Music Education Blog Carnival

I am SO excited to host the Music Education Blog Carnival this month.  April is here and with it are sunny days and chilly nights, flowers blooming and of course, some fabulous blog posts by music educators you love!  I hope you'll enjoy peeking into the classrooms (and minds!) of the talented educators that I've linked you to below.

Musical Prep in the Elementary Music Room 
by Lori Sweet at Sweet Sounds
Looking for a little direction when planning your spring musical?  This is a great post about just that.  Practical tips and great ideas for taming this mammoth project.  I really like Lori's idea for "The Packet" which is an absolute must!

A Little Thank You Goes a Long Way
by David Row from Make Moments Matter
Your mama taught you to always say "thank you" and in this post David Row reminds us to do the same thing at school!  Post concert thank yous are a necessity and he gives some some great ideas for what to include.

Music Crafts for Your Group Activities
by Jennifer Foxx at Music Educator Resources
Feeling crafty?  I love crafting and I love incorporating it into my classroom any chance I get.  This blog post is stuffed with clever craft ideas

Ukulele Comparison for Music Class
by Shelley Tomich at Pitch Publications
I have a confession to make.  I dropped out of class guitar.  Twice.   It is true!  A couple of years ago I bought a ukulele during a snowed out month of school and tried to teach myself.  Uhm...nope.  LOL.  I wish that I had Shelley's guide to ukulele's to help me pick out mine.  This blog post will become your favorite reference for comparing ukuleles.  You'll find reviews, pictures, video and more.  This is definitely worth the read.  Don't forget to bookmark it!

Music of Japan Mini Unit
by Aileen Miracle at Mrs. Miracle's Music Room
She calls it a "mini unit" but this post is PACKED with great ideas for exploring the music of Japan.  Folk songs, movement, drumming, links and more.  If you are planning to share the music of Japan with your students, start by checking out this post.

Big Ship Sailing
by Jennifer Hibbard at the Yellow Brick Road
Irish music is the topic of this blog post.  Jennifer introduces "Big Ship Sailing" with some great ideas for movement, map skills and and video links to some great listening examples.  I am bookmarking this one for future use!

Shake It Up - Spring Activities for Music Class
by Tracy King
I'd also love to share one of my favorite posts from this past month.  In this post I share some fun ways to make use of plastic Easter eggs.  Now is the time to find these versatile learning tools for just pennies!

I hope that you have enjoyed this installment of the Music Education Blog Carnival.  Want to see other editions or learn about hosting the carnival?  Click HERE.