Music Building Blocks is a flexible, modular curriculum designed to empower teachers in crafting dynamic and customized music lessons. This curriculum integrates frameworks from Understanding by Design (UbD), Sheltered Instruction Observational Protocol (SIOP), and CASEL, alongside influences from Orff Schulwerk, Kodály, Dalcroze, and Gordon. Each lesson draws from these multifaceted approaches, offering educators a rich palette of instructional strategies. 

In keeping with its adaptable design, Music Building Blocks is not divided by traditional grade levels. Instead, lessons are categorized into Early Primary and Late Primary, reflecting developmental stages rather than fixed age groups. This approach may be unfamiliar, so we have created a Master Grade-Level Learning Area Map, updated with each new publication, to support teachers who prefer grade-specific guidance. 

This modular curriculum allows educators to select and blend lessons across books to meet their unique classroom needs. Each book focuses on core elements of music, such as Rhythm and Melody, essential skills like Movement, Instruments, and Listening, and cross-curricular themes, including Children’s Literature, Art, and Dance.

We’re Kate Hagen and Sarah Fairfield, and we’ve dedicated our entire careers to serving students and supporting fellow music educators. Throughout our journeys, we’ve had the privilege of learning from incredible music educators from around the world, gaining expertise in Kodály, Orff, World Music Drumming, Dalcroze, and Gordon. We believe it’s our responsibility to help the next generation of music educators feel prepared and confident as they enter the field, so we volunteer to host practicum and student teachers and lead workshops and continuing education classes. 

We have over five decades of experience teaching general music in public schools. We’ve worked with students from all walks of life—from affluent families to those experiencing homelessness. While we now teach in the Midwest, we live in a transient city where our students come from rural areas, cities, and many different countries—including children of graduate students, professionals, and refugees. We’ve taught every combination of classes, from single-grade to multi-age, and in all kinds of room setups, from spacious, fully furnished music rooms to tiny spaces where we’re literally over fire code every day. 

We also know that administrators and other educators don’t always understand the value of music education, which is why we’ve integrated our experiences with educational philosophies like Understanding by Design (UbD), Sheltered Instruction Observational Protocol (SIOP), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and CASEL into the Music Building Blocks Curriculum. Our goal is to equip you with the language and tools to advocate for the importance of your music program in a way that resonates with non-music educators and administrators. 

We understand the daily joys and challenges of the job, and we hope that the Music Building Blocks Curriculum will make your life easier while still providing your students with a rich and meaningful music education. 

You are valued, and the work you do is essential. We appreciate you! 

With gratitude, 

Sarah Fairfield & Kate Hagen