Related Resources

FIRST STEPS IN MUSIC

 
PART 1: PITCH EXPLORATION

Pitch Exploration modeled by Lindsay Jackson  April 21, 2020 (video)

 

PART 2: FRAGMENT SINGING

Call and Response Song Approach with Teacher Trainer, Leslie Weaver, September 27, 2020 (video)

 

PART 3: SIMPLE SONGS

 

PART 4: ARIOSO

Arioso: Sing Your Order, Jenny Parrot, January 18, 2020 (article and download)
Arioso: Just do it!, John Feierband, October 10, 2019 (podcast)
Arioso: Harmonic Backing Tracks #1, Major Tonic and Dominant, John Feierabend and John Crever, May 7, 2025 (article and download)
Arioso, John Feierabend, December 30, 2015 (Feier-side Chat)

 

PART 5: SONGTALES 

Using Books to Sing, Dance, Listen & Play In a Tuneful, Beatful & Artful Way! Stephanie Schall-Brazee, January 23, 2024 (article)
Interview with Illustrator of “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” Isiah Timmons and John Feierabend, June 18, 2024 (webinar)
History of the Songtale Book, John Feierabend,  February 22, 2024 (webinar)
Folksong Picture Books and More! Through the Lens of Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Lillie Feierabend,  March 25, 2025 (webinar)

 
PART 6: MOVEMENT EXPLORATION 

Tree Dance by Lindsay Jackson, October 18, 2018 (article)
Creative Movement Pose Cards, Stephanie Morris, October 3, 2019 (article)
“Wave” Movement Exploration, Leslie Weaver, October 3, 2019 (video)
Teaching Tips for First Steps with “The Nutcracker:” An Adventure in Movement Exploration, Lillie Feierabend, November 7, 2023 (webinar)
Music and Creative Movement, John Feierabend, December 1, 2013  (Feier-side Chat)
Who’s Afraid of (Teaching) The Nutcracker?  Lillie Feierabend, July 22, 2018 (webinar)
Movement Exploration: Virtual Edition, Jane Kahan, April 14, 2020 (webinar)

 
 PART 7: MOVEMENT FOR FORM AND EXPRESSION 

Move It!s

Chanukah Finger Play – Judas Maccabee Finger Play, John Crever, December 6, 2018 (video)   
Chanukah Finger Play to Maoz Tzur by John Crever, November 17, 2023 (video)

 
PART 8: BEAT MOTION ACTIVITIES

Beat-Keeping with Engine, Engine Number 9 Train, Jason Simmon, February 21, 2025 (video)

 

FIRST STEPS IN MUSIC: MISCELLANEOUS

First Steps in Music: Monthly Planning Forms, Chris Powers, October 3, 2019 (article)
Getting Started with Learning Centers Utilizing the Feierabend Approach, Emily Maurek, November 16, 2019 (article)
Ask Me Sheets by Owen Hughes, November 16, 2019 (download)
5 Free Tech Resources to Integrate into First Steps, Amy Burns, January 18, 2021 (article)
First Steps in Music for Older Elementary Learners, Emily Maurek, October 15, 2023 (webinar)
8-part Workout in a Limited Amount of Time (20 minutes), Lesslie Weaver, October 16, 2023 (video)
Mr. Rankine’s Music Cabin Episode 1, David Rankine, July 10, 2020 (video)
Winter Songs and Dances to Light in the Darkest Months by Stephanie Schall-Brazee, Jan 18, 2021  (article)
The Male Singing Voice in the Elementary Music Classroom,Andy Himelick, March 18, 2019 (article)
Hosting an Informance, Lindsay Jackson, January 18, 2020 (article)
Informances in the FSM Years, Lindsay Jackson, May 9, 2019 (podcast)
Reflections on FSM: A Teacher Trainer Perspective with Lindsay Jackson, February 12, 2020 (podcast)
An Interview with Katalin Forrai, John Feierabend, April 6, 2014 (Feier-side Chat)
Adapt First Steps in Music for Upper Elementary Grades, John Feierabend, November 12, 2014 (Feier-side Chat)
Let’s Play, Dance and Sing: Mexican Children’s Repertoire, Gabriela Montoya-Stier, April 9, 2022 (webinar)
Teaching First Steps in Our New Teaching Paradigms, Amy Burns, October 8, 2020 (webinar)

