Resource: Elementary Music Summit
Every summer, I look forward to events that bring music educators together—opportunities where we can share ideas, spark creativity, and re-energize for the coming school year. Over the past few summers, I’ve traveled around the country on behalf of MusicFirst presenting at a wide variety of in-person conferences, but this year there is an online event for elementary music educators that has really stood out - the Elementary Music Summit hosted by Bryson Tarbet (aka That Music Teacher). It’s a completely online, free conference designed just for elementary music educators, and this year’s lineup is nothing short of inspiring. MusicFirst is a VERY proud sponsor of the event, and we have a fantastic session planned that focuses on our amazing offering for elementary music teachers. Melanie Alexander, Mary Birkner, and Amy Burns are teaming up to present a session titled Sing, Move, Play, and Create with MusicFirst Elementary on July 9th at 1:30 PM EST . If you’re not familiar with MusicFirst Elementary yet, this is the perfect opportunity to dive in.
MusicFirst Elementary is a platform that I’ve been following closely for quite some time. It’s thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of today’s elementary music classrooms, whether you’re teaching in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid setting. What makes it truly special is how it manages to blend the best of traditional music education practices—singing, movement, playing instruments, and creating music—with modern technology. It’s grounded in the National Core Arts Standards, but it never feels rigid or overly prescriptive. Instead, it offers flexibility for teachers to adapt lessons to fit their students’ unique needs while still providing structure and a clear sequence of learning.
The MusicFirst team members presenting this session are passionate music educators (and really cool people). Melanie Alexander has a gift for making every child feel like a musician and has a knack for sparking joy in the classroom. Mary Birkner has spent years studying how students learn best and brings a thoughtful, research-based approach to everything she does. And Amy Burns—well, Amy has been a leader in technology integration in music education for decades. Her ability to take complex tools and make them approachable for teachers is simply unmatched as far as I’m concerned.
In their session, they’ll be walking through exactly how MusicFirst Elementary can help teachers engage their students in singing, movement, playing instruments, and even composing—all within a digital platform that feels inviting and easy to use. From my experience, there’s something magical about giving students the chance to create their own music and explore sound in ways that resonate with their world. MusicFirst Elementary makes that possible in a way that’s intuitive and fun, while still grounded in solid pedagogy.
Obviously there are MANY other fantastic sessions geared towards elementary music educators this week. I strongly urge you to sign up for a FREE ticket right now. The Elementary Music Summit is happening July 7–11, and our session about MusicFirst Elementary session is scheduled for July 9 at 1:30 PM EST. It’s free to attend live, and if you want access to the recordings afterward, there’s an option for that, too. This is the kind of professional learning that reminds us why we do what we do, as well as just how powerful elementary music education can be. I’ll be tuning in, and I hope you will, too!