185 | Interview with BethAnn - HD 1080p
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[00:00:00] You are listening to that music podcast with Bryson Tart, the curriculum designer and educational consultant behind that music teacher in the elementary music summit. Each week, Bryson and his guests will dive into the reality of being an elementary music teacher and how music can truly be transformative in the lives of the students you serve.
[00:00:23] Show notes and resources mentioned in this episode can be [email protected].
[00:00:35] Bryson Tarbet: Hello everyone and welcome back to that music podcast. I am super excited to have a new guest to the podcast and we are gonna dive in all about how you can use movement and just getting up and, and moving, um, to survive and also keep the music going, um, towards the end of the year. So we are super excited to have Beth Anne Hepburn here on the podcast.
[00:00:55] Bryson Tarbet: Beth Anne, thank you so much for joining us today.
[00:00:57] BethAnn Hepburn: Well, thank. I'm honored to be here. [00:01:00]
[00:01:00] Bryson Tarbet: Alrighty. Before we get too far into the weeds, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your history and your background in music education and what you're up to in the elementary music realm?
[00:01:10] BethAnn Hepburn: Sure, sure. Um, so currently I teach grades four through seven general music in the Streetsboro City schools, which is a suburb between Akron and Cleveland and Ohio.
[00:01:20] BethAnn Hepburn: I also teach the beginning choir for our school district, and I assist with the band a couple days a week. Um, basically my journey was, was pretty much, um, from my childhood. I sang a lot and, um, in a church choir, and the church choir director said, Hey. You should get lessons at some point. But the fun thing was she sent me down to a different church, um, because the person that was the, uh, director there, she said was a pretty good voice teacher.
[00:01:47] BethAnn Hepburn: And I was like, oh. It turns out it was Patricia, she and Campbell. I know I was as crazy as that. So she was my voice teacher when I was a kid. But, um, I ended up going to Cleveland State for my undergraduate degree and then [00:02:00] went to the University of St. Thomas and did a, um, concentration on Orff She'll work.
[00:02:05] BethAnn Hepburn: But the nice thing about the program there, if you are an orff emphasis person, um. Everyone took Eurythmics and if yes, which was great. And also, um, you had to take the opposite of what your track was. So if you're an Orff person, you take Codi and if you're a Codi person, you take Orff levels. So it was a really good practitioner plus research met when I was there.
[00:02:27] BethAnn Hepburn: And, um, I was really a lucky, lucky person because when I student taught, my, um, person required me to take level one, um, for, and that's what kind of started my Orff journey really early on. I was. Just getting outta my senior year before fall student teaching, so I don't really know how to teach any other way.
[00:02:46] BethAnn Hepburn: It's great. Um, but I'm now round rounding off my, uh, 27th year teaching. I was in Streetsboro City schools for most of it, but also taught in Cleveland public schools and in Catholic schools. And my very first teaching was in Swaziland. I [00:03:00] taught math and science.
[00:03:02] Bryson Tarbet: Fun. Yeah. Solid. I, I have to say, I'm kind of like loving that the whole master's or like the, the requirement at, at st.
[00:03:10] Bryson Tarbet: University of St. Thomas. Like that's, that's brilliant.
[00:03:13] BethAnn Hepburn: Yes. And, and it's awesome because I, I don't know not to sell that program, but programs in general, like right now I'm in a PhD program, so I think I'm in the. The how and the why stage. The why. I'm finding out the why. But, um, when I was younger in my career, I thought it was really important to know more of the how, like the, once you get your feet going, it's like you're realizing, okay, pedagogically, I could use a few more tricks and more things.
[00:03:39] BethAnn Hepburn: And I think the more we learn out of any pedagogy, like I'm, I took MLT, um. At Temple with the itty bitties, you know, the pre-audit. So we had cla you know, learning how to improvise with a 2-year-old is pretty cool. Um, but also world music charming. I think anything we can get under our belt is awesome because the more, um, [00:04:00] tricks we can pull from and you really start to realize most of the approaches, particularly the active music learning approaches, are more alike than different.
[00:04:08] Bryson Tarbet: Yes, that is one thing that I will scream for the mountains is, you know, everyone always say specifically, you know, it's, it is typically orff versus Kodi. And I'm like, there's, they're really not. Or they're really just different ways of approaching the same thing. Um, which this is a, that's a whole other podcast that we could totally keep this conversation going.
[00:04:27] Bryson Tarbet: Um, but speaking of practical things, um, may, let's be honest, may for teachers can be a little rough with testing assessments, everyone just kind of feeling a little done with everything. How do you see movement playing a role in keeping both the students but also the teachers engaged in this time of year?
