abigailsummerSep 17, 20161 minMaking Your Own Beat BlocksWant to make your own? This video answers the most frequently asked questions about making them.
abigailsummerAug 16, 20161 minBeat Blocks in private studiosI taught piano for 9 years, then I stopped to be around home more. Now I started again - sound familiar? I think many of us public school...
abigailsummerAug 5, 20161 minThe iBook is out! The iBook is out!I'm not sure the world is prepared for an interactive method book, but it's here anyway! For Apple users, you can find it by searching...
Abby BlairAug 5, 20161 minComplementary Rhythms Lesson"Perfect Square" This is a book about a square that gets shredded, ripped, poked, and torn into different pieces, but it uses those...
abigailsummerFeb 9, 20161 minBeat Blocks on YoutubeGreetings! It has been awhile since I've blogged and I apologize. I have been busy at work with a lot of different new ventures,...
abigailsummerFeb 6, 20151 minBeat Blocks iBook?Does anyone out there use an iPad? Would you like all the lessons and examples, leading questions, etc, in a digital format? I keep...
abigailsummerFeb 6, 20151 minNew lesson idea on meterI recently came across this adorable book while at the Illinois Music Educator's Conference in Peoria, IL. It was one of those "ah ha!"...
Abby BlairFeb 6, 20151 minSmartboard, meet Beat BlocksMark Britt, a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools district, has recently created a fantastic Beat Blocks resource for the Smartboard as...
abigailsummerOct 28, 20141 minRhythm promotes language skills? Um, yes! Slowly, so slowly, the world is starting to get it. We've all known this for years. Check out this article from CBS.
abigailsummerOct 28, 20142 minLittle sponges: A simple way to reinforce rhythm in 5 minutes while working programsFirst of all, I just want to say that Beat Blocks should be used just when needed to boost your already brilliant pedagogy. Secondly,...
abigailsummerOct 28, 20141 minBeat Blocks featured at an Orff workshop in New York!Recently Beat Blocks were used in a workshop at the Berkshire-Hudson Valley American Orff-Schulwerk Association led by Jennifer Kamradt....
abigailsummerSep 22, 20141 minWorkshop DiscountsHello! Just this weekend, Beat Blocks were featured at two different workshops in IL and NY. Attendees to those workshops were offered a...
abigailsummerSep 22, 20141 minNew Ideas from Mark Britt"I am having fun making my Beat Blocks! I added syncopation to blocks and made some more quarter notes. For the measures I am using green...
abigailsummerAug 25, 20141 minBeat Blocks around the globeIn just a year and a half, Beat Blocks have reached 21 states in the US and 4 countries across the globe. Several school districts have...
abigailsummerAug 25, 20141 minBeat Blocks featured at the Heart of Illinois Chapter meeting This past weekend, the Heart of Illinois Orff Chapter featured Beat Blocks in their workshop with Jean Hersey. A free method book and set...
abigailsummerJul 19, 20141 minTies to Orff pedagogyI'm currently taking Orff level II (FINALLY) and as we're talking about basic rhythm building blocks and cadences vs. connectors, I can't...
abigailsummerJul 7, 20140 minBeat Blocks were highlighted at the GCAOSA session in February 2014 with Jean Hersey
abigailsummerJul 7, 20140 minUse the blank base blocks to let little ones practice matching a beat and conducting
abigailsummerJul 7, 20141 minNote subdivisions within 4/4 timeThis was part of a rhythm decoding-lesson my second graders learned.
abigailsummerJul 7, 20141 minChicagoans! Hawks fans! Teach Chelsea Dagger on Beat Blocks!This spring during the NHL playoffs, my fourth graders learned "Chelsea Dagger" (the Blackhawks' goal song) on xylophones to learn sharps...