MakeMusic

Positive Psychology for Music Educators: Nurturing Meaningful Connections

Peggy Rakas — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:00:48 +0000

Recently, I attended my 50th high school reunion, accompanied by my long-time friend and fellow high school flutist, whom I met on the very first day of band camp. At the reunion, we gathered at a table with two more flutists, a French horn player, and a baritone player. A clarinetist stopped by, and at one point, we were even joined by the star of our high school musical, “Maria” from The Sound of Music!

So many of you have similar stories of how meaningful your music community has been to you. Participation in bands, orchestras, and choirs helps students and adults form lasting connections that can last a lifetime. Teachers who work together to teach music can also form long-lasting friendships.

Music ensembles naturally create conditions for meaningful connections. These connections are created through relationships, a sense of purpose, and engagement with something larger than ourselves. Music ensembles offer all of that, and as an added benefit, they connect our students to the profound, powerful, and life-enhancing gift of music.

“Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here!”
– Albus Dumbledore

Positive psychology identifies key factors that contribute to our happiness and well-being and offers research-backed tools to help individuals increase their happiness levels. In a landmark positive psychology study, Ed Diener and Martin Seligman (2002) found that the happiest people had strong social relationships with meaningful connections. Meaningful relationships are an essential part of our happiness.

Our innately connection-affirming music groups provide the perfect setting for modeling and teaching strategies for raising connection and happiness levels.

Raising happiness levels is critical to our students’ success. In a meta-analysis of 225 academic studies, researchers found that happy individuals are, on average, 31% more productive, and their creativity is three times greater than those who are less happy (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005). Imagine how amazing it would be if we could help our students become 31% more productive and 3 times more creative! The good news is that research shows we can aim to achieve this by using researched positive psychology tools that will make our students happier.

Nurturing Connection

In Love 2.0: Finding Happiness and Health in Moments of Connection, Barbara Fredrickson explores how tiny moments of positive connection are crucial to our health, success, and well-being. She refers to these brief emotions as micro-moments of connection.

Her research explores how these short but impactful positive emotions can broaden individuals’ thinking, build long-term resources, and increase happiness levels.

Brief moments of connection with others, such as a smile, a glance, a kind word, or a shared joke, can activate the brain’s reward system, leading to measurable increases in oxytocin, fostering trust, and strengthening our sense of belonging,

Below are some ways to create these small, impactful micro-moments of connection in our music classrooms.

A Kind Word:

“Give honest and sincere appreciation.”
– Dale Carnegie from How to Win Friends and Influence People

A sincere compliment or encouraging word, such as “I love your energy,”’ can create a small but meaningful connection and remind you that someone cares about you.

Make Compliments Specific

Years of research have found that general compliments are less effective at improving relationships or boosting self-esteem. In contrast, specific compliments are perceived as more sincere and meaningful, making a more significant impact.

“Thank you for being a curious, dedicated educator who is taking their valuable time to read this article!”
– Peggy Rakas

Praise Effort, Not Talent

Research by Mueller and Dweck (1998) encourages teachers to praise effort and process and to resist praising talent. In this influential study, students were divided into two groups and given a test.

After completing the first test, one group was praised for their talent, while the other was praised for their effort.

The teachers then asked each student to choose between an easy or more challenging option for the second test.

97% of the students praised for their effort chose the more difficult test.
67% of those praised for their talent chose the easier test.

All the students were then asked to take a third test of equal difficulty to the first.

Students praised for their effort increased their grades by 30%.
Those praised for their talent scored 20% lower than they had initially.

This study suggests that when a teacher compliments a student’s talent, the student may think, “You value me because I’m talented, so I better not do anything that might challenge that.”

However, focusing on effort reinforces that growth is about the process, not just innate talent, and encourages students to take on challenges.