[00:04:46] BethAnn Hepburn: I think, um, we have to match the level of, um, energy that's in the building and there's a bit of a chaotic feel in May, um, just because there's a lot going on and I think, um, if we [00:05:00] add movement, whether it's singing games and they're outside, or, um, testing week. I always, always do movement only. I don't try to insert anything new into their little brains because they are fried.
[00:05:12] BethAnn Hepburn: And, um, it tends to be for a lot of teachers, um, you're not allowed to do your program till after testing is over. And so then it's the mad dash crunch for people to get to that. Um, and then some teachers are in the situation like when I was on a cart. People in a cart. I feel you. I did it for five years.
[00:05:32] BethAnn Hepburn: I, I get it. Um, my favorite ever being, can you do that quietly? We have to test. I'm like, no, that's music. Not silence. Like I can't do it quietly. Um, but still coming up with things and that's when you do the outside. Go outside. I am a big fan of if the weather's nice out, go outside and, um, I've done everything from the Maypole to singing games out in the grass.
[00:05:53] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, contra dances in the grass. No, you know, you don't have to worry about it. If anybody falls down, they just. You know, bop back up, which is kind of [00:06:00] nice. Um, so I'm a, I'm a giant fan of, take them outside if you can. Um, also because they've been trapped in a desk all day and I think the students need to get up and move, which is like after they've had to be quiet for so long after a testing day in particular.
[00:06:15] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, and they're kind of shot after testing and they're ready to cut loose. So I think it's important that we match that energy level and bring in more movement for them to keep them. Focused and engaged, but also, um, for our own sanity too.
[00:06:32] Bryson Tarbet: Yeah, yeah. I mean, you're, you're, you're bringing up a really good point, which is essentially just like meeting them where they're at, because let's be honest, when we go to a PD session and we are feeling drained, and they want us to start off by doing this whole big active icebreaker like.
[00:06:45] Bryson Tarbet: We're not matching that energy. Like, and it's not fun. Nobody enjoys it. It's like pulling teeth. So why are we gonna be working against it? Um, so, and I also love how you, you talked about going outside. Obviously that's not the case, you know, not an option for everybody. Um, we were, you know, [00:07:00] at my, my previous school, we had this huge outdoor space, um, that we were able to use for a lot of things.
[00:07:05] Bryson Tarbet: And I'll be honest, I took a year or two off because of having to teach outside. Forever during Covid. I am like, I just need, I need a little bit. Um, but like, yeah. But you bring up a really good point, which is doing those things outside, quite frankly, like. For some of those that's just more authentic of how they would've existed in the first place.
[00:07:25] Bryson Tarbet: And I think that's a really good way of showing that music is quite literally not just something that happens in the music classroom. It really can be this community communal, um, active music making thing.
[00:07:36] BethAnn Hepburn: Yes. And by that point of the school year too, they have so many more playing skills. Um, so even if it's a song that just has a simple 1, 4, 5 accompaniment and they know 1, 4, 5 on the ukulele in any key, you can transpose any song and they can become the band outside too.
[00:07:54] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, so the kids who still do miss playing the instruments and wanna, you know, not just move, [00:08:00] but wanna be players still, you can incorporate that in, you can incorporate drumming, um, especially with a lot of the Ring games. Um, that are from the islands. I absolutely love that. In the spring, in the springtime 'cause and it's like I always find that extra little, bring that out now.
[00:08:16] BethAnn Hepburn: And then bring this out, something totally new that kind of captures them. So I have, um, like Jumbie Jams for example. I, I do the singing game. I let her go go, but then I add a question and answer improvisation with the Juy jams. Um, so some of us are doing the actual ring game question and answer on the drums, plus on the jumbie jams.
[00:08:36] BethAnn Hepburn: And we get a little island more flavor going on. And it's nice 'cause then you can swap out who are the movers, who are the players. So I think that kind of. Keeping that, keeping new things too. So it's like a surprise. And um, sometimes it's fun to just have one of those days where they wanna do as many of the singing games or folk dances that they know, um, as like a power run recap of everything.
[00:08:58] BethAnn Hepburn: But um, bring it [00:09:00] out a new one or something brand new right at the end of the school year, I think is another way to keep 'em hooked.
[00:09:05] Bryson Tarbet: That is a really good tidbit. If we get nothing else outta this episode, I want people to leave realizing that, like, keep a couple of things in your back pocket, especially for those grades that tend to get a little squirrely anyway.
