Here, in my class the list of technology rules is plain and simple for my little ones:

1.) Be safe and respectful to the equipment. : Treat the technology as if it was your own. Two hands when carrying it, do not bang on it or throw it, be safe and be respectful at all times.

2.) Don’t do anything you wouldn’t want me to catch you doing.  : I circulate around the room a lot during classes. If you are doing something on the computer you would not want me to catch you doing, then don’t do it. I can see perfectly clear if you are attempting to figure out the webcam or trying to quietly play the music video to Justin Bieber’s “Baby” on Youtube..

3.) Follow directions. : Simple enough, follow the directions you are given that day to do on the computers. You will always be given a set of tasks for the computer and I expect you to follow and complete them.

The main consequence  for breaking any of the three rules is taking the equipment away and taking a break or leaving the room. I stay pretty much consistent with every rule and really have not had a problem yet. My students know that using the technology in my class is a privilege not a right and we do not HAVE to use it if they cannot treat it the right way!

This week has been a veeerrryyy long battle trying to accomplish a long to do list along with everything else I have been pulled aside to fix or help with. What has really been one of the few fantastic highlights of my week has been rhythm and beat centers for grades 3-5. I try to do centers once a month to give students a break from learning new things and play activities that reinforce the concepts they have gone over and should retain. I have a center bucket that is filled with over a dozen already created centers which I could easily have pulled out again, but I really like to try to come up with things that are new and different. So I created 2 more brand new ones for this round of activities, Musical Dice and Bubble Rap Rhythms. Below you will find resources and instructions on how these wonderful activities work.

Musical Dice: Origami at it’s finest. This activity is fun until you get to the part you have to fold and glue. Be warned, it will get messy and you might be folding a lot of dice together but it will be a great reward after they are all done.

Here is the template to the dice from colormypiano.com: http://colorinmypiano.com/wp-content/files/Musical_Dice_BW.pdf 

Materials:

•     Coloring supplies
•     Multiple copies of the blank template
•     A few pairs of child scissors
•     Glue or tape

Procedure:

1.      Have students cut out the template first.
2.      Color the dice making sure to draw a note or rest in each of the triangles.
3.      Ask them to make a slight fold along each of the black lines and it will eventually take an 8 sided dice shape.
4.      Glue and/or tape the small tabs on the template together and the result will be something like this:

Bubble Rap Rhythms: Thanks to my friend Julia for this station coming to life! The students found it so tempting to just pop all of the wrap so I could only put out enough for each group one at a time to save the squares of awesomeness. Luckily I’ve got some left over!!

Materials:

•   Squares of pre cut bubble wrap
•   Handful of pencils
•   Worksheet
•   Boom whackers

Procedure:

1.      Have students pop a pattern on the bubble wrap (Remind them to be picky about what they pop and not to pop it all!)
2.      Transfer that pattern to a worksheet. ( I drew mine out onto half sheets dividing the bubbles into 4 beat measures). If the bubble is popped then the bubble on the sheet is filled in if it is not popped then it is left alone on the worksheet.
3.      Have students finish the worksheet to the end even if the bubble wrap is done. After the worksheet is filled out they may pop any extra bubbles on their sheet of wrap and throw away.
4.     Have them then practice clapping their beats. A filled in bubble is one quarter note and a bubble that is left alone is a quarter rest.
5.     If they can clap their rhythm then have them move on to a boomwhacker to practice until time runs out!

So there you have it, centers are a lot of hard work to get ready but they are a blast to watch in action!  I still get excited for them because I’m pumped to have the opportunity to get my students working independently with the activities while I stroll around the room and have time for one on one instructional time.

Shared…

Felt..

Learned..

Loved..

Lived..

Inspiration taken from a pad of paper and pencil that were taunting me on my desk and a chalk drawing I did on top of a parking garage earlier this week. 

    The Muppets..I say it and a shiver of joy runs like a river down my back. I remember watching reruns, movies or whatever video that came my way just to get a glimpse of Kermit, Miss Piggy, or the ever so daring Gonzo. I still watch them. I own DVDs of the first 3 seasons and almost all of the movies they have ever made, The Muppet Movie, Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets Take Manhattan ..I know I know..nerdness points added to my already high score. 

They bring a new sense of creativity and wonderment into the world. It’s unexpected, it’s powerful, it’s a pure untainted childlike world where not many can resist it’s excitement.

A big part of the Muppet’s world for me is it’s music which I share with my students from time to time. It turns a sad day into a happy day, or a tension filled moment into one filled with laughter. Really, who can resist the Swedish Chef making music while his popcorn is being popped?:

What stands apart from the rest is the decades of performances from musical guests on the show that inspire:Harry Belafonte

My students know my love of these crazy characters.

