Being a crunchy mom on a budget means wanting to incorporate natural and holistic approaches to parenting while also being mindful of your finances. Here are five resources that can help you navigate this lifestyle without breaking the bank:
1. Natural Parenting Blogs and Forums:
- Mothering.com: This is a community-driven website that covers topics like natural childbirth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, and more. The forums are especially helpful for connecting with other like-minded parents.
- Mama Natural: While not exclusively for moms who want to homebirth or birth center, this blog offers a wealth of information on natural living from pregnancy through toddlerhood.
- The Hippy Homemaker: This blog focuses on DIY natural living with an emphasis on budget-friendly options. It covers everything from natural beauty products to healthy recipes.
2. Library and Online Articles:
- Your local library is a treasure trove of resources. You can find books on natural parenting, herbal remedies, and eco-friendly living.
- Many online platforms have articles and guides on budget-friendly crunchy living. Look for blogs or websites dedicated to topics like natural parenting, sustainable living, and eco-friendly products.
3. Social Media and Online Communities:
- Platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and Instagram have groups and pages dedicated to natural lifestyle and parenting. You can join communities where members share tips, advice, and budget-friendly ideas. A great one is Happy Healthy and Loving Life -- you can write my name, Andrea Orem, in the membership question asking who referred you there!
4. DIY and Homemade Products:
- Learning to make your own products can save a lot of money. You can find recipes for homemade cleaning supplies, baby products, and even personal care items like shampoos and lotions. One of my most-used ingredients in our DIY items is castile soap.
- Websites like Pinterest and blogs mentioned earlier often have a plethora of DIY recipes. If you need some recommendations, I'm happy to send some your way, just ask! I have lots of cloth diaper, natural recipes and other recommendations I could point you to.
5. Local Farmers' Markets and Co-ops:
- Buying organic and locally-sourced food can be more affordable when you shop at farmers' markets or participate in a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.
- Many co-ops also offer bulk buying options for pantry staples like grains, beans, and spices at a lower cost.
- My state has a "Farm Direct" site and Facebook group for farmers to connect directly with consumers, which cuts the cost down a LOT. If you're in Minnesota, connect with me if you'd like an invite! And if not, try searching for your own local area to see if one exists.
Remember, being on a budget doesn't mean you have to compromise your crunchy lifestyle. It often means finding creative ways to incorporate natural and holistic practices into your life without overspending. These resources can help you discover affordable alternatives and connect with a community that shares your values.
Teaching music to toddlers is incredibly beneficial for their overall development.
Here are several reasons why (if you're a parent or a music teacher, read on!):
1. Cognitive Development:
- Enhances Memory and Recall: Learning music involves memorizing patterns, melodies, and lyrics, which helps improve memory skills.
- Develops Problem-Solving Skills: Figuring out rhythms, notes, and melodies encourages analytical thinking and problem-solving.
2. Language Development:
- Expands Vocabulary: Through song lyrics, toddlers are exposed to a wider range of words and phrases.
- Improves Pronunciation: Singing helps with speech development, enunciation, and pronunciation.
- There's research that shows that being able to keep a steady beat actually helps with language development and future reading skills!
3. Motor Skills:
- Fine Motor Skills: Playing instruments like drums, xylophones, or even simple hand clapping exercises fine motor skills.
- Gross Motor Skills: Dancing and moving to music helps with coordination and balance. Crossing midline is very important for future motor planning, which clapping and other movements that are musical can help with (like keeping the beat activities I use with my early childhood classes!).
4. Emotional Expression:
- Encourages Emotional Expression: Music provides an outlet for children to express their feelings, which can be particularly helpful for those who may not have the verbal skills to do so.
- Music can help calm a worried or sad child.
5. Social Skills:
- Promotes Cooperation: Group activities like singing in a choir or playing in an ensemble teach children how to work together towards a common goal. It teaches them how to start together with a group and builds teamwork.
- Encourages Communication: Sharing musical experiences encourages interaction and communication among peers.
6. Mathematical Understanding:
- Introduces Basic Math Concepts: Rhythm and beat introduce foundational mathematical concepts like counting, patterns, and divisions of time.