[00:09:16] Bryson Tarbet: Um, like I always kept some really good games that typically, honestly I probably could have done in like fifth or sixth grade, but my fourth graders by, at the end of the year, that was the oldest at, at that building, they just needed something that was challenging and that was new and that was. Quite frankly a competition.
[00:09:31] Bryson Tarbet: So I had some games that I would, I would always keep in my back pocket because I knew that come May we were gonna need 'em. And that is a really, really important thing to keep. You know, maybe if you go to a conference and you find something new, write it down, keep it, don't forget about it. Don't put it in that folder of shame.
[00:09:46] Bryson Tarbet: You never look at, you know, again, but like bring it back at the end of the year rather than doing everything, all the new things that you've learned at conference, right. When you get back, that could be a little stretchy.
[00:09:54] BethAnn Hepburn: Right? Or even just putting a new twist on like. They already know the ring game, my letter go go, but then throwing [00:10:00] in the steel drum it, it changes it so ways you can bump it up a notch, whether with they're playing an instrument along with the game and you're swapping out the players, that kind of thing too.
[00:10:09] BethAnn Hepburn: I, so I think sometimes bringing back one they are familiar with, with some kind of twist on it is awesome.
[00:10:15] Bryson Tarbet: For sure. And that also just makes it a lot simpler for the teachers too, you know? Right. Yes. You, you're able to keep it simple. So you, you touched on some of the different common challenges and may, you know, maybe you're not allowed to make any noise.
[00:10:28] Bryson Tarbet: How do we do that? I don't know. Um, you know, you know, you might talk about how for scheduling things, you might have people out for a field trip. You might be like really trying to get. All, you know, the, this mad dash to get all these performances towards the end of the year. What are some of the common challenges, um, may that maybe we haven't addressed, or maybe one that you wanna zoom in a little bit further on of, you know, how, so some different common challenges teachers might face towards the end of the year and how would you approach these?
[00:10:52] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, I think I, a couple things, but, um, one is flexibility and letting go of what you thought it [00:11:00] should be at the end. Because there is no normal end of the school year. And, um, I, I think sometimes too, we wait too long If you're in a school district that you have to do post-assessments for your pre-assessments, don't wait till May to do them.
[00:11:14] BethAnn Hepburn: I. Because of the field trips and everybody's missing or we're on spring break longer than everyone else. 'cause that's when, you know, parents can get their vacation at work. And so, um, I think we just have to move some things forward. So if you're in a district at classes. Collects the pre and post assessment data.
[00:11:34] BethAnn Hepburn: Make sure you get that done early so you're, you're not trying to do that on top of everything else. And then, um, I think give yourself more time and grace to get stuff done. Um, definitely grading. Start, you know, don't do the 24 hour logon, um, but, you know, keep 'em going as you go. Um, a little bit at a. A little bit every couple days.
[00:11:57] BethAnn Hepburn: Makes your life a lot easier at the end to wrap up [00:12:00] your school year. So I think that's another one. Um, the other thing I wish someone would've told me early on is stop bringing everything home. Because the reality is, I mean, we all have these grand, um, illusions that the five boxes of books that we brought home, we're gonna go through every single book and find new things and prepare new lessons.
[00:12:19] BethAnn Hepburn: And the reality is those books come home, they sit in a corner and then. We move them around the garage a little bit and then they go back in our car in August when we go back to school. So I think truly give yourself a break from even thinking about work. So when you're packing your room, don't pack everything and bring it home.
[00:12:39] BethAnn Hepburn: Give yourself a little time. Um, so that's one thing. The other thing I think, um. And I always have to, uh, my mentor, my, I, I'm a mentor for a few teachers, and one of the things I always have to remind them is that our colleagues are under way more stress than we can ever imagine that are the tested subject areas.
[00:12:56] BethAnn Hepburn: And the stress level in the building is unbelievable. And, [00:13:00] um, not to take it personally, like when people drop off their class and they look fried. And they give you the good luck, that's because they're already here, you know? And, um, I think another thing is don't lay it on them. If, um, if there was a problem with a student or so-and-so was acting up that day, guess what?
[00:13:19] BethAnn Hepburn: So-and-so was acting, acting up for them all day long. I don't think we need to dump that on them also, um, because it just causes more friction between you and your colleagues. So, uh, I just think, uh, one of those, I got 'em. Go get stuff done for your prep and kind of being positive about it because they are fried, uh, on a level that and stress that we can't even imagine.
[00:13:39] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, and it's a different kind of stress than we have for spring concert stress. 'cause our stress is also a stress, but it's a different kind. Um, so I think just keeping that in your back, back pocket, not to take anything personally when, um, people are worried about testing and, um. If they need more kids or kids are getting pulled out because of testing [00:14:00] while you're still trying to prep your last things for your program or whatever.
[00:14:02] BethAnn Hepburn: I think we just have to embrace the okay, roll with it. Um, and just give yourself some grace, give your colleagues some grace because it's hard teaching at the end of the school year is hard. Actually teaching I need that is hard. It's harder to teach. Um, and teachers are more tired than normal at the end of the day.
[00:14:20] BethAnn Hepburn: So I think, I think that be okay with that and know it's normal. And that you're not the only one. I, I wish someone would've said, you're not the only one feeling this way. The stress of concerts and the reality of, um, you're on all day as a music teacher. You're on, all
[00:14:37] Bryson Tarbet: you bring up, you bring up such a good point about just the overall tension in the building between the colleagues.
[00:14:43] Bryson Tarbet: There's always stuff that happens. You know, that's always when the drama starts kicking up because everyone's on edge, like you said, and I think it can be so easy to try to. Make it this me versus them or you know, them versus us thing when the [00:15:00] reality is, is we are all working really hard in a system that sometimes doesn't work with us and works against us, and we are all just trying to get by.
[00:15:07] Bryson Tarbet: So I, I love the way that you put that. It was very poignant and I think I, I think that's, I'm so glad that you were telling those to your mentees, telling that to your mentees because that is really good information to just. You know, water off a duck's back a little bit, you know, it's gonna be okay.
[00:15:22] Bryson Tarbet: We're gonna make the best of what we have.
[00:15:24] BethAnn Hepburn: Yeah. And it's not at us. I think that's the thing. Um, we happen to be the person there that gets to be the sounding board maybe, or when they're so stressed and they're dropping the kids off. I know that happens a lot, but, um, just to, to take in that okay, they're stressed out and don't take it personally.
[00:15:41] BethAnn Hepburn: I, I think that's a hard one because, um, sometimes it may come off at us, but that's, I don't think ever the intention from our colleagues. They're just stressed. Yeah. Yeah.
[00:15:51] Bryson Tarbet: So, without giving too much away from your upcoming masterclass, can you basically just, can you share how you might use [00:16:00] movement for something in your lesson that will get the kids moving?
[00:16:04] Bryson Tarbet: Because like we've, like we've established they need to move, but also just keeps things musical and keeps the curriculum moving as well. Can you talk a little bit about how we can kind of do both with one thing?
[00:16:16] BethAnn Hepburn: Yes. So I think actually, um, when I think about how I use movement in my classroom, I think I use it three different ways.
[00:16:23] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, one as a kinesthetic preparation for a literacy that might be coming later if we're gonna be doing some notation work, let's say. Um. But for me, like a lot of the quick reaction games are good for those if you're doing a Del Crows movement thing. Um, so for me that those are imperative when I know I need it in their being.
[00:16:45] BethAnn Hepburn: I. I need them to feel it before we're reading it and before we're performing it. Like I would never teach syn a patient without doing some eurythmics warmups first. Um, because you know, you're off the beat if you know where the beat is. So I think and get them [00:17:00] up and moving around is really important, or us being the model.
[00:17:04] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, the other thing I really think movement helps even as simple as like a musical clap. So my classroom, I use, um, the M from music and we use that as our music room clap. So we use three fingers. So we just kind of truncate music and put it right here. Um, I think that helps your, your visual learners too, because they're seeing it kinesthetically, but they're seeing the duration.
[00:17:25] BethAnn Hepburn: 'cause there's a big difference between, you know, this is my quarter note and these are eighth they have, and then closer, or the really long one. So I think even just visually, it helps them connect to the abstract sound. Um, so. Preparation for things later to come either playing or reading is one thing.
[00:17:45] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, but the Orff show work person in me really loves, um, that the movement can inspire music. Um, and we are gonna do one of those for the masterclass, where you start with something that's familiar to students. And it could be outdoor games, it could [00:18:00] be something you do in the park or something you do at the amusement park, and you start to get to the point where you meter it.
[00:18:08] BethAnn Hepburn: So it could be as some, something as simple as, um, you're outside playing basketball. You pass to someone, you catch it, you dribble, you shoot. But that could become an eight beat phrase. And then every action will turn out to have, um, sound with it. So it's almost like they become, um, the composer for a cartoon, but the mover becomes.
