In the Middle With Mr D

The Silver Medal that Felt Like Gold.

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:25:45 +0000

https://youtu.be/CiTldvBgBnw?si=cnpeowc77EPaR4lC

This was the peak of my aerobic gymnastics career, even though I had won gold in 1993.

It was my best athletic performance ever. This was prelims.

With this performance, I won the opportunity to represent the USA at the World Championship.

But it was my personal best performance.

That's why I love it.

I Don’t Want AI to Replace Artistry. I Want It to Help Artists.

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 21:21:43 +0000

A few days ago, I asked music teachers on Facebook how they feel about artificial intelligence.

The responses surprised me—not because people had strong opinions, but because there seemed to be so little middle ground.

Some were all in.

Others wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.

As the comments kept coming, I became curious about something else. I edited the post and asked people to share their generation—Boomer, Gen X, Millennial, etc.—because I wondered whether age might help explain some of the divide.

I'm still watching those responses come in.

But the whole conversation has made me think about my own relationship with technology—and especially about what happens when you're not just a musician or a teacher, but also a creator trying to get your work into the world.

In 2013, the year I started creating S-Cubed, I didn't know what I was doing.

When I created S-Cubed Sight Singing for Beginners, I had never created a PowerPoint in my life

Not one.

And it showed.

I was a music teacher. I knew how to teach middle school students to sight-sing. I had spent 20 years developing a method that worked in my classroom, and I believed other teachers and students could benefit from it.

But turning that method into something I could share with teachers around the world?

I had no idea how to do that.

So I figured it out.

My early images were terrible. Most were pixelated. My PowerPoints weren't pretty. I was criticized for them. I took them down from TPT, and I tried again. Hours and hours of work.

And, truthfully, graphic design still isn't my gift.

But I kept creating anyway.

There's a quote often associated with Sheryl Sandberg that became something of a philosophy for me:

"Done is better than perfect."

Thank goodness I believed that.

Because if I had waited until I could make everything look perfect, S-Cubed might never have existed.

Instead, I put my imperfect work into the world, and I was scared to death of the judgment.

I still am...as I adopt AI to help my work.

Thousands of music teachers eventually used it then, and are still purchasing it now for the Back to School season. I am grateful.

More importantly, their students learned from it.

That mattered more to me than whether every slide looked like it had been designed by a professional graphic designer.

Then AI arrived.

And I understand why musicians are uncomfortable with it.

I don't want artificial intelligence replacing composers.

I don't want it replacing singers, instrumentalists, conductors, teachers, or the creative process.

I don't want a machine to become a substitute for the messy, beautiful, deeply human experience of making music.

Ever.

And I don't believe it can.

But I've also started realizing something else:

AI can help me do things that have always been difficult for me.

It can help me organize my thoughts.

It can help me communicate an idea more clearly.

It can help me improve something visually when graphic design isn't my strength.

It can help me brainstorm, edit, analyze, question, and refine.

It can help me spend less time struggling with the things I'm not particularly good at so I can spend more time doing the things I am good at.

That distinction matters to me.

I don't want AI to create my artistry. I want AI to help me present my artistry.

And yes, there's another side to this for me.

Over the last couple of years, I've watched sales of S-Cubed change. There are probably many reasons for that. Education has changed. Teachers have changed. Budgets have changed. The marketplace has changed.

But I also wonder what role AI is playing.

I've spent more than a decade developing, refining, documenting, and sharing a very specific method of teaching sight-singing. That work represents thousands upon thousands of hours of my life, and it still does.

I worry that tools like AI make it easier than ever to take someone's intellectual work, strip away the name attached to it, and recreate something that looks remarkably similar.

I hope that isn't happening with my work.

But I'd be lying if I said I haven't thought about it.

And that puts me in an interesting position.

Because the same technology that concerns me is also becoming one of the tools I'm using to make my own work better.

Maybe that's where the middle ground is.

We don't have to worship AI.

And we don't have to run from it.

We can ask difficult questions about copyright, intellectual property, creativity, compensation, and what happens to artists when machines can generate things that resemble human creative work.

We should ask those questions.

Some people are going to steal my work. I faced that fact a long time ago.