 

INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL

Conversational Solfege, An Overview, John Feierabend, February 13, 2019 (podcast)

 

CONVERSATIONAL SOLFEGE BOOKS 1 AND 2

 

STEP 1:  READINESS: ROTE

Tips and Tricks, David Rankine, October 16, 2023 (video)

 
STEP 2: CS: ROTE
 
STEP 3: CS: DECODE-FAMILIAR
 
STEP 4: CS: DECODE-UNFAMILIAR
STEPS 2, 3, 4

Games in Action, Andy Himelick, November 6, 2023 (video)

STEPS 3, 4

Decoding Dilemmas with Older Beginners, Lindsay Jackson, March 16, 2018 (article) 

 
STEP 5: CS: CREATE

Top Three Tips for Success, Betsy Greene, April 11, 2024 (interview)

 
STEP 6: READING: ROTE
STEPS 6, 7, 8

Exploring CS Reading Steps 6, 7, 8, Andy Himelick, October 15, 2023 (video)
Concept of Reading Notation in Different Keys, John Feierabend, March 1, 2015 (Feier-side Chat)

 
STEP 7: READING: DECODE-FAMILIAR
STEPS 7, 8
“I Have … Who Has?” cards – Chris Powers – May 5, 2025 (article with download)

 

STEP 8: READING: DECODE-UNFAMILIAR

Conversational Solfege Tone Charts, John Feierabend, February 2, 2015 (Feier-side Chat)

STEP 9: WRITING: ROTE
STEPS 9, 10, 11, 12

Before Pencil and Paper: Alternative Writing Techniques, John Crever, February 19, 2018 (article)
Conversational Solfege Writing Steps 9-11 with Google Slides – Leslie Weaver
Insights into the Writing Steps of Conversational Solfege, John Feierabend, April 5, 2015 (Feier-side Chat)

 
STEP 10: WRITING: DECODE-FAMILIAR
 
STEP 11: WRITING: DECODE-UNFAMILIAR
 
STEP 12: WRITING: CREATE

 

CONVERSATIONAL SOLFEGE: MISCELLANEOUS

Remember to Review One Concept from a Previous Unit in Every CS Lesson, Chris Powers, September 27, 2020 (article)
Get the Conversational Solfege Pattern Sets on the GIA Website
Game Changers: Conversational Solfege Techniques with Orff Schulwerk Inspiration, Betsy Greene, January 18, 2020 (article)
Series-Reflections on CS: A Teacher Trainer Perspective with Emily Maurek, April 9, 2020 (podcast)
CS in the Real World (Part 1), Taylor Kurilew, February 27, 2020 (podcast)
CS in the Real World (Part 2), Taylor Kurilew, March 12, 2020(podcast)
CS in the Real World (Part 3), Taylor Kurilew, March 26, 2020 (podcast)
Preparing for CS During the FSM Years, Chris Ann Powers, May 2, 2019 (podcast)
CS: Teaching Tonal and Rhythm Units Simultaneously, Chris Ann Powers, April 25, 2019 (podcast)
Non-Negotiables: Getting Started with Part Singing, John Feierabend, June 5, 2019 (podcast)
Ruminations on the Rest, John Feierabend, January 3, 2015 (Feier-side Chat)
3D Music Education, John Feierabend, May 4, 2014 (Feier-side Chat)
Conversational Solfege Grab Bag, John Feierabend, March 2, 2014 (Feier-side Chat)
How is Conversational Solfege Unique? John Feierabend, November 3, 2013 (Feier-side Chat) 

 

CONVERSATIONAL SOLFEGE: DOING ACTIVITIES

The Play-Party: A Tuneful, Beatful, Artful Way to Play, Emily Maurek, June 6, 2019 (article)
Implementing Dance in Limited Spaces, Emily Maurek, October 16, 2017 (article)

