KMEIA DVD review - Step Up (for Primary years 2 - 4) As part of the Step Up Qld mini conference I recently attended, I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of the new DVD from Kodaly Queensland, similarly titled "Step Up". This new DVD pack from KMEIA is absolutely jam-packed with resources. It features song sheets and analyses of 28 different songs which can be used for a variety of teaching strategies. There are over 300 printable pages (though let's be environmenta

I spent the first three days of my holidays in Queensland attending the Step Up mini conference celebrating the launch of Kodaly Qld's new DVD for middle primary (I posted about it here, I highly recommend checking out this resource!). The conference was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with like-minded colleagues and share ideas. I was able to crystalise my thinking about a number of aspects of teaching such as assessment and advocacy as well as picking up some new games

Whether you are new to the profession, new to teaching music, new to working in your particular school or have been around the traps but just want to improve your practice, here is a list of some must-have resources (just in time for Santa...or perhaps those Boxing Day sales!) Stave-ruled whiteboard If I had a penny for every time I have drawn a set of 5 wonky lines on my whiteboard as a make-do stave, I'd probably have a music teacher's salary! Seriously though, this can be

One of my favourite new finds at the KMEIA Victoria Autumn Seminar yesterday was this cute little duckling puppet from Folkmani's: I purchased him through the Music Works Magic stall (and I'd recommend checking out their other products, they've got some pretty great stuff!) though I almost passed him by just thinking he was a cute duckling puppet and nothing more. However, as you will see in the video below, he can actually be an amazing aid for singing voice development in y

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the KMEIA Victoria Autumn Seminar as part of my school-mandated professional development. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with other Kodaly teachers and musicians in my area (as the only music teacher in my school, it can often feel pretty lonely!) as well as learn some new songs, games and choral techniques. We also had a chance to brush up on the basics of Kodaly philosophy (check out this post if you'd like more info on w

I remember, once upon a time, when I was in the deepest, darkest depths of my teaching degree, I would walk past a bookshop and freeze; my bloodhound-like Kodaly senses tingling, searching for the scent of possibility. Could this be the place? Could this be the shop? The one that contains that magical goldmine of a resource that will answer all my teaching questions and provide me with enough knowledge, secrets and lesson plans to last my entire career? As I am beginning to