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 instrument class, directs the FH Philharmonic, is the Performing Arts Department Manager, and teaches privately in the after-school conservatory after being the director for over 20 years. She has authored four books and numerous articles on how to integrate tech 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, and the 2017 NJ Nonpublic School Teacher of the Year Awards. Her most recent publication, Using Technology with Elementary Music Approaches (2020), published by Oxford University Press (OUP) is available from 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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Is MusicFirst Elementary a 1:1 Curriculum? The Answer Might Surprise Music Teachers

March 17, 2026  /  Amy M. Burns

One of the most common questions music educators ask when exploring MusicFirst Elementary is:

“Is this a 1:1 curriculum?”

The short answer is no — and that’s actually one of its many strengths.

MusicFirst Elementary was designed to be a flexible music curriculum that works in a variety of classroom technology environments. Whether you have one device, center rotations, or a full 1:1 setup, the lessons and creative tools can adapt to your teaching style.

Let’s take a closer look at what that flexibility can look like in the elementary music classroom.

Using MusicFirst Elementary with One Device

Many elementary music rooms have one teacher's computer connected to a projector or interactive board. MusicFirst Elementary works beautifully in this setting.

Teachers can:

  • Display activities for the entire class

  • Model musical concepts together

  • Guide listening, movement, and analysis activities

  • Demonstrate creative tools before students try them

  • Display songs to sing and perform

In this setup, the curriculum supports whole-group instruction while still allowing students to participate through movement, instruments, singing, and discussion.

This approach keeps the focus on musical learning rather than screen time, while still integrating technology meaningfully.

Using MusicFirst Elementary as a Center Activity

Another popular option is using MusicFirst Elementary as a technology station or center.

During center rotations, students can:

  • Explore interactive music activities

  • Reinforce rhythmic and melodic concepts

  • Work collaboratively in small groups

  • Engage with creative music tools

  • Perform Boomwhacker/recorder/ukulele play-alongs

  • Decode melodies and rhythm patterns

For example, while one group is working with barred instruments, another group might rotate to the MusicFirst Elementary center to complete an interactive activity related to the same musical concept.

This model works especially well for differentiation and blended learning, allowing students to practice skills at their own pace.

Using MusicFirst Elementary in a 1:1 Environment

In classrooms where students have individual devices, MusicFirst Elementary offers even more possibilities.

Students can:

  • Work independently on music activities

  • Create their own musical ideas using creative tools

  • Explore musical concepts through guided lessons

  • Complete projects or extensions related to classroom learning

  • Podcast about their favorite composer or performer

  • Score movies!

Teachers can use this setup for practice, reinforcement, or creative exploration, while still guiding the learning process.

The Key Takeaway: It Works in Any Classroom

Technology access varies widely from school to school, and MusicFirst Elementary was designed with that reality in mind.

You can successfully use the curriculum with:

  • One device and a projector

  • Small group center rotations

  • 1:1 student devices

MusicFirst Elementary allows you to decide how technology fits into your teaching, rather than forcing your classroom to fit a specific technology model.

🎥 Watch the short video explaining this FAQ here:

Learn More

You can explore MusicFirst Elementary and its creative tools here:
https://www.musicfirst.com/elementary/

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