Call Students by Name:

“Remember that a person’s name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”
– Dale Carnegie

Ten years after I graduated from Bowling Green State University, I ran into my college band director, Mark Kelly, at the Ohio Music Educators Conference. After all those years, he walked up to me, smiled, and said, “Margaret Ann Rakas!” I was completely floored! Not only did he remember me, but he remembered my middle name—and that I was actually Margaret, not just Peggy (a nickname all my friends and family call me). I was deeply touched and felt an overwhelming appreciation for Mr. Kelly.

Then, twenty years later, it hit me:

I had a nametag on! 😳

I had spent years thinking Mr. Kelly was truly amazing. And, in many ways, he was—but remembering my name at that conference wasn’t one of them. Still, I’ll always treasure the moment when he called me by name and greeted me with warmth and a big smile.

Research shows that we feel a stronger sense of connection when we’re personally acknowledged—whether through a smile, eye contact, or someone using our name. These small moments of recognition create a sense of shared appreciation, and I certainly felt that connection when Mr. Kelly greeted me by name.

A Shared Smile:

“A smile is a free gift, and it’s the best way to make people feel at ease.”
– Dale Carnegie

There is much research to support that teachers who smile create a welcoming and approachable atmosphere, making students feel more comfortable in the classroom. And smiles are contagious. Research by Hatfield, Cacioppo, and Rapson (1994) explores the concept of emotional contagion—the phenomenon where emotions, including happiness, can spread between people. Smiling at others is often met with a smile in return, demonstrating how emotions like happiness can be contagious.

“You’re never fully dressed without a smile.”
– from Annie

Laughter:

Humor is a natural connector. A shared laugh over a joke, a silly moment, or a funny observation can break down barriers and make people feel relaxed and comfortable. Research by Romero and Cruthird, 2007, found that humor in the workplace supports greater employee satisfaction and happiness, improves team dynamics, and simply makes work environments more fun.

If you are lucky enough to be amazingly funny, feel free to share your humor as much as possible. However, if you need some humorous inspiration, you can find my collection of funny posters for the music room here.😉

Connect with Students Before and After Class:

While our students may not always experience positive relationships at home, we can provide them with a welcoming, supportive space—what might be considered the musical version of the “Cheers Bar.” A place “where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.”

Aim to build that sense of home for your students: greet them at the door, create a small moment of connection, and let them know “you’re glad they came,” and they will reward you beyond measure. 🎶

NO ONE EVER SAID – I WISH I HAD NOT LEARNED TO LOVE MUSIC!

Being a music educator is truly one of the best professions on Earth. We enrich our students’ lives through lifelong, meaningful social connections while sharing the awe-inspiring benefits of music. And both students and teachers get to have fun!

I hope these ideas help both you and your students increase your moments of connection, enhancing your happiness and success. And, when you go to your next high school reunion, may you have a fabulous time connecting with your fellow musicians at the music table!

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but
people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou

Book links to Brian Johnson’s Philosopher’s Notes used with permission.

Please feel free to visit TeachingPositivity.org for additional positive psychology resources.

If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts, don’t hesitate to reach out to peggyrakas@gmail.com —I’d be happy to hear from you!

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December Repertoire Update

MakeMusic Official — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 19:09:27 +0000

Wrapping up the year with new additions to MakeMusic Cloud!

As we close out 2024, we’re thrilled to share this month’s updates to the MakeMusic Cloud catalog. With 73 interactive tracks added, there’s plenty of fresh material to inspire your practice sessions and performances. Take a look at the highlights below, and don’t forget to check back in 2025 for even more exciting new repertoire!

Performance Music

This month, we’ve added a fantastic selection of concert band and orchestra works to help you bring something fresh and vibrant to your next performance:

Concert Band: Explore powerful and engaging pieces by Alexandre Carlin, Brian Monroe, Adrian B. Sims, and many others.
Orchestra: Discover exciting new works by composers such as Amy Barlowe, Heather Hoefle, R. Scott Whittington, and more, including works for string and full orchestras of all levels.

