Spring Favorites

I’m so happy to be writing about my spring favorites right now. We’ve finally experienced some sunshine and warmth here, and I’m looking forward to seeing the world in full bloom soon. I have several favorites on my list this season, running the gamut from music education to food (my favorite). As the saying goes, I’ve never met a meal I didn’t like. Without further ado, here are my favorites of the season.

Music Education

Blooket

For those of you who regularly read my blog, this favorite will be no surprise. Blooket is a website that takes the questions you create and turns them into video games that your students play. Yes, it’s just as fun as it sounds! You can read all about it on my blog post HERE.

Instagram Music Content

I love Instagram for finding great music ed content, musicians, and composers. I follow hundreds of accounts, so I’m doing my best to narrow it down to just a few. Some of these accounts are more active in their stories than their main feed (like me), so be sure to check those out as well!

• Music Equity Initiative
• Prep School Music
• Wanda Vasquez Garcia
• Music Ed with Missy
• Victoria Boler
• Coloring the Melody Podcast
• Teaching is Intellectual
• Women Composers Project
• The Musical Rose
• Organized Chaos
• SillyOMusic
• David Row
• Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou
• Crayons and Melodies
• The Yellow Brick Road

Performers

• Gaelynn Lea
  • Watch the World Unfold
• Raye Zaragoza
  • American Dream
• Mona Haydar
  • Wrap my Hijab
• Aaron Grooves
  • Super Mario “Underworld” Theme
• Isata Kanneh-Mason
  • Clara Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor

Entertainment

Non Non Biyori

Non Non Biyori is a slice of life anime that follows several school-aged girls in rural Japan. The show has always featured the recorder, but the latest season also features the girls practicing flutes. Music teachers will appreciate that the recorder player, Renge, names her pitches as Solfége syllables, rather than letter names. You get to watch as she struggles to play the “low do”. No doubt you’ll be trying to give her advice through the screen like I did.

Food & Drink

Mochi Ice Cream

I’ve been loving mochi ice cream for a few years now, and lately it’s become a regular in my freezer. It consists of ice cream balls covered in a super soft “pillowy” rice dough. My favorite flavor is strawberry, though I’ve loved every flavor I’ve tried so far.