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 instrumental class, directs the FH Modern Band, is the Performing Arts Department Manager, and teaches privately in the after-school conservatory, having served as director for over 20 years. She has authored four books and numerous articles on integrating technology 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, the 2017 NJ Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year, and the 2026 NJMEA Distinguished Service Awards. Her most recent publication, Using Technology with Elementary Music Approaches (2020), is available from Oxford University Press (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.
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If you're an elementary music teacher who uses Canva to create classroom posters, bulletin board displays, worksheets, certificates, concert programs, or visual aids, there's a small update that can save you a few clicks.
Read MoreThis post and video brings me back four years ago when I created my first play-along video where the music is scrolling across the screen and the boomwhackers on the bottom of the screen play along with the music. This was also my first play-along using a video of a live recording (the credentials and the link to the original video are below). I enjoyed creating this, but I am not perfect and there are times when the downbeat rushes slightly. With that said, this boomwhacker can be used to practice, reinforce, or used as a tool for multiple modalities with the following musical concepts:
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This was a challenging process to create a play-along video with a live recording and scrolling music. Read more to find out about the process.
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As the school year winds down, many elementary music teachers face the same challenge: students are mentally halfway to summer break, but you still want your final music classes to be joyful, meaningful, and musical. The good news? You do not need elaborate lesson plans or hours of prep to keep students engaged.
Here are five low-prep (or no-prep!) activities that help students end the year with creativity, laughter, and positive musical memories.
Read MoreStarting your first elementary music teaching job can feel exciting, overwhelming, inspiring, and exhausting all at once. You are learning names, building routines, figuring out curriculum, managing instruments, and trying to stay one step ahead of hundreds of students every single day. The good news? You do not need to have everything perfectly figured out during your first year.
Below are five practical ideas that can help you save time, build confidence, and create a positive classroom environment right from the beginning.
As the school year comes to a close, many elementary music teachers begin preparing for one of the most meaningful moments of the year: graduation and moving up ceremonies. Whether your students are leaving preschool, crossing a bridge into a new grade level, or celebrating the end of elementary school, music can make these milestone moments even more memorable.
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🎶 Looking for Play-Along Videos for End-of-Year Songs in Your Music Class? 🎶
Whether you're prepping for graduation, a moving-up ceremony, or just want a fun way to end the year, I’ve got you covered! I’m creating easy-to-use play-along videos that your students will love—featuring ukulele and boomwhacker parts for "Time of Your Life" by Green Day. 🎸🎼
Bring some musical magic to your final lessons of the year!
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Timers can be a game-changer in the elementary music classroom. They help students transition between centers, prepare instruments, clean up efficiently, and even refocus during calming moments. While there are many premade timers online, creating your own allows you to customize the visuals, music, and overall vibe to fit your classroom perfectly.
One of the easiest ways to create customized timers is with Canva. Here’s the process I use to make my own music classroom timers!
Read MoreYesterday, I came across a post from Mrs. King’s Music Class where she shared music timers she uses in her classroom. It reminded me just how valuable timers can be in an elementary music setting. While timers may seem like a simple classroom tool, they can completely transform transitions, pacing, classroom management, and even student self-regulation.
In the elementary music classroom, every minute matters. Whether students are rotating through centers, setting up instruments, transitioning to movement activities, or simply taking a moment to reset emotionally, timers can provide the structure and predictability students need.
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Are you searching for the perfect kindergarten end-of-year song? As the school year winds down, many elementary music teachers are looking for meaningful, engaging songs that celebrate growth, community, and moving on to first grade.
Here are five tried-and-true kindergarten graduation songs that are easy to teach, memorable for families, and adaptable for performances.
Read MoreWhen I need to put together sub plans quickly, I rely on a reusable Google Slides template. If my substitute can log into Google Slides (using a school-created sub account), everything is ready to go.
Here’s how it works:
I update one title slide with the day’s schedule
Each grade level is clickable and links to its lesson
The substitute simply clicks and teaches—no guessing
Students follow along with activities like:
Boomwhacker play-alongs
Rhythm games
Composition “creative blocks”
Songs with lyrics + audio
And more
It keeps the day structured and familiar for students—even when I’m not there.
It is that time of year! It is the week when May 4 will fall on a school day and you can celebrate two celebrations: May The Fourth Be With You and Dave Brubeck Day! This year, I created a rhythm play-along to John Williams's Theme to Star Wars, conducted by Henry Mancini, From The Reader's Digest Music: Wizards & Dragons - A Fantasy Game Mix. Like my resources? Please consider buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech
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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! 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.
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With Earth Day this week, 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.
Read MoreIn celebration of Ella Fitzgerald’s special day this week (April 25) and the fact that April is all about Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), I've whipped up a groovy play-along video to Ella's rendition of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" from her appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show back on November 29, 1964. Like my resources? Please consider buying me a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech
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This is one of my go-to lesson flows:
✔️ Warm-up (steady beat, breathing, focus)
✔️ Song application (Ten Little Speckled Frogs)
✔️ Add movement + counting + manipulatives
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Looking for a clear, student-friendly way to teach recorder? These fingering charts are designed with elementary learners in mind and can be used for whole group instruction, centers, or independent practice.
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Looking for a high-energy play-along that instantly hooks your students? This one starts with something your students will immediately recognize…
👉 “What were… in the 90s?”
That familiar trend pulls students in right away—and before they know it, they’re stepping into the world of MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” (1990) with instruments in hand and ready to play.
Inspired by a fantastic idea from music educator Vicky Suárez, this play-along blends nostalgia, humor, and solid musical learning into one engaging classroom experience.
The video opens with the trending “What were… in the 90s?” prompt to instantly grab attention
A cartoon hammer conductor leads the ensemble (yes… wearing hammer pants!)
A dance break featuring MC Hammer adds humor and energy
The song leaves out lyrics that might not be suitable for an elementary music class
Backup dancers are tastefully blurred to keep everything classroom-appropriate
Students stay actively involved the entire time through playing, listening, and moving
It’s the perfect mix of nostalgia, engagement, and musical learning.
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This might be old news, but Canva's layout is changing, which prompted me to explore the Image to Video tool. Hope this helps!
🎥Check out the video here!
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