Popular Music

Our library of popular music continues to grow, featuring tracks from pop, film, and TV that everyone will recognize and love. New additions this month include music by Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Laufey, and selections from The Penguin and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. There’s something here to captivate every musician and audience.

Ready to Practice?

Teachers: Keep your students motivated by assigning these exciting new tracks. They’ll love the variety and fresh challenges.
Students: Try out your favorite new pieces, hone your skills, and have fun tracking your progress.

Click to view this month’s new interactive repertoire

MakeMusic Cloud is home to the largest interactive and digital sheet music libraries available, with tens of thousands of titles spanning every instrument, ensemble type, skill level, and genre. Each subscription provides access to every title in our unrivaled repertoire library of music from more than 130 different publishers. Start your 30-day free trial.

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Holiday Cheer from MakeMusic Cloud

MakeMusic Official — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 19:11:57 +0000

The holiday season is a busy time for music teachers, filled with performances, celebrations, and altered schedules. To help keep your students engaged and inspired before the holiday break, we’ve put together a collection of holiday activities. These fun and educational resources are perfect for filling those last few days before the break, whether after a concert or in a regular class, and are sure to keep musical learning at the forefront.

Click the buttons below to download a PDF version of each activity.

Holiday “What Song Is This?”

Grab this free worksheet download and encourage some sight reading and audiation as students can work individually, in groups, or as a class to identify mystery holiday songs. This resource includes songs in Treble, Bass, and Alto Clefs, so encourage students unfamiliar with clefs other than their own to try to figure the answer out with just the rhythm. The teacher answer key and blank student worksheet are included and reproducible!

Hint: If students get stuck and need extra clues, prompt them to match the melodies to titles found in Classic Holiday Solos or Easy Christmas Instrumental Solos in the MakeMusic Cloud library!

Download Holiday Worksheet

Be sure to follow us on social media and play along as we share some “mystery” holiday songs throughout the next few weeks.

Ensemble Sight Reading Challenge

It’s a great time to try out Sight Reading Studio with your ensemble—you might even come up with some great ideas to utilize in your regular rehearsal routine! Open up a sight reading template—try starting on a very achievable level that feels “easy” to build confidence—and then project it in your classroom in Ensemble Mode. Learn more about Ensemble Mode here.

Have fun reading short exercises, upping the challenge level as appropriate, or even creating an elimination game by having students stand up/sit down (on the honor system) when they mess up and “go out.” With like-instrument classes and just one instrument line, you can also have fun with the automated accompaniments in a variety of styles

How to access accompaniment styles in Sight Reading Studio

Festive Foundations

String and Band students (and their teachers) are LOVING The Foundations Series by Brian Balmages, and Festive Foundations is perfect for the holiday season! Try these exercises as a class (print for free with your MakeMusic Cloud subscription) and encourage students to try them on their own, too. The best part? Each exercise is fundamentally sound with festive movie soundtrack accompaniments, so students will feel part of the soundtrack while they practice essential skills.

How to print scores and parts from The Foundations Series

Holiday Practice Bingo!

This is a great activity to send home with students over the holiday to encourage practice in a fun way. Since many students travel over the break, consider making this a bonus-points or bragging-rights-only activity and keeping it lighthearted! In addition, remember to give students instructions on the “Teacher’s Choice” space, or fill them in yourself prior to copying.

Download Now

Student Gratitude Letter Activity

Use this activity aloud during class time or send home a paper copy with students to complete on their own. This activity will encourage students to spend a few moments focusing on gratitude during this busy season.

Download Now

Happy Holidays!

We wish you a season of beautiful concerts, fun events, and a well-deserved break.

The post Holiday Cheer from MakeMusic Cloud appeared first on MakeMusic.

November 2024 Repertoire Update

MakeMusic Official — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 17:25:32 +0000

This month brings even more excitement to the MakeMusic Cloud library with 77 new interactive tracks ready for you to explore. From engaging concert works to popular hits, there’s something for everyone. Read on for the highlights, or follow the link below to view the full list of new titles!