7. Cultural Appreciation:
- Introduces Diversity: Music exposes toddlers to different cultures, traditions, and musical styles from around the world, fostering cultural appreciation and understanding.
8. Creativity and Imagination:
- Fosters Creativity: Music allows for self-expression and encourages creativity as toddlers experiment with sounds and melodies.
- Stimulates Imagination: Singing and playing with instruments can stimulate imaginative play. Arioso (a type of solo singing I use in my classes) is a great place to show this!).
9. Boosts Confidence and Self-Esteem:
- Positive Reinforcement: Learning and performing music in front of an audience can boost a child's confidence and self-esteem. I have seen SO many students grow in this area in my time with them.
10. Stress Reduction and Relaxation:
- Emotional Regulation: Music can have a calming effect, helping toddlers manage stress and anxiety. They can process sadness or learn to wait through songs too.
11. Foundation for Future Learning:
- Prepares for Formal Education: Early exposure to music can provide a strong foundation for future music education and learning other subjects.
12. Enjoyment and Fun:
- Promotes Happiness: Music is inherently enjoyable and brings joy to children's lives.
It's important to note that the benefits of teaching music to toddlers are maximized when it's approached in a fun, age-appropriate, and engaging way. Activities should be adapted to suit their developmental stage and interests, and should never feel like a chore. Ultimately, music offers a holistic approach to early childhood development, nurturing cognitive, emotional, and social skills in an enjoyable and enriching way.
If you're a parent looking to find classes for your toddler or baby, check out my offerings on my website menu above!
Private music lessons offer a valuable opportunity for aspiring musicians to receive personalized instruction and guidance on their musical journey. Traditionally, these lessons are provided by trained and experienced music educators with higher degrees in their specific instrument or with specific pedagogical training in that instrument. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend of individuals, including accomplished musicians and enthusiasts, offering private music lessons. This raises an important question: Can anyone teach private music lessons? We will explore the various factors to consider when deciding if teaching private music lessons is a viable option for you and, if you are a parent or caregiver looking for lessons for your child(ren), the factors you should consider when looking for an instructor.
1. Expertise and Skill Level
The first and foremost consideration when contemplating teaching private music lessons is one's own level of expertise and proficiency in the chosen instrument or discipline. A thorough understanding of music theory, technique, and repertoire is essential to effectively guide students through their learning process. This can be acquired through formal education, extensive practice, and performance experience.
2. Pedagogical Skills
Teaching music is not just about being a proficient player. It requires effective techniques to pass on those skills to various ages and abilities. This includes using strategies to break down complex concepts, provide clear instructions, and offer constructive feedback. A good music teacher should be able to adapt their teaching style to cater to the individual learning needs and preferences of each student.
3. Communication and Patience
Successful music teachers are excellent communicators. They can convey ideas and concepts in a clear and understandable manner and often in a fun, memorable way. Additionally, patience is a crucial virtue when working with students, especially beginners who may struggle with certain techniques or concepts. A patient teacher can provide the support and encouragement necessary for a student's progress.
4. Understanding of Different Learning Styles
Individuals learn in different ways, and a great music teacher understands and accommodates various learning styles. Some students may be more visual, while others may be more auditory or kinesthetic learners. Being able to adapt teaching methods to suit these styles can greatly enhance the learning experience and success of the student.
5. Time Commitment and Availability
Teaching private music lessons requires a significant time commitment. This includes not only the actual lesson time, but also preparation, planning, and administrative tasks such as collecting payment, emailing families, and regular marketing to find new students. Additionally, teachers need to be available for regular lessons, which may require flexibility in their schedule.
6. Legal and Ethical Considerations
Depending on your location, there may be legal requirements or certifications needed to teach private music lessons, as well as insurance to purchase if you are running your own small business. It's important to research and adhere to any local regulations, especially if you plan on teaching students below the age of 18.
7. Passion and Dedication
Teaching music is a rewarding but demanding endeavor. It requires a genuine passion for music and a dedication to the success of your students. This passion is often what motivates teachers to continually improve their own skills and stay updated with the latest teaching techniques and resources.
