This week, MusicFirst Elementary introduced new instruments to the Music Explorer Creative Tool. In case you didn't know, MusicFirst Elementary offers six creative tools to enhance musical knowledge and creativity, promote music-making, and assist children in developing their musical ideas and choices. The Music Explorer tool is an engaging, interactive platform featuring over 20 instruments designed to support various musical activities such as pulse games, listening skills, notation introduction, improvisation, and composition.

The Music Explorer tool has now included ukulele and boomwhackers among its classroom instruments. This enables students to compose individual or group songs using various diatonic boomwhacker notes and using C pentatonic or open ukulele strings and rhythms like whole, dotted half, half, or quarter notes. For instance:

• Access MFE on your device and project it onto a screen/interactive whiteboard.

• Navigate to Creative Tools > Music Explorer > Ukulele.

• Select open strings for intuitive performance.

• If you require a virtual ukulele, refer to the resources provided below for a suitable alternative.

I will then offer my students three musical style choices and narrow them down based on their preferences. Typically, my students enjoy the Jazz (Big Band) style at a moderate tempo. Depending on the grade level, I might opt for the Note Grid or Notation with Note Names. I appreciate the six options provided by MFE, ranging from steady beat to rhythmic and pitched notation. Using the Note Grid, students can place notes on the grids, identifying whole, dotted half, half, or quarter notes. After practicing the song, we perform it with the chosen Jazz (Big Band) style.

Every few months, students tend to follow a new trend. Recently, a teacher in an elementary music education group shared about the Veggie Dance trend from Gracie’s Corner YouTube channel, named "Veggie Dance." This catchy tune has become quite popular, with people unknowingly finding themselves humming along to it. The trend has gained so much traction that even my teenage daughter shared the video with me, mentioning that her friends were also into it.

Within the music education group, a member requested a dance and rhythm play-along video featuring call-and-response sections with vegetable names. Over the weekend, I managed to create this video, considering that many of us are nearing the end of the school year and looking for engaging activities for our enthusiastic students. I hope that this video will assist you in your teaching efforts and also act as a helpful review tool for rhythm patterns involving quarter (crotchet), eighth (quavers), half (minim) notes, and quarter rests. There is also a copy of my Google Slide Manipulatives to assist in teaching the movements and rhythm patterns found in the song. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19qFJG19XxA91m5VraeI8gQU1qg24VSvHd51Afl6CHh4/copy

Like my resources? Please feel free to buy me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech

It's that magical moment each year when May the Fourth swings by, and music educators in elementary schools turn it into "May the Fourth Be With You" extravaganza! Even though it falls on a Saturday, you can still celebrate it early on Friday or late on Monday. Picture music vibes from John Williams's Star Wars tunes and jazzy beats like "Take Five" by Paul Desmond, courtesy of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. With a galaxy of over 90 awesome activities to pick from, I've whipped up a Wakelet featuring these fantastic categories:

• Movement (Move-Its) Activities

• Parachute and Scarf Activities

• Rhythm Play-Alongs

• Boomwhacker Play-Alongs

• Orff, Ukulele, and Recorder Play-Alongs

• Music Creation Activities

• Line Rider and Fun Videos

• Lesson Resources (Some free and some paid)

• 5/4 Extra Activities (involving Take Five)!

Tip: Please view the video in your classroom before you use it with your students to make sure it is appropriate for your teaching scenario and your age group.

This video will highlight the "Kodály Supplementary Songs," which feature a variety of Kodály Folk Songs that can be customized to match the proficiency of your students. You have the option to teach these songs using stick notation, staff notation, solfege syllables, and hand signs. These songs are part of the Musitrax 1 and 2 singing programs developed by Lambeth Music Service in London, following the Kodály music education method. A few years back, Charanga partnered with Lambeth Music Service to make these successful singing programs more accessible to a wider audience through technology-enhanced song presentations. Let's delve into this valuable resource and explore three ways to incorporate it into your classroom!

Grade 1 Unit #techtiptuesday: Each unit includes a lesson incorporating activities such as playing instruments, improvising, and composing.

I enjoy exploring lessons that involve active music participation, such as playing instruments, improvising, and composing. These units within the first-grade curriculum cover all these activities. Some lessons also incorporate a few of these activities.

Kindergarten Unit #techtiptuesday: Each unit includes a lesson incorporating activities such as playing instruments, improvising, and composing.

I enjoy discovering lessons that involve active music participation, like playing instruments, improvising, and composing. Within the kindergarten curriculum, these units contain lessons encompassing all these activities.

Today's #techtiptuesday for MusicFirst Elementary has to do with a creative tool Music Explorer and the Supplementary Tab of music games.

Get set for a dazzling new Play-Along Video shining the spotlight on powerhouse female solo stars! Pumped for a musical adventure? Spread the love by fueling me up with a virtual cup of Joe at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech/

This time, we're putting the spotlight on the unstoppable Dolly Parton - a super-talented singer, songwriter, musician, actress, philanthropist, businesswoman, and author. With a career spanning five epic decades, she's a global icon and a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment world!

Brace yourself for another rockin' Play-Along Video spotlighting fierce female solo artists! Ready to jam? Show some love by treating me to a virtual coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech/