Math Education Logo | Vector Design (Einstein)

Here's a logo I put together for a TeachersPayTeachers.com digital product store. All that crazy hair for Einstein sure does make for a lively illustration.

Bobblehead Metronome

I've been playing trumpet with a community college jazz band. The director has talked about putting deposits in the "Grove Bank" on a couple of occasions - as in playing in the pocket, playing with good time, and all that. This animated gif idea for a bobblehead metronome with my jazz band teacher on the top popped in my head. He got a good laugh out of it!

I also made a "promo" video with music.

CodeBreaker and Codemaker | Free Secret Agent Note Name Worksheets

I've been updating many of the resources on MakingMusicFun.net - my elementary music education resource website. I've been really trying the learn how to create interesting poses and in this case add a little drama to the artwork.

Here's my new product artwork for the CodeBreaker and CodeMaker note name worksheets. Below I've included a few links in case you visited this page looking for the resource.

CodeBreaker! | Treble Clef Note Name Worksheet
CodeBreaker! | Bass Clef Note Name Worksheet
CodeMaker! Treble Clef Note Name Worksheet 
CodeMaker! | Bass Clef Note Name Worksheet 

Santa Illustration

I was asked to create an illustration for splash page. The Santa needed to look distressed, and trying to  organize his business with pencil and paper.

I did a pencil sketch first, and then the following vector image.

Star Wars (John Williams) Music Listening Glyph (Printable Worksheet)

Another listening glyph.  John Williams "Star Wars" related lessons are pretty popular music lesson products right now. I decided to give it a go with a Star Wars listening glyph this time.

If your interest, here's a link the worksheet packet:
Star Wars (John Williams) Music Listening Glyph

What's a Listening Glyph?
Glyphs are pictures of facts. A listening glyph asks students to identify the "facts" about a musical selection, and then express what they are hearing by choosing one crayon or another.

Example: Students are asked to listen for "Steady Beat." If they hear a steady beat in the music they color Princess Leia's face pink. If they don't hear a steady beat they color her face blue.

Easter (Spring by Vivaldi) | Music Listening Glyph Worksheet (Instant Print)

I've created several music listening glyphs recently.  They're awesome resources for the elementary music classroom and so fun to make. They've also provided me with a chance to draw, and create new music educations products. Waa hoo!

If your interest, here's a link the worksheet packet:

Easter Music Listening Glyph (Digital Print)

Worksheets in this packet can be used around Easter time for any musical selection, or can be specifically used to help primary age students to be critical listeners of Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons.

Here's the final worksheet image:

Here's my original sketch:

Jurassic Park Music Listening Glyph (Printable Worksheets)

I've been having fun creating lesson materials artwork for my new MakingMusicFun.net - TeacherPayTeachers.com store.

Yesterday I sketched a dinosaur, and turned it into this Jurassic Park music listening glyph. Kids are supposed to listen to the music and color different parts of the picture based on what they hear. It's a great way to get them listening, and wonderful method of accessing a whole class of music students all at once.

Here's the final artwork:

If you'd like to check out the resource, here's the link:

Jurassic Park Listening Glyph (Digital Print)

St. Patrick’s Day Music Listening Glyph | Worksheet Pack

I launched a new store on TeachersPayTeachers.com as a secondary outlet to sell my elementary music education products, and decided to get things started with a resource for St. Patrick's Day that included a funny little leprechaun. I sketched him up in pencil and then turned him into a digital image.

What’s a Listening Glyph?
Glyphs are images that communicate facts about stuff. Listening glyphs provide young music students with a way to share what they are hearing in the music they are listening to – even if they can’t read yet.

St. Patrick’s Day Music Listening Gylph
The listening glyph is available on TeachersPayTeachers.com if you're interested in finding out a little more about the worksheet pack.


 Here's my original drawing:

Suck It Up! | Music Camp Game

 

I've been redesigning many of the resources on my elementary music education site, MakingMusicFun.net. It's been eight years since I launched the site, and I've learned a few things since then. Above is the new art work for Suck It! Up - a music review game (with straws).

I saw a TV show where kids were racing a cross the room with straws, creating enough suction to hold little pieces of paper. I don't remember what they were doing, but it sounded like it might be an idea for a game for my music classroom. The game I created has kids racing from one side of the room to the other carrying short answers to review questions. Lesson review questions could be things like:

Q: Where was Beethoven born?
A: Germany

or

Q: How many beats does a quarter note get?
A: 1

Here's the link if you'd like to play the game with your music classroom, piano lab or music camp kids:

Suck It Up! | Game Board, Answer Squares and Instructions 

Dog Paper Bag Puppet | Free Template

I created a few craft projects for my art site, MakingArtFun.com, awhile back and decided to add them to my blog.

I found paper bag puppets an interesting challenge. How could I make them a bit more interesting than the typical paper bag puppet? With my dog paper bag puppet I continued to draw beyond the edges of the bag. I also made use of the bottom folded part of the bag to get his head to tip back and mouth open.

I've included a link below if you'd like to make this paper bag puppet.

Dog Paper Bag Puppet | Free Template

Picasso Paper Bag Puppet (Cubism) | Free Template

I created a few craft projects for my art site, MakingArtFun.com, awhile back and decided to add them to my blog.

I found paper bag puppets an interesting challenge. How could I make them a bit more interesting than the typical paper bag puppet? This one is a cubist portrait paper bag puppet that kids can enjoy making for a Picasso unit at school, or just for fun at home. If you look at him in one way, he's looking straight at you. If you look at him in another way, he's looking off to the left.

If you're interested in making this foam craft paper bag puppet yourself, I've included the link to the free template below.



Picasso Paper Bag Puppet | Free Template

Memory (Concentration) Game | Music Theory Game (Flashcards)

I redesigned my Memory (Concentration) Game for my elementary music site, MakingMusicFun.net, too. More color, more fun, and a cute little elephant!

You can print a set of cards to drill your note naming skills for free. I've provided a few links below, as well as some info about the resource.





Memory (Concentration) Game | Treble Clef Note Names
Memory (Concentration) Game | Bass Clef Note Names
Memory (Concentration) Game | Viola Clef Note Names



About this Activity
Students can drill their treble clef, bass clef and viola clef note names with this free printable note name memory game. Begin by selecting 8-16 cards - both note cards and the matching alphabet letter cards. Review them first, and then flip them over to play the game. The player with the most pairs of matching memory game cards wins.

The Rhythm Store Game | Music Theory Game for Kids

More product redesigning...

I had lots of fun with the The Rhythm Store game design. It was a chance to design a character and a basic scene. The challenge was in the character, giving her a strong animated feel.

Here's what I came up with:

 





Here's the image I had before:



Interested in printing the game for your kids:

The Rhythm Store Game | Free Music Theory Game

Free Music Flash Cards | Treble and Bass Clef

I've been redesigning a few of the printable resources on my elementary education music site, MakingMusicFun.net. One of the first resources in this round of upgrades was the free printable flashcards sets. My original design was all in purple. It worked well, but I thought some eye-popping color and a stronger design might work even better.

Here's the results:



If you're interested, you can get the flash cards here:

Free Printable Flashcards | Treble Clef
Free Printable Flashcards | Bass Clef