Performance Music

We’re thrilled to introduce an inspiring lineup of new works for concert band, orchestra, and jazz ensemble by some of today’s most celebrated composers and arrangers.

Concert Band: Check out works from Aric Branchfield, Jason K. Nitsch, William Owens, and many more, offering engaging and dynamic new pieces for young musicians.
Orchestra: New compositions from Erica Donahoe, Katie O’Hara LaBrie, Randall D. Standridge, and more provide exciting challenges for string and full orchestras of all levels.

Popular Music

Our popular music library continues to grow! This month, we’ve added even more tracks from the worlds of pop, film, and beyond. Highlights include music from 21 Pilots, Zach Bryan, Dua Lipa, and music from Disney’s Encanto. No matter your taste, you’ll find something to love.

Let’s Get Practicing!

Teachers: Assign these new titles to your students to keep them inspired and challenged.
Students: Dive in, practice your favorite pieces, and track your progress.

So what are you waiting for? Explore the latest repertoire on MakeMusic Cloud and have fun practicing music you love!

Click to view this month’s new interactive repertoire

The post November 2024 Repertoire Update appeared first on MakeMusic.

Leverage Title I, II, and IV Federal Funding for MakeMusic Cloud

MakeMusic Official — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 00:01:20 +0000

How Funding Applies to MakeMusic Cloud

Federal funding, particularly through Title I, II, and IV programs, can be used to support music instruction, including the purchase and use of instructional software like MakeMusic Cloud. Use this guide to assist you in applying for funding for your program!

How MakeMusic Cloud Meets Title I:

Title I funds can be used for music education as long as they support academic achievement for students from low-income families. MakeMusic Cloud meets these requirements by doing the following:

Supports Academic Achievement: MakeMusic Cloud offers interactive tools that support music literacy and enhance students’ academic performance in music and related subjects, improving student achievement.
Accessible Differentiated Instruction: MakeMusic Cloud provides individualized practice tools, enabling teachers to tailor instruction to meet each student’s unique needs, which aligns with Title I’s focus on helping students struggling with academics.
Engages Students: MakeMusic Cloud uses interactive features and captivating elements that motivate students to participate actively in music education, facilitating an engaging learning environment.
Evidence-Based Resource: MakeMusic Cloud is a proven platform with effective tools for skill-building and assessment in music education and has been the subject of two research papers demonstrating its efficacy. [Research Paper A, Research Paper B]
Improving Student Outcomes: MakeMusic Cloud enhances students’ literacy and mathematical understanding through rhythm, patterns, and music theory. Programs like MakeMusic Cloud link music education with academic skills that align with Title I’s goals of improving student outcomes.

How MakeMusic Cloud Trainings Meet Title II:

Title II funds can be used to support the professional development and effectiveness of educators, aiming to improve student academic outcomes. MakeMusic Cloud meets these requirements through:

Professional Development: MakeMusic Cloud’s education specialists and clinicians provide training, workshops, and webinars for teachers and administrators, imparting a robust knowledge of the application and how to maximize its features and tools to ultimately improve instructional practices and student learning.
Improving Instructional Practices and Skills: MakeMusic Cloud bridges the divide between music and technology. It is a proven tool for improving a student’s musical acumen and mastery of their instrument and a prime example of effective utilization of technology in the classroom. The associated training highlights new instructional techniques made possible through the application and technology, thus improving instructional practices.
Differentiated Instruction. MakeMusic Cloud training assists teachers in assignment creation and sparking in-app lesson ideas, supporting the teacher’s efforts to accommodate diverse learning styles, abilities, and interests, ensuring all students are engaged and supported.
Blended and Digital Learning. MakeMusic Cloud professional development provides teachers and administrators with the skill set needed to integrate technology like MakeMusic Cloud, fostering hybrid and virtual learning environments that afford flexibility and personalization. These skills can be applied beyond MakeMusic Cloud.