At the same time, I think artists have always had to adapt to new technology.

I certainly have.

In 2013, PowerPoint was new technology to me.

YouTube changed what was possible for me.

Teachers Pay Teachers changed what was possible for me.

Social media changed what was possible for me.

None of those things made me a better music teacher.

But they allowed the work I had spent decades developing as a music teacher to reach people I never could have reached otherwise.

I'm beginning to see AI through a similar lens.

And now I'm building with it.

I'm currently using AI as part of the next evolution of S-Cubed.

I'm developing an AI coach designed to help teachers work successfully through the first ten lessons of the program—the place where some teachers need the most reassurance and guidance.

The AI isn't inventing my teaching method.

It's helping me deliver the method I spent years creating.

That's an important distinction.

I want a teacher who gets stuck to be able to ask a question.

I want the teacher who feels overwhelmed to know what to do next. That's what I did when I created the original, messy version of S-Cubed.

I want someone who bought S-Cubed but never quite got it off the ground to have another chance at succeeding with it.

And ultimately, I want their students to succeed.

That's why I created S-Cubed in the first place.

I'm still a musician and artist first.

Maybe that's why this conversation about AI interests me so much.

I don't believe artists should surrender their artistry to technology.

I believe we should protect it fiercely.

But protecting artistry doesn't necessarily mean refusing to use the tools that are changing the world around us.

Sometimes it means learning how to use those tools in service of our artistry rather than in place of it.

Thirteen years ago, I didn't let my inability to make a beautiful PowerPoint stop me from sharing something I knew could help teachers.

Today, I'm not going to let fear of AI stop me from discovering how it might help me serve those teachers better.

I'll keep asking questions.

I'll keep protecting the human part.

I'll keep learning.

And I'll keep adapting.

Because perhaps the choice isn't between AI and artistry.

Perhaps the challenge for artists now is figuring out how to use one without ever surrendering the other.

And I'd really like to know where you land.

Has AI changed the way you work as a musician or music teacher—or are you still keeping your distance?

Why I’m Building an AI Coach for S-Cubed

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 20:54:20 +0000

Why I’m Building an AI Coach for S-Cubed

Over the past 13 years, I’ve watched thousands of teachers discover S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners.

And I’ve noticed something.

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t deciding to try the program. People who buy it have seen the reviews and continue to see the recommendations on social media.

The problem most people encounter is getting started — and sticking with it long enough to see what happens. The results are real. They are proven.

Those first lessons are important. They establish the routines, the language, the expectations, and most importantly, the relationship between the teacher and the students. S-Cubed is not just a method. There are tons of those out there. As I've said for years...S-Cubed is part method and part philosophy.

But there can also be the point where a teacher starts wondering:

Am I doing this right?

Should I move on or repeat this lesson?

What if my kids aren’t getting it yet?

What exactly should I focus on today?

I've answered versions of those questions for years through emails, blog posts, Facebook messages, YouTube videos, workshops, and conversations with teachers.

And lately I've been thinking:

What if I could be there every day?

Obviously, I can't.

But perhaps new technologies can.

Enter the S-Cubed AI Coach

For the last several weeks, I’ve been working on something new: an AI-powered coach designed specifically to help teachers navigate the first 10 lessons of S-Cubed.

And I want to be very clear about what I want this to be.

I don't want it to replace the teacher.

I don't want AI teaching your students.

I want it to help you teach your students the way I originally intended and to make it easy for you to be successful.

Think of it as having someone beside you who knows S-Cubed and can help you figure out what comes next.

The goal is simple:

Daily guidance through the lessons.

You’ll be able to check in, get help understanding what you should be doing, find the resources connected to that lesson, and ask questions when something isn't going quite the way you expected.

In other words, I'm trying to take the support I've provided teachers for years and make it available when they actually need it.

I Know the Words “AI” Make Some Teachers Nervous

I understand that.

In fact, I think a healthy amount of skepticism about any new technology is probably a good thing.

But I've also been thinking about my own journey with technology.

When I started S-Cubed, I didn't follow the traditional route.

I used YouTube.

I wrote blog posts.

I shared ideas on social media.

I used Teachers Pay Teachers.

