Amy M. Burns

Elementary Music Technology and Integration

Amy M. Burns has taught PreK-grade 4 general music for over 25 years at Far Hills Country Day School (FH) (https://www.fhcds.org/). She also teaches grade 5 instrumental class, directs the FH Modern Band, is the Performing Arts Department Manager, and teaches privately in the after-school conservatory, having served as director for over 20 years. She has authored four books and numerous articles on integrating technology into the elementary music classroom. She has presented many sessions on the topic, including four keynote addresses in TX, IN, St. Maarten, and AU. She is the recipient of the 2005 Technology in Music Education (TI:ME) Teacher of the Year, the 2016 New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA) Master Music Teacher, the 2016 Governor’s Leader in Arts Education, the 2017 NJ Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year, and the 2026 NJMEA Distinguished Service Awards. Her most recent publication, Using Technology with Elementary Music Approaches (2020), is available from Oxford University Press (OUP) and Amazon. Burns is also the Community Coordinator for Midnight Music (MMC) at https://midnightmusic.com/, the General Music Chair for NJMEA Board of Directors, and the Elementary Music Consultant for MusicFirst (https://www.musicfirst.com/), a company built by music educators for music educators, dedicated to helping music teachers and their students make the most of technology in the classroom.

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#techtiptuesday - Elementary Music Tech I am thankful for during the month of November!

November 12, 2024  /  Amy M. Burns

As we embrace the spirit of gratitude this November, it’s a perfect time for me to reflect on the tools that enhance my elementary music classes. One music technology tool that I have adored using with my students is the creative tool, Music Explorer, found in MusicFirst Elementary.

Encouraging elementary music students to compose their own melodies allows them to select their preferred notation, tempo, and musical style, enabling them to successfully create and perform their unique songs! Music Explorer in MusicFirst Elementary facilitates this process by providing an interactive platform where students can explore different musical elements and bring their compositions to life.

Music Explorer Found in MusicFirst Elementary Can Be…

Used to create a song as an:

  • Individual project

  • Small group project

  • Class station

  • Class composition

Used to create a song by the students that the students perform as an:

  • Assessment

  • Retrieval Practice

  • Concert Piece

Used to create songs for various instruments from classroom to woodwinds, to brasswinds, to strings, and more!

Check out the video to see how to use Music Explorer in your classroom and use the links below to view the lesson from the video and to sign up for a free trial to MusicFirst Elementary!

Elementary Music Explorer Project (Grade 3)

MusicFirst Free Trial

Music by Audionautix found at YouTube Audio.

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