How MakeMusic Cloud Meets Title IV:

Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides funding to support well-rounded educational opportunities, which specifically includes music. MakeMusic Cloud meets these requirements through the following:

Promotes Well-Rounded Education: MakeMusic Cloud enhances music education by providing tools for developing musical skills and knowledge. Utilizing digital tools and software that offer engaging music lessons, promotes creativity, critical thinking, and digital literacy, all of which support a well-rounded education.
Increases Student Engagement: MakeMusic Cloud’s interactive features and personalized learning paths actively engage and motivate students to participate in music instruction.
Supports Digital Learning: As a software solution designed for classroom music instruction, MakeMusic Cloud supports digital learning by integrating educational technology into the music curriculum.
Provides Safe, Accessible Resources: MakeMusic Cloud offers a safe and equitable online platform accessible to students with various learning needs and economic backgrounds.

What Should Teachers Do Next?

Work with Your Administration: Teachers should collaborate with school administrators to identify how instructional music software can fit within the goals of both Title I and Title IV programs.
Demonstrate Academic and Educational Value: Ensure that the music software you plan to purchase demonstrates measurable benefits to student learning, especially in relation to Title I’s academic objectives and Title IV’s focus on well-rounded education.
Apply for Funding: Work with your school or district to submit the necessary funding applications, highlighting how the software will support student learning outcomes.

Who Should Teachers Talk To?

FIRST: Speak with your . . .

1. School Principal

Why: The school principal is typically involved in budgeting decisions and will know which administrators or coordinators handle Title I and Title IV funds.
How: Set up a meeting or email your principal explaining your interest in using federal funds for instructional music software. Outline how it aligns with academic and educational goals.

2. Department Leader

Why: Your department leader is also involved in budgeting decisions, especially those directly related to your discipline, and will likewise know who handles Title I and Title IV funds.
How: Email or discuss with your department leader your interest in using federal funds for instructional music software, including information about how it aligns with academic and educational goals.

SECOND: Next, together with your principal or department head – or just yourself if they are not available to you – speak with your . . .

1. Contact the Title I Coordinator

Why: Every school that receives Title I funds has a Title I Coordinator or an equivalent administrator. This person manages how the funds are allocated and can guide you on whether your proposal fits the school’s Title I priorities.
How: Ask your principal or school office staff for the contact details of the Title I Coordinator. You can also check your school’s website or district directory for this information.

2. Consult the Federal Programs Director

Why: At the district level, a Director of Federal Programs (or similar title) often oversees both Title I and Title IV funding. This person can provide information on district-wide policies and help you navigate the process of requesting funds for music software.
How: Visit your district’s website or contact the district office to find out who manages federal programs. You can also ask your school principal for help identifying this person.

3. Reach Out to the School’s Technology Coordinator (for Title IV)

Why: Since Title IV funds are often used for educational technology, the school’s Technology Coordinator may also be involved in allocating Title IV funding.
How: Check with your school or district’s technology office for information on how to use Title IV funds for software purchases.

4. Attend School or District Budget Meetings

Why: These meetings often include discussions about how Title I and Title IV funds are allocated. This is a great opportunity to learn more about funding priorities and present your case.
How: Ask your principal or office staff when the next budget or funding meeting will be held, and whether you can attend or request an agenda item related to music education.

Beyond the Blog: Check out this brief webinar provided by NAfME and learn more about federal funding available for you and your program and how to access it!

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The ULTIMATE Concert Checklist for Music Teachers

Marianne White — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 21:17:03 +0000

Planning and organizing concert events is part of every music educator’s job description, whether you are a gifted event planner or not. We’ve compiled a list of teacher-tested tips to help you with all your concert planning efforts. Download our free checklist as your starting point—hopefully, it will spark some great ideas to keep you organized and help you plan meaningful concert events for your students and their families.