I connected teachers directly to videos and resources in ways that weren't particularly common in traditional choral music publishing at the time.

The technology wasn't the point.

Helping teachers was the point...and it still is.

And that's how I feel about AI.

I'm not interested in using it simply because everyone is talking about it.

I'm interested in whether it can help a teacher walk into the classroom feeling a little more confident about what to do next with their students that day.

If it can do that, I think it's worth exploring, and that's why I am working on it.

Why Lessons 1–10?

I'm intentionally starting small.

I'm not trying to put the entire S-Cubed universe into an app.

I want to solve one specific problem really well:

Helping teachers successfully navigate the beginning of the program.

Because once the routines start clicking...

Once the students understand the games, the friendly competition component, the daily routines...everyone starts to see the results.

Once the teacher begins seeing why the sequence works...

Something changes.

Confidence grows.

The rewards of the work pay off.

For everyone.

I’m Building This Carefully

This isn't something I'm throwing together and putting online next week.

I'm going lesson by lesson.

I'm thinking about the questions teachers have asked me over the years.

I'm connecting the resources I've already created.

And I'm trying to teach this coach to support teachers in a way that feels like S-Cubed — and feels like me.

There are limitations. There are things I'm learning. There are things AI can do remarkably well and other things it simply can't do.

I'm learning all of that as I build.

And over the next two months, I'm going to share some of that journey here.

Because if you're skeptical, curious, excited — or some combination of all three — I want you to be able to watch this develop rather than suddenly seeing an announcement one day saying:

“Here's my new AI app!”

That's not how I want to introduce this.

I want you to understand why I'm building it.

October 6

That's the date I'm working toward.

And between now and then, I'll show you more of what I'm creating, what I'm learning, and how I believe this can help teachers who are beginning their journey with S-Cubed.

Technology will continue to change.

It always has.

But my goal hasn't changed much at all.

Help teachers succeed.

Help students succeed.

And maybe make that first steps into S-Cubed feel a little less intimidating.

That's why I'm building an AI coach.

I've been here before-

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:45:14 +0000

When I first began creating S-Cubed, there wasn't really a roadmap.

Most music education resources still revolved around printed books, teacher manuals, and the traditional publishing model. That's a wonderful model, and it has served our profession well.

But I wanted to try something different.

Instead of asking teachers to figure everything out from a printed page, I began creating YouTube videos. Then blog posts. Pinterest boards. Facebook communities. Email support. Teacher tips. Video demonstrations.

Many people thought it was a little unusual.

Others embraced it immediately, and for that, I am grateful.

Over the last thirteen years, that decision has connected me with thousands of teachers around the world. Together we've accumulated hundreds of reviews on Teachers Pay Teachers, countless success stories on social media, and an incredible community of educators who have helped shape S-Cubed into what it is today.

None of that happened because of technology.

It happened because teachers trusted one another.

Technology simply allowed us to have the conversation.

Today we're standing at another crossroads.

Artificial intelligence.

I completely understand why some teachers are hesitant.

Every new technology brings questions.

Will it replace teachers?

Will students rely on it too much?

Will it make learning less personal?

Those are fair questions.

I've asked many of them myself.

But after spending months exploring what AI can—and cannot—do, I've come to see something important.

The best educational technology has never replaced great teaching. Ever. I've done this since 1989. When I started, I remember having meetings with people who were helping the administrators trust Apple. Seriously.

It removes obstacles so teachers can spend more time doing what only teachers can do.

That's exactly why I'm building the S-Cubed AI Coach.

This isn't an app that teaches instead of you.

It isn't a shortcut.

It isn't designed to replace the hundreds of videos, lessons, and years of experience that have gone into S-Cubed.

Instead, it's designed to organize all of that knowledge into one place.

Imagine having a coach that's available whenever you need it.

"I'm starting Lesson 3 tomorrow. What should I watch for?"

"One of my students keeps making this mistake. What should I do?"

"How fast should I move through Lesson 7?"

"What if my students are struggling with skips?"

Instead of searching through years of blog posts, videos, emails, and social media discussions, the AI Coach can guide you through the first ten lessons using the same philosophy I've been teaching for years.

We have learned from thirteen years of questions.

