S-Cubed- Mastery Belt System- White Belt and more to come!

I am excited to announce this collaboration with a fellow TpT Music Teacher who has used S-Cubed for many years. Pamela Weaver, from The Choir Room has created a "belt" system to use with S-Cubed that is a great motivator for the students!   She's already uploaded all the belts and bundles to her store, and I have just started uploading them to mine. I'll be rolling out the remaining products and bundles over the coming days and weeks. Here is the product description of the White Belt, which is $5 in my TpT Store.

S-Cubed: Mastery Belt System – White Belt (Lessons 1–3)

A companion to Dale Duncan’s S-Cubed Sight-Singing Program for Beginners

What is this?  The S-Cubed: Mastery Belt System is a Karate Belt–style achievement program that works alongside S-Cubed to make student progress visible, measurable, and motivating. Each color level matches a small group of S-Cubed lessons, giving students clear milestones to reach and celebrate—without changing the way you already teach.

Why Teachers Love It:

✅ Breaks the S-Cubed program into small, skill-focused levels

✅ Includes built-in formative checks and a final assessment for every belt

✅ Makes growth visible to students, parents, and administrators

✅ Flexible, editable, and easy to integrate into any teaching style

✅ Supports advocacy by providing concrete evidence of learning

What’s Included (White Belt – Lessons 1–3):

• Student-Friendly Study Guide
• Requirements Checklist
• Formative Assessments
• Final Exam via Google Form (editable)
• Implementation Tips & Teacher Guide
• Print-ready Celebration Tracker with reward ideas
• Assessment links document
• Teacher perspective

Overview: Lessons 1–3 lay the groundwork for everything to come. Students are introduced to foundational concepts like half steps and whole steps, pitch accuracy, Kodály hand signs, and the “Follow the Hand” technique—all without yet reading music. Through fun, repeatable activities like Forbidden Pattern, they begin training their ears while developing strong posture, physical engagement, and vocal awareness. This belt builds comfort with the process, confidence in the classroom structure, and a supportive environment where every student can succeed from day one.

How to Use It: Teach S-Cubed as usual—this program simply adds structure, checkpoints, and celebrations as students earn each new belt.

Follow Our Stores:

• Pamela Weaver – The Choir Room
• Dale Duncan – Music in the Middle with Mr. D

Please leave reviews for this and all of our products. It helps teachers to hear from you about it, it helps us make my products better for you, and it helps you because you get TpT credits towards future products!

Sight Reading Factory's New Auto Assessment Feature 2025

If you purchase anything from Sight Reading Factory, use the promo code "scubed", and you'll get a 10% discount on student and teacher subscriptions!

Earlier this summer, I held a Zoom session with Don Crafton, the creator of Sight Reading Factory, to talk about the newest, incredibly affordable features on the SRF platform.

The one I am super stoked about for music teachers is the auto-assessment feature.  If you get student subscriptions, you'll be able to use the platform the way I used to use Music Prodigy with my students before that company was no longer an option for teachers.

With this feature, students will get immediate feedback on their work after they sing or play into the microphone.  

You pick the difficulty level.  You will decide how hard you want the example to be graded.

It's grading with a "heart".

It's the best of all worlds.

Don Crafton has added so many other features since I left the classroom in 2022 that you may also find useful.  We covered many of those features in the Zoom session.

If I were still in the classroom, I would definitely use the student subscriptions to gain access to this tool for my students who finished Levels 1 and 2 of the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners.  It'll keep their sight singing skills strong...way stronger than mine were when I was in college...and it's one of the most affordable and useful technology-forward products on the market.

Whether you use S-Cubed, your own system of teaching the subject, or something else, EVERY music teacher, from band, to orchestra to chorus, can utilize the tools on Sight Reading Factory.

Here is a link to the training video,

https://youtu.be/eTjnNXt8cwY?si=WxiScG-gha8tBEmi

I hope it helps.  

