Welcome to Janine’s Music Room! 
My hope is that you will find some interesting and inspiring ideas here. We’re often told that great teachers steal ideas from each other, and I think that the more we can share our best practices, the better music education will be for every child.
I earned my Bachelor of Music from Lawrence University and my Master of Music from Boston University, both with an emphasis in music education. I have been teaching in international schools for nearly 20 years now, and I continue to learn and grow just as much as the students! My first international school experience was in an IB World School, which was a real learning experience. The culture shock of diving into PYP teaching was quite a shift for me. It made me think about teaching and learning in a whole new way from everything I’d known and learned, but it made so much sense. Of course learning should reflect the interdisciplinary reality for which we are preparing our students. Science, music, math, and PSE are not separate compartments out in the real world. The focus on concepts and understanding over factual knowledge lends itself much more to student engagement and deeper learning. Evolving that into a more emergent curriculum has helped me to teach my students so much more, get them into more interesting music, and think critically about their musical encounters. Now I can’t imagine teaching through a textbook or even having my plans ready two months ahead of time.
Teaching keeps me pretty busy, both in and out of school, but I spend the rest of my time with my husband and my two little boys. I try to find some time to play my violin, and most recently, I have taken on a new challenge and started learning the harp. I hope that my ramblings here will inform, encourage, and inspire you, and I hope that you will share some of your thoughts and teaching ideas here as well. Thanks for visiting my site.
Hi Janine, I am teaching music at a PYP school in Central Florida — Dundee Elementary Academy. Do you mind me asking where are you located? Are you in Florida? Could you pleases respond to me via email?
Thanks, Tami
Are you familiar with the Kodaly schools in Hungary? I always wished that sort of school was available here although at least my children had Kodaly based music lessons.
Hi Patricia,
Yes, the Kodaly Institute is a wonderful school, and the primary schools using the method grew quite quickly in popularity after the first one opened. We are fortunate that his ideas have spread worldwide and are used by so many music teachers.
With your permission I would like to include your iceberg model in my autobiography. I think it would be ideal to organize the chapters and structure. The book is meant for my descendants first then to explain more of our culture to the public.
Good afternoon:
I would like permission to use your image of the Cultural Iceberg in a manuscript that I am submitting for a peer reviewed journal. I am not paid for my work. Aside from citing your website, what else will I need to do?
Thank you,
Sharyn
Hi Sharyn, I am glad you have found it useful. I will send you an email. Please also let us know where we can read the article if it is published.
Hello Janine! I am interested in the A4 version of your “composing with body percussion” unit.
Please let me know how to get this! Thanks!
Hi Joy,
I’ve started reconfiguring it into A4 but never finished. I’ll aim to have it up by the weekend, and add it to https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Composing-with-Body-Percussion-Improve-Beat-Rhythm-and-Ensemble-Skills-2298780. Thanks!
Hi Janine
Could I please have your permission to use your cultural iceberg pic in my thesis?
Thank you
Regards
Reshmy Radhamony
Hi!
I stumbled on your site while deep diving Aquaqua dela omar, and I just completely agree with everything you said in your bio. Just wanted to say thanks 🙂
Suzie in NYC
Thanks, Suzie! I hope you keep finding helpful info here. 🙂