Top Five Blog Posts From 2022
Happy New Year! What a year it’s been 😊 Personally, this year was full of adventures: some amazing travels, moved across the country, and started a PhD program at Arizona State University! At times, the blog had to take a backseat, but it’s been fun to publish new posts and revise the old favorites when I’ve had time. So, for the fifth year in a row, I’m excited to share the top five music education blog posts from 2022!
#5 – Creating Music With Groove Pizza
One of my favorite ways to use technology in music education is to have students create music. Lucky for us, there are so many great options available. Today I’m going to share a tool I’ve been using for several years in my music classes. It’s free, accessible from any device, and fun! Groove Pizza, made by the NYU Music Experience Design Lab, allows you to create rhythmic grooves and loops. The interface is shaped like a pizza where each slice represents a subdivision and the toppings are the sounds. By clicking on the pizza’s grid, you can add or remove sounds. You can play your creation and listen to your groove loop. Continue reading…
#4 – 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 a new name, a new logo, and some incredible updates coming to the platform. What hasn’t changed? Their commitment to student voice. Before I go further, here’s some background. Continue reading…
#3 – Strategies to Mix Things Up During Rehearsal
We’ve hit the time of year where many of us have settled into routines and (probably) feel pretty comfortable with what we’re doing. This is often when we ask, how can I make rehearsal more interesting? How can I ensure the students are engaged? How can I mix things up? While there is comfort in routine, after a while it can also get stale. It’s understandable. That’s why it’s up to us as directors to keep things fresh and interesting. Continue reading…
#2 – Apps for Beginning Band and Orchestra
(Updated December 2022) It’s no secret; I am a fan of technology in education! All of my 4th and 5th-grade students have school-issued iPads. I enjoy using the iPads in my elementary band and orchestra classes and have found several apps that work well in this setting. While I would never advocate for using technology exclusively in an instrumental music class (they need to play the instruments, right?) it can be a great supplement. Here are my favorite apps for beginning band and orchestra. Continue reading…
#1 – Music Snippet: Music Notation for Google Docs and Slides
(Updated June 2022) This blog post has been updated, just like the awesome tool it features! Flat.io, the creators of the well-known Google Add-on, Flat for Docs, has recently announced some changes to this tool, including a name change! Flat for Docs has re-branded, and is now known as Music Snippet. Music Snippet makes it easy to incorporate music notation into your Google Docs and Slides. Read on to learn more about Music Snippet and how to use it when creating resources for your music classes. Continue reading…
Once again, thanks for continuing on this journey with me! I’m not sure if I will maintain the same blog posting schedule this year. It is definitely more challenging with the doctoral program. But I’ll do my best and continue to publish as often as possible. I have a few music education tech-tools to share, and I’m even considering a series about some of the research I’ve read this year, looking at it through a practical lens. If you don’t already subscribe to the blog, be sure to do that now so you don’t miss anything. I promise you won’t be spammed. I definitely don’t have time for that!
Here’s to a new year – best of luck for everything 2023 has in store!