While teaching private music lessons can be a fulfilling and valuable pursuit, it's not a path suited for everyone. It requires a combination of musical expertise, pedagogical skill, communication ability, and a genuine passion for teaching. If you possess these qualities and are willing to invest the time and effort, you can certainly explore the possibility of becoming a private music instructor. Remember, the impact of a great music teacher can last a lifetime, shaping the musical journeys of their students for years to come.
And if you are a caregiver/parent looking for music lessons, please take these things into consideration when looking for a teacher and ask questions to see if the teacher is a good fit for your child(ren)!
I know that this time of year (but really all the time... let's face it) is hard on families with small children. Colds and flu and back-to-school hit us hard! So many people ask me how I support our family to 1) try not to get hit so often and 2) support us through the experience when we do come down with something.
Here are my Top 5 Tools for supporting our family throughout the year, but especially now:
1. Aged Garlic Liquid -- this is HUGE if your family deals with all the ear problems... iykyk. I use it for the little one while nursing so that it stays in the ear longer while she's on her side. You can put it inside the ear or take it by mouth!
2. These cough drops and all the stuff on this list -- if you're dealing with the respiratory stuff, we seem especially susceptible to that around here! But we LOVE these cough drops and the chest rub. So worth it.
3. Using a steam inhaler is super helpful for breaking up gunk -- babies can't use it, but the shower has the same steam effect for them! Standing in the bathroom while the hot shower is running can help.
4. Getting in plenty of fluids and antioxidants! We love these electrolyte drops in our water and this supplement for supporting the happy cells to do their work in the body.
5. Drinking echinacea tea! I made it for me and baby girl last week and cooled hers with an ice cube. :)
Hope this helps! Having these on hand has made a world of a difference for us when the ick strikes.
Can I teach music without a degree?
This is a great question! The very short answer is YES.
The long answer requires asking some more questions, such as...
- Are you referring to having no music degree or to having any undergraduate degree?
- What setting are you wanting to teach in?
- What kind of music are you wanting to teach?
- What time of day are you wanting to teach?
- What type of students are you wanting to teach?
- What background knowledge to do already have as credentials?
These are some of the first questions you'd need to answer in order to answer the initial question. For example, I teach a few homeschool choirs (which are bursting at the seams, I almost need to start another one to keep up with the demand!). I have a music education degree, but would not need to have a degree in order to conduct these choirs. I do have some experience and great classroom management techniques as well in order to be successful at managing large groups of elementary through high school age singers in a choral context. So depending on your background knowledge and experience, that may be more important than the degree itself in being able to do the work successfully.
What time of day and type of students are you wanting to teach? If you want to teach private lessons and do that full-time, you will likely need to have evening and weekend availability, something that I myself did not want for my family and work rhythms. I only teach a handful of private lessons for this reason, and currently most of my private students are homeschooled so that they are available during the daytime hours for their lessons.
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Hopefully considering a few of these factors helps in answering the question, "Can I teach music without a degree?" for you. If this was valuable and you'd like more guidance in considering these options as you want to start a music business, I offer coaching for those wanting to begin in either a part-time or full-time capacity (my own business is part-time hours but the income is full-time level due to how I've structured it). And we have a support group with resources for those interested which you can find here too!
Here are 5 tools I use weekly as a Music Teacher that will blow your mind!
1) Hoberman Sphere! A fun toy that I use to work on deep breathing for singing (and works well to have a calm moment with a rowdy class if needed too!). I like to have students takes turns leading the group in how fast or slow we will take those breaths and pick someone breathing silently to go next.
2) A microphone! I like felt ones personally but have also used this sparkly one that my students love as well. Great for turn taking, a talking piece for classes that interrupt one another a lot, or solo moments. I use the Feierabend First Steps in Music with my younger classes, so there are lots of opportunities for solo singing!
3) Claves or another instrument that you can use to keep a steady beat. A great alternative to your voice, a metronome, or clapping! My middle schoolers love playing a game called Pass the Beat Around the Room while I keep the beat with the claves.
