Latest Blog Posts from Off the Beaten Path
- Using Student-Created How-To Videos for Skills Assessment
By 2022, most adults have probably watched a how-to video at some point in their lives. Maybe it involved cooking techniques, home repair, or even craft projects. It’s also very likely that students have watched this type of video as well. In fact, there were many days when students would… - Creativity With Composing Pieces
This was post was originally published in July 2021, but has been updated now in September 2022. As the new school year is about to start, remember how important it is to include students in the creative process. Even though my project was completed during hybrid learning, the concepts can… - Another Way to Think About Creativity in Music
For many music teachers, the creativity standards are the most elusive and sometimes challenging to incorporate. When the National Core Arts Standards were released in 2014, there was a noticeable change in the format and language included in the standards. What were nine simple statements turned into a multi-page document… - Empowering Music Students at the Beginning of the Year
August 2022: This blog post has gotten a much-needed update! Whether you are about to start the school year or a few weeks in, hopefully it will provide you with simple ways to empower your music students. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that you can only… - Using a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) in Band
This article was originally published in The Woman Conductor Journal, June 2022 issue. Prior to the year 2000, a digital audio workstation, known as a DAW, was only found in professional music studios. The DAW was complex and primarily used by those in the music industry. However, in 2004 Apple introduced GarageBand… - Using Flip (Flipgrid) in Instrumental Music
Updated July 2022 They’ve done it again! I first wrote about using Flipgrid in music classes in January 2018. Since that time, the tool has gone through several amazing updates and this most recent round is no exception. The biggest change is a new name: Flipgrid is now Flip! There’s…
Meaningful Professional Learning
Theresa Hoover brings her passion and enthusiasm to presentations, workshops, and professional development programs in both in-person and virtual settings. Her sessions are inspiring and practical. Teachers will leave excited to try new things in their classrooms and have a clear picture of how to do so.