Chaotic Harmony Classroom

11/19/2025

Welcome back to Chaotic Harmony! In this episode, Jonathan Seligman (San Diego) and Jasmine Mah (American River) sit down with fellow Orff leaders Aiko Sakazaki and Frank LaGuardia (Los Angeles) to ask a big 2025 question: How are California’s Orff Chapters really doing?

From post-COVID rebuilding to creative programming, membership shifts, unexpected challenges, and the ways our chapters are reinventing themselves, we’re digging into what it means to run a local Orff community today. Whether you’re on a chapter board, thinking about joining one, or just curious how these organizations keep going, this conversation offers insight, encouragement, and a few laughs along the way.

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Watch: https://youtu.be/j9AhMJKPVxs?si=VGl7ekHIkBSkEo2A

Welcome back to Chaotic Harmony! In this episode, Jonathan Seligman (San Diego) and Jasmine Mah (American River) sit down with fellow Orff leaders Aiko Sakaz...

11/17/2025

We are continuing our conversation on how we can make our elementary music classrooms more inclusive, compassionate, and representative of every student we teach! This is part two of our episode on the joys and struggles of music education through the LGBTQIA+ lens, hosted by Jamie Jun and Crystal Pridmore, and joined by Danny McKay and Ashtyn Avella!
Did you miss out on last week's episode, don't forget to check that out.

Email us: [email protected]
Find Us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/CHClassroom
Crystal Pridmore: .pridmore
Jamie Jun: [email protected]
Danny: ‪‬
Listen: https://linktr.ee/chclass
Watch: https://youtu.be/NdgQnIqwquc?si=63_7ETWhmNb-B73q

We are continuing our conversation on how can we make our elementary music classrooms more inclusive, compassionate, and representative of every student we t...

11/12/2025

How can we make our elementary music classrooms more inclusive, compassionate, and representative of every student we teach?
In this special two-part episode of Chaotic Harmony, hosts Jamie Jun and Crystal Pridmore welcome Danny McKay and Ashtyn Avella to share what we talk about every week -- the joys and struggles of elementary music -- through an LGBTQIA+ lens.

🎵 Topics include:

Navigating identity and authenticity as music educators;
Why representation, allyship, and advocacy matter in elementary music;
Practical ways to support LGBTQIA+ students in your classroom.

Join us for an honest and earnest discussion that blends storytelling with actionable advice since inclusive teaching isn’t a trend -- it’s a harmony we build together.

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Email us: [email protected]
Find Us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/CHClassroom
Crystal Pridmore: .pridmore
Jamie Jun: [email protected]
Danny: ‪‬
Listen: https://linktr.ee/chclass
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdcanNPq3w

How can we make our elementary music classrooms more inclusive, compassionate, and representative of every student we teach?In this special two-part episode ...

11/11/2025

Y’all asked. Here’s the ‘ukulele chord chart to the song we sang on Episode 129 “I Read it in a Book” by Stuart Stotts. In the ep, Crystal shows an even simpler version if you want your kids to try slack tuning. But for you the educator, here’s a quick tutorial with just C, F, and G7. And don’t forget: have the kids make the B section!

11/06/2025

What are community schools and how do they pertain, uplift, and bolster music programs? 🎨🎵
Music teacher Leah Nevarez joins us again, this time to explore how community schools, how they enrich the people that live in the neighborhood, their impact on Chula Vista, and how they build partnerships that help music programs thrive. This episode dives into how schools can become community hubs that support the whole child—and the whole artist. Curious to hear more? Join us!

Listen: https://linktr.ee/chclass
Watch: https://youtu.be/QMs6bd4Mjck?si=KeloPwLCvyOeMhks
Support: https://patreon.com/CHClassroom
Connect:

What are community schools and how do they pertain, uplift, and bolster music programs? 🎨🎵Music teacher Leah Nevarez joins us again, this time to explore h...

11/03/2025

Lesson idea! Ask your students what they learned in a book recently and have them compose — either collectively or in small groups — verses to add to the chorus. The melody is there. All they need is ideas and words that rhyme. Try it out with this fun song by Stuart Stotts who shared this at the Kennedy Center’s Arts Integration Conference. When your class makes it, make sure you tag us too — we wanna see it!

10/30/2025

Crystal is back! In this heartfelt episode, we catch up with Mrs. Pridmore as she shares what it’s like to step away from full-time teaching after 15+ years in the elementary music classroom. Here, she reflects on the joys and challenges of leaving the classroom, her new role with Guitars in the Classroom supporting general education teachers in bringing music to their students, and what she’s learned about music education from a new perspective. Join us as we talk about identity, transition, legacy, and how the heart of a music teacher continues to make an impact—no matter where the classroom is.

Listen: https://linktr.ee/chclass
Watch: https://youtu.be/dk3-kKqNnNk?si=Fo4HkE_DFiW8Zi-B
Support: https://patreon.com/CHClassroom
Connect:

Crystal is back! In this heartfelt episode, we catch up with Mrs. Pridmore as she shares what it’s like to step away from full-time teaching after 15+ years ...

10/28/2025

Here’s just some songs the Chaotic Harmony crew likes to use in the music class (it was hard to choose one per person!) What’s a song/piece you like to use?