Skip to main content

S1: E8 Nothing Better Than a Good Book

Season One
Episode 8
Nothing Better Than a Good Book



I love reading.

That's pretty much all there is to say about that.

Books are truly one of the most special things ever imagined.  In this week's podcast episode, S1:E8 I talk about books and organized them by topic.  I'll share my list of recommendations here with some Amazon links in case you want to get them as well!

If you're interested in seeing what I'm reading throughout the year, you can check out my Goodreads list here.

There are so many things that pull at us.  Making time to read can help energize, relax and bring a simplicity to your day.  Here are a few ideas for how to make time to read work for you:
a. Find a book you're interested in and don't bother with finishing a book that you're not loving
b. Swap books with a friend or two
c. Turn off the television, social media or other distractions
d. Read books with and to your kids.  As they get older, choose books that have topics that are important and relevant - read and discuss them
e. Listen to a book - use audible or something similar

Some great articles about reading:
1) Study about paper vs. device reading
2) Benefits of paper vs. device
3) Reading on a screen

EDUCATIONAL BOOKS

Orff Resources
a. Elementaria by Gunild Keetman

Dalcroze Resources
a. Dalcroze Eurythmics in Today's Music Classroom by Virginia Mead

Kodaly Resources
a. An American Methodology by Ann Eisen
b. The Kodaly Context by Lois Choksy (very hard to find and I found some but they are very expensive)

Gordon Music Learning Resources

ENCOURAGEMENT BOOKS

a. Bible
b. Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
c. For the Love by Jen Hatmaker
d. Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle
e. Cold Tangerines by Shauna Neiquist
f. Bittersweet by Shauna Neiquist

CHALLENGE BOOKS
a. Anything by Brene Brown
b. Classics - so many great ones.  For ideas, check out list challenges
c. Anything by Charles Wheelan (Naked Economics, Naked Money, Naked Statistics)

SIMPLY GREAT BOOKS
a. Anything by Kristin Hannah
b. Anything by Jeffrey Archer




Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Recorder: What to do with Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns... it might be the bane of your existence, a song to start with students with B-A-G on the recorders that really doesn't affect you one way or the other, or a great song to use that is simplistic and gets the job done.  No matter what your feeling on it, it's likely that you've used it because it is effective at teaching simple rhythms, B-A-G and giving students a great starting place when learning recorder.  Personally, I find it useful but I'm honestly tired of it.  I decided to do something new with it this summer and wanted to change it so that it was more musical.  For many days of my summer break I spent time in the morning playing the recorder.  I wrote down melodies I had improvised and liked, played with modes and scales, added unpitched percussion parts/piano/guitar chords and enjoyed seeing what could be done.  Not all of the pieces were very good but it was a great creative way to figure out some solutions for recorder pitch sets, rhythms an

S6: E127 Mini Soundtrap Project

 Season 6 Episode 127 Mini Soundtrap Project In the last few episodes I’ve shared some Soundtrap lesson ideas that I created and used with students.  Podcasts, Fictional Character Themes, Found Sounds, and Poem with Loops.  Check out the resources provided for each of these lessons in the show notes or on the blog. Today’s episode is about a simple Soundtrap project that could be done as a collaboration by several students or by an individual in whatever time frame you provide.  The benefit of this lesson is that it’s incredibly flexible.  It could be done in as little as 20 minutes or as much as 45 minutes or more.  The idea is to allow students to create a piece containing a specific amount of loops that includes an introduction and ending.  Like I said super simple.  This might be a great way to introduce students to loops and even form structure depending on how you set up your rubric.   This was a lesson I used while I was out this past week and needed something that a substitu

S4: E107 Active Listening Through Storytelling and Classical Music with Robert Franz

Season Four Episode 107 Active Listening with Robert Franz Robert Franz Website Stella's Magical Musical Balloon Ride Ted Talk: Active Listening and Our Perception of Time Robert Franz Bio: Acclaimed conductor, Robert Franz, recognized as "an outstanding musician with profound intelligence," has held to three principles throughout his career: a commitment to the highest artistic standards, to creating alliances and building bridges in each community he serves, and a dedication to being a strong force in music education.  As Music Director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra and Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Houston Symphony, and newly appointed Artistic Advisor of the Boise Baroque Orchestra, he has achieved success through his focus on each of these principles. His appeal as a first-rate conductor and enthusiastic award-winning educator is acclaimed by critics, composers, and audiences of all ages.  Composer Bright S