Editorial: Do One Thing Well

February 2021

We're one month into 2021. Can you believe it?

Whether you're making great strides toward achieving your goals or still trying to find your way in this new year, here's my February challenge for you:

Choose one thing to focus on this month. One thing you want to improve in your teaching or a musical skill you want to cultivate.

Maybe you want to:

• build in more time for active music-listening

• develop aural skills or music-reading skills

• experience and create beautiful phrasing

• do more with dynamics

Whatever it is, find a few new ways to introduce it and demonstrate it in your lessons and rehearsals this month or carve out some time to work on this new skill on your own.

It's easy to get overwhelmed by all that we have to/want to/should do. Here's a simple way to start taking action: Assess where you are this week and where you'd like to be one month from now. What steps can you take to get there?

Today, I'm sharing some of my favorite posts and resources to help you plan for the month ahead:

Choir

• 19 Ways to Connect (and Sing!) with Your Choir Virtually

• Breathing Exercises for Choirs of All Ages (great for Zoom!)

• 108 Anthems to Study for Black History Month

• How to Use Vocal Exploration in Your Rehearsals

Music Education

• 22 Creative Ideas for Teaching Music Online

• The Benefits of Rote-Learning + How to Use It in Your Teaching

• Books You Can Sing and Chant (great for virtual classes + rehearsals)

Piano Teaching

• 10 Creative Ways to Use Rhythm Pattern Cards

• Hosting a Virtual Studio Class: 7 Tips for Success (+ 7 free games)

Handbells

• Handbells in the Time of COVID-19 (+ music for six ringers)

• Four Pieces for Lent and Four Pieces for Easter

Let me know what one thing you're focusing on this month. I'd love to hear what you have planned!