(Part 2) Best products from r/MusicEd

Check out this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Choral-Vocal-Technique-Evoking-Sound/dp/1579997376

It's appropriate for all levels. The key is to activate their singing voice, which is different than their speaking voice (singing voice has more head resonance, is more brilliant, and forward; needs to be spacious and resonant)....

This book is also good. Reading through it now. http://www.amazon.com/Evoking-Warm-up-Procedures-Planning-Exercises/dp/1579993893

Finally, if you want tips for working with untrained voices.. read this book. http://www.amazon.com/Directing-Choral-Program-Kenneth-Phillips/dp/0195132823

It'll also tell you of logistical concerns too, like designing a program, programming a balanced concert, conducting, and things of that sort. It reads like a textbook but is really informative


oh, and one of my favorite books: It features a "Troubleshooting" area too that tells you how to fix various concerns in untrained singers.
http://www.amazon.com/Choral-Challenge-Practical-Solving-Problems/dp/1579997031/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404185673&sr=8-1&keywords=the+choral+challenge

So fortunately, we did not have school fees this year which meant the 175 recorders bought with the budget would be school-only recorders! This means I can save around $600 next year!

Also fortunate that these cork-boards are the same size as pegboards at Lowes (4x8') and only $20. The 200 L-hooks were only $30.

I originally wanted to stick the bell part of the recorders on the hooks but I didn't realize that they were too short. Laying them across two hooks would take too much space. And only putting the mouthpiece on the hooks wouldn't be as stable (unless I cut up and glue shelf-liner to 320 hooks) - I also didn't realize the 175 Harmony recorders were one-piece so this wouldn't have worked either way. So I ultimately chose to hang the bags.

Each class averages 20 students +/- and I was able to fit the entirety of 4th and 5th grade on the wall.

I just need to make signs on top stating which teacher/class is labeled 'A, B, C, etc.'

I would bet you could find a cheaper zoom recorder online. I would invest in a good Bluetooth speaker so that you can control tuning drones, metronomes, etc, from your phone. TI have a JBL flip 4 bluetooth speaker that I use for personal practice every day. It can play over a small ensemble ~20.

I also invest in CDs of compilations of music. https://www.amazon.com/Distinguished-Music-Developing-Rutgers-Ensemble/dp/B003QKR0GS is an example of something I look for. I like the idea of having cds even if it is a dying medium. Spotify and iTunes do not have a really great selection of music. They do have that particular example I posted, but there may come a day where that collection is not there.

I'll be honest, it's a little difficult to describe everything I would look for, so I would trust your instincts. Wherever you feel you are weakest, find a tool or resource that would benefit you in the classroom. I hope this helps some.

I know a number of colleges use this textbook: Reel Music: Exploring 100 Years of Film Music. It would probably be a great resource to structure your curriculum and pull ideas and analysis from. In addition to the (somewhat pricey) paperback there is an ebook, and Amazon has an older edition of the book available cheaper as well.

Start with folk songs and dances. Folk songs are great because 1) they're easier and 2) the community knows them. Plus it teaches culture and history, just pick songs that are age-appropriate. Folk dances are great because it gets the kids up and moving. You can use a website for ideas or find some literature on folk dances.

Sure, teach them how to read music too, but don't focus on it. For young music students, the goal is to expose them to high-quality music and make music fun.

Susan Brumfield has a series of books that include several songs and teaching strategies for those songs.

My personal wishlist includes the MusicPlay books. I used them before when I was subbing for a music teacher before my first year. They basically take a lot of kodaly and orff songs/games and put them together in a day by day timeline of when to teach them. The way it's organized just made it really easily to find what I was looking for and pull what I needed. But it's a bit expensive so I'm waiting to buy it for myself.

The Kodaly Center for Music Education also has an entire online collection of songs that you can browse for free. I've only stumbled across this recently and basically every song I've used or thought of using is in their database plus tons that I have yet to use.

I also just make up songs and games when I need to. I've come across several songs that I wanted to use but I didn't like the game or it just wouldn't work with the size of my classroom so I either tweak the game or change it entirely to fit what I want. Same thing with songs. Recently, I was trying to find a song to let students practice half note rhythms but I didn't like any of the songs I found so I just made one up and turned it into a bean bag tossing game.

Some more fun things I found that others might be interested in:

Mini Theremin

Maywa Denki Mr.Knocky Drumstick Type Music Instrument

Stylophone Retro Pocket Synth

Boomwhackers (most of you probably already have these in your classroom)

A lot of amazing things on here already, so I just have a resource to share that offers many options to answer your questions and also will answer questions you didn't know you had.

This book is not music education specific but I was inspired by it nonetheless. What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali

If you have some experience teaching Orff arrangements and your kids have the chops, consider getting this book by Mary Helen Soloman-- https://www.amazon.com/Little-Christmas-Book-Helen-Solomon/dp/0934017565

I'm doing a couple tunes out of it for my Christmas concert this year. Mary Helen is a great composer.

This is what I used for the PPR. For most people (including me) this is the harder of the two tests. The material itself isn't difficult, but the test is just... weird. The book explains it pretty well though.

The TeXes was a lot easier in my opinion. I didn't buy a study guide for that one, but I think all the materials are in Dropbox. I'll PM a link to you.

My study group also compiled a list of terms (and their definitions) between the two tests that we frequently missed in practice exams. I'll include that in the PM as well.

And no problem! If you do end up coming down, let me know!

A wireless solution is the best, but the SA-AK240 has a "music port" on the front. Put all of your music on your iPhone/smartphone and connect it from the headphone port to the music port on your CD player using this cable http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio-Cable/dp/B004LTEUDO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=mini+rca+to+mini+rca

-Nady HM-10 Headmic Series Headworn Omni-Directional Condenser Microphone with 3.5mm Phono Plug-

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0096GT604/ref=s9_dcacsd_dcoop_bw_c_x_3_w

I use that and is very good. But at $50 it's expensive. I see it as an Invesment hehe.

I use this external webcam.

It's got a really good mic built in.