Elementary music teachers are often the unsung heroes of their schools. They keep students of all ages engaged, teach real music skills, and somehow pull off concert after concert, event after event. It’s a big job, and it takes the right tools to do it well.
When we heard about Music K-8, a magazine designed to make music teachers’ lives easier, we wanted to learn more. So we turned to Katherine Myszewski, a Wisconsin music educator who teaches elementary music, directs student productions, and runs a private-lesson studio. Already familiar with the magazine, Katherine shared why Music K-8 stands out as a helpful, time-saving resource for music teachers everywhere.
What grade levels have you used Music K-8 with, and what ages do you think the songs are best suited for?
I think the magazine is great for kindergarten through 8th grade students. There are some songs that are easy enough for kindergarten and 1st grade, but I would use most of them with students in 2nd through 8th grades—students who can already read.
How do you currently use the magazine in your classroom, and how do you plan to use it in the future?
I have used this product to choose music for concerts. One thing I love is how I can have students sing songs in unison or parts, play them on the recorder, and/or play them with other instruments. I like the various levels of songs each issue has, so I can use them for different grade levels.
How do your students respond to the songs and resources in the magazine?
Students love the variety of songs that this magazine offers. They like being able to connect their learning to the curriculum in their other classes and/or seasons or holidays. They also like being able to sing along with great accompaniment tracks that are fun!
What do you think makes Music K-8 stand out from other music resources or magazines?
The accessibility for teachers is what makes the magazine stand out. It is so easy to use and the resources provided help teachers teach these songs with little to no preparation. I have loved having the magazine as a resource. It’s fantastic and easily accessible. I will continue to use it and highly recommend it to all music educators.
How easy is Music K-8 to use in your classroom, and what makes it user-friendly for teachers?
This magazine was very easy to use. It had all of the materials prepared; I just had to copy them and add the PowerPoints and recordings to my computer. This was the easiest way to access all the tools I need to teach songs. I would highly recommend this magazine to all music teachers, but this would especially be great for new teachers to make their first year of teaching much easier!
What’s your favorite thing about Music K-8 and why?
My favorite feature is the access to materials: sheet music, lyric sheets, PowerPoint presentations, and accompaniment tracks. I also like the variety of topics covered in all the issues. I’m able to connect the songs to what the students are learning in their classrooms, and that curricular connection makes it more engaging for students.
How does the magazine help save you time or simplify your lesson planning and instruction?
Thanks to Music K-8, I don’t have to prepare lyric sheets or lyric PowerPoint slides, or practice the accompaniment on piano, since there are premade recordings. Additionally, if I want to add recorder or other instruments to songs, I don’t have to create the music notation for those specific songs since Music K-8 provides those. This resource is such a great time-saver.
Why do you think a resource like this is important for music educators?
This resource is great for providing a one-stop shop for all the materials music educators need to successfully teach songs. When teaching multiple grades, it is often difficult to prepare all the materials needed for each level, and Music K-8 makes all the preparation so much easier! I plan to use this magazine to pick songs for performances and concerts. These pieces perform well for audiences, the students love them, and the songs fit the various themes of concerts (winter, spring, holiday, etc.).
How do you think Music K-8 helps students build a deeper appreciation for music?
Students will be able to learn about various cultures, holidays, seasons, emotions, and other curricular topics in collaboration with music with Music K-8. This magazine helps students learn that music truly connects to all parts of our lives. The music chosen in each issue of the magazine is fun and engaging so the students will enjoy learning each song.
Learn how you can subscribe to Music K-8 on their website. Plus, see Katherine’s video review below.
Teacher Picks is a sponsored program available from We Are Teachers. All opinions shared in the review are honest and based on the teacher’s direct experience. To learn more about our guidelines and review process, click here.