4) A new song resource, like this global music resource, for teaching new songs! I have SO many favorites -- should I do a blog post just of those?
5) Pitch Pipe! Very useful for anywhere you don't have a piano, to get a pitch quickly and accurately. My students think it sounds funny, but function over funny is my motto with this one. ;)
There you have it! I have so many toys and tools that I use all the time, should I do another post of more? What tools do you use all the time in your teaching? I'd love to hear!
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Feel like you could use some direction in how to set up classes, how to price classes for your area and market them, or what to teach when? These topics and so much more we cover in 1-1 music leadership coaching! You can learn more about that here.
I know, I know...
Every music teacher out there asks, 'How can I make extra income during the summer and/or during the school year?' We don't get paid enough, or maybe we're even bored during the summer not making any music (is this possible?!?). Or we just want to make some extra spending money to do fun things with the kids (raises hand -- I just went strawberry picking with my 8mo and it was a blast!).
But maybe you don't like teaching lessons or you don't want to deal with the schedules around vacations and hassle of that, etc...
So, here are 3 income streams (you can start today!) that are NOT teaching private lessons:
#1 Affiliate Marketing -- you can share about stuff that you like and use (teaching related or not!) with your friends and make income from it. Your friends aren't charged more for it; the companies who use affiliate marketing are spending their marketing budget on this instead of on billboards and ads because it WORKS. I learned how to do it well without feeling salesy from my business mentor, you can check out her course all about it here! And it doesn't take much time, you can work it around naptime or other busy schedules of life.
#2 Baby Music Classes! There are SO many moms out there who are looking for cheap & fun things to do with their littles, especially first time moms (haha, that was/is me!) who are looking to meet people. Find a park and teach a baby music class for moms and their littles! Need help with marketing? Happy to help, I've coached people through this process so they get more turn-out for their classes without having to go through community education and plan WAY in advance or charge a LOT because they have fees. Tip? As long as your parks don't have rules around renting space in the summer, you can just find a local park to teach your class and have a rain date if needed!
#3 Coaching/Consulting -- are you an expert in a certain topic (could be music or otherwise) that you could help people with? Maybe you have a hobby that you'd love to teach people how to do. You can walk them through that step by step with a coaching program (live or evergreen or a combo)! This is just a tiny sliver, tip-of-the-iceberg tip from the massive signature program that is HBR (Home Based Revolution), the multiple income stream course & coaching program by my own business mentor. Check it out here (& reach out for a massive discount code if you're interested!).
Every music teacher out there asks, 'How can I make extra income during the summer and/or during the school year?' We don't get paid enough, or maybe we're even bored during the summer not making any music (is this possible?!?). Or we just want to make some extra spending money to do fun things with the kids (raises hand -- I just went strawberry picking with my 8mo and it was a blast!).
But maybe you don't like teaching lessons or you don't want to deal with the schedules around vacations and hassle of that, etc...
So, here are 3 income streams (you can start today!) that are NOT teaching private lessons:
#1 Affiliate Marketing -- you can share about stuff that you like and use (teaching related or not!) with your friends and make income from it. Your friends aren't charged more for it; the companies who use affiliate marketing are spending their marketing budget on this instead of on billboards and ads because it WORKS. I learned how to do it well without feeling salesy from my business mentor, you can check out her course all about it here! And it doesn't take much time, you can work it around naptime or other busy schedules of life.
#2 Baby Music Classes! There are SO many moms out there who are looking for cheap & fun things to do with their littles, especially first time moms (haha, that was/is me!) who are looking to meet people. Find a park and teach a baby music class for moms and their littles! Need help with marketing? Happy to help, I've coached people through this process so they get more turn-out for their classes without having to go through community education and plan WAY in advance or charge a LOT because they have fees. Tip? As long as your parks don't have rules around renting space in the summer, you can just find a local park to teach your class and have a rain date if needed!