I am giving away over $130 of my newest Bundles! Happy Back to School Sale on TpT!

The TpT back to school sale is August 5th and 6th with 25% off my entire store, so I thought it was a good time for a big giveaway of my newest lessons.  Please leave reviews for all of my products.  It helps teachers to hear from you about it, it helps me make my products better for you, and it helps you because you get TpT credits towards future products!

Over the last year, I have created three new bundles with tons of lessons, that I want to share this week with one lucky winner.  The winner will be announced on Friday morning, August 8th.  Everyone will be notified via email early that morning.  All of my lessons follow the philosophy of the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners-

3/4 Learning + 1/4 Fun = Success!

So, all of the lessons include and incorporate a gamification approach that you can use in order to drive home what you want your students to learn.  

Who doesn't need Sub Plans that a non-music teacher can use to keep the learning moving forward in your choral music classroom when you are out?  This Sub Bundle includes lessons that can last up to two months if you have your sub do the extension lessons, and is priced at $59 in my TpT Store.  All of these lessons are available individually in my TpT store, and just so you can see the layout of one of the lessons, here is a free one.

For those of you who have followed my work for a while, you know I am obsessed with Broadway musicals, so I created a line of lessons on six different Broadway musicals (with more to come) that includes tons of ideas to help you dig deep into the themes of the shows with discussions, games, singing activities and more.  Here is a free one in my TpT Store on the musical "Hairspray" to help you see the layout.  The bundle I am giving away includes units on three musicals- The Sound of Music, Newsies and Annie is priced at $49.

My new "QUICK! I need ideas for my Choir Lesson!" includes 16 of the lessons in the series with more to come.  This line of lessons is intended to give you tons of ideas for a very low price.  Most of the lessons are $2-4 each. 

This bundle is priced at $25.  Here it is in my TpT Store, and Here is a free one in my store with the topic of "Concert Etiquette" so you can see the layout.  In the bundle, we cover topics like Vocal Warm Ups, Dynamics, Vocal Health, Breathing for Singing, Developing Vocal Tone, Decoding the Choral Octavo, Developing Part Independence, The Changing Male Voice, Creating a Positive Culture, Stage Presence, Concert Etiquette, Preparing Students to Perform Live, Navigating Various Repeat Signs, Balance and Blend, and Rhythm and Articulation.

I hope these lessons are helping you in your classroom.  Enter below the photo on the rafflecopter-  There are five ways to enter to increase your chances. Two of them are mandatory. One of the mandatory entries is to comment on a Facebook post with ideas about future topics sub plans you'd like to see, Broadway musicals you'd like me to cover and any ideas you have for new "QUICK!" series lessons. Copy and paste those answers and comment on this blog post.

Enter by clicking this link-  

                                                             Mr. D is hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway!

My Line of Choir Sub Plans works with Non-Music Subs --- and one of them is FREE!

When I was in the classroom, I hated to be absent.

I could never find a sub that could teach choir, so it felt like I was giving work just to fill the time, and they didn't learn much of anything useful to progress as a choir.

So, I decided to create a line of sub plans for choir teachers, and I came up with things I think will definitely help the choir grow and move forward so that there is real learning about choir even though they aren't singing.

One of the sub plans is free in my TpT store.  

It's called Listen to Great Choirs.  Click that link to download it.  

Description-

*Downloadable and editable google slide presentation with clickable links to YouTube videos of performances and a Google Doc link for students that is easily copied and pasted by you to be edited as you wish.

*Any music/non-music sub can use it or you can use it as a one day 45-50 minute lesson.

*You can easily edit

*Sub Plans

Students will listen to 6 choir performances, and they will write briefly about them if a sub is in charge or they can discuss them live with you if you are present for the lesson.

I included information about the Seven Criteria for a Great Choir-

Tone, Pitch, Rhythm, Ensemble, Interpretation, Diction, Other Factors so they can review and think about those things as they evaluate. All seven are briefly explained in the document.