[00:18:31] BethAnn Hepburn: The actual, um, inspiration for the asado to happen, and then you can layer those and then layer 'em on with other playground rhymes and things. It's a lot of fun to do. Um, so I think starting with movement first, uh, for that to work, a lot of times I use poetry or poetry that'll get students in motion or redacted poems where you take a poem and you pull out and have just the movement words.
[00:18:54] BethAnn Hepburn: And, um, then you layer the poem in second after they've already created a soundscape [00:19:00] for it or a movement in some way. Um, I also super duper love, um, play parties and singing games probably, and probably one of the main reasons is because of form. I think they, when they know they've changed formations and like, oh that was for the verse, now we're in the refrain.
[00:19:18] BethAnn Hepburn: And now I'm doing this other thing. Extensions with play parties. I do a lot of extensions where we add improvisation or more instruments to the mix. Um, especially 'cause back in the day a lot of play parties were more improvisatory and it was play like that's why they're play parties. And so it's okay, um, to let go of, you have to do 'em exactly the way the book says too.
[00:19:39] BethAnn Hepburn: Especially if you're calling dances. I. I'm a big fan of, um, folk dances that like you can call based on movements your students know. And sometimes it's that class. We all have that class. Well know what I mean? So they're not gonna be ringing the dish rag, they're gonna be holding hands and just going in a circle.
[00:19:56] BethAnn Hepburn: Woo. It's a good day in the music room for that crew. And so, [00:20:00] um, you know, there's just, some of it is, um. I think really good for form more than anything. The play parties and the folk dances, um, help set up form. That way when we are doing something that's ab later or a BA, they've already done dances that are in that form so they understand, um, how to do that.
[00:20:19] BethAnn Hepburn: I also think it helps their listening skills. Um, because when you get to the point where you don't have to call the dance, they're just listening. They know when the phrase change happens and they can hear signals in the music. That's the best.
[00:20:31] Bryson Tarbet: And what I love most about, I'm also a bit huge play party folk dance.
[00:20:36] Bryson Tarbet: Um. That's my jam. Um, because for all of the reasons that you mentioned. But I also love it because it is such a natural way to talk about how music is all of the, is, is all of these things, but also connected to all of these things. You know, talking about the form of it, uh, the, the, you know, the dancing, the communal aspect of it, the cultural aspect of it, like.
[00:20:58] Bryson Tarbet: Those are the standards that I always [00:21:00] struggled with the most. You know, all those responding standards because, you know, we a lot of times, you know, we'll do a performance and then we'll have a reflection. I'm, that's the responding standards. Right? Uh, but this is, but these types of dances, like you were mentioning, are also a really great one to, to connect and bring things in.
[00:21:15] Bryson Tarbet: And I, um, I, I cannot share enough how the more I've done folk dances and things like that, the more my students have been. Able to just understand how the music understand and internalize how the music is structured, and that that alone has been huge and like a reason why I will, I will always, um, say that that type of movement is something that should be included.
[00:21:38] BethAnn Hepburn: Yes. And, and starting scattered space, like if your students have done, haven't done, um, structured folk answers yet. Some of the scattered space ones, uh, like Sasha are so much fun because, um. You can partner switch and it doesn't matter where you are, it doesn't matter what shape of room you have. You, you know, when I was in a trailer that worked and when I was in a room that I actually could have a round circle that would work.[00:22:00]
[00:22:00] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, and poly spots are your best friend and colored tape. The custodian doesn't love colored tape on the floor, but if it's the painter's tape, it's good. Um, but taping off long way sets and or the getting the little dots on the floor, you're good to go with those two. Those, those are game changer.
[00:22:17] Bryson Tarbet: Yeah, I, I found, you know, we didn't, we didn't get into, into a lot of like really complicated ones, but like I, I always had the sit spot circles in, in a, in the state of a circle in my room, but I also had Velcro lines showing the long way set.
[00:22:32] Bryson Tarbet: And I felt like between the two of those we could more or less figure out wherever we needed to go. Um, and, and I love how you also mentioned how some of them can be very simple, like Sasha. Love Sasha. Also, Sasha is just like a crowd. You could do it with first grade, they'll love it. You could do with sixth grade, they'll love it.
[00:22:48] Bryson Tarbet: Um, which is another cool thing that I think doing these types of more structured movement towards the end of the year, um, can also be something like you could, you could have like a, a, a session at field day where you [00:23:00] do folk dances because you've been working on them forever and all the grades know certain ones and it's just another great way to show that music is more than just what happens in the classroom.
