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!

It seems reflecting has been popular this summer, reading what everyone else has been reflecting made me think about my own career. The successes I’ve collected since graduating with my undergraduate degree have come so plentiful that it seems so hard for even myself to believe I am now where I am at. 10 years ago no one would have imagined me here. I was a shy band geek who was finding myself either in the band room or on the field hockey field with big dreams to be a top egyptologist working in the Cairo Museum working alongside Dr. Zahi Hawass (Yes ladies and gentlemen you may add another notch to my “nerd” belt). Things seemed to change after a while and a new route was formed into the real world that was such a big change.

Now I find myself getting ready to head into my 3rd year of teaching shoulder deep in it all.  It has been all about learning how to create the perfect classroom enviroment and form the best program I can for my students. I’ve struggled to get there but in the process I learned a lot, found so much support, figured out who I really am as a teacher (remember? the crazy one in the kilt whose not afraid to do the Hokey Pokey and turn myself about?) and really found my niche in the music education world, technology.

I’d never thought in a million years I would be finding myself with the doors that have been opened, the friends I’ve made or the roads I started traveling down. I’ve learned hard work, passion and a lot of heart can get you a long way,  to show compassion towards your students but don’t take it personal if they are rude it might just be a bad day, and always have confidence in what you do. Also, never be afraid to ask for help, you don’t know everything.

    It’s only been a few years since I’ve started this whole journey. Without the support I’ve received, the connections I’ve made, and the inspiration and drive so many others have instilled in me I wouldn’t be where I am. I’ve made a strong start, it’s only going to get stronger from here.

      To be a good educator not only do you need to be on top of your game, creative, outgoing, ready to be there for your students. You also have to realize there are going to be days when down time is going to be a necessity not only for your students but probably for you as well. This time might come when you are out and a substitute might need to take over, or maybe it is right before a vacation where no one is able to keep on task. Maybe you are like me you’re voice is gone, you have a slight case of the chills and a lot of work to do but just don’t have the courage to call in sick. These are some of the best excuses to pop in a DVD and have a relaxing class just watching a video. Of course, it’s unnecessary to have a large collection of DVDs especially as a music teacher. My collection is kept in a small milk crate and that is more than plenty of room. Below are the 5 DVDs or DVD sets that my students love and cannot get enough of. 

Quaver Music- This is an amazing program which not only includes a DVD series with 10-20 minute lesson enhancement videos that teach students certain musical concepts, but also includes teacher guides with activity suggestions, worksheets, and access to a free student website. These DVDs are fantastic and my students cannot get enough of them, they retain concepts and enjoy learning. The great part about these is that even if you are out, the teacher guides are so easy to follow you can leave a lesson for a substitute and even if they are not musically inclined they go over successfully.

Stomp (Out Loud and Live)- Best DVDs ever. Both are of performances by the crew of STOMP. Perfect to show when you are out or when your students have completed a killer unit about recycled percussion, rhythm, or body percussion. The hard and fast sounds and jaw dropping rhythms keep the attention of not only the kids but you as well!

Little Amadeus Series-  I have the whole 1st season on DVD and my K-2 students are slightly obsessed. The whole premise behind the show is following the child version of Amadeus Mozart through his life and adventures. It talks about music during the time he lived, plays certain pieces, and shows the lifestyle of the people back then. It is great to teach students about classical music and the history of a lot of the famous works we still here today. Be careful though, this series has a few words and one or two scenes that you might not be able to show to students. Preview an episode before you show it!

Jazz Cat- A Reading Rainbow episode featuring the book “Jazz Cat”. I tend to teach my younger students a little about Jazz towards the end of the year and this is a video I will show every once in a while. They get the jazz vibe and Lamar does a great job teaching them about the jazz ensembles and improv.

Zin Zin Violin- Another Reading Rainbow episode but this one features the book “Zin Zin Violin” . I teach instruments of the orchestra to my 1st graders and instrument families of the orchestra to my 3rd graders. I usually show this video to them after each unit is complete as a cumulative review. We discuss the instruments they see, they then get to watch how an orchestra works.

       After working 2 years in two different elementary schools I’ve had my ups and had my downs. Luckily it has been more ups than downs creating memorable stories to last me a life time. Here are some funny (or insane..I’ll leave that up to you) dos and donts collected from my experiences:

1. Summer fever starts after the winter holidays– You all know this is true…

2. Stickers will get you a lot- I have a stash of about a thousand sitting in my desk. Need your room cleaned during recess? BRIBE THEM WITH STICKERS! Need materials made for a new class activity and the rest of the class is watching a video? BRIBE THEM WITH STICKERS!  Stickers are like the children’s new fashion accessory the more bright and colorful stickers they can stick on themselves, the cooler they look.

3. Giving your students sugar is a bad idea- Lethal in large doses, sugar can cause children to gain super powers. Able to leap a hopscotch grid in a single bound, faster than a speeding hot wheels.. sugar is a powerful weapon.

4. Food in the teachers room will magically vanish in seconds- One time, I brought in a tray of fresh baked cinnamon rolls..went to the restroom..came back out and my rolls had magically vanished! It’s magical food trickery I tell you!!

5.Marching around the playground playing bagpipes will get you a lot of attention- You’ll also be labeled as a crazed maniac who wears a kilt whenever the time seems awkward enough. Any non sensical activity that can seem crazy, awkward, or just down right funny will get you a lot of attention. Some good, some bad, but if you’re a person who practices the phrase “I don’t care what other people think” your non sensical activities turn into a darn good time.

6.If you don’t leave your room, cabin fever sets in- Talking to yourself, wanting to run down the hall yelling, dancing at random times of the day? YOU’VE GOT THE FEVER! Not to worry though this fever is solved with a little social interaction! But of course, a little craziness never hurt. Putting on a fruit hat and doing the cha cha while singing cabin fever is never a bad site to see! Make sure all video cameras are destroyed first..

