Amy M. Burns

Elementary Music Technology and Integration

Amy M. Burns has taught PreK-grade 4 general music for over 25 years at Far Hills Country Day School (FH) (https://www.fhcds.org/). She also teaches grade 5 instrument class, directs the FH Philharmonic, is the Performing Arts Department Manager, and teaches privately in the after-school conservatory after being the director for over 20 years. She has authored four books and numerous articles on how to integrate tech into the elementary music classroom. She has presented many sessions on the topic, including four keynote addresses in TX, IN, St. Maarten, and AU. She is the recipient of the 2005 Technology in Music Education (TI:ME) Teacher of the Year, the 2016 New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) Master Music Teacher, the 2016 Governor’s Leader in Arts Education, and the 2017 NJ Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year Awards. Her most recent publication, Using Technology with Elementary Music Approaches (2020), published by Oxford University Press (OUP) is available from OUP and Amazon. Burns is also the Community Coordinator for Midnight Music (MMC) at https://midnightmusic.com/, the General Music Chair for NJMEA Board of Directors, and the Elementary Music Consultant for MusicFirst (https://www.musicfirst.com/), a company built by music educators for music educators, dedicated to helping music teachers and their students make the most of technology in the classroom.

Reduce Reuse Recycle Play-Along for Ukulele and Classroom Instruments

January 21, 2024  /  Amy M. Burns

Although Earth Day is not yet here, it is always important to keep the 3Rs in mind. In particular, we refer to the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Jack Johnson's song of the same name is composed of two basic chords - C and G. The C chord is a great starting point for beginners on the ukulele. This song can be a valuable tool for students to learn G.

Teaching the Play-Along: Tips and Tricks

To make teaching the play-along more manageable, I've created a Google Slideshow that includes the various rhythm patterns found in the video. The song's structure consists of an Intro, Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2, Chorus, Verse 3, and ends with a dance party. The classroom instruments play during the intro and choruses, while the ukuleles play throughout most of the song. Here's how I teach it:

  • Level 1: I introduce the C chord and prompt students to strum only when the blue box is around C.

  • Level 2: Next, I teach them the G chord and have them play only when the blue box is around G.

  • Level 3: Finally, they play both chords.

These levels are helpful to ensure that students with varying levels of experience playing the ukulele can perform at a level they feel comfortable with.

Incorporating Classroom Instruments

In certain instances, classroom instruments, such as drums and maracas, are utilized during the introduction and chorus of a performance. To ensure proper volume, select the appropriate performers for the instruments. This can also aid in providing sufficient instruments that correspond with the number of students in the class.

Coming Soon!

More play-along videos, top ten lists, articles, tech tips, and conferences. If you are attending CASMEC, TMEA, or NJMEA, please stop by and say hi!

Did you miss my recent top ten list of first-day-back activities? Check them out here!

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