You or the sub will simply click the links, and then give them time to write/type/discuss their answers. They can turn them into the sub or submit to a digital platform...whatever works best for you.

Here is a link to another one-day lesson plan for subs (or for you)!

This article captures the realness of my journey with S-Cubed

I created S-Cubed while living in Atlanta even though so much of the work to create the program happened before I came here.  

I am so grateful to have this article from people who saw the work and recognized it.

Voyage Atlanta

Give it a read.

They helped me tell my story.

Oh the things we can teach through Musical Theater and Broadway Shows-The Sound of Music and my FREE Hairspray Unit!

If you follow my work, you know that I am obsessed with Broadway musicals.  When I was in the classroom, I used musical theater to talk about and teach things to the students about social issues and history all while learning about music.  I loved it, and they could tell I loved it, so they loved it too.

It all started with "The Sound of Music".  I remember showing it to my 6th graders during my first year teaching.  They loved it until it got to the part where the Von Trapp family was trying to escape.  They would tune out, and I would be dealing with restless children who didn't understand the historical context.  They didn't understand the covert conversations the Captain and Maria were having.  They didn't understand why Uncle Max and the Captain were at odds.

But, boy...when I realized that and then started teaching about World War II and the holocaust before I started showing the movie...with just a brief 30 minute introduction...it all shifted.  They started the movie watching for possible covert Nazi's (Ralph, 17 going on 18 is the first they see).  Then, they start to understand how the holocaust could happen...People just ignoring what is going on around them because they thought it didn't affect them.  

I've visited Sachsenhausen.  It was one of the first prototypes of what ultimately became Auschwitz and some of the other camps.

I took the walk from the train through the town to the concentration camp just like the people who were taken there involuntarily.

I heard the stories about how, at first, they just shot people one at a time, and to speed up the killing they started gassing them en masse.  I heard the stories about how they would do experiments, removing parts of people's brains in order to see how it would impact them.  The stories are plenty, and they are horrific.

Teaching this to the students before, during and after they watch this profound important work of art called "The Sound of Music" helps them to understand the fear they see in the movie but are unable to grasp without context.

This activity is more than just putting on a movie musical.  

We are teaching incredibly important things through the movie.

It is for that reason, that I began creating a line of products based on the teaching I did through musical theater and Broadway shows.   Each lesson is filled with tons of activities to expand the learning and understanding, all while studying music.  These are great for general music teachers, choral teachers, and social studies teachers.  

Try out a free version of the unit I created around the musical "Hairspray".  Here is a link to the free version!   Here is the link to "The Sound of Music" unit mentioned above!

Please leave reviews for this product.  It helps teachers to hear from you about it, it helps me make my products better for you, and it helps you because you get TpT credits towards future products!

http://bit.ly/44M8z80

So, you are teaching middle school choir next year? This Zoom is for you.

So, you are teaching middle school choir next year?

Are you excited?  Terrified?  Is it your first year teaching?  Are you transitioning from elementary to middle school and want to know more about the daily routines in middle school and how they differ?  Are you transitioning from high school to middle school?

For all of these reasons and more, if you are going to be teaching middle school choir next year, this Zoom with Mr. D is for you.  Experienced middle school teachers are welcome to join to share their knowledge too!

Mr. D will open the session with some of the answers to the questions above, and then he will open up the floor for questions.  We will have a dialogue, and he will stay on the session until all of your questions are answered by him or by someone else in the room who may attend to help all of us be our best for this special age group.

As always, when Mr. D does Zoom sessions like these or Facebook “live” sessions, he will offer some items for free about an hour before the session, during the session, and after the session for one additional hour in his TpT store.  Mr. D has created more products in the last year than at any time in the last decade, so I recommend that you go to his store between now and then and put the items in your cart before the session.  This will include items aimed at helping you with middle school choir. 

In addition, he will offer a discounted rate on his well-known S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for beginners.