Thirteen years of answers.

Thirteen years of teacher feedback.

Thirteen years of refining what works.

The goal isn't to make teachers dependent on AI.

The goal is to help teachers become confident with S-Cubed more quickly so their students experience success sooner.

Because that's what has always mattered.

Not the technology.

The kids who land in front of us.

If this AI Coach helps one more teacher feel confident enough to stick with sight-singing...

If it helps one choir experience that magical moment when students realize they can truly read music...

Then it will have done exactly what I hoped.

Every chapter of S-Cubed has looked a little different.

First it was YouTube.

Then blogging.

Then social media.

Now AI.

The mission hasn't changed.

I'm simply continuing the journey of meeting teachers where they are, using the best tools available to help them become successful.

And when teachers become successful...

Their students do, too.

I can't wait to share what's coming.

October 6.

TpT Back to School Sale and some gift cards for you!

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:41:42 +0000

The first two people to email me at inthemiddlewithmrd@gmail.com with "Send me the gift card" in the subject line will be sent a $10 gift card for the TpT Sale!

Thanks for reading!

The sale is August 4th and 5th.

Google Slides Version of Mega Bundle of S-Cubed

The new Mastery Belt System Bundle. Great for long-time users of S-Cubed.

The"QUICK!" Series 15 lesson bundle

The Elementary Bundle of S-Cubed

My New Nine-Week Musical Bundle that includes Hairspray, Shrek, and Matilda.

My Nine Week Music Bundle that includes Annie, Newsies, and Sound of Music.

My Chorus Sub Plan Bundle

Why do so many children quit music lessons?

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 21:14:22 +0000

Why Do So Many Children Quit Music Lessons?

The answer may have less to do with talent... and more to do with how they're being taught.

Every year, thousands of children begin music lessons with excitement. They dream of playing songs they love, performing for family and friends, and becoming "musical."

Yet, just a year or two later, many of those same children have quit.

Why?

Parents often assume it was because their child wasn't motivated enough or simply "wasn't musical."

After teaching music for more than 30 years, I don't believe that's the real reason.

I think many children quit because success isn't celebrated, and it doesn't happen fast enough.

Music Should Build Confidence... Not Frustration

Imagine asking a child to read an entire chapter book before they've learned the alphabet.

We would never expect that to work.

Yet that's often what happens in music education.

Many students are asked to play songs on an instrument before they truly understand the language of music itself. They memorize finger patterns, practice the same songs over and over, and rely heavily on a teacher to tell them what comes next. In choir classes, that is super common because teachers are under pressure to do concerts, and they don't always make time to teach their students to read music.

Eventually the children begin asking themselves...

"Why is this so hard?"

"Why can't I do this on my own?"

Little by little, confidence disappears.

And when confidence disappears...

...so does motivation.

Reading Music Is a Language

Music isn't just something we play.

It's something we read.

Just like learning to read words, learning to read music begins with understanding the symbols, recognizing patterns, and gradually building fluency over time. Learning to read music mimics the exact way our children learned to speak their native language. They should WANT to learn what the words mean, and with S-Cubed, they will.

When children can look at a piece of music and understand what they're seeing—even before touching an instrument—they begin developing true musical independence. A capella? Absolutely. It's the best way.

The confidence they gain when following the S-Cubed system changes everything.

Instead of feeling lost...

...they begin feeling capable and excited to see what is next.

The Philosophy Behind S-Cubed

When I created the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners, I wasn't trying to create another system that imitated all of the others out there. They start in the key of C (already confusing to a beginner...those LEDGER lines), move to the key of G or F (It's so HIGH...I can't sing that high), and on and on. Systems like those are a dime a dozen and they don't work for the true beginner.

I wanted to teach children how to read music confidently.

That's why every lesson is built around a philosophy that guided my classroom for decades:

3/4 Learning + 1/4 Cup Fun = SUCCESS!

Children absolutely need to enjoy learning.

But they also deserve lessons that build real skills.

The "learning" comes from carefully sequenced instruction that develops music literacy one step at a time.

The "fun" comes from celebrating progress, singing, games, and activities that keep students engaged and looking forward to the next lesson with Mr. C, with whom I collaborated when we created this version of the program. He is a long-time user of S-Cubed, and he captures the Home version of this program perfectly.