[00:23:09] BethAnn Hepburn: Well, and another thing you said when we were talking about community, um, there's two things that we do that I super love. Um, there, uh, the dulcimers, um, the students went down and the fifth graders learned the songs, and then we went down to the kindergarten rooms. And the kindergartners. Luckily my K one colleague at the time, um, had taught all the, the dance.
[00:23:32] BethAnn Hepburn: We had talked about what songs we were, we were learning. And so he prepped some of the long way sets and all that kind of stuff. But we went down and, um, we did Alabama gal with them and, um, this old man, and they did all the hand, like the kids were playing the Dolmar and the other, and another one in the group would be in charge of leading the motions while the, while the little ones sang, but then the fifth graders got to go back to see their kindergarten teachers, what they s.
[00:23:53] BethAnn Hepburn: So loved to see former teachers. That's like a big deal. Yeah. And then this year, um, actually coming up in a [00:24:00] couple weeks, we're going to the senior center, um, where the senior citizens have their, like, activity spot in town. Um, but we're inviting preschoolers also, so the moms that have pre-Ks and, um, we do a little program called Tunes for All ages and we theme it.
[00:24:18] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, so this upcoming one we're gonna do, um, some holiday things for December, but, um, we've done everything from moving with the Masters, where it's just all movement activities to classical music. And, um, we've done the swing dance, which that was probably one of my favorites. 'cause I, you know, here I am telling the kids.
[00:24:37] BethAnn Hepburn: Be very careful. I don't want anybody like, knock your, your senior citizen on the floor. You know, be really good. You know, like I'm giving the, the whole how to introduce yourself. We do all that stuff and um, the kids were hilarious when we got back to, so they're like, miss you said to be careful. And my senior was like, super swinging me around.
[00:24:52] BethAnn Hepburn: I'm. And they're like, I was like, well, it's, you know, they know these songs and they know how to, how to dance like this. It was the music when they were kids. And, um, [00:25:00] it was so much fun. So we, we've done a little bit of everything and, um, we've had them play xylophones with us where you, no one can play wrong note when you take off certain bars.
[00:25:08] BethAnn Hepburn: So it's been, it's been a lot of fun to make music with other people too. So that's another, um, just an idea because I think students at the end of the year need another carrot. A little bit. So it's like, oh, you know, I have to pick a class to go see the kindergartners. Let's see if you guys can be the group.
[00:25:25] BethAnn Hepburn: And, um, they work harder. And, um, it, I don't know. It's, there's just something about, I always take everybody. They, you know, they all get to go. Everyone goes, we just go at different times. Um, but it, it's nice and to have that community, even for the school community and then our reaching community that we live in is pretty, pretty special, I think.
[00:25:49] Bryson Tarbet: Yeah. That is very special. And I, what I love about that is not only are you just sharing music, which I think needs to be done so much more in general life, but you're also really [00:26:00] creating an opportunity for. I'm sorry, I completely lost where I was going with that.
[00:26:06] BethAnn Hepburn: Well, like making music together in community.
[00:26:08] BethAnn Hepburn: Well, one of the most beautiful things I saw from a child when, uh, at one of the days, um, when the little guys came back and he said, did you bring egg shakers by chance? And I said, I did. He said, um, my senior citizen can't hold. The Moroccan keeps, it was too heavy for her. It kept falling out of her hand.
[00:26:23] BethAnn Hepburn: He's like, did you bring egg shakers? He said, I think she could hold an egg shaker. Yeah. Here. And then another time, um, I have Mondo picks, which usually I have for students that have lost part of their digits. And, um, so they're just giant picks that still work on anything. And, um, I, they were partner playing the Dulcimers one year and, um, all the senior had to do was strum while the kids did the numbers.
[00:26:47] BethAnn Hepburn: They were, they were playing the chords while they were. And, um, same thing happened. One of the kids came up and said, miss Hepburn, I. My person can't hold the tiny pic. Did you bring any of the big ones? And so they're, they're very empathetic and they're [00:27:00] responding to other people. And they've had some hilarious conversations with, um, especially during movement.
[00:27:06] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, one of the gentlemen, he's really tall too, he's like six two. Um, he, they were, we were doing a movement thing, um, to Claire de Loon, and they, they were moving. And he leans down and he's so tall. So the kids are like way down here and he's way up here and he's like, this is really weird. But I like it.
[00:27:25] BethAnn Hepburn: And the boys were like, yeah, she has us do this kinda stuff. All we do stuff like this all the time. We like it, but it's a little weird. Like, but they, they're all like all moving. They were still moving and everything, but it was just so many, the, the, the conversations they were having world blast. So, um, just some really special moments happened for the students too, and those little, yeah, just
[00:27:44] Bryson Tarbet: giving them.