Here is the link to his store-

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/music-in-the-middle-with-mr-d

Here is the latest review of his sight singing program.

May 30, 2025
Extremely satisfied

I have been reading reviews about this curriculum for the past 2 months, waiting to purchase. I knew it was going to be an excellent curriculum and resource for our middle school program. My expectations upon downloading it have been greatly surpassed. Dale really poured his heart and soul into this curriculum. The slides for class, complete with morning work to follow up on previous lessons, quizzes, and examples are already imbedded in the program. In addition, the amount of detail in his instructions to teachers complete with tips and tricks for EVERY day of every lesson is incredible. The average length of a lesson is approximately 4 days. All a teacher needs to do in order to implement this curriculum is download it and read/watch the information. No additional prep is needed. I have previously used solfege and various sight-singing curriculums, however, he has pulled it together in a way that blows anything I have previously done out of the water, adding fun and helpful games that I'm not sure I would have thought of on my own. His attention to detail and his systematic implementation create a curriculum that is fun, engaging, and has NO GAPS, which are often the problem in other curriculums. On a side note, I have messages Dale several times and he has immediately responded. For him, this is about helping teachers and students. If you are wondering if it is worth it, it absolutely is. I have zero complaints. You won't find anything else like this. I've looked. Do yourself a favor and save yourself the headache of recreating what's already been done for you, saving yourself literally 100s of hours of work. Teachers need some time back in our lives and this gave me that time I needed and the confidence of having a fun curriculum to implement this fall. Thanks, Dale!

Here is the link to the review on TpT.

Here is the link to zoom to join us.  11 AM EST.  June 27, 2025

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84931806265?pwd=StkZYD6ofkezePcaKRqx4ugwDir0f2.1

I hope to meet you then!

Exciting news! I'm on the MIRL app, and you can be too! The MIRL app offers a platform for sharing your expertise while earning extra income.

Some of you have followed my work and shared it with other teachers for over a decade. I treasure your trust in me.  

And now I’d like to share an opportunity with you to share your work and expertise in any area of your life with others when and how you want, with the opportunity to make extra money for your family and yourself.   

Last fall, I was approached by the developers of a new social media advice app called MIRL (it stands for Meet in Real Life).  It is a social media advice application.

If you are an expert gardener or cook and you love sharing your tips with people about it, this is an opportunity for you to do it.  You set your rates and times.  You decide when and how often.  Summer is a perfect time to get started, and it is just around the corner! 

I have set up my profile there so that teachers who need advice about the things that I am strongest in (sight singing, male changing voice, middle school classroom management, and a few areas you might not expect), people who seek my advice in my areas of strength can find me, and set up a time to chat to get my advice.  It was super easy to set up my profile.

If you’d like to learn a bit more about the app, please use my special VIP Connect code to sign up for the app.

https://mirl.co/share?code=DAL001

Signing up does not mean that you are committed to doing the work. You can just browse around.  You will see that there are numerous categories of expertise, and you can be an expert in multiple categories.  Even on my own profile, I’ve listed some things that are not just related to teaching that I feel strong in based on my life experience.  Once you’ve downloaded the app using my VIP link, simply go to “search” and type “Dale Duncan” to explore my profile if you want to see how it can work for you.   

I have worked with this company since last October. It was very easy to set up my profile. They have worked very hard to make sure the app seamlessly works. They answer my emails immediately.

I wouldn’t attach my name to it if I didn’t know that it could benefit people’s lives, and this one can.  

If you have any questions, please email me directly!  

Dale Duncan

Mr. D

Watertown NY Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You've just finished assessments, and you've seen what S-Cubed does for choirs! So, let's do a March Giveaway of the program!

I finished creating and sharing the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for beginners exactly one decade ago this year. Choir teachers from all over the US, Canada, Australia, and beyond have trusted the program to help their beginners learn to sight sing in a fun and engaging way.  3/4 cup learning + 1/4 cup fun = Success.  Some people have asked why I called it S-Cubed, and here is the answer:  S-Cubed stands for the three S's in "Successful Sight Singing".  

