The Anacrusic Podcast

Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, I interview my good friend Kelli Wise about what it really means to have all the different areas of your life feel the way you want them to feel, no matter where you are in your personal life and your teaching. We talk all about balance and what that really means, if it really exists, and how Kelli gets a handle on all things teacher life.

Click here to check out Kelli's podcast, Chalk Full of Life.

Join the Rebalance Revolution: 5x Your Free Time & Still Rock at Teaching.

 Click here to listen to Kelli's podcast on saying "no."

Click here to get the book "Essentialism" (affiliate link!)

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Today on the Anacrusic Podcast, I’m sharing an essay I recently came across that I wrote in 2012. Although this isn’t something I wrote recently, it’s still so much of what I believe in as a music teacher. I hope some of these thoughts resonate with you as the year comes to a close.

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On this episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, I’m talking to my good friend Shelley Tomich all about how to get started with ukulele in the music classroom. Today on TAP, we’ll talk about:

• Why you should be using ukulele with your students
  
  
• Ideas and resources to purchase ukuleles in your classroom
• What a ukulele curriculum looks like
• How assessment works with ukulele
• And lots of other fun tips and tricks from the ukulele queen herself!

Make sure to check out Shelley’s website and resources for all things ukulele! Click below for all of the goodness!!

Shelley’s Website | Rainbow Ukulele Facebook Group | Rainbow Ukulele Curriculum | Rainbow Ukulele Free Starter Kit | Shelley's Blogs on Ukulele | Seesaw | Donors Choose | Music Crew Collaborative Facebook Group | #TAP Insiders Facebook Group

This episode of The Anacrusic Podcast is about reflecting, reseting, and restoring this summer so that next year can be your very best year yet.

Today on TAP I’ll talk about

• Why it’s important to reflect on the school year now, instead of waiting until before school starts back up again.
• What “reset” really means when it comes to prioritizing the different roles you play in your life.
• How to restore your body, mind, and spirit when you (hopefully!) finally have the space to do so.

Click here to become a member of the TAP Insiders Group on FB.

Become an Anacrusic Insider here.

On this episode of The Anacrusic Podcast, we are talking all about Project Based Learning, aka PBLs in the music room. Today on TAP, our special guest Jess (aka The Whimsical Teacher) shares:

• What PBLs are, and how they are different from any other project
• The 5 steps to creating a PBL
• Examples of PBLs she has done in her classroom
• Ideas for music teachers to incorporate Project Based Learning into our lessons

Visit the Buck Institute by clicking here.

Find Jessica on Instagram Here.

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Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, we’re talking all about why you should start program planning for next year, right now. This isn’t necessarily the podcast that tells you how to put a program together, but rather how and why to start planning and talking with people on your campus about what programs are going to look like for next year.

On this Episode of TAP, you’ll hear:

• Why you need to start thinking about performances now… or even yesterday.
• The three people you should talk to on your campus about programs for the next year.
• The four questions you’ll get answered by setting up these meetings.
• How to start planning for a performance, whether it’s a grade level demonstration, a pre-packaged program, or a special event.

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 Check out the Active Music Making Blog Series here! 

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Today on TAP, I'm talking with Michelle from Music with Miss W all about how to engage and build relationships with your older kids. Michelle shares her experience in the secondary world and we talk about how you can front load classroom management strategies to create a positive and trusting learning environment.

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Follow her on Instagram here.

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On this episode of TAP, I'm answering your questions from emails, instagram private messages, and comments from inside our FB Group. I do a rapid fire answer session with these six questions:

1. What do I do if I can't take my levels this summer?
2. What do you do for classroom management?
3. How do you engage older students?
4. How do you prepare for concerts?
5. What do you do with your lessons when you miss a class?
6. How do you balance it all?

I share a couple of things that got me thinking when answering these questions, like why I'm rejecting the word "management" and replacing it with "connections," mostly because of this story and what I really do for performances to minimize stress. I also hinted at a couple interviews that are coming up on the podcast and a little something I'm working on for the month of May.

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Today on TAP, I'm giving my 5 tips for Classroom Management. These tools are important for your music teacher toolbox if you want to keep your students motivated and participating in the Elementary General Music Classroom.

This week on TAP, I'm talking about all the things that have to do with professional development for music teachers. This episode is one of the longer editions of The Anacrusic Podcast, and even still is no where near comprehensive in giving you all the different ideas and options out there for music teacher PD. But if you're looking for some fresh ideas to reinvigorate and refine your teaching practice, this is the perfect place to get started.

Also, I have a SUPER fun announcement, so stay tuned until the end of the episode!