[00:27:45] Bryson Tarbet: Those big kind of bookend memories of their schooling. Like especially, you know, like the, all right, we're at the end of the year. This is when we have all these cool events and this is when we gotta do X, y, z. That's, that's just really cool, I have to say. Um, yeah. As, thank you for sharing that. Yeah. [00:28:00]
[00:28:00] BethAnn Hepburn: I thought that was like, oh, here's another community.
[00:28:02] BethAnn Hepburn: And just in case anybody needs a, how do we get into our community idea? I think that's a good one,
[00:28:06] Bryson Tarbet: for sure. So your, like we said, your masterclass is gonna be doing a real deep dive into some practical things. Um, can you talk a little bit about what teachers can expect to take away from this session? Um, especially when it comes to things that are practical or low prep.
[00:28:20] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, so I think I have a really fun way to prep for Cannon through movement. Um, and I'm gonna show you a couple different ones for those. But, um, my favorite is the car wash for sure. Um, we're gonna do a little working at the car wash, um, but have that through movement so they understand the concept. And, and it could be maybe late second grade and you haven't gotten to Canon yet, or you did it rhythmically.
[00:28:43] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, but so that they understand the concept of. Here's how many beats we're apart. And then this thing goes, and then I'm following, but I'm this many beats behind. So I have a fun thing, um, for Canon. And then some ways you can take that even into, um, the choral setting if you want, [00:29:00] and keep your choir moving.
[00:29:01] BethAnn Hepburn: So it's not just, uh, general music class, I think. Your beginning choirs and choirs in general also need to move. So I think that's a good one. Um, so a little bit of partner play and some, uh, we'll definitely do some, uh, dal crow's eurythmics, um, quick reaction exercises and, um, prepping what that looks like and where you can go with it or.
[00:29:24] BethAnn Hepburn: Just using it as a warmup because you need them to get, you know, they, they came off a recess and they're all blah. Um, and you wanna get 'em focused, just getting them up and moving, um, and then reversing it so that they become the musician and you're actually, um, leading the music, but with your body. So I like flipping it instead of you playing the instruments, having them play the instruments while you're the mover and your feet are one pattern, your hands are a different pattern, but where you're traveling is a different pitch maybe.
[00:29:54] BethAnn Hepburn: So those kind of things are a lot of fun. Um, and then definitely some of my favorite games that I love to do at the end of the [00:30:00] school year. I'm gonna share some of those, um, some singing games that are good for K, K one, two, and then, um, the upper. Elementary kids because that's, that's my zone right now. I taught, um, K one, two for seven years.
[00:30:14] BethAnn Hepburn: I had 11 kindergartens on Monday. Woo. Um, it was back in the day of half day kindergarten, but I had 11 kindergartens on Mondays and, um, I was blissfully exhausted every Monday.
[00:30:26] Bryson Tarbet: I'm sure
[00:30:27] BethAnn Hepburn: it was, it was great. Um, but, um, now I'm 4, 5, 6, 7, and so it's a totally different, um. You know, energy group I guess. Yeah, for sure.
[00:30:38] BethAnn Hepburn: And so sharing some things for the upper elementary too, that's not too cool for school, you know? 'cause they can get that way, honestly. Yeah. Especially at the end of the school year. So I think, um, keeping them busy that way too is a lot of fun. But even, um, some great, um, quick reaction exercises for laying out harmonic parts so that, um, if [00:31:00] you're gonna take things to a 1 4 5 harmony on.
[00:31:04] BethAnn Hepburn: Uh, ukulele maybe, or on, um, ORP instruments that there's an easy way that you can teach that through movement so that they're hearing the connection, um, when to shift the chords and starting to internalize the phrasing without you having to count. Love that. Yeah. Which will be good. That,
[00:31:22] Bryson Tarbet: that was, that was a lot.
[00:31:24] Bryson Tarbet: I'm really excited for this session. I, I'm like, wait a minute. Ooh, I get to go to this. Ooh,
[00:31:30] BethAnn Hepburn: it was your idea.
[00:31:31] Bryson Tarbet: I'm like, Ooh. So, um, before we get to, I, I have one final question I wanna ask you. But before we get there, can you share, um, where anyone who's listening that's like, Hey, this Beth Ann person, she's pretty cool.
[00:31:42] Bryson Tarbet: Like, where, where would you like to, you know, where could people connect with you or continue this conversation?