#3 Coaching/Consulting -- are you an expert in a certain topic (could be music or otherwise) that you could help people with? Maybe you have a hobby that you'd love to teach people how to do. You can walk them through that step by step with a coaching program (live or evergreen or a combo)! This is just a tiny sliver, tip-of-the-iceberg tip from the massive signature program that is HBR (Home Based Revolution), the multiple income stream course & coaching program by my own business mentor. Check it out here (& reach out for a massive discount code if you're interested!).
Hope these 3 options get your creative juices flowing and get you rolling making some cash for summertime fun (or even more)! I could make $1500 in 4 hrs once I structured things correctly. If you'd like help structuring something like this to fit your needs, check out coaching here.
Considering becoming self-employed but you're a planner and want to look at how budgeting and the money side of things might look? I made a tips list that was stuff I wish I'd known before diving into the self-employed world, things I learned myself work best. Check it out here!
Considering becoming self-employed but you're a planner and want to look at how budgeting and the money side of things might look? I made a tips list that was stuff I wish I'd known before diving into the self-employed world, things I learned myself work best. Check it out here!
Need some cute Easter Basket ideas?
Here's some things I am going to add to my baby girl's -- both musical and non-musical, for now and for when she's a little older! Click on the photo to take you to where I got it. :)
1) Cute outfits! She's growing WAY faster than I anticipated, so we're buying clothes like crazy around here to finish winter and start spring in bigger sizes than I expected. :P
2) Books! Can never have enough books, especially that share Truth.
3) Conversation cards -- for older kids, about the things that matter most.
4) Musical instruments! Egg shakers are a great musical instrument and perfect for springtime Easter basket theme. :) I also really like ukuleles as an affordable first quality instrument. The brand below is a good starter.
5) Coloring books! There's tons of options out there, here's a great one I love.
There you have it! Some fun Easter Basket options. Check out my "Things I Like" page for more gift ideas.
Cloth diapering can be intimidating, especially at nighttime because we want to let baby sleep those 8-10 (or more!) hours without waking them up for a diaper change. It can be especially challenging if you have a heavy wetter or flooder like I do because you need something that both absorbs fairly quickly but also holds a lot.
My best recommendation for you is to make sure you use natural fibers and pockets or covers with gentle elastics, what brand you use doesn't matter so much.
After trying a lot of different types and styles, I personally use pannolino bambino and two little hands co pockets the most. PanBam has the gentlest elastics I've tried so far that don't leave big marks on her cute rolly thighs!
For inserts, I typically stack a PanBam trifold with a cotton doubler because I've found it is enough absorbency without being too bulky (since she's still only 4 months old). Here's a video of how I put together the nighttime diaper. I avoid microfiber like the plague because it causes compression leaks (like a sponge) and really only worked for us for the first 2 months or so before we were having leaks.
I just bought some specifically nighttime trifolds from PanBam recently to try for when she gets bigger; I'll let you know how we like them!
"What is the most important thing you want your students to learn before they move on and leave you?"
I asked this question in Freelance Music Teacher Moms, and there were some wonderful comments, so many musical skills teachers want their students to walk away with: practice skills, learning music they have never heard before, being able to read musical scores, etc.
I asked this question in Freelance Music Teacher Moms, and there were some wonderful comments, so many musical skills teachers want their students to walk away with: practice skills, learning music they have never heard before, being able to read musical scores, etc.
Those are amazing things that teachers want their students to know! And they are all valuable. But the most important?
I would argue that across the board, the most important things I want my students to take away from my time with them are not actually musical. They're interpersonal skills, study skills, life skills:
I would argue that across the board, the most important things I want my students to take away from my time with them are not actually musical. They're interpersonal skills, study skills, life skills:
How to be a good friend.
How to learn in the context of a group.
How to collaborate and work together well (regardless of if you like someone).
How to be on time.
How to accept constructive criticism.
How to give constructive criticism.
How to ask for help.
How to come prepared (bring your pencil or music needed).
How to walk onto the concert stage professionally.
How to respect a teacher/leader/parent/someone in authority, even if you sometimes disagree.
... And more.
