Teaching With Musicplay

Fall Favorite Songs, Singing Games, and Storybook Connections!

Fall has arrived, and with it come some of my favorite classroom themes, songs, and activities to share with students. Autumn is such a rich season for music-making—it brings opportunities to celebrate the changing seasons, connect movement and play with singing games, and weave in storybooks that spark imagination.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada—a day to honour residential school survivors, acknowledge the lasting impact on Indigenous communities, and encourage reflection, learning, and healing.

More and more teachers are exploring ways to thoughtfully integrate Indigenous perspectives into their teaching. It’s natural to wonder how to do this respectfully, and while concerns about misrepresentation may arise, approaching these topics with care helps create a classroom where every student feels seen, valued, and supported.

Indigenous music across North America is wonderfully diverse, with each nation and community having its own traditions, instruments, and styles. One of the most meaningful ways to include Indigenous perspectives is to learn from the Indigenous peoples in your own region. This ensures the music and stories you share are accurate, culturally grounded, and connected to the communities who live them today.

At Musicplay Online, all Indigenous resources come directly from the artists themselves and are shared with their permission. This allows you to bring authentic stories and culture into your classroom while honouring the voices of those who share them.

Musicplay recognizes that our office is situated on Treaty 7 land, the traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Tsuut'ina and Stoney Nakoda peoples, and that the central Alberta region falls under Treaty 6, traditional Métis, Cree and Saulteaux territory. We honour the First Peoples who have lived here since time immemorial. This is where we will strive to honour and transform our relationships with one another.

New Genres of Music Unit with Student Projects

The brand-new Genres of Music unit on MusicplayOnline gives you everything you need to explore different musical styles and help students connect music to their own lives. Inside, you’ll find introduction activities, listening and analysis tasks, worksheets, project options, projectables, rubrics, and more!

Year Plans, Monthly Outlines, and More!

As we begin a new school year, many teachers are focused on finalizing their long-range planning documents. Effective lesson planning starts with a clear understanding of your curriculum and the outcomes you need to achieve by year’s end. Musicplay Online offers many pre-made documents and tools designed to simplify this process and support your planning efforts.

Take a look at the information and video below, where Stacy Werner guides you through the planning documents available on MusicplayOnline.

One of the first questions I’m often asked as an elementary music teacher is: “Do you still teach recorders?”  My answer is always an enthusiastic yes! I’ve loved teaching recorder from the very beginning of my teaching career—the excitement on that first day when students hold their very own instrument had me hooked.

Of course, I’ll admit those first few classes can be a little rough on the ears. But with some targeted tips and clear guidance, my students quickly find their way. For me, the benefits far outweigh the initial squeaks, and I love watching the incredible growth that happens over three years of recorder study from Grades 4–6.

I know the recorder doesn’t always have the best reputation with parents—or the public, for that matter. That’s why this week, I’m sharing my personal reasons for teaching recorder, along with some great MusicplayOnline resources you can use to strengthen your recorder program and show why this little instrument really matters.

Recorder Section on MusicplayOnline

This week, I’m excited to share a couple of fun activities from the Back to School unit on MusicplayOnline— one brand-new icebreaker and one old favorite. Both are perfect for creating a welcoming, positive atmosphere in your classroom and give students a low-pressure (and musical!) way to kick off the year.

Back to School Unit

Back-to-school season is here—even if we’re not quite ready to say goodbye to summer! MusicplayOnline’s Back to School unit is a great place to start, filled with activities designed to make those first weeks fun and welcoming. This week, we’re highlighting resources that help you get to know your students and build community in your music classroom.

Name games are a fun and effective way for specialist teachers to learn—and remember—student names. This week, we’re sharing options for both primary and upper elementary students. We’re also highlighting a printable booklet from the All About Me activities in the Back to School unit, a simple way to learn your students’ interests and musical preferences—insights that can guide lesson planning and boost engagement all year.

Keeping the Music Flowing Smoothly

Whether you’re just getting ready or already back in the classroom, now is the perfect time to set up routines for success! Establishing key systems early will help your year run smoothly. Today, I’m excited to share teaching tips for smooth—and musical!—transitions in the music classroom. From line-up songs and circle chants to other fun activities, these ideas will keep the music flowing as you move between different parts of your lesson.

Why Scheduled Maintenance is Crucial 

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure our educational platform remains secure, efficient, and capable of delivering the best possible service to our users. By performing scheduled maintenance, we can address any potential issues before they become significant problems, ensuring a seamless experience for both students and educators.