One of the ways teachers learned about my program was through giveaways.  I have hosted many over the years.  This is the first giveaway for 2025, and I am giving away the Mega Bundle Google Slides Version.  If you win it, and you want the PowerPoint version, I will make that happen.  

Here is how it works-

1). You enter in as many ways as you want.  Most importantly-  make sure your email address is accurate.

2).  Comment on this post, sharing why you are interested in the program.

3).  You can enter until March 30th at midnight EST.  On March 31st, expect an email early in the morning telling who won, how they should get it from me, and for all of those who didn't win, how to get the program for 50% off on March 31st only.  

Good luck! 

Enter here-a Rafflecopter giveaway   

Some MORE song choices for you and your middle school choir!

I have been adjudicating this season, and I have heard lots of music for the first time that I absolutely loved.  I just added more songs to the running document that I keep in my TpT store, "Some Song Choices for your Middle School Choir".

Here is one of the descriptions that I just wrote this morning-

After the Rain

Sarah Quartel

SSA

11592360ESupplier ID: 9780193572751UPC: 9780193572751

SAB

11592360Supplier ID: 9780193572744

I heard this song at an adjudication in SSA.  I loved the unison opening followed by gorgeous 3 part treble harmony.  It’s a lyrical piece.  It has lots of opportunities for subtle work on syllabic inflection especially in the unison sections.  The accompaniment is very accessible and adds to the beauty of this song.  It acts as the frame to the beautiful photo this is a beautiful, memorable, touching arrangement that is unforgettable.  https://youtu.be/-Qg6qK2z2ws

Here is how JW Pepper describes it-

Setting words by Chief Dan George, this optimistic work reminds us that there is still beauty to be found in times of trouble and that difficult days will not last forever. This sensitive setting uses triplets against duplets to give a sense of fluidity to the melodic phrasing.

---

That is the way I present every song in this running document. You get a personal point of view from me about why I love the songs, why I think they work for this age group, and for whom the song works best along with links so you can listen/watch and decide if it'll work for your students!

Join me this summer at the Wonder Years Summit Virtual Conference

Join Me at The Wonder Years Teacher Summit—My Session Tackles Classroom Management Head-On

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be speaking at The Wonder Years Teacher Summit: Summer 2025, an online event created specifically to address the mounting challenges educators are facing. If you’ve been struggling with classroom management, bridging generational gaps, fostering healthy peer relationships and so many other topics related to the teaching profession, you won’t want to miss this summit. It features over 20 teachers who have done the real work and who'll share their expertise for a very inexpensive price, and you'll have the flexibility to watch the sessions at times that work for you.

My Session

During my talk, “Classroom Management”, I’ll show you:

• Key Takeaway #1: Practical steps to address chronic classroom disruptions and misbehaviors

• Key Takeaway #2: How to foster stronger student compliance with rules and procedures and to find solutions to behavior problems that are respectful and effective.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll also learn from experts like Dr. Jean Twenge, who’ll reveal research-backed strategies for bridging generational gaps, and Christopher Pepper, whose insights on inclusive health education are transforming classrooms nationwide.

Why You’ll Love The Wonder Years Teacher Summer

• Real-World Solutions: Every session is packed with actionable tips, not fluff.

• On-Demand Access: Catch the recordings for up to 90 days—so you can watch anytime.

• Professional Credibility: Earn a Certificate of Completion that may count toward your PD hours.

• Early Bird Steal: Score your ticket for $25 (normally $120).

Exclusive Bonus

When you use my promo code at checkout, you’ll get “Buy One, Get One Free” — to give another registration to a friend or colleague!

Promo code: Dale2025

Ready to transform your teaching journey?

Click Here to Grab Your Early Bird Ticket

I can’t wait to see you inside the summit and share these insights with you!