The Anacrusic Podcast

Latest Episodes:

A Letter to First Year Music Teachers Jul 30, 2020

Show notes

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing a letter I wrote to all first year music teachers. But if you’ve tuned into this week, and you are not a first year music teacher, I want you to stop. Collaborate. And listen. AND YES, I”m serious.

We’re all first year teachers. Because, yes, we were thrown into the ring last spring with all the distance learning and all the things that happened in what seemed like overnight, and we were literally surviving. It was our first taste of adapting and innovating and doing a complete 180 from what we’re used to, and now… we’re back. In whatever capacity it may be, we’re back for more of the unknown, the unexpected, and most importantly, providing our kids with what they need now more than ever: music making.

So yes, while it’s important for us all to love on our first year teachers who definitely, undoubtedly had something completely different in mind for this year, I’m willing to bet that you did too. You probably had the best ideas for when we get to make music together again… and now it looks different. So take a few minutes, listen to this brief, but important, letter. And realize that yes we have to innovate, yes we have to adapt, but someday we will make music again.
Today's episode of The Anacrusic Podcast is sponsored by my FREE Music Teacher 5 Day Challenge, Power Up Your Lesson Planning. Click here to sign up and be the first to know when the doors are open.
For today's full episode notes & transcript, click here.
To chat with other music teachers and share Ideas and strategies for all things #musicteacherlife, join the Anacrusic Insiders Community here.

Advice for Music Teachers for Fall 2020 Jul 23, 2020

Show notes

Today on The Anacrusic Podcast, we are talking about all things Fall 2020. It’s no doubt that with COVID-19, this year is going to look, feel, and function completely differently then anything we’ve ever done before, whether you’re a first year teacher or a thirty year teacher.

I’ve asked a few of my friends to leave a message for you to consider as you get ready to head back to school, whether it’s your live, in person classroom, or a virtual classroom, some combination of the two, or something completely different. I know you’ll leave this episode feeling encouraged and knowing that we’ve got this together.

Here are some of my friends that you’ll hear from today:

To check out the full show notes and transcript for today's episode, head to anacrusic.com/93

Looking for a planning pick me up? Snag your freebie here!!

You can also chat with your other music teacher besties and get exclusive content related to each episode Inside of the Anacrusic Insiders Facebook Group. Join here!!

Also, don't forget to pop over to Instagram and say hi!!

TSS Member Spotlight: Teacher Talk with Kristen Sotero May 28, 2020

Show notes

Today on the podcast, I’m talking about my signature program, The Sequencing Solution, and it’s exactly what you need in your music teacher life right now. Yes, even though the world is bananas, even though there are tons of things that we don’t know and are out of our control, the absolute most important thing for us to do is focus on what we can control and concentrate on music making experiences first and foremost.

Here’s what’s happening on this week’s episode:

Why now is the most important time to focus on your teaching practice, even though there are so many unknowns.
A conversation with Kristen Sotero, a member of my signature program. She shares her story about how it really and truly transformed her music teacher life.
A special opportunity for you to join The Sequencing Solution, before the doors close on Sunday, May 31st.

To check out the full show notes and transcript for today's episode, head to anacrusic.com/92

PS. Still have questions about joining? Want to hear from more members about what it’s like to be a part of the program and what it can really do for your music teacher life? Check out this livestream with Kristina & Jennifer, two alumni from The Sequencing Solution. Tune in to hear their stories, and why they keep coming back to repeat the program again and again. Click here to watch —> anacrusic.com/livestream

If you’re ready now to join the program, and finally transform your music teacher life, beat the overwhelm and develop your perfect music curriculum roadmap, Click here to register —> anacrusic.com/tss

You can also chat with your other music teacher besties and get exclusive content related to each episode Inside of the Anacrusic Insiders Facebook Group. Join here --> facebook.com/groups/anacrusicinsiders

Also, don't forget to pop over to Instagram and say hi!! --> instagram.com/annemileski

The Secret to Music Lesson Planning May 21, 2020

Show notes

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing my experience with wanting to do all the things in my music classroom, falling flat on y face when I tried to do it all without a process, and how I finally made the magic happen. (Spoiler alert: it’s all about being purposeful, sequential, and joyful… shocker, I know!) Here’s what you can listen for in this week’s episode:

Things you should think about as you’re choosing activities for your lessons.
How you can actually find freedom and flexibility within an overall structure for your lesson planning.
Why it’s so important to remember yourself as not just a teacher, but a teacher-musician.

To check out the full show notes and transcript for today's episode, head to anacrusic.com/91

If you want to know more about my planning process, and specifically and how I use it through the learning sequence framework for everything and anything I teach In the classroom, check out my upcoming FREE Music Teacher Workshop: The Ultimate Music Lesson Planning Roadmap. Click here to register --> anacrusic.com/workshop

Also, don't forget to pop over to Instagram and say hi!! --> instagram.com/annemileski

Improvisation in Practice: The Path to Musical Fluency May 14, 2020

Show notes

Today on the podcast, I'm giving you Part II from TAP 089: Why You Should Improvise Earlier Than You Think. Today's episode Is all about seeing improvisation in action, and I'm giving you some real strategies to make magic happen in the music room, so that your students can be both literate and fluent musicians. Today on the podcast, you'll hear:

Why you should always start with your voice, no matter the concept you're exploring with your students.
How to use different modes of active music making in your improvisational sequence.
How to lead composition activities both with and without notation.

