Well, folks, I finally have a few minutes to sit and compose a blog post! It’s been a crazy past couple months with a successful performance and lots of state testing going on. Things have returned to “normal” and I can finally make music in the music room again! Lately, though, I’ve been using my [...]

Sadly, it looks like the days of safe video keeping are over as my Fliggo site has disappeared and has been replaced by Vidly.com. I heard rumors through my Musick8 mailing list that this was about to happen, but it has been months since the supposed turnover was supposed to happen and my videos were [...]

If you haven’t seen this little simple flash synthesizer yet, you have to try it out. I was addicted after the first try and have to share this with my students upon return to classes in January! Merry Christmas to everyone reading the blog and I hope 2010 brings health wealth and happiness to all! [...]

21st Century Music Education Advocacy
Author: Stefani Langol
About Author: Assistant Professor, Music Education – Berklee College of Music
Use: General Music Skills
Type: Using Technology
Solution: Classroom Technology, Music Education
In these times of unprecedented financial instability, it’s more important than ever to have strong, visibly active, and well-organized music education advocacy groups that will support and defend the arts [...]

From Remarks by the President at Reception for Kennedy Center Honorees -
Released yesterday 12/6/09
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http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-reception-kennedy-center-honorees

“In times of war and sacrifice, the arts — and these artists —- remind us
to sing and to laugh and to live.  In times of plenty, they challenge our
conscience and implore us to remember the least among us.  In moments of
division or [...]

What I thought was a typical keyboard lab training today turned out to be a fantastic experience meeting one of my all-time music technology idols, Dr. James Frankel! Little did I know (because I haven’t been reading much of my email lately) that he was going to be the presenter and representative from Soundtree for [...]

The following is an excerpt from the latest Dave Ramsey newsletter I got. This thanksgiving I would like to give thanks for the people out there who give of themselves and often do net recieve anything in return. Happy Thanksgiving!
“Thank the Thankless Jobs
There are many roles and professions in our society that are terribly underappreciated. [...]

Maybe I should just go work at Burger King. This has been my “little voice” all day today. I’m not trying to have low self-esteem or anything, but I m feeling defeated for sure.  Motivation has always been my standard answer on interviews for the question “What is your greatest weakness?” I just can’t seem [...]

Started teaching the first of my Backwards Designed units today (How to Blues- 5th grade) and I thought I’d reflect on the experience. Up ’til now I’ve just been puttering along, re-designing each “unit”(or rather set of fun, but otherwise meaningless, activities) that I have scrapped together and taught since the beginning of the year. [...]

For the past two months I have undergone extensive training in “Backwards Design” using the principles of Understanding by Design by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe. It has revolutionized the way that I have thought about planning for understanding rather than planning “activities” and thematic units “just because they are fun and cool”. I have [...]