This week’s video is very different- I was on a bike ride and got to a windy cliff overlooking the sea ... and some insights about my week suddenly came to me. Here’s what it looked like (along with some unexpected insights into life and teaching that I had this week after I took some
Have you ever had times where things just don’t feel like they’re ever coming together and yet had other times where it’s all been so easy? I was reflecting on it this morning on my run and I realized that there have been two major milestones which have felt well, easier, and in the past
In today’s episode we’re tackling an important topic: How to create lasting fulfillment, no matter what in music teaching. Because music teaching can be a mixed bag, right? Our emotions can range from utter exhilaration to total exhaustion, sometimes in minutes which can ultimately lead to sadness about what we do as teachers. Sometimes it
During my early teaching career, there was one extracurricular activity that I never missed and that was our annual State Music Camp. I loved it! It was a buzz for me to attend as a teacher for many years, the kids were stoked to be there, some great conductors gave their time and energy freely
Ever wonder how to get your school noticed worldwide and become the coolest high school teacher ever overnight? Recently (January 2015) theatre teacher, Scot Pankey and his 200 students did just that - not with some fancy computer school program or high maths or english test scores, but with one single music clip where
Welcome back to Music Teachers' Q and A for 2015 - Where Music teachers connect and share ideas and strategies to improve their teaching career. Today's topic is a common one in schools all around the world - technology! The question comes from Lillian in Melbourne, Australia, and she writes: "I would like to know
Now, I know this video is probably staged, but it’s just good fun and I thought it could be a great one to show your music classes as an incentive to get them to their lessons on time! A couple come up to the gas pump to fill up and find themselves singing karaoke of
A little while ago, this small London Based Salvation Army Brass Band got seen with well over 1 million views on YouTube and recently their story has been picked up by big media. Want to know how they did it? It’s simple……Someone sneezed into a trombone while trying to play it in a performance! As
Most teachers are well aware that multiculturalism is a requirement of many curriculum documents around the world today. Music, because of its very nature is asked to cover this by curriculum writers, because we're one of the subjects that CAN do this - I mean you can’t exactly address multiculturalism in Math or Science, can
What would YOU do in this situation: You've taught music at the same school for several years. You enjoy the job, you have a good relationship with your students, and everything is going well. Then one day at the end of the year the principal calls you into their office and says "I think we