July Small Goals

The start of July is bittersweet. I have so many questions. Where did June go? Why haven't I reorganized my bookshelf like I said I would? And most importantly, where's my fruity drink iced coffee drink with the little umbrella?

Despite these unanswered questions, I'm moving forward with setting my small goals for this month. As many of you know, my monthly goals posts focus on physical and emotional health, which I believe are equally important. My hope is that these posts inspire you to check in with yourself each month, to see if your physical and emotional health are where you would like them to be.

But first, let's see how I did with last month's goals.

HYDRATION, LESS SALT, KEEP MOVING.

This was an all-in-one goal with the intent of reducing my ear problems. I'm thrilled to say that it's worked! I haven't had a single issue with my ears since the beginning of June! No more avoiding noisy restaurants or having to confine myself to a silent room. My fingers are crossed that this trend continues.

TAKE TIME TO THINK

I'm learning to accept that thinking time is working time. But I think this may always be a struggle for me. Time will tell.

Now onto my small goals for this month:

DO YOGA

Since summer began, I upped my walking game and entirely quit doing yoga. I need to start up again. It's good to get on the mat, and it makes me feel stronger. Flexibility would be nice too, especially when I'm reaching for the last bit of chocolate on the top shelf ;)

I'll probably start with this playlist. The practices are all 10 minutes and under.

BE STILL

Despite working from home all day in solitude, I never take time to just sit and let my mind wander. Sure, I think a lot about work projects and the topic of my next blog post, but it's not a relaxing endeavor. My best ideas have always come out of the blue, when I wasn't thinking about work. So, I'm going to try to spend at least five minutes every day, staring out the window, letting my mind go. When it's starts wandering to the fridge for the last scoop of ice cream, I'll know my time is up.

That's it for my small goals. How about you? What goals have you set for yourself this month? Let me know in the comments section!

The Top 5 Things I've Learned Working from Home

It's summer, and it's time for a change of pace. Instead of sharing my lesson ideas as usual, I want to take you behind the scenes (aka my home office). As some of you know, I quit teaching about three years ago in order to devote 100% of my time to sharing lesson ideas with all of you and creating education resources for my store the Yellow Brick Road.

Having lived this life for three years now, teaching is still the hardest job I ever had. Hence why I have everlasting respect and gratitude for every teacher I meet.

That being said, I've learned so much about my career in the past few years. I've grown as a content creator and resource producer (say that five times fast). And while I don't expect all that I've learned to apply to your life as a music teacher, there are areas of commonality. For example...

1. If you don't value your time, neither will anyone else.

The first year I became a work-from-home gal, I fielded several calls from people who just wanted to chat in the middle of the day. Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly okay with dropping everything for a friend who's just experienced a break-up or a family member who is in need of serious help.

However, I'm not okay being bombarded with someone's shopping list and a detailed description of how they plan their meals. Oh, and by the way, did I know that so-and-so said such-and-such to so-and-so? 

Eventually, I learned to set boundaries.

If I received a call that had gone beyond a reasonable amount of time, and contained no vital information, I politely explained that I needed to "get back to work". Respect is a two-way street. If others don't respect your time, then you are justified in setting boundaries and teaching them how to respect it.

2. Some people will never accept that you have a "real job".

Whether it stems from ignorance or jealousy, some people just won't get what you do. It's not much different from being a music teacher in a sea of general education teachers. Some teachers value what you do wholeheartedly (bless them), while others think you've been pulled off the street to give them prep time. 

Sure, you can spend time patiently educating others on why your job is a real thing that requires hard work. I've done this in the past to mixed results. Still, some people won't accept your career no matter how hard you work at it. And that's okay.

It's their problem, not yours.

This issue used to be my pet peeve. Nowadays, it's much easier to shrug off the naysayers. I'm passionate about the work that I do, and I'm proud that my resources are helping music teachers and students all over the world. There's no doubt in my mind that making a positive difference in the lives of teachers and children is my life's work.

3. Comparison is the Thief of Joy. Seriously. Stop it!

We're constantly bombarded with the amazing work of other professionals. We see it on Pinterest, on blogs, in teaching magazines, and at conferences. The talent of music teachers and small business owners is on display all the time. 

It's no wonder that we start to feel as though we don't measure up.

Instead, ask yourself what your students would think.

• Will your students care that you presented at a national conference or will they pay more attention to how you treat them with compassion?

• Will your students remember if you finished all your curricular goals this year or will they remember how much fun they had playing music games in your class?

We can spend our time comparing ourselves to others or we can spend our time focused on the positive difference we're making in the lives of students.

4. Thinking IS doing.

Everybody creates. Whether that includes writing new lesson plans or developing a new resource. It's all creation. And the true work of creation is thinking.

The problem is that thinking doesn't always feel productive. 

