Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

Who Was Mozart? His Life Story, Explained Simply

If you’ve spent any time around classical music, you’ve heard the name. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of those composers everybody’s heard of, whether they can name a single piece he wrote or not. But who was he, actually? I dug into his real story for my podcast, Busy Kids Love Music, and I wanted to write it out here too — because the real version is more interesting than the “genius in a powdered wig” image most of us grew up with. Continue reading “Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?”

Why Is Pachelbel’s Canon in D So Popular? The Real Story

Why Is Pachelbel’s Canon in D Everywhere? The Story Behind the World’s Most Famous Wedding Song

If you’ve been to more than one wedding in your life, I’d put money on the fact that you’ve heard this song. You may not know it by name, but the second those opening notes start, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

It’s Pachelbel’s Canon in D — and it has one of the strangest backstories in classical music. This piece sat in a drawer, essentially forgotten, for almost 300 years. Then it came roaring back and became one of the most recognized pieces of music on the planet. I dug into the whole story for episode 104 of my podcast, Busy Kids Love Music, and I wanted to write it all out here too, because it’s too good not to. Continue reading “Why Is Pachelbel’s Canon in D So Popular? The Real Story”

Spring Music Activities Round-Up

Spring has sprung, and what better way to embrace the season’s joy than through music? Whether you’re a music enthusiast or just looking for creative ways to engage your family, here is a collection of some of my most popular spring music activities. Continue reading “Spring Music Activities Round-Up”

Black History Month Celebration: Exploring Black Musical Legacies with Busy Kids Love Music Podcast

As February unfolds, so does the celebration of Black History Month, a time to honor the rich contributions of Black individuals throughout history. At Busy Kids Do Piano, we believe in the power of music to educate, inspire, and unite, which is why we’re thrilled to present a special round-up of podcast episodes from the Busy Kids Love Music series, highlighting the remarkable influence of Black musicians and composers. Continue reading “Black History Month Celebration: Exploring Black Musical Legacies with Busy Kids Love Music Podcast”

A Round-Up Of Hanukkah Music Resources

As the Festival of Lights approaches, what better way to immerse your family in the spirit of Hanukkah than through the enchanting world of music? Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just starting your musical journey, I’ve curated a round-up of Hanukkah music resources that will add a delightful touch to your celebrations. From podcasts to piano tutorials and playlists, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Continue reading “A Round-Up Of Hanukkah Music Resources”

Musical Advent Calendar

Musical Advent Calendar: A Free Printable to Make Your Countdown to Christmas Extra Musical

December has a way of sneaking up on me every single year (you’d think after 22 years of teaching piano through the holidays I’d have this down by now, but nope). One minute it’s Thanksgiving leftovers, and the next my kids are asking when we’re putting up the tree. If your house feels the same way, I’ve got something that might help — a free Musical Advent Calendar to count down the days to Christmas together, one song at a time.

I made this because I wanted something for our family that wasn’t another chocolate-a-day countdown (though, no judgment, we do that too) — something that would slow us down just enough to actually listen to music together during a season that tends to rush right past us. Continue reading “Musical Advent Calendar”

Broadway Musicals: A Round-Up of Resources

If you could see me in person right now, you’d see my giant smile because April is BROADWAY MONTH for the Busy Kids Do Piano community! That simply means we’re going to learn all about Broadway Musicals this month. I have a deep love for Broadway and could talk about it endlessly. In fact, last month, I took a trip to NYC and was fortunate enough to see three shows in three days! Pure musical heaven.

I have all kinds of fun Broadway Musical resources I’ve put together for your musical learning fun this month (or any month!). If you follow me over on Instagram, you can check out my quick tour of the Museum of Broadway in this reel, or learn about some of the Broadway careers available to musicians in this post.

BROADWAY MUSICALS PODCAST CONTENT

Over on the podcast, I have two very special episodes with Broadway-themed content.

This episode is a dive into what defines a Broadway musical, and the history of how Broadway came to be. The episode is full of “fun-facts” like how long Broadway Street actually is, how many theaters dot its vicinity, and how many seats a theater needs to have to be counted among the venues. Then we dive into the history of Broadway, which I find absolutely fascinating. If you can believe it, we as a society have been passionate about seeing live theater and musicals there for several HUNDRED years at this point:

Continue reading “Broadway Musicals: A Round-Up of Resources”

Dance & Draw Party Packet

June is African American Music Appreciation Month, and so I sat down and made a list of some of my favorite songs written by Black artists from various decades and in various musical genres. My list ended up including favorites from jazz, classical, R&B, pop, and more. This month’s challenge is in hopes your student will get to listen to some of these songs, ones you probably love as well, by artists like Stevie Wonder, Etta James, ragtime-extraordinaire Scott Joplin, and I even threw in a classic by Destiny’s Child. Continue reading “Dance & Draw Party Packet”

Spring Activity Pack

Do you have memories from childhood of hearing a song that made you feel happy, sad, or excited? At what point did you begin to associate music with different feelings? Many of us probably found some of this awareness around middle school or high school, when we began to experience more of the ups and downs of life. Most of us found songs to accompany us through those times. Music can be nostalgic and emotional. It can be a strong influence and a significant part of our stories. Continue reading “Spring Activity Pack”

Representation in Music

A few weeks ago, a parent reached out to me to let me know that she was struggling to find piano and music resources that represented her Black son. She wondered if I might have any resources where he could see himself represented.

It’s beneficial for children to see racial mirrors. They need role models, inspiration and validation. It’s also important that children who are white or from homogenous populations see others who don’t look like them represented. Not only does it reduce stereotypes and biases but it also give a more accurate window into the real world.

The music education world — myself included — has a long way to go when it comes to racial representation. I am committed to doing better (and always open to feedback). Within my paid courses — both in the content and the images — I work to include diverse representation.

I also have lots of free materials that are available to music students everywhere. Here is a current round-up of free resources from my own music education materials that represent non-white musicians. Continue reading “Representation in Music”