Saturday, October 7, 2017

Easiest K-2 Music Lesson Ever - "Peter and the Wolf" - Music Teachers and Subs - FOR USE WITH SMART BOARDS

Hi, Elementary Music Teachers! 
I have created the easiest, no-prep lesson to identify the instruments from "Peter and the Wolf" by sight and by name. This is perfect for a sub plan, but you can also use it in your classroom. A sub can successfully complete this lesson with NO MUSIC EXPERIENCE!

All you or your sub has to do is: 
     1. Show the video to your class (click here for video), 
     2. Purchase the Smart Board Lesson (click here for game download) and
     3. You're ready!



This is best used as a review to "Peter and the Wolf." Make sure you have the program "Smart Notebook" before you purchase this game.

Thanks! Hope this helps!

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

This Is My School

This is my school:

Teachers walk down the halls with hearts full of love. They greet each other. They laugh and cry together. They are all working toward a common goal: teaching our beloved kids.

We teach them every day with passion, patience, kindness, gentleness… giving a little tough love when needed. But it’s always love. We encourage them to aim higher and then give them the tools to help them reach new heights. We measure success based on individual victories. Tied shoes, singing in the microphone, a high score on a quiz.

We all know we are meant to be here in this moment.

We are dedicated, hard-working advocates for our kids. And that’s what they are – OUR KIDS.

Some days are tough. We go through storms. We suffer loss. Our scores aren’t always what we hope for. But here’s the thing… I don’t want to be anywhere else. I don’t just give 8-hour days to a job. I have dedicated my life to MY KIDS. Not just to teach them, but to show them love every day.

And the great thing is…everyone in my school feels the exact same way.

This is my school.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

***FLASHBACK TIME!!! - FAVORITE SOUNDTRACKS FROM CHILDHOOD***

A familiar soundtrack can transport us to another time with a single note. You know...that soundtrack you can sing after not thinking about it for 20 years? 

The soundtrack that transports me the quickest is "Lion King." It was my first soundtrack. With one note, I'm back in my living room, jumping on the couch cushions with pure joy, singing at the top of my lungs with my brother. What soundtracks bring you back? I'd love to hear!

Here are some of my other favorites (you can click the pic if you want to buy it on Amazon):

The Mask of Zorro - the brass and percussion are my favorite in this. You can hear the fight scenes and fancy footwork. This is a great soundtrack for riding in the car. I was so sad when composer James Horner died in 2016. This soundtrack was my go-to soundtrack through my college years.


Of course, Lion King needs to be on the list. Every time I hear "I'm Gonna Be a Mighty King," I think of my brother. :)



Remember "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon?" The special effects would probably seem rudimentary now, but when it came out, it was monumental. I love how the music takes me to another world with its Asian influences in instrumentation and beautiful intervals. 



MISSION; IMPOSSIBLE! I looooooove the 5/4 theme. Great for exercising, driving, mowing the lawn... Anything. I could listen to it for hours.



"Anastasia" was an overlooked beauty of a soundtrack. The Russian flavor made the orchestration unique from the more popular Disney films in the 90's and early 2000's. 



This is probably my favorite soundtrack of all time. I had never heard anyone use the stuttered editing like they did on Madonna's theme. It was mind-blowing! I could relive each scene of the movie as I listened. This movie was released while I was in college, when I was working so hard to become a professional trumpet player. When I heard the "Welcome to Cuba" solo (do yourself a favor...click here to listen), I was so inspired. I showed it to my brother, now a professional trumpet player himself, he loved it just as much as I did. If my soundtrack would have been vinyl, I would have worn a hole in it! I just listened to it again, and I'm thinking about trying to find my CD right now!


I'd really love to hear from you! It's so fun to flashback to favorites from "back in the day." Comment below or find me on social media!

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INSTRUMENT ZOOM - Orchestra Game for PowerPoint

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY YOUTUBE VIDEO ABOUT INSTRUMENT ZOOM!


I am so excited to show you my new game "Instrument Zoom," available for beginners and for more advanced musicians. My kids love this game so much! I use it at the end of my instruments of the orchestra unit and in my enrichment groups. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE FOR A SPED-UP SAMPLE OF THE GAME!


OBJECTIVE: Identify the instrument before the video stops. Each video shows an instrument zoomed in really close. Every 10 seconds, the camera zooms out a little until the whole instrument is shown. Every time the camera zooms out, the point value decreases. At the end of each video, the points go to zero and the name of the instrument is revealed. On the advanced version, the first 2-3 views of each instrument are purposefully pixelated to increase the mystery for the students. 