I often think I'm not being productive if I'm formulating an idea in my mind or working out the finer details of a finished product. When in reality, the physical aspect of my work is by far the easiest. The thought process is where all the real magic happens. It's because of this that I always have to remind myself:

Thinking IS doing!

5. Asking for Help is NOT a sign of weakness.

Whether you're running a music class or running a small business, the responsibilities are the same. We are creators, editors, salespeople, social media managers, advertisers, accountants, and more. While you're constantly advocating for music education, I'm creating a resource to help you do that. While you're trying to scrap together a budget for new instruments, I'm calculating my quarterly tax payments. We have so many responsibilities, and there's only 24 hours in a day. Therefore...

Asking for help is NOT a sign of weakness!

I'm repeating that statement for me as much as for you. In my first few years of teaching, I felt like I was on an island by myself. I had awesome colleagues in other subjects or fields, but nobody who taught elementary music. It was isolating. So, when I had a bad day or just wanted to chat with someone about elementary music methods, I didn't know where to turn. 

Fears and questions multiply in isolation.

Thankfully, a lot has changed since then. I joined Facebook groups for music teachers. I read music education blogs and reached out to the authors. I emailed colleagues. I started chatting with like-minded small business owners. I even wrote a blog post about how to avoid isolation. Slowly but surely, I found a support system. And much to my surprise, I was able to help them as much as they helped me.

"Refusing to ask for help when you need it is refusing someone the chance to be helpful." 

~Ric Ocasek

So now I have a question for you. What's your biggest struggle as a teacher and/or content creator? Which number on my list resonated with you the most? Leave your answers in the comments section. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Vivaldi's Summer

Wouldn't you love to feel like the kids in that picture? They're running around with not a care in the world, longing for their next ice cream fix. 

Come to think of it, that describes music teachers pretty well, minus the "not a care in the world" part. I'm sure you have plenty of cares, like the kind that involve lesson planning and teaching all the concepts that need to be taught in a given year. Yep, you've definitely got a lot to care about!

Thankfully, I'm here today with some lesson ideas that will keep your kids moving and learning to Vivaldi's Summer.

Below is a fantastic video featuring Joshua Bell performing The Four Seasons "Summer" Presto. One commenter of the video said, "This is the most metal classical piece I've ever heard. Rock on, Vivaldi." 

Indeed.

If this performance can get a stranger from the internet excited about art music, then it's sure to be a hit with your students too. Plus, it's a great segue into talking about Joshua Bell. You could also take this moment to discuss Vivaldi and his life as a composer. 

MOVEMENT

This one is simple. Ask your students to move to the music. If you have scarves or ribbons, use them! The idea here is not to move to the beat (as per usual), but instead to show the expressiveness of the music. For example, students might move up and down to show dynamics. They might freeze during the rests or stomp to show accents. Download the free resource below for a list of free form movements that the students can try.

VOCABULARY

Vivaldi's Summer is awesome for presenting music vocabulary. The students will be prepared to discuss the expressive qualities of the music after they've had a chance to move to the music. Below is a short list of vocabulary you can discuss with this piece:

• accents
• short/long
• timbre
• strings
• violin
• rest
• dynamics
• loud/soft

QUICK SUB PLAN 

If you're in need of an easy lesson plan for subs, consider using my free SQUILT sheets where students can write or draw what they heard in the music.

Attention all current and future newsletter subscribers, I'll be sending out a special freebie this Friday. You won't want to miss it! If you aren't a subscriber yet, you can visit this page to sign up.

Turn the Glasses Over

I'm sorry, but I'm about to share a song that will likely be stuck in your head for the next few days. I speak from experience...

CIRCLE GAME

Despite it's status as an earworm, this song has a fantastic circle game that will keep your students moving and twirling. Watch the video below to see how it's played.

FORM

The circle game for this song is the perfect setup to discuss form. With my youngest students, I talked about form as having "same and different parts". And I used a lot of movement to keep them active and engaged in the concept. Often, I would ask students to create their own movements to accompany the same and different parts in the music. This gave them some autonomy and helped them to differentiate each part in the song.

As students get older, you can introduce objects into the mix to keep it interesting. For example, you could use paper plates, ribbons, flash lights, or scarves to create movements based on the form. Or create a routine with a parachute that reflects the form of the piece. The video below is a great way to get older elementary students (or other teachers) involved.

BONUS LINKS

There are so many things you can do with this song, that I felt compelled to include links to several other fantastic resources:

March from the Nutcracker Ballet: a paper plate routine

Flash Light Painting with the March from the Nutcracker Ballet

"The Syncopated Clock" from Parachutes and Ribbons and Scarves, Oh My! - Artie Almeida

Cup Passing Game set to Turn the Glasses Over

Basics of Form: interactive slideshow for teaching form

Engine, Engine, Number Nine

There isn't a day that goes by in my town without the sound of a train. For many students, train sounds are a familiar part of life. And what better way to feel the beat, than to imitate the sounds of a moving train through a speech piece?