Yes, I definitely want my students to learn how to sing and how to read a musical score! If they didn't increase in skill of those things during my time with them, I didn't do my job very well. But if my students picked up none of these other skills, I would consider that I perhaps failed at my job. I desire to be a mentor and guide for my students, setting a positive example and role model in all areas of life. I don't share tons of personal details with my students, but I also do not hide anything in my life from them either. I know from experience with my own musical mentors when I was growing up that setting this type of example and being this type of mentor can mean the world to students who really desire or need that guiding, whether it's one student or many. As my business mentor likes to say "It was never just about business." and the same can be said here: It was never just about singing/music/playing an instrument.
**** The picture above is an example of impact that I made on a hard-to-reach student who made this for me. I never would have expected this little gift and I treasure it.
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So how would you answer that question: "What is the most important thing you want your students to learn before they move on and leave you?" I'd love to hear your thoughts and perspective.
There are a lot of myths about teaching music freelance that I've heard from my coaching clients and others that I am going to debunk in a new blog series, so here it goes. :)
Myths about Teaching Freelance Debunked, Part 1
#1 If I want to teach freelance, I have to teach private lessons.
Nope! I do teach a couple private lessons (currently I only have 4 private students), but that is not the bulk of what I do. Mostly, I teach choirs (3 different groups) and elementary music classes during the day!
#2 If I want to teach private lessons, I have to give up my evenings and weekends.
Also no! All of the lessons I've taught from my home as a self-employed individual have been during the day. Occasionally I'll offer makeup lessons on a Saturday or an evening, but all of my lessons (at one point I had 13 private lesson students) have been during the day. How do I find students to fit this need? Homeschoolers, retired folks, and online students in other time zones are the three easiest ways, in my experience.
#3 Self-employed people pay double taxes.
While I am no tax expert (so don't take my comments as advice, just my own experience!), I have never paid double in taxes because I am self-employed. There are SO MANY things we can deduct by being self-employed that my taxes are no worse than someone who is an employee, and I have free control of my schedule, work part-time with full-time pay, and don't have nearly the amount unnecessary paperwork or meetings as employed people do. To me, the perks are worth it!
If you'd like more budgeting 101 for self-employed music teacher tips, you can grab that here. I'm all about saving you time where I had to learn the long way through living it. :)
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If this was helpful for you and you'd like to stay tuned for part 2, you can join my free group where we talk about this kind of thing all the time. I post the blogs, informative videos, and discount codes to my coaching & courses here.
I know mom life can be crazy, and teacher life can be equally crazy... put the two together, and sometimes you feel like you can't even think straight! I get it, mama.
Maybe you've been eyeing cloth diapers for the eco friendly reasons, the financial savings, or because your little one keeps getting rashes in disposables... but you just don't know if you can make it work while teaching because your baby goes to daycare or because your childcare isn't supportive.
Here's 3 ways to can make it work if you weren't sure it was possible:
1) Use cloth diapers part-time! Some is better than none, and even can help financially if you cloth part-time. Did you know you can get diapers for as little as $3-4 each?! That means you only need to use them 20ish times in order to more than pay for them and start saving with each use after.
2) There are SO many types of cloth diapers, some are just like using disposables except for the wash routine (so your childcare need not fret!). These are called AIOs (or pockets if you do the pre-stuffing for them). They just stick the diaper in a wet bag for you to take home instead of the trash, pretty simple. Check out some of my favorites here!
3) Rashes can be so tricky to navigate. We dealt with some while we used disposables, and this cream was helpful for that time and to have on hand, but honestly, getting natural fiber cloth diapers or with AWJ lining eliminated the rashes for us! And that's been worth the wash routine for our baby girl. Did you know you can do a speed wash/rinse and then just throw your clothes in with your diapers? It'd be like washing clothes they had a blowout in... not any different! So the water to wash is really pretty minimal and hasn't impacted our water bill at all. You can wash 1-2x per week just fine if you have enough diapers or only use cloth part-time. Pro tip: throw the diaper laundry in before bed and switch it to the dryer (on low!) at the nighttime or dream feed! Then it's ready to go in the morning without having to wait around for it.
So there you have it! Ready to jump into cloth diapering? I've found tons of support in this community if you have any questions about cloth diapers.
