Dr. LaSaundra Belcher

08/31/2026

⚡ MONDAY POWER UP: SET YOUR PRIORITIES
You can be busy all day and still not be effective.
As music educators, there will ALWAYS be something that needs to be done.
Another email. Another meeting. Another task added to your plate.
And if we’re not careful, we can spend an entire day getting things done without getting to the things that really matter.

Time is the greatest currency we have! We must spend it wisely.
So this week, set your priorities.
What really needs your attention? What can wait?
You don’t have to do everything. You need to make sure you’re doing what matters.

What’s your #1 priority this week? Drop it in the comments. 👇🏾

08/26/2026

Tim 😭💔 I was such a HUGE fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. My friends thought I was weird, but I watched it so many times til I could recite the film word for word. I loved his acting and watched most of his movies. Dolly and Tim 🙏🏾😭

Tim Curry, the actor who first portrayed Mozart in Peter Shaffer’s ‘Amadeus’ on Broadway, has died at the age of 80.

Starring opposite Ian McKellen as Salieri, Curry said: “I was so happy doing it and felt so foolish that I hadn’t done a play for such a long time that I wanted to go back and reach out for a classical career.”

Curry’s dream of becoming an actor was sparked by Judi Dench’s performance as Sally Bowles in ‘Cabaret’, which he saw as a young man. He went on to star on stage in ‘Hair’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Show’, reprising his role as Dr Frank-N-Furter for the film adaptation two years later.

He was nominated for two Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards, including for his performance in ‘Amadeus’.

08/26/2026

First Dolly….😭

08/24/2026

⚡ MONDAY POWER UP
Today’s word: FOCUS.
For many teachers, today is the first day back and there are a million things to do.
You don't have to do everything today.

Focus on your systems.
How will students enter?
What are your daily routines?
Who are your student leaders?
What are your class norms?

The systems you establish now become the routines you don't have to constantly manage later.
💛 Don't try to do everything this week. Focus on systems that will make everything else work better.

08/20/2026

📢 Applications are open for the Lynette A. Turner Pathways to Consulting Fellowship!
The AMS Fellowship Program was created to expand pathways into arts consulting by providing individuals who have been historically underrepresented in the arts with meaningful experience in the field and hands-on opportunities to develop consulting and analytical skills.

We are currently accepting applications for our Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 positions.
This paid, 12-week fellowship gives participants the opportunity to work alongside professionals, contribute to real consulting projects, strengthen their analytical and problem-solving skills, and gain valuable experience that can help prepare them for the next step in their careers.

Fellowship Details:
• $720 per week
• 12-week placement
• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• 100% remote
• Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. in the fellow's time zone
• Laptop provided for the duration of the fellowship
If you are interested in building experience in arts consulting, research, analysis, and strategy, we encourage you to apply.

We also invite faculty, university administrators, arts leaders, and colleagues across the field to share this opportunity with students, recent graduates, and emerging professionals in their networks.

Apply Here:
https://amspnr.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eK8hK1zRPKBQ28K

Learn more:
https://www.ams-planning.com/opportunity-ams-expanding-pathways-to-consulting-fellowship-4/

Please share and help us connect this opportunity with talented emerging professionals who can benefit from meaningful, hands-on experience in the field.

&Research

08/13/2026

🎻 Teaching Tip Thursday

Don't Wait Until May to Tell Your Story.
Great teachers do incredible work all year.
The challenge isn't doing the work.
It's documenting the impact.
At the beginning of the year, ask yourself one question:
How does this support my School Improvement Plan?
Every concert.
Every parent engagement activity.
Every leadership opportunity.
Every classroom project.
When you intentionally align your work with your school's goals, your evaluation practically writes itself.
💛 Don't make your administrator connect the dots.
Show them.
That's how accomplished teachers become distinguished leaders.

08/11/2026

🎻 Teaching Tip Tuesday
Invite Parents Into the Performance
Want stronger parent engagement?
Don't wait until concert night.
Invite families to help shape the experience.
One simple idea is to let parents vote on one piece for your upcoming concert.
Then reveal the winning selection the week of the performance.
💛 Your parent partners didn't just attend the concert.
They helped curate it.
When families have a voice in the journey, they're more invested in celebrating the outcome.
👇🏾 How do you involve parents before concert day?

08/06/2026

Teaching Tip Thursday
Build the Vision Before the Victory

🏆 This trophy wasn't where our story began.
It started with one assignment during the first week of school. I asked my students one question:
"What do we want to accomplish together this year?"

We created a class vision board.
The cellos wanted to learn thumb position.
The 2nds wanted to get better with 5th position.
Every section chose something to work towards.
As a group, we added a picture of a trophy because we wanted to win the festival competition.

🏆 By the end of the year, we didn't just reach our goals—we exceeded them.
We won 1st Place, the Highest Overall Score at the festival, and our principal cellist received an individual performance award.

Three trophies in one day.
They were completely invested because they weren't chasing my vision.
They were chasing ours!

💛 Students work harder for goals they help create.
Give your students something to work toward—not just something to complete.

08/04/2026

🎻 Teaching Tip Tuesday
Let your students see the musician behind the teacher.
The photo I'm sharing today was taken when I was in 12th grade.
Long before I stood on a podium, I was sitting in a chair just like my students—learning, practicing, making mistakes, and falling in love with music.

One of the best things you can do during the first week of school is let your students see your musical journey.
Share an old performance photo.
Play your favorite piece.
Show a concert clip.
Demonstrate the technique you're teaching.

Kids love bragging about how talented their teachers are. More importantly, when they see your passion and musicianship, they're reminded that you're asking them to do something you've done yourself.
💛 Don't hide your journey. Use it to inspire theirs.

🎻 What's one way you help your students see the musician behind the teacher? Share your ideas below.👇🏾

07/31/2026

🎁 Something I've been working on is almost here...
For the past few weeks, we've been exploring how to build a music classroom that doesn't depend on one person.
A classroom where students know their roles.
Where routines create confidence.
Where learning continues even when the teacher isn't there.
Now it's time to bring it all together.

🎻 Coming very soon: A FREE Music Teacher Sub Plan Toolbox.
Inside you'll find everything you need to prepare for an absence with confidence—including an editable Music Teacher Sub Plan Template, sample agendas, classroom checklists, a student leadership directory, sectional report templates, and practical tools that help keep learning moving while you're away.

💛Follow along so you don't miss the release! 🤗