Sparking Curiosity at a Conservatory

Where to go to inspire curiosity

I remember playing family games when I was little and loving the idea of a “conservatory” from Clue.  Our city has an amazing conservatory to visit that houses some of the most exotic and beautiful plants we’ve ever seen.  Since the climate can be regulated, plants that normally wouldn’t survive the North Texas climate can…

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10 Ways to Prepare for Challenge A

Preparing for Challenge A

I want to begin with the disclaimer that you don’t need Foundations/Essentials to have a great Challenge A experience.  My first year directing, I had two students with 3 years of Foundations and Essentials, and then one student with one year experience, and two starting fresh with no experience.  This year I have two joining my…

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Carting it All to Community Day at Classical Conversations

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please see my full disclosure policy for more details. Once you hit Essentials, all of the sudden you’re faced with the dilemma of how to carry all of your gear to and from your community.  Often, you’ll see a fleet of rolly carts rolling into a church as the…

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SQUILT Music Appreciation Curriculum Giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of SQUILT free to review.  All my opinions are my own. Even though I played piano and clarinet as a kid, and sang in the choir all through high school, training my kids to appreciate and understand great musical pieces is a bit daunting.  Because of the complexity of the…

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Using a Sketch Notebook for Taking Notes

When I was in college, I loved to doodle while I was taking notes.  Even though it may have looked like I wasn’t paying attention, the doodling slowed my brain down enough so that I could pay attention to what was being said.  Occasionally my drawings related to the materials, but more often than not…

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