Communication Through Music

I found this article interesting since I have always been interested in how those who are handicapped are able to use music to express themselves.  This article is about how children with autism are able to express themselves through music even though they can not talk.
Non-Verbal Students Communicate Through Music

Music and the Common Core

With the roll out of the new Common Core Standards the arts, yet again, are being pushed to the back burner when it should be integrated into Common Core.  This article explains way to integrate music and the Common Core.
Music and the Common Core

Interactive Websites

I'm currently looking for as many different way to get my students involved and excited about music.  I found this article that list a variety of different interactive websites that can be used in the general music classroom.  From sites geared to younger student to those for students that have a bit more experience in music. Take a look maybe you can find something of use.
Ten Interactive Sites

Making Your Presentation More Powerful

I found this article on tips for teachers to improve their classroom presentations.  The article lists things I hadn't really thought of before as being important to a presentation.  Although I don't use presentations all the time after reading this article I feel I will be able to better present the information and knowledge I want my students to gain in my music classroom when I do use them.  Check it out!
8 Ways to Power-up Your Presentations

"Bouncy Balls" Helping Students Follow Music

I found this article asking if having students follow light up notes or a bouncing ball aid in their being able to follow the music.  I feel the answer would be yes and would love to find a way to have a ball bounce as music was going along on my interactive white board or to just have the notes light up, because I found myself pointing to the notes as they go and it would be easier to have the technology do that for me.
Do "Bouncy Balls" Help Students Learn Music?

Learning Music and Young Minds

Ok, so this week I went a bit of a different route for what I wanted to post on my blog.  I have always been interested in the effects music has on child and their cognitive development.  So, this week I found an article citing recent studies about the effects music has on the brain.  I feel this information is crucial for music education advocacy.  Check it out.
Playing an Instrument Boosts Youngsters' Brains

Using Social Media as Communication

I found this article discussing the different ways music teachers can be in contact with students and parents.  Anymore today having a website for your music classroom is common place, but teacher are expanding to communicating with their students via twitter and music program facebook pages.  I feel this is a great way for teachers to keep there students up to date on concerts, assignments, and extracurricular performance opportunities like honors groups and solo contests.
Social Media and Communication in the Music Classroom

Noteflight

"A Bicycle Built for Two"
Here you will find posted "A Bicycle Built for Two" arrangement using Noteflight.  I did find this program fairly user friendly and feel it would be easy to teach students in grades 5 and up how to use it.  I could definitely see me using this site in the future in my teaching endeavors.

Garage Band Free in ITunes Store

I wanted to make people who may not know already that Garage Band is free in the ITunes store.  Garage Band is a really good way to get students making music using MIDI files and not have to worry about formal music theory.  You can follow the link to find the app in the ITunes store.
Garage Band (free)

Free Web Sources for Music Education

I found this post on Pinterest and found it useful.  This article lists a number of free online resources that music educators can use.  I have used a number of them in the past.  They are great resources and can be used to help develop lessons as well as find professional development opportunities.
Free Web Resources for Music Education

The Perfect Tool for PreK-1st Grade Music

This article talks about this Noteput Music Table where as you place the note it is played.  I think this would be genius to put into the preK through at least 1st grade classroom.  Since it is hands students can easily manipulate the sounds on the board.  I'm not sure if a teacher could purchase it for their classroom I will have to look into that, but I think this would be an awesome tool in the general music classroom.
Noteput Music Table

The Interactive White Board

I found this article that discusses the uses of interactive whiteboards in the classroom.  I know many music teachers who either have them or are working on a way to get one in their classroom, because they can be a very valuable tool.  I have one in both of my classrooms at both of my schools and they have helped me keep organized in my lessons since I don't have time between classes to prep for the next one.  So I have all my lessons open in the respective program and jut click and get ready for the next class in a few seconds.  This article give resources to interactive websites for music that can be used by students on the interactive whiteboard.
Interactive Whiteboards and the Digitisation of Music Resources