Engine, Engine, Number Nine is a speech piece with multiple variations. You can find a few of those variations here and here. Some teachers set it to a so/mi melody, while others use it as a speech piece to focus on barred eighth and quarter notes. There are several concepts you can teach through this piece. However you choose to use it, it's a great addition to any elementary music repertoire.

TIMBRE

Ask students about the sounds that trains make. If you're introducing this song in first grade, cross the curriculum by referencing the word onomatopoeia. Then, pull out a few different rhythm instruments, showing them how they can make the sound of a train using the instruments.

You could use hand drums, sandblocks, kokirikos (clatterpillars), egg shakers, maracas, and/or cabasas. The possibilities are endless. 

Rob Amchin has a great example in the video below. By rubbing the hand drums, students are creating the sound of the train wheels, while practicing steady beat. If you aren't subscribed to Rob's Youtube Channel, I would highly recommend it. He shares amazing lesson ideas and walks you through the process of how to teach them.

INSTRUMENT PROCEDURES

I always loved adding rhythm instruments to lessons on steady beat. It gave me a great opportunity to review the playing technique as well go over the dos and don'ts of each instrument. 

It's never too late in your student's life to remind them that rhythm sticks don't belong in their mouth.

The more entertaining you are when explaining the dos and don'ts, the more likely they are to stick. My students almost always remembered what not to do with the instruments because I would dramatically act out exactly what I didn't want them to do.

For example, you could hold an egg shaker in your armpit and then let it fall dramatically to the floor. Then, ask your students if that was the correct thing to do. They will loudly exclaim "NO!!" while laughing hysterically. An added bonus is that you will be forever remembered as the "funny teacher". And that's a title to hold proudly!

STEADY BEAT

Once your students have their instruments in hand, you can begin working on steady beat. Ask them to get in a circle and speak the piece as they walk and play to the steady beat. Make sure to exchange instruments occasionally so that all students get a chance to play.

Play "follow the conductor". Choose one student to be the "conductor" of the train and have them stand in front of the line of students. If you have a large class, you could break them into groups and have several "trains" and "conductors". 

Start the students out with a tempo that was faster or slower than before. It will be the conductor's job to keep that pace as the students follow. After going through the piece a few times, ask students whether it was faster or slower than before. Continue doing this until students are consistently answering correctly. 

Keep students engaged by occasionally throwing in a wildly fast or incredibly slow tempo. It will be both challenging and entertaining for them.

FREE RESOURCE

I'm already working on providing awesome content for this month's newsletter. One of which will tie directly into this lesson idea. It will be a free resource that you will be able to use year after year, and is perfect for a review of steady beat. If you're not already a subscriber, go HERE to sign up!

June Small Goals

It's a bright and shiny new month, which means it's time for me to set some more small goals. As per usual, I'll be focusing on physical and emotional health, with neither being more important than the other.

Last month, my small and mighty goal was to Be Kind. It's amazing how much two little words can challenge us. I found the most difficult aspect was being kind to myself. It's so easy to beat ourselves up over everything, including those things beyond our control. However, after I practiced taking it easy on myself, I found it a lot easier to be kind to others. Just like playing an instrument well, being kind takes practice. It doesn't always come naturally (at least not for me).

I know, I know. None of this is breakthrough material. But sometimes, we have to experience things for ourselves to make it really sink in. Or in my case, get it through my thick skull...

Okay, enough of that. On to my small goals for this month!

HYDRATION, LESS SALT, KEEP MOVING.

As many of you know, I've had middle and inner ear issues since my trip to London last summer. After many months of frustration and visits to an ENT, I've finally discovered magical trifecta of ear health. The more water I drink, the less my inner ear and eustachian tubes rebel against me. As music teachers, I know you all understand the issue of hydration extremely well! And when it comes to salt, my tongue likes it, but my ears don't. And they battle it out often, especially when brain is deciding whether or not to hit the Taco Bell drive through...

If (and when) I do slip up and eat salty fast-food, I can usually avoid ear issues with some serious hydration and walking. Considering how much I enjoy walking outside, I think this goal will be an easy one to accomplish.

TAKE TIME TO THINK

My husband and I are both away from home right now taking care of a family member. I'm grateful to be able to take my work on the road, and my husband is able to do the same. Yesterday, I asked my him about his plans for the day. He said, "I have a lot of thinking work to do."

This is not the first time he's said something like this concerning his job, but it's the first time that I applied it to myself. I don't feel productive unless I'm actively typing, tapping the touch pad, or editing audio.

When in reality, all of my productivity is a direct result of my "thinking work".

This week, I'm working on a project for my Basics Series. It takes a lot of thinking work upfront. And if someone sees me staring into space and asks what I'm up to, I'll give them the truth. I'm working.


Enough about me. What physical and emotional health goals do you plan to achieve during the month of June? Is your goal to relax and de-stress? Or do you plan on amping up your exercise routine? Let me know in the comments section!