7.If they ask to go to the bathroom every 20 minutes- They either are not admitting to an issue that they should see the nurse for..OORRR you’ve got a skipper! What they don’t realize though is that the test they just skipped out on will be waiting for them when they get back and the rest of their class is at recess. Hehehe.

8.DON’T GET DOWN LOW- So a song is playing, you are dancing right along with your students having fun and getting their craziness out. All of a sudden the music tells you to get down low on the floor. You do so and..CRACK! something in that body of yours makes a noise and you can’t move. Your kids laugh at first as you lay helpless like a turtle on the floor but then all rush to your side as you laugh in pain unable to roll over and slide yourself into your chair until they give you breathing room. It doesn’t matter how old or how young, you can’t bend like a 4th grader anymore! From personal experience, to avoid the turtle pose and ice packs in places you don’t want later STAY STANDING.

9.Trying to use the teachers room bathroom- I wish you good luck…Sometimes the only adult bathroom around in a lot of buildings this sacred bathroom is one to be revered if gained access to. Usually busy most of the day with constant traffic this bathroom filled with magazines, fresh and good smelling scents, and uniquely scented soaps can be a highlight of any teachers day. C’mon on, there is only so much use of the tiny toilets or bathroom stalls you can take!

10.Purchase a lot of colorful duct tape- You will use this magical fix it material found at our local office or craft supply store whether it’s to quickly fix a broken instrument, decorate a piece of office equipment, or to tape your rug to the floor so your students stop picking it up during class!! It serves not only as a great last minute fix it tool but also a great way to occupy the younger children in your classes with the purdy shiny colorful swirly thingys…*stares at pile of tape*

I just saw another epic adventure brought to you by the inspiring minds of Pixar. Reminds me of what keeps me inspired, that no matter who you are, where you come from, or what you’ve done..you have the chance to change your fate and bring freedom and joy into the life you lead.

Our freedom, pride, destiny. The characteristics that make us who we are, can they be changed? We are born into a certain story with certain expectations and a plot all ready to follow. What happens when we rip that page of the book out? Can we change that plot into our own story?

Have you ever watched a class of students slink into your room, you know their stories..you have expectations on their fates but their story isn’t set in stone. The pages of their book that are already written can be ripped apart and bound into a whole different adventure. Remember, to never judge a student’s destiny by their cover. Even though we may not be the cutest or even blue in color, teachers are the wisps of the real world forest, we can show them the way to their new story, a story bound by their own bravery to venture out and climb the cliffs drinking from courage built inside of themselves.

So when you venture out into the woods, judging the travelers by where they come from or how they look (even if their appearance mirrors those of creatures you’d rather not meet in a dark forest). Help them to rewrite their story in their own way. Change their fate..

Like most elementary general music teachers I LOVE to read to my students in class and have built up quite a library of books. All of them have a relationship to music, some of them require activities to do with the students to tie in the story but some of them are interactive all on their own. Here is 5 books I have read to my students that are proven hits and some activities to go along with them:

Berlioz the Bear by Jan Brett tells the story of poor Berlioz the Bear whose string bass has a mysterious buzzing sound. His orchestra is on its way to the village square to a concert and gets stuck. After a large group of animals tries to pull their wagon out Berlioz finds out the reason his bass has been buzzing…A BEE! The bee stings the donkey pulling the cart of musicians and runs down to the square getting the musicians there on time. I tend to read this book as my younger grades start to learn about the orchestra. We talk about why an orchestra warms up, concert etiquette, and the different instruments shown in the book.

 I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello  by Barbara S. Garriel is a play on the series of books entitled I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a…  The shy fellow in this story shows off his enormous appetite for instruments swallowing everything he can get his hands on. After he swallows as much as he can the instruments explode back out and into the hands of their owners again. This is a great book for younger students who are just getting use to instrument names. After he swallows each instrument we’ll talk about it and after they explode out of his mouth I will ask questions about the instrument to see how much they have retained!

Carnival of the Animals by Jack Prelutsky is a series of poems dedicated to the song Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens. Each section of the book is about the animals in the song giving a short poem about each one. The greatest part about this book is there is a CD that goes along with it. It narrates each poem by Jack Prelutsky himself and plays each portion of the song. The last track on the CD is the whole song. I will post pictures from  the animals all around the room and play the track. The students must listen to each portion of the song and stand by the corresponding animal. I stop after each portion of the track to say which animal it was so students know if they were correct or incorrect.

 Pete the Cat  by Eric Litwin is a series of 3 books. Pete the Cat I love my White Shoes, Pete the Cat Rockin’ in My School Shoes, and Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. Each book tells the story of Pete the Cat and his love for his clothes. Each book also has it’s own song that will get stuck in your head..I love my white shoes..I love my white shoes..OH NO! IT’S STUCK IN MY HEAD! With each book have your students sing along, don’t worry they will know the words after the first page. To go further with the song notate it and have your students play along with it. With the first book I love My White Shoes I have my kindergartners color a shoe and we put it into a book and sing along to the book before I pass the book off to the teachers as a gift. It’s a fun activity for all!

 Freddie the Frog  by Sharon Burch is a fantastic series I recently found this year. Each book tells of an adventure Freddie and his pal Eli go on around their home of Treble Clef Island. Each adventure secretly teaches the students a musical concept and tests them at the end. The students are surprised at first not knowing they learned anything at all until rethinking the book and that little lightbulb  suddenly turns on. These books are interactive in themselves providing activities and songs for students to take part in. Make sure you have the Freddie the Frog puppet to read along with the CDs. Students are completely engaged watching you talk with it.

Check out Amazon.com to get all of these books for your collection!