Making Music in the Elementary School equips music educators with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to teach general music in grades PreK6.
Designed to align with a semester-long methods course for pre-service teachersand a rich source of inspiration for those already in the classroomthis text offers practical strategies, real-life scenarios, and sample repertoire for crafting engaging, student-centered lessons.
Structured into three sections(1) Who We Teach and Why, (2) How We Teach, and (3) What We Teachthis comprehensive resource covers all essential topics, including:

An overview of elementary general music, how to build relationships with students and proactively manage behaviors, and teaching with an inclusive lens
How to plan lessons and assess students based on national, state, and district standards
An overview of the major approaches to music education, including Kodly, Orff, Feierabend, Gordon, Dalcroze, World Music Drumming, and others
How to sequence musical skills in the areas of singing, playing instruments (recorder, ukulele, percussion), movement, musicianship, and reading notation

Brief interludes between chapters discuss often-overlooked but important aspects of the profession, such as finding your teacher voice, incorporating music from other cultures, imposter syndrome, and preparing for concerts. Also included is online access to downloadable files for the worksheets, assignments, reflection questions, and repertoire found throughout the book.
Rooted in years of classroom experience and infused with heart and practicality, this resource offers a clear pathway to becoming the music teacher all students deserve.