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Helping young students build rhythm skills through movement, play, and meaningful music-making. When I first started teaching music, I thought introducing rhythm meant showing students rhythm symbols as soon as possible. Quarter notes. Eighth notes. Half notes. Whole notes. Then I completed my certification in Edwin Gordon’s Music Learning Theory (MLT), and it completely changed the way I think about teaching music. I still teach rhythm notation. I still teach music theory. But I no longer start with the symbols. I start with music. Before my students ever read a quarter note, they’ve

Teaching with a ukulele strumming pattern game can make strumming practice more engaging and effective for beginners. Instead of repeating the same exercises over and over, students stay motivated while developing rhythm skills, coordination, and confidence on the instrument. Teaching ukulele strumming can be challenging because students are learning several skills at the same time. They are trying to keep a steady beat, move their strumming hand correctly, remember chord shapes, and coordinate everything together. For many beginners, strumming patterns can feel abstract and difficult to understand. One thing I

If you’ve ever wondered how to teach percussion instruments in elementary music in a way that feels engaging, meaningful, and memorable for students, this visual and game-based approach can completely transform your classroom. And honestly? It started with a game. The First Music Game That Changed My Life I grew up in a rural area of Uruguay. For many years, music class wasn’t really a thing at school. If we had music, it was mostly choir. We sang… and that was it. Then one day, something unexpected happened. My mom

If you’ve ever wondered how to teach instrument families in elementary music in a way that actually sticks, this visual-first approach can make a huge difference. After years teaching grades 2–4, I realized students identify instruments much more successfully when they first learn to recognize them visually before moving into listening activities. Instead of starting with isolated listening examples, I begin with photos, videos, performances, sorting activities, and visual classification games that help students build strong mental connections between instruments and their families. In this post, I’m sharing the exact

How to teach ukulele strumming can be challenging, especially for young beginners. Many students are expected to learn chords, strumming patterns, and singing at the same time. As a result, they often feel overwhelmed. Over the years, I discovered that students learn strumming much better when rhythm is taught separately first. Therefore, before adding strumming patterns to songs, I focus on helping students understand rhythm through movement, listening, composition, and games. This approach builds confidence and makes the transition to the instrument much easier. Looking for ready-to-use ukulele strumming activities?The

🎸 Looking for engaging ukulele activities for your students?This bundle includes chord games, strumming practice, music centers, and printable activities designed for beginner ukulele learners.🇺🇸 Explore the Ukulele Games Bundle (English)🇪🇸 Explora el paquete de Juegos de Ukelele (Español) Teaching ukulele games to beginners doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, after years of teaching small group classes, I’ve found that the best lessons combine structure, play, and meaningful repetition. Instead of relying on drills alone, I use games to reinforce learning in a natural way. As a result, students

Easter Egg Hunt Music: 4 Fun Games for Rhythm, Piano, Ukulele & Intervals When I think about Easter, one memory always comes back to me. Waking up excited. Running outside. Searching the garden for hidden chocolate eggs. That magical feeling of discovering something that was “just for me.” The Easter egg hunt has been part of childhood for generations. But what if we could bring that same excitement into Easter egg hunt music activities? That’s exactly what I set out to do. Where Does the Easter Egg Hunt Come From?

Spring music worksheets are a fun way to review rhythm, note reading, and piano skills in elementary music classes. Seasonal activities help students stay engaged while reinforcing important music theory concepts. Spring often feels like a reset button in the music classroom. It’s not just because of flowers or Easter decorations — it’s the shift in energy. Students feel lighter. Classrooms feel brighter. This time of year becomes the perfect moment to refresh how students practice core music skills without changing the curriculum completely. You don’t need to reinvent your

St. Patrick’s Day Music Activities are a perfect way to bring seasonal fun into your elementary music classroom while reinforcing rhythm, staff reading, and piano skills. When I was a child taking piano lessons, music theory felt… heavy. Worksheets. Pencils. No movement. No joy. I remember thinking that if I ever became a music teacher, I would find a different way. Music has rhythm, movement, energy — so why should learning it feel flat? That idea stayed with me. Today, I design music resources for teachers who want theory to

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just about decorations and themed worksheets.
In the music classroom, it can become a powerful opportunity to teach with empathy, joy, and intention.

Because learning music isn’t only about reading notes or clapping rhythms.
It’s also about how students feel while learning.

At the beginning of this year, I started noticing something curious in my music lessons.
My students —ages 6 to 11— arrived with capybaras everywhere.
Plush toys, backpacks, stickers, little figures… and they talked about them constantly.
And as often happens in my classroom, instead of ignoring the trend, I thought:
What if I use this excitement to motivate music learning?

December brings a very unique energy to the music classroom:
students are tired, attention spans drop, excitement rises, and everyone is counting down to winter break.
Planning music lessons during this time can feel overwhelming.