When we balance "fun" with celebration of success, something wonderful happens.

Children are excited to continue to learn.

And success makes them want to keep going.

You Don't Need a Piano to Build a Musician

One of the biggest misconceptions parents have is believing they need a piano before their child can learn to read music.

The truth is, your child's first instrument is already with them...

their voice.

The S-Cubed Homeschool Edition is designed to help children become confident music readers using their voice first. Because the program is self-paced and taught through video instruction, families can learn at home without owning a piano or paying for weekly private lessons. Try the first lesson for free by clicking this link. Check out all of my reviews from teachers over the last 13 years right here, and there are more in my TpT store!

Whether your child eventually chooses choir, band, orchestra, piano, guitar, or another instrument, they'll already have one of the most valuable musical skills they can develop:

The ability to read music independently.

Every Child Deserves the Chance to Succeed

If your child has struggled with traditional music lessons—or if you're looking for an affordable way to introduce music at home—I hope you'll consider giving them a different kind of musical beginning.

One built on understanding.

One built on confidence.

One built on success.

Because I don't believe children quit music because they aren't capable.

I believe many simply haven't been given the right foundation and the right philosophy.

And that's exactly why I created S-Cubed. The original version of the program has been used in classrooms all over the world since 2013. Now it's time to bring it into their homes!

Have a question? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Has your child ever taken music lessons? What was their experience?

What if your child could learn to read music...without piano lessons?

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:36:42 +0000

What if your child could learn to read music...without piano lessons?

When I taught middle school chorus, one of my greatest joys was watching students discover that they could actually read music.

Not guess.

Not imitate.

Not wait for someone to play it on the piano.

They could simply look at the notes on the page and sing them.

That skill changed everything.

For the past 13 years, my S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners has been used by hundreds of classroom teachers and thousands of students. It has been refined, tested, and proven in real classrooms by music educators across the country.

But recently, I began thinking about a different group of children.

What about the child who loves music but doesn't have a piano or other instrument at home?

What about the family who wants to give their child a strong musical foundation before they ever choose an instrument?

Or homeschool families looking for a complete music reading curriculum they can use at home?

That's why I created the S-Cubed Homeschool Edition.

This isn't just for homeschoolers.

It's for any family that wants their child to learn to read music in a fun, self-paced way.

Why parents love it

🎵 No piano or other instrument is required.

🎵 No musical background is required from the parent.

🎵 Children work at their own pace.

🎵 It's far less expensive than years of private piano lessons.

🎵 The lessons are engaging, interactive, and designed to build confidence one small success at a time.

My teaching philosophy has always been simple:

3/4 learning + 1/4 cup fun = SUCCESS!

By the end of Level One, students will be able to:

Read music independently.
Sight-Sing music examples a cappella (without a piano or adult helping).
Read skips as wide as an octave accurately.
Perform syncopated rhythms accurately.
Confidently use the Curwen hand signs to locate pitches.
Sing a chromatic scale in tune.
Have excellent ability to identify sharp/flat and in-tune singing.
And have fun while they do it!

Those are remarkable skills for beginning musicians. I wasn't able to demonstrate some of those skills until I was in college.

Whether your child eventually joins choir, learns an instrument, sings in church, auditions for musical theatre, or simply enjoys making music, learning to read music is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Try Lesson One of the program for FREE

I'd love for you to experience the program before making any commitment.

🎵 FREE Lesson 1 of S-Cubed Home Edition:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/S-Cubed-Homeschool-Edition-Lesson-1-The-Game-Forbidden-Pattern-5594070

If your family enjoys it, the Complete Level One Homeschool Edition is available here:

🎵 Complete S-Cubed Home Edition:
View the complete Level One program

As families prepare for a new school year, this is a wonderful time to add a fun extracurricular activity that develops real musical skills. Whether you're homeschooling, supplementing a traditional school education, or simply looking for a meaningful music curriculum your child can enjoy at home, I'd love for you to take a look. The program was created by me, and the videos in the Home edition are led by a long-time user of my sight-singing program in the public school classroom, Mr. C.