 

CONVERSATIONAL SOLFEGE: ABOUT

Using the Word Wall, John Feierabend, June 1, 2014 (Feier-side Chat)

 

INSTRUMENTAL

FAME Instrumental Commission Project: Arrangements for Beginning Band, by Dr. Quincy Hilliard, October 4, 2021 (download)
The Singing Band in the Time of COVID, Carol Swinchoski, July 10, 2020 (article)
Online Learning Beginning Band Resource, James Froseth, September 28, 2020 (article and video)
The Singing Band Part 2, Carol Swinchoski, November 16, 2019 (article)
The Singing Band Part 1, Carol Swinchoski, December 6, 2018 (article)
CS Beginning Band: Ready Set Go! Carol Swinchoski, October 18, 2018 (article)
Instrumental Uses of Conversational Solfege, John Feierabend, February 2, 2014 (Feier-side Chat)

Conversational Solfege Level 3
Learning harmony and improvisation logo

MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE

 

CONVERSATIONAL SOLFEGE – UPPER LEVELS

CS Upper Levels: The Revision (Part 1), John Feierabend, January 16, 2020 (podcast)
CS Upper Levels: The Revision (Part 2), John Feierabend, January 30, 2020 (podcast)

 
CONVERSATIONAL SOLFEGE – BOOK 3

 

LEARNING HARMONY AND IMPROVISATION

OTHER SUPPORTING MATERIALS

Irish Lullaby choral arrangement [SA-piano-C instrument], Leeann Starkey, June 26, 2025 (download)
Squirrel Tunes choral arrangement [SSA, Piano, Body-Percussion], Andy Himelick and Patrick Fata, July 22, 2024  (download) 
The 21st-Century Music Teacher Navigating the 7 Cs, Dr. Rollo Dillworth, July 21, 2024 (webinar)
Beginning Autoharp, Dr. Jill Trinka, March 2, 2024 (webinar)
 I Have to Ask the Reason Why (Vote for Me, Civil Rights song)John Crever, September 27, 2020 (article)
Women and Gender Expansive Composers in the Feierabend Classroom, Miriam Capellan, September 27, 2020 (article)
Book Review: Feierabend Fundamentals, Andrew Himelick, September 21, 2018 (article)
Efficiently Incorporating FS & CS Into Your Curriculum, Chris Anne Powers, October 18, 2018 (video)
Unwrapping the National and State Standards, Pat Toben (FAME 2021 Conference), (slide pp)
Peter Amidon’s Virtual Choir Tutorial, Peter Amidon, September 27, 2020 (article; video virtual choir for 4 pieces)
Feierabend Friendly Seesaw Activities, Chris Anne Powers, January 18, 2021 (download)
Dear White Colleagues (Part 1), Jasmine Fripp, June 22, 2020 (podcast)
Dear White Colleagues (Part 2), Jasmine Fripp, July 7, 2020 (podcast)
Dear White Colleagues (Part 3), Jasmine Fripp, July 30, 2020 (podcast)
COVID, Look What You’ve Done to Me! (Missy and kids), April 30, 2020 (podcast)
A Conversation with Dr. Lorna Zemke (Part 1), November 21, 2019 (podcast)
A Conversation with Dr. Lorna Zemke (Part 2), December 5, 2019 (podcast)
A Conversation with Dr. Lorna Zemke (Part 3), December 19, 2019 (podcast)
Crafting Indiana’s Music Standards: A Conversation with Brent Gault, Emily Maurek & Andy Himelick, October 23, 2019 (podcast)
Working with Special Needs. Where do I Start?, Leslie Weaver, May 23, 2019 (podcast)
Bridges: Part 1: Ask Me Sheets, Lillie Feierabend, April 10, 2019 (podcast)
The Relationship Between First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege, John Feierside, Jan 5, 2014 (Feierside Chat)
The 2014 Conference Keynote, John Feierabend, August 3, 2014 (Feier-side Chat)
FAME Certifications and Endorsed Teacher Trainers, John Feierabend, December 7, 2014 (Feier-side Chat)