[00:31:48] BethAnn Hepburn: Um. So I could give you my email for sure. So it's just orff [email protected], so you can email me anytime. Um, I do teach Orff sch work courses in [00:32:00] the summer. I'm actually the level one instructor for, um, the Nazareth program that, um, was, it was housed at Eastman and then moved over to Nazareth University in Rochester.
[00:32:10] BethAnn Hepburn: I also teach aloha. Level one in Hawaii. Um, and that is, it cycles every couple of years. So we're going to be back there in 2026. And then I teach master classes, um, throughout different spots around the United States. This year I'll be at Kent State. Um, but last year I was in Kansas and in Atlanta, so that kind of floats around.
[00:32:31] BethAnn Hepburn: It depends. Um, I'll also be at OMEA and a few of the state conferences this year, um, Alabama. But um, the next one too, that's. The Northwest, um, division for NAF b I'll be there as well, so,
[00:32:44] Bryson Tarbet: all right. Well, lots of conferences. Yeah, I know. I love the conference. I love the conference thing. Anyway, so I'm super excited, um, to be able to catch your stuff at OMEA.
[00:32:53] Bryson Tarbet: Uh, but anyway, to sum it all up, how can you give one [00:33:00] key piece of advice or what, what do you want people to leave this episode with as they prepare to wrap up their school year? I.
[00:33:07] BethAnn Hepburn: I think the biggest thing is expect the unexpected and roll with it because the end of the school year, a lot of times they're like, oh, surprise, we forgot the last three drills we were supposed to do the last week, so we're gonna do 'em all tomorrow.
[00:33:21] BethAnn Hepburn: Like that kind of stuff does happen. Or the, oh, we didn't tell you we were going on a field trip because they forgot to put it in the school calendar. Um, just be okay with things pop up and it doesn't have to be perfect. And, um. There's nobody really, um, expecting a certain thing in May. Everyone just wants the students to still stay engaged and have fun.
[00:33:48] BethAnn Hepburn: And I think let go and have fun with the students. Like they know things now. You've taught them all year and it's the time where you can actually have fun with them. Um, and I think just enjoy. [00:34:00] The last of the ride because it's the speeding train that just goes and, um, there's no breaks. It, it just, it goes and then you're like, oh, and we're done.
[00:34:08] BethAnn Hepburn: Um, so I think because of that pacing too, just kind of step back now and then, and really watch your students and think about what they were like in August. Where they are now. And I think you can bask in that a little bit because um, they really do learn a lot throughout the course of the school year.
[00:34:29] BethAnn Hepburn: And, um, I think we're so frantic trying to like get to the end of the school year and through everything that we miss, the magic that they really did gain a lot of skills with us and they really are a community now making music together because. Every homeroom, we're making a new music community, their, their own little sub community in our classroom.
[00:34:49] BethAnn Hepburn: So I think we set that tone and that we get to the point where we can actually have fun with them and celebrate with their little community, with their class. And I think that that is pretty special and [00:35:00] not everybody else gets that. And, um, you know, every other class, the exact answer is always the same.
[00:35:07] BethAnn Hepburn: It always has to be the same at the end of class. And for us, each class can go a different direction with things. And if we're, especially if we're improvising or adding other instruments, one class may take it this way, another and go for the ride. I, I think you have to trust they have skills, you've taught them well and have fun making music with them.
[00:35:26] BethAnn Hepburn: Because really when it comes down to that, that it's what, that's what it's all about. Us having fun in the humanity piece of what we do, um, because so many other. Courses are not that. It's not, it's not the being first, it's the memorizing and the, oh, do you know how to do this formula exactly this way and show your work?
[00:35:44] BethAnn Hepburn: And for us, we can really relish in being together and making music together in community. And I think that's the thing, as stressful as it may get, like let it all go. You know, you'll cover up your bulletin boards when you have to like, let all that go and just [00:36:00] have fun with them. Um, I think is the biggest thing.
[00:36:02] BethAnn Hepburn: Yeah.
[00:36:03] Bryson Tarbet: I love that. Well, I have thoroughly enjoyed this episode, um, and I am really excited for your set, your masterclass inside that music teacher community. Uh, again, we will put the link for that in the show notes. If you are watching this in the future, that will recording will be inside the community, so you can still check it out.
[00:36:22] Bryson Tarbet: Um, I. I say this to both Beth Ann, also to you listeners, um, as I and every other podcast, I, I truly mean it, um, especially in May. Thank you so much for making a difference in the lives of the students that you teach.