And if you know a parent, grandparent, homeschool family, music teacher, or anyone raising a child who loves music, I would be honored if you shared this post with them.

Music literacy is one of the greatest gifts we can give a child—and it doesn't require a piano to begin.

S-Cubed Homeschool Edition- Lesson 1-The Game- FREE on TpT

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:06:16 +0000

S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners – Lesson 1 (Homeschool Edition)
It's FREE on TpT! Go grab it!
To see the S-Cubed Homeschool Complete Edition, click here.
Give your child the lifelong gift of reading music.
Have you ever wished your child could look at a page of music and confidently sing the notes instead of simply memorizing songs by ear?
S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners was created to make learning this valuable skill simple, enjoyable, and achievable—even if you don't have a music background yourself.
This self-paced program has helped thousands of music students and teachers build strong music-reading skills, and now it's available in a format that's perfect for homeschool families.
What Your Child Will Learn
In Lesson 1, students begin developing the essential foundation for reading music by learning to:
Learn correct posture for singing
Learn the solfege hand signs
Play the game that is the "hook" for the program- Forbidden Pattern
Each lesson in S-Cubed builds on the previous one, allowing students to experience success from the very beginning.
Designed for Homeschool Families
✔ Self-paced learning
✔ Short daily lessons (10–15 minutes is ideal)
✔ No formal music training required for parents
✔ Easy-to-follow instructional videos created by Mr. D, delivered by Mr. C
✔ Printable student materials
✔ Learn at your own schedule
Whether music is a core subject or simply an enrichment activity in your homeschool, Lesson 1 fits easily into your weekly routine.
Why Sight Singing?
Learning to read music is much like learning to read words. Instead of memorizing every song, students develop the ability to understand music for themselves.
These skills benefit children who:
Take piano lessons
Sing in a choir
Play an instrument
Participate in musical theater
Want a stronger overall music education
A Proven Classroom Program
Originally developed for middle school chorus classrooms, the S-Cubed program has been used successfully by music educators across the country for more than a decade. Hundreds of teachers have shared positive reviews about how effectively it teaches beginning sight singing.
Now homeschool families can benefit from the same structured approach from the comfort of home.
Included in Lesson 1
Instructional teaching videos
Student practice materials
Guided exercises
Step-by-step instruction
Everything needed to complete Lesson 1 successfully
Suggested Age
Recommended for students approximately ages 10–15, though motivated younger or older beginners can also be successful.
No Musical Experience? No Problem.
Many homeschool parents feel uncertain about teaching music. This program was designed to guide both parent and student through the learning process with clear instruction and manageable lessons.
By the end of Lesson 1, your child won't just know a few songs—they'll have begun developing the skill of reading music independently, creating a foundation that will benefit them for years to come. 3/4 cup learning + 1/4 cup fun = SUCCESS! The S-Cubed way!

Check out this blog post with a homeschool parent review-
Homeschool Parent Review

S-Cubed Homeschool Edition- Sight Singing Program for Beginners!

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:31:24 +0000

Are you a parent who doesn't know how to read music? No problem. Your homeschool child will be able to read music and much more after they complete this program! Have your child click on the videos and follow Mr. C each day.

This homeschool music curriculum was originally developed during the 2020 pandemic, when classroom music teachers were struggling to teach music literacy online, and it is based on the highly regarded S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners Classroom Edition that has been reviewed by hundreds of teachers and is used by teachers all over the world in music classrooms. Now, many homeschool parents and co-ops are discovering this fun, effective, and easy way to teach music to the 10- to 16-year-old homeschool students.

This package contains the entire Level One S-Cubed Sight Singing Program Homeschool Edition. Once you purchase it, you own it for life, and you can use it with all of your children. Only one license is required per family. It's "open and go", self-paced, video-based, mastery-oriented, and it doesn't require the parent to be a music specialist.

I got this email from a homeschool parent in 2022.

Hello

I am a homeschooling parent to 2 kids currently in elementary. We have done some free solfa programs but are looking for something more.

I came across your program but am not sure which one would be best for me. I watched the music first you tube video you have, and I like that, but the subscription only lasts one year? How does this compare to your PowerPoint bundle with JW Pepper? If you