I know it’s a bit unusual to see a monthly favorites post in place of my usual music education content, but I have some exciting news to share. My blog is getting a complete redesign and overhaul! My goal is to make it easier for you to find what you need, whether that’s a post related to a specific concept or a free resource that you can use in your classroom.
As the rollout date gets nearer, I’ll be working more closely with my designer to decide exactly how I want everything laid out, which means less time to write posts. However, you can always look for posts related to a specific concept or song by using the search bar at the top of my blog. If you want to stay up to date on all the behind-the-scenes action, you can sign up for my newsletter here.
As for my current favorites this month, I have several that will come in handy for your busy music teacher life. Be sure to read all the way through to see my latest favorite experiment in Chrome Music Lab.
TECH
The Weather Kitty App is just as ridiculous and heart-warming as it sounds. This app provides me with all the necessary weather information, along with a picture of a cute cat or kitten that matches the weather. The basic app is free, though you can pay $1.99 to get rid of advertisements.
If you’re not a cat person, you can opt for other variations, such as dog, grumpy cat, or wildlife. Click here for more details.
TEACHER TOOLS
I’ve written about my Pilot Frixion Pens before, but they’re worth a second mention. If you aren’t familiar with these pens, they are the true erasable pens you probably wish you’d had in elementary school. They work via the heat from friction. Here’s a video I shared last year on Instagram using the Frixion Color Markers.
I don’t have a need for the markers as much, but I use the pens every single day with my paper planner. Last year they were difficult to find, but this year I’ve seen them in stock at several office supply stores. You can read more details about them here.
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
Classical MPR has a Youtube channel, on which they’ve been posting playlists for specific occasions or activities, such as Thanksgiving, Baby Lullabies, and Biking. I’ve loved them all, and I’m excited to see what they come out with next. Their Biking Playlist has kept me productive all week long!
Doc Martin has made my favorites list two months in a row because it’s just about the only thing I’ve been watching lately. It has gorgeous landscapes, lovable characters, a touch of suspense, and storylines that don’t shy away from serious topics. Plus, it’s lighthearted enough that I can watch it before bed without having trouble falling asleep. I even purchased a subscription to Acorn TV so that I could finish the last two seasons.
MUSIC EDUCATION
The Musication Channel on Youtube always puts out great content, but their latest video is one of my favorites. It’s customizable because you can use any instrument or movement you want with the different colored eggs, which makes it multi-purpose, my favorite type of resource!
I’ve always loved Chrome Music Lab, but I think their newest experiment is their best yet! It’s called Song Maker, and I think it’s a fantastic tool to help young students compose. They can even save their creations and go back to them any time using the “save” option, which creates a custom link and embed code. Click here to try it for yourself.