• I’ll replace the occasional song in class with a classic Muppet hit to sing along to “Mana Mana” or show the video of Beaker singing the Habenera as we dance our own version of the tango after a discussion on a latin beat .
•    It is a perfect way to introduce theatrics to elementary students. Using Muppets to show emotions, act out stories, sing and dance with the music.
•   You can even introduce classical music played in a different muppetastical way with Rowlf showing off his piano talent playing with “Fur Elise” and many other famous pieces from composers and musicians, Victor Borge.

The Muppets, classic, hilarious, awesome. What more is there?

Jim Henson

A web quest, is a simple way to make a website a meaningful experience for a class independent activity. You need a solid subject or goal, a great introduction to pull in your student’s attention, and a few small activities to guide the student through the website while staying on the subject or goal you created before hand. I’ve written a lot of different web quests for websites to use in my classroom but my favorite website to write them for is www.quavermusic.com . I’ve written 7 quests in a previous post a few months ago: Quaver Music Webquests . After just a few hours spent with the Quaver crew in Nashville I was in my hotel room and decided to eat two of those GooGoo clusters (sssoooo goooood). Which caused an intense sugar high and led to me jumping around my room like a crazed maniac and inspired a new set of them. Here’s 8 more! (15 web quests total!):

 I’m coming off an amazing weekend down in Nashville visiting the Quaver crew, it is such a good feeling to be so supportive of a great music education program and be recognized for it. I felt very lucky and blessed to be able to share my thoughts on the program and meet some amazing and dedicated individuals who work for the company.

      As a lot of my readers know I use Quavermusic.com a lot in my classroom for a lot of different technology purposes. I find the website a great collection of creatives and tools to easily incorporate tech into the classroom. Before using Quaver I was an avid user of Aviary.com using their Roc and Myna creatives in a number of lessons. After the sad news that Aviary is cutting those creatives off in September I was struck with a problem. While using Aviary I developed a project that fulfilled s digital portfolio requirement for my 5th graders. What should I do now?

In the state of NH each student in the public school system has a digital portfolio that is created in kindergarten and follows them all the way until senior year of high school. It is filled with technology projects they complete through the years accompanied with a reflection on the project the students fill out individually. General classroom teachers in my buildings are required to complete 5 of these a year with their classes, and I as a specialist am required to do one a year with one full grade, I choose 5th because they are already trained in the routines of using computers independently and I can dive deeper into a little more complicated music technology than I could with other grades. The project must fulfill a number of NETS (National Educational Technology Standards) and for me it must also fulfill a number of National Music Standards as well.

 I originally decided to show students another side of music that they had rarely seen before which is usually technology in music. The project originally consisted of students using the Roc creator and bringing it over into the audio editor Myna and mixing in what they created with other stock audio from Quantum tracks. (ooo audio editor in Quaver?..must bookmark idea for later..)

Out of the blue I decided to try Quavermusic.com at the end of this past year with my last group of 5th graders as their portfolio project. Aviary was having issues loading at my school and I had no time or patience to deal with it, so I turned to Quaver.(I was lucky too, I didn’t find out the Aviary news until this summer!) When giving students a website for a project you need to give them direction in order to make it a meaningful experience. It could be one activity, it could be a whole web quest like I have shared before.  This project was great for my 5th graders, not only was there less confusion in what to do but they found it interesting and fun. The big difference between Aviary and Quaver is Aviary was leveled more for middle and high, Quaver is leveled more for elementary and middle.

Here’s the project details from the end of the year experiment:

Hello new  star in the making! You’ve decided it is time to get on the road and build your way up to Music Star status. You need to make a few stops a long the way. Follow the directions to get one step closer to your dreams:

1. To be a good musician you need to have good ears. Head to the EarIQ carnival in the lab and play the interval and chords games a few times to train those ears right.

2. Alright, it’s time to check out the competition, walk over to the metro and choose your venue that best describes the type of star you want to be. Go there and listen to the music as you read the book in the menu. Try to answer all of the questions at the end and earn a cool piece of clothing for your avatar!

3.It’s time to finally get in the studio and get writing. Head to the QStudio and click on the QComposer (the piano) and write me a 5 measure melody using all the notes and rests you have learned this year in class. After, click on the QLyrics and compose some silly lyrics to go along with your song!

4.You’ve had a rockin’ career so far and now you’re being interviewed on what you have accomplished. Open up the blank reflection document on your desktop and answer the following questions before saving it to your drive.

1. How did using Quavermusic.com help you in creating your song? Which way would be easier to write a song, Paper and pencil or the QComposer in Quaver?

2.Will you use Quavermusic.com to create music in the future? Even if it is not during music class?

It was a simple project to complete that took about 3-4 class periods. After everyone was done we even had a giggly share session with some of the songs that they created. Keeping track of their completion of the project was tough though, I had to make a few trips to our Media Center/Librarian to check on progress. This upcoming year I will have the new Teacher Admin Panel on Quaver so I can keep track of student progress by assigning them the song on QComposer and being able to receive those assignments back and grade them without having to annoy my Media Center neighbor so much. Learn more about the admin panel through a recent Quaver Webinar located here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/22264644

Sooooo, I mentioned this was a two part blog post..remember? you’ll hopefully get part two next friday, my little avatar is still out questing!

