Plugged In

April 2026

Music Will Teacher Toolkit

April isn't just about the spring sprint; it’s about finding your rhythm in the middle of the madness. Whether your students are celebrating their original voices after the Songwriting Exhibition or you’re looking to elevate your classroom with fresh tools like the Zip-Kit, we’ve built this toolkit to be your creative engine through the end of the year.

NEW JamZone Zip-Kit Video Lessons!

Zip-Kits are here!
Join Mary for a video series on instrument setup, beginner grooves, fills, and more in the JamZone.

Join the Listening Party!

We are absolutely floored by the over 200 songs submitted to this year’s exhibition!
  • To celebrate these original voices, the official Showcase Launch begins on April 14, where you can hear the tracks and turn them into a powerful listening lesson for your students.
  • The celebration continues through our Interactive Listening Party on April 24, featuring video feedback from 8-time Grammy nominee Allison Russell.
  • Keep reading in the sections below to find our scaffolded guided listening worksheets, and then head over to the Songwriting Exhibition page to hear the incredible music created by this community!

April 2026 InTune Magazine

This month in InTune magazine, students can dive into learning more about songwriter and producer Charlie Puth, learn popular songs and great practice activities, and opportunities to use technology in songwriting!
Student and Teacher versions of InTune magazine are available on the Perks page of Music Will Academy.

Benefits include: 

  • Higher levels of student engagement
  • Easier classroom management
  • A Focus on creativity
  • Create career connections
  • Curriculum Articulation with ELA and STEM


Scaffolding Successful Experiences: Electronic Music Educator Workshop

Want to lower the barrier and raise outcomes for your students?
Our friends at ShedtheMusic are offering a massive summer opportunity to learn music production and songwriting through the Electronic Music Educator Workshop (EMEW). If you’re looking to focus on creativity and connect music to what students are actually into—like content creator pathways and video game audio—you’ll find the full details and the free signup link inside the Toolkit!
This summer, you can learn directly from Bob Habersat (Yamaha 40 Under 40 2025 and TI:ME Teacher of the Year 2026) and Eric Jao (World-Renowned DJ and Ableton Certified Trainer). There are four 2-week cohort sessions where teachers from across the world learn, write, and collaborate in a social media-like atmosphere. The PD is hosted on ShedtheMusic’s training portal and includes asynchronous projects plus two optional Zoom sessions.
As always, the workshop is free! Participants earn 12 professional development hours (with optional graduate credit from the University of San Diego) and receive an extended trial of Soundtrap EDU, access to Electronic Music Elements I, II, and Pro, and a chance to win giveaway prizes.  

Teach the Joy of Listening with a Musician's Ear

Listening Party Worksheets

We’ve curated three levels of Guided Listening Worksheets to make facilitating these lessons a breeze. Whether you have 15 minutes or a full class period, these resources are designed to help your students engage deeply with the original music created by their peers across the country.
Write your awesome label here.
Designed for early readers.
Write your awesome label here.
Designed for early writers.
Write your awesome label here.
Designed for readers & writers.
Page 1 of 2: Guided listening through the lens of elements of music.
Write your awesome label here.
Designed for readers & writers.
Page 2 of 2: Draw and write to analyze, respond and give feedback.
Want to share some love with the songwriters?

Head to the Songwriting Exhibition landing page on April 24, 2026 to share positive feedback on our moderated Padlet! 

Music Will JamZone

FREE Video Lesson Series for Students

Listening to Music

  • Amplify your classroom listening sessions with strategies that move beyond the ears.
  • Dive into a series of guided lessons featuring tactile drawing, active "air instrument" playing, and form-mapping to help students engage deeply with new music.
  • Plus, discover our top recommendations for finding fresh tracks to keep your classroom playlists current.
✨ COMING SOON: JamZone Relaunch!
Enjoy a smoother, more intuitive experience with brand new features, including the ability to bookmark and curate content for your students! The release is just around the corner, and we know you won’t want to miss it! More to come!
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Music Will Academy

FREE COURSES FOR TEACHERS

Music Listening and Exploration

We all listen to music, but what are some ways to mindfully engage with what we are hearing? Explore activities connected to movement, visual art, & cultural context that can help you and your students connect to old and new favorites in fresh ways!
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