The Musichouse Idea Exchange (MIE) has been created by music teachers, for music teachers.  Our goal is to  save you some time by providing you with quick and easy access to a variety of useful supports.

 

First, our exchange conveners continually work to collect and post information that is relevant and useful for music teachers in Ontario.  Whether you are an experienced music educator looking for some new ideas, a new teacher just starting out, or even someone who has just been assigned the role of 'music teacher' because you played the trumpet in high school, we hope you will find something useful here.  Our growing library of articles, videos and website links provides valuable information on a variety of relevant topics including everything from how to assign instruments to students, to how to create a balanced beginning band ensemble.  Through our own MIE articles, we provide experienced-based information on starting, building and sustaining music programs, advocating for the importance of music in our schools, managing inventories, budgets and so much more.  Also included are links to Ontario Curriculum guides and a wide range of other resources from instrument retailers to online interactive theory and ear training websites that are great for students to use both in class and at home.

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Please note:  With the exception of items that are specifically marked "MIE", Musichouse Idea Exchange in no way claims ownership of the various materials, resources, video content etc that is shared on this site.  Our role is to act as an online facilitator, bringing people together with the information they need.  Everything presented here is easily found with a 'Google' search and as such the ownership lies with the content creators.  We have simply done that search for you and filtered down the findings to some that we feel are valuable and useful based on our own experience as music educators.  We welcome suggestions for inclusion here, and are happy to share other quality materials if folks are interested in sending them to us.

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Second, we provide networking opportunities.  The forum section of this website allows teachers to share challenges, questions, ideas, strategies, successes, musical events and celebrations.   It allows you to connect, and to network with others who are working through the same challenges on a daily basis.  You can have other teachers take a look at your ideas and lesson plans to provide feedback.  Through discussion you can bounce ideas, share concepts and strategies all the while supporting each other’s professional learning.  You can even work together to create project ideas that can then be realized on a shared workspace like GoogleDrive. 

 

Third, we provide a growing database of shared knowledge that has been submitted by our users - We already know that the music education community in Ontario is a sharing, supportive network of caring educators.  The challenge is that teachers often feel isolated as the only 'music person' in their school.  When they are able to find others to collaborate with, they are often very willing to exchange ideas in an effort to assist each other.  This kind of mutual support is our objective. Let's not each reinvent the wheel every time we encounter a challenge.  If each of us as members of the music community can contribute our most successful strategies and plans and allow them to be part of a shared database then everyone will benefit and we can learn from one another.

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Our hope is that this database will grow to include things such as recommended band/choral arrangements and methods, lesson ideas and teaching strategies, as well as technical pointers from specialists in our community.  Since getting started is always the hardest part of a project like this, our plan is - "start slow and let it grow".  We have set up some basic categories on our 'Sharing' page and would love contributions from all who are willing.  Specific information about how to participate in the sharing database can be found on that page.

 

Fourth, the “Ask a friend” feature found on our 'Contact' page will connect a visitor with one of our conveners who will do their best to assist in the case of a specific issue, question or quest for a strategy to solve a problem.  If we do not have a quick answer we will certainly help you find the solution you need.  

 

Finally, for those located within the Trillium Lakelands District School Board and its neighbouring boards we are happy to offer some in-person PD.  This support is available at a very reasonable cost and in a variety of formats including workshops and learning sessions for teachers, as well as rehearsal and learning demonstrations with full class groups and clinics for bands and choral ensembles.   Within the Trillium Lakelands District School Board these services are offered without charge (except for mileage).  Please feel free to contact us to chat about these services.

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