    The students walk into your classroom, it’s hot, they’re bored from listening to the rules all day, and it’s their first music class of the year. You go over the rules and make sure they remember the procedures, that takes about 5 minutes..right? So if you’re me you have 35 minutes left to get the students back into loving music class  from day one. So what do I do? Get the music flowing! It is time to compose our beats, pass out the instruments and rock out. Here is a quick rhythm writing activity that can be modified to fit each grade level K-5:

Materials:

– 2 beach balls with notes and rests  drawn on to them.

-Percussion instruments

-Whiteboard with markers

Description:

-Get one, two, or three staff lines set up on the board. Modify this depending on the class you have, example would be one line for K and 1, two lines for 2 and 3, and three lines for 4 and 5. Each line would be a separate rhythmic ostinato part so you can divide your class into different groups to play each line.

-Start bopping the beach balls around the class like popcorn, let the students know when you start counting down 3..2..1..DONE who ever has the balls must hold them and tell you what note or rest is under their right hands. Have a few practice rounds before you start writing it down. Try to have the ball land on different people each time.

-When you have your ostinatos pass out instruments and assign parts. I try to have at least one strong rhythmic student on each part and will coax the other members in the same group to watch that person to keep the beat because obviously you cannot play 3 parts at once.

-Practice each part as a class before you start putting them together. My students know when I say ostinato they know to keep repeating until I play a finishing drum sound or give a vocal que.

-Once you are playing as a group together ,get grooving to the beat! If you groove they will too. I will stop and switch up parts if we have extra time too. If you want to go the extra mile, record it and have them watch the fun next class and give you describing words about their ensemble.

Tech Variations:If you’re looking for a way to integrate technology into this lesson take out the whiteboard and markers and use a notation software on your teacher computer. There are a few options for free software; Finale notepad, QComposer on Quavermusic.com, Noteflight, and Musescore are just a few. Another tech variation on this activity is to add a little background beat to your composition with Garageband loops. Have it prepared or choose a couple of those techie angel students to make one that will go along as the class plays.

This activity is simple and gets the students comfortable and familiar with what you do again. Don’t want to write rhythms? Go for melodies and use Orff instruments. It’s a simple activity that gets you groovin’ from the start.

Now that I’ve had a little experience teaching I’m in the process of changing and improving the way I do things to make it easier for me and give me more time with my students. One of the biggest things I have spent almost 6 months looking into is the perfect tools to replace my word and excel documents for attendance, grades, and behavior. Every quarter I have to place grades into sheets for teachers. To get those grades I spend at least 20-30 minutes combined a day to add the grades in. My classes are back to back most days with about 20 seconds in between for transition times. I don’t have a ton of time to spend inputting grades. So what I began searching for was an Ipad app that could do everything I wanted. An Ipad app would allow me to be mobile, start class on time (The activity I start class with is 90% student lead most times), and be able to input quick behavior notes and grades without having to make time to visit my desktop which wastes class time and sometimes when time is not available leaves me trying to remember grades at the end. After several tries I think I finally found an app; TeacherPal http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/teacherpal/id389584618?mt=8

Now this app is free from iTunes so there is no money lost if it does not work out. When you first launch it your virtual desk with long empty hallway for your classes will appear:

You need to add your classes by hitting the + button on the top left. I teach elementary general music so there are many classroom now in my hallway which took some time, but an hour now will save me 4 later. I labeled each class with the teacher name and what grade level they were for the upcoming year:

I love the hallway portion. It allows me to have my classes all in front of me and the hallway acts just like a normal school hallway, the lights turn on and off, the bugs crawl over the plants, and the doors open right up, it’s kind of cool.

Once the classroom is set up you can enter it to begin entering in your student information by clicking the + button on the upper right corner. The great part about this is you can enter not only student names but parent contact info and pictures to help you learn names when September arrives. The student pictures can be uploaded to your IPad or you can take their pictures using the Ipad camera.

 After all of your student information has been put in you can start playing around. When inside a full classroom you can drag the virtual desks around to create new seating plans (if you are unhappy with your current seating chart just hit the reorganize button to start fresh!):

Taking attendance is as simple as clicking the attendance tab at the top and touching the desk once with your finger if they are there and twice if absent which is recorded right away. If you have a rowdy student one day, go to the behavior tab and click their desk to write a note which is recorded into their information. When recording assignments in the grade book tab it looks a lot like this: 

          Just like a normal grade you can add in graded assignments.  

  Other features of TeacherPal include Dropbox integration and ability to send out mass emails to students and parents by class.

I turned a few other teachers on to this app over the summer and we hope to test it out together come September. So far I like how it works and it will be interesting to take it into the classroom!