Jump to Download the ULTIMATE Concert Checklist

Select a date

First things first: when will you have your concert? You may need to collaborate with colleagues who share the same performance space as you or coordinate transportation to another site, depending on where your concert will be held.

Scheduling an annual calendar meeting with fine arts colleagues and/or directors from your feeder pattern is crucial. Consider building events, district events, and rehearsal needs for all parties involved when scheduling time and space. It is also helpful to keep athletic schedules in mind when planning for the year.

Be sure to think through things like your setup and what other presence is needed at a school event (custodians, security officer, administrator, etc.) as well as any facility requests needed for air or parking lot lights.

Communicate to students and families

How will you let students and families know about your concert? Creating a simple concert reminder document with important details like date, timing, and other requirements that you can update for each event can save time. You can even create a version for each event on your calendar far in advance to get ahead! It also helps to communicate in a variety of ways: use email, a classroom messaging tool if you use one, or even mailing label stickers printed with concert information for students to place on their shirts or music binders.

Event details

Try creating a main document to hold all details for each concert: a “Concert Itinerary” of sorts. Be as detailed as possible and include estimated times for all aspects of the event. A concert itinerary is a great place for you to think through and list out what you’d like to say when speaking at the concert and to keep a running list of people to acknowledge or thank throughout the event.

A concert itinerary is also an excellent place for details on equipment or percussion that may need to be moved before, during, and after the concert. Remember to share your itinerary with all adults and/or student leaders who will be helping you so that the plans are clear to everyone.

VIPs

Accompanist: don’t leave your accompanist out of the planning process! Consider how you will thank them for their help in pulling off a wonderful performance—a thank you card, gift, and public acknowledgment is always appreciated.

District VIPs: consider inviting other music educators from your district or area. Feeder pattern teachers love to see former and future students (and might even lend a helping hand!), and district administrators enjoy seeing students in action.

Remember to acknowledge and thank other essential helpers like custodians, office staff, campus officers, and your supporting administrators.

The concert is now over! Now what?

What is your cleanup plan? Do you expect students to help? Can you record the concert and listen to it during class the next time you see your students? Every performance has moments of things going both wrong and right—it’s helpful to give students an opportunity to unpack and learn from their experiences in a reflective way. Taking a few minutes to write individual reflections (from a prompt you provide like this one) and then sharing them as a class can be a meaningful and calm activity for post-concert days. A brief reflection time can also provide an individual way for students to communicate to you in writing or in quiet conversation about why they may not have been able to attend the concert.

What’s next? Don’t wait for one concert to be over to begin making selections for the next one! Start thinking through an appropriate program before you need to pass it out to aid in planning and preparation. Consider keeping a running list of potential performance music physically, on a document, or on a MakeMusic Cloud Playlist that you can add to and reference. You can even invite students to explore and build their own ideal concert as an activity by providing them some parameters and demonstrating how to search for and listen to potential concert titles!

You’ve got a lot to keep track of, so take a little off your plate and grab your free concert checklist download to help you get started planning an organized and successful concert!

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October 2024 Repertoire Update

MakeMusic Official — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 17:57:00 +0000

It’s been another busy month for new repertoire on MakeMusic Cloud! We’re excited to share 258 new interactive tracks, representing 125 new publications. See the highlights, or click the link below for a complete listing of new titles this month.

Performance Music

We’ve added an exciting selection of new concert band, orchestra, and choir works from your favorite composers. Explore these new titles and bring something fresh to your next performance:

Concert Band: Check out works from Tyler S. Grant, JaRod Hall, Amy Webb, and many more, offering engaging and dynamic new pieces for young musicians.
Orchestra: New compositions from Adrian Gordon, Richard Meyer, and Caryn Wiegand Neidhold and more provide exciting challenges for string and full orchestras of all levels.
Choir: Inspire your singers with new choral works from Greg Gilpin, Ruth Morris Gray, and Russell Robinson, perfect for building vocal technique and ensemble performance.