To check out the full show notes for today's episode, head to anacrusic.com/90
Links mentioned on today's podcast:

If you want to know more about improvisation and how I use it through the learning sequence framework for everything and anything I teach In the classroom, check out my upcoming FREE Music Teacher Workshop: The Ultimate Music Lesson Planning Roadmap. Click here to register --> anacrusic.com/workshop
You can also chat with your other music teacher besties and get exclusive content related to each episode Inside of the Anacrusic Insiders Facebook Group. Join here --> facebook.com/groups/anacrusicinsiders
Also, don't forget to pop over to Instagram and say hi!! --> instagram.com/annemileski

Why You Should Improvise Earlier Than You Think May 07, 2020

Show notes

Improvisation used to be one of those really hairy scary words for me. But then I finally got a handle on what it really Is and why it's so important to do early and often. Today on the podcast, you'll hear:

My college horror story about being asked to improvise for the first time... (yes, in COLLEGE!!)
How I define improvisation and how it can empower you to own it for both yourself as a teacher-musician and your student-musicians.
Why improvisation is essential for music language learning--early and often.

Tune in to next week's episode for some actionable steps on making improvisation work for your music classroom, even with your youngest kiddos.
Check out the FREE guide and full show notes here—> https://anacrusic.com/podcast/89

Today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast is brought to you by my FREE Music Teacher Guide, How to Teach Everything & Anything in the Music Classroom. Head to anacrusic.com/howto to snag it!

You can also chat with your other music teacher besties and get exclusive content related to each episode inside of the Anacrusic Insiders Facebook Group. Join here —> facebook.com/groups/anacrusicinsiders

Come chat with me on Instagram here → instagram.com/annemileski

TAP 088 - Music in Kindergarten Apr 30, 2020

Show notes

Today on the podcast, I’m going to talk about music in kindergarten and why it is 100% it’s own beast. It’s a friendly beast that you want to kind of cuddle up with and spend a little bit of extra time with inside of your classroom but it’s definitely it’s own animal when it comes to what concepts to teach how to sequence and this whole idea of setting the foundation for what we’re doing in kindergarten and beyond kindergarten.

Check out the FREE guide and full show notes here—> https://anacrusic.com/podcast/86

Today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast is brought to you by my FREE Music Teacher Guide, How to Teach Everything & Anything in the Music Classroom. Head to anacrusic.com/howto to snag it!

Come chat with me on Instagram here → instagram.com/annemileski

TAP 087: How to Write a Learning Target Apr 23, 2020

Show notes

One of the most commonly asked questions I get in all of Anacrusic-land is about learning targets. It’s no doubt that learning targets, student objectives, behavioral objectives, or “I can” statements (whatever you like to call them!) are essential to your students’ success and YOUR success as a teacher. Not only does a learning target give students the opportunity to self assess and evaluate their own progress, but it gives you as the teacher the opportunity to (1) focus your lesson on a specific, observable musical concept or skill, and (2) create activities that support and illustrate the target inside of your lesson. Today’s episode is all about how to write meaningful learning targets for your music classroom, and includes a special FREE guide to help illustrate the action steps!

Check out the FREE guide and full show notes here—> https://anacrusic.com/podcast/87

Today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast is brought to you by my FREE Music Teacher Guide, How to Teach Everything & Anything in the Music Classroom. Head to anacrusic.com/howto to snag it!

Come chat with me on Instagram here → instagram.com/annemileski

TAP 086: Connecting with Students Virtually Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing how I’ve connected and shared a music making idea with my students in our local youth chorus. I realize that so many of us are in different situations with our teaching and what is expected of us, but I know we all want to be connected with our students in a meaningful way. Hopefully today’s episode will help you feel connected with your kiddos and confident that you are helping them to create meaningful musical experiences!

Check out the full show notes here—> https://anacrusic.com/podcast/86

Today’s episode of The Anacrusic Podcast is brought to you by my FREE Music Teacher Guide, How to Teach Everything & Anything in the Music Classroom. Head to anacrusic.com/howto to snag it!

Come chat with me on Instagram here → instagram.com/annemileski

TAP 085: Imagine Something More Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

“Dream with me folks. You never thought your current reality would be possible right? Why not use some of this time you’re stuck in the house to imagine something more?”

Today on the podcast, I’m sharing my newly adopted mindset with all the crazy in the world. It’s inspired by an article that I found on Angela Watson’s blog. And although she is not a music teacher, and the context is a little different, there were lots of hard hitting points for me that just made me THINK.

Today, I’m sharing with you why I think it’s important that we take this opportunity to better ourselves, to think more intentionally about how we’re planning, and to stay true to our purpose and our mission for being teachers: to create meaningful music making with and for children, no matter the way in which we’re being asked to teach.

Ready to take the next step? Join Powerhouse Planning here---> https://anacrusic.com/plan

Check out the full show notes here—> https://anacrusic.com/podcast/85

Come chat with me on Instagram here → instagram.com/annemileski

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