I have created two versions so you can play this with all your kids. The "beginner version" is best for late 1st grade and through 2nd grade. The "advanced version" is great for 3rd grade and above. 


Click here to purchase INSTRUMENT ZOOM - ADVANCED VERSION

Click here to purchase INSTRUMENT ZOOM - BEGINNER VERSION

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Or email me at megsmusicroom@gmail.com!


Click the pics below for some great soundtracks!

 

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Print-and-Go Resources for Elementary Music Teachers

Aren't printable resources the best?? You just print, make the copies you need, and voilĂ ! It's ready to go! 

I just made a TpT bundle of eleven of my most useful printable resources. $19 value for $8 if you buy the bundle! Click here to go straight to the bundle!  Click here to pin it!

I know what you're thinking..."Great. Another blog just trying to get me to buy more stuff." But my goal with all these items is to alleviate stress and give you more time doing real-life activities - not being stuck creating a quiz when I've already done the work. Read the descriptions below and see if you can use any of the resources included. They really could make a difference in your life!








This is my very favorite music teacher resource that I have made. Since 2005, I've been doing multiple musicals and events during the school year. I started saving my crazy to-do lists scribbled on the back of lesson plans and shopping lists and organized it into a complete to-do list for creating a musical. I start with choosing a program 3-4 months before the show and go all the way to the performance. Every music teacher needs this. Since I started using this resource, I have stopped panicking in the weeks leading up to the show. I now remember to do everything and am often done with most of my list weeks ahead of schedule. This is truly a life-saver. Click here for this resource.




The dynamics and tempo worksheets assess if your students have mastered the standard terms and symbols. Super easy to print and go! Click here for this resource.


The instrument identification assessment tests your students' ability to identify standard orchestra instruments by sight and name. Play an excerpt of your own and make it a listening test! Click here for this resource.

 



The kindergarten assessments and grade book will make your portfolio impressive for your principal and make grades easy. This includes a description of each assessment you will need to complete for kindergarten music and any printables you need to help with assessment. Click here for this resource.

 


This music lesson plan template is an editable Word document useful for all levels of music teachers. Just plug in your information and you're ready to go! Click here for this resource.


This checklist is one of my favorite/useful tools. I use it every year. Just print it out at the beginning of the year and check off the concepts as you teach them for everyone K-4. Click here for this resource.





Orchestra Charades is a fun game to play as a reward, after the end of the orchestra unit, or with a sub in a pinch. Just print out the cards, cut them, and you're ready to play! Click here for this resource.






These rhythm worksheets are ready to go! Just print and assess how well your students know the names of the notes, what they look like, and how many beats they get. Click here for this resource.


 The treble clef note name test assesses your students' abilities to name the line and space notes on the staff. There are no ledger lines in this assessment. Easy to print and go! Click here for this resource.




This singing rubric makes grading an audition or assessment a piece of cake! I use this for every grade. I can now see the strengths of individual students and give them solos that will spotlight them at their best. Click here for this resource.









Thanks for browsing my resources. I hope this provides you with some help in your classroom!

:) Meg

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Monday, June 12, 2017

Meg's Music Room - My Story and Mission

Hi, Music Teachers and fans! I thought it was probably time to tell you a little about myself. I have been an elementary music teacher since 2005. I love my job so much because I get to teach little kids the joys of creating beautiful music. It's so much more than that, though; I get to show them a constant, reliable love every day. I get to help them dream about the future. I get to discover their talents, that one thing that will get them through difficult times in their lives. 

A few years ago, one of my music teacher friends suggested that I start a Teachers Pay Teachers store. I had been creating lessons and games for years and sharing them with my co-teachers in the district. When she said that, I realized there was a demand for what I was doing and that I could help other music teachers to have engaging lessons while saving them time. Here are some of the items I specialize in providing:















I am so pleased that teachers are genuinely appreciating my work. Here are some of the things teachers have told me about my resources: 

















Beethoven Trivia for Smart Notebook

Beethoven Trivia for PowerPoint



FREEBIES!

Check out my store to see how I can make your life easier! Meg's Music Room Store

Subscribe to my YouTube channel for mini-lessons (great for a sub or when you just need a second to breathe!) - Meg's Music Room YouTube Channel

Follow me for the latest on sales, new products and fun music teacher stuff! 
Just click the links below:

Thanks for reading! I hope to hear from you! 
:) Meg