PerformancePlus+

We’ve also added new PerformancePlus+ titles for both band and orchestra. The Alfred and Belwin PerformancePlus+ series is an innovative addition to our ever-expanding MakeMusic Cloud interactive library. These selections are designed with educational resources that enhance the rehearsal process, helping students build their skills while preparing for outstanding performances.

Method Books

For young string players, we’re excited to introduce Habits of a Successful Young String Musician from GIA Publications. This field-tested method book features 220 sequenced exercises, designed to help beginning string students build solid technical and musical foundations.

Popular Music

We’ve also expanded our collection of popular music, adding tracks from the worlds of pop, film, and more! New titles include music from Barbie, Beetlejuice, Chappell Roan, Dua Lipa, Imagine Dragons, Journey, Post Malone, and Wonka. There’s something for everyone.

Let’s Get Practicing!

Teachers: Assign these new titles to your students to keep them inspired and challenged.
Students: Dive in, practice your favorite pieces, and track your progress.

So what are you waiting for? Explore the latest repertoire on MakeMusic Cloud and have fun practicing music you love!

Click to view this month’s new interactive repertoire

Start a 30 day FREE trial

The post October 2024 Repertoire Update appeared first on MakeMusic.

Sight Reading Isn’t Scary!

MakeMusic Official — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:17:44 +0000

Nurturing sight reading skills in your music students is an integral part of any music curriculum, but it can sometimes get put on the “back burner” in favor of more pressing topics. With tools like Sight Reading Studio and a solid routine, sight reading can become an efficient and regular part of your lessons. Sight reading isn’t scary—it’s fun!

Check out these four tried and tested tips that are sure to spark some ideas for you and your students:

1. Start small

Focus on what your students DO know: known pitches/ranges and known rhythmic patterns are a great place to start. Sight Reading Studio has many customization options—set your exercise parameters with lots of musical skills your students do know and only include one newer concept (if any). Starting a new sight reading routine with students is even easier if you can offer some “quick wins” early on to build confidence. Challenging your students is important at the right time, but providing shorter, simpler exercises as students get their footing can go a long way in building strong and confident readers in the long term!

2. Sight read from the beginning

Even your beginning music students can sight read skill-appropriate exercises! Consider using Sight Reading Studio to teach or reinforce a new pitch, fingering, position, or rhythmic element.

Here are some examples:

3. Regularly sight read with your ensembles

Get into a routine of sight reading with your full ensemble—prep some appropriate sight reading templates every 1-2 weeks that you can just shuffle and display on your projector at the beginning of your ensemble rehearsal each day. Students will get good repeated practice of the same skills you are focusing on and become more confident readers at the same time! Keeping these short and sweet can boost sight reading confidence and make the time fly by efficiently, plus, you’ll still have plenty of rehearsal time to use on other areas of focus. Normal routines aren’t scary: when students experience regular sight reading as a normal part of rehearsal they are more likely to feel confident participating in the activity!

4. Know your sight reading tool: templates vs. exercises

Sight Reading Studio is a great learning tool where you can share or assign a template that will deliver a similar exercise based on your set parameters or a specific exercise that will deliver the same exact exercise to everyone you send it to. There are great times to use both versions so consider your goals when deciding how to share or assign your sight reading exercises.

Ready to take your students’ sight reading skills to the next level? Start incorporating these tips into your lessons today, and explore all the powerful features of Sight Reading Studio to help your students build confidence and find sight reading success without any scaries!

Get started

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Music for the Holidays

MakeMusic Official — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 21:54:03 +0000

As the season approaches, now is the perfect time to prepare for your December concerts! Browse holiday music for concert band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and choir that is available in MakeMusic Cloud with these playlists full of holiday cheer. Find festive works by your favorite arrangers that are ready to assign, practice, and assess with MakeMusic Cloud’s powerful practice tools.

Narrow your search with themed playlists, including holiday pops, carol arrangements, Hanukkah, holiday & winter originals, and novelty works for each ensemble. Check out the collection today and get a head start on your festive repertoire!

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September 2024 Repertoire Update

MakeMusic Official — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 20:35:01 +0000

This month’s repertoire update is one of the largest ever on MakeMusic Cloud, and it’s packed with some highly anticipated additions! With 117 new publications and 297 interactive tracks ready for you to assign, practice, and record, there’s never been a better time to explore.

Performance Music

Discover new concert band works from Tyler S. Grant, Yukiko Nishimura, Adrian B. Sims, and many more. These pieces are ready to challenge and excite students at all levels.

For orchestra directors and players, check out fresh publications from composers like Cooper Ford & Manjula Ramachandran, Katie O’Hara LaBrie, and Randall D. Standridge.

Jazz enthusiasts can enjoy new charts from Annie Booth, Mike Kamuf, Drew Zaremba, and others—guaranteed to inspire your ensemble.

Methods and Techniques

The latest in the popular Foundations series by Brian Balmages is here—Hogwarts Foundations for both concert band and string orchestra. Perfect for magical rehearsals and skill-building!

For percussionists, one of the most renowned snare drum methods of all time, Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone, is now available in MakeMusic Cloud. Assign it for your students or practice it yourself to sharpen your technique.

Popular Music

Love movie and TV soundtracks? We’ve got you covered!

You’ll find Disney classics from Beauty and the Beast, Moana, The Mandalorian, and more!

Fans of Cartoon Network shows will enjoy music from Steven Universe, The Powerpuff Girls, and other favorites.

There’s also new music from Barbie, David Bowie, and Wonka!

Let’s Get Practicing!

Teachers: Assign these new titles to your students to keep them inspired and challenged.
Students: Dive in, practice your favorite pieces, and record your progress.

So get in there and have fun practicing music you love!

Click to view this month’s new interactive repertoire

Start a 30 day FREE trial

The post September 2024 Repertoire Update appeared first on MakeMusic.

MakeMusic

Positive Psychology for Music Educators: Nurturing Meaningful Connections

Nurturing Connection

Make Compliments Specific

Praise Effort, Not Talent

Call Students by Name:

A Shared Smile:

Laughter:

Connect with Students Before and After Class:

NO ONE EVER SAID – I WISH I HAD NOT LEARNED TO LOVE MUSIC!

December Repertoire Update

Wrapping up the year with new additions to MakeMusic Cloud!

Performance Music

Popular Music

Ready to Practice?

Holiday Cheer from MakeMusic Cloud

Holiday “What Song Is This?”

Ensemble Sight Reading Challenge

How to access accompaniment styles in Sight Reading Studio

Festive Foundations

How to print scores and parts from The Foundations Series

Holiday Practice Bingo!

Student Gratitude Letter Activity

Happy Holidays!

November 2024 Repertoire Update

Leverage Title I, II, and IV Federal Funding for MakeMusic Cloud

How Funding Applies to MakeMusic Cloud

How MakeMusic Cloud Meets Title I:

How MakeMusic Cloud Trainings Meet Title II:

How MakeMusic Cloud Meets Title IV:

What Should Teachers Do Next?

Who Should Teachers Talk To?

The ULTIMATE Concert Checklist for Music Teachers

Select a date

Communicate to students and families

Event details

VIPs

The concert is now over! Now what?

October 2024 Repertoire Update

Performance Music

PerformancePlus+

Method Books

Popular Music

Let’s Get Practicing!

Click to view this month’s new interactive repertoire

Sight Reading Isn’t Scary!

1. Start small

2. Sight read from the beginning

3. Regularly sight read with your ensembles

4. Know your sight reading tool: templates vs. exercises

Music for the Holidays

September 2024 Repertoire Update

Performance Music

Methods and Techniques

Popular Music

Let’s Get Practicing!

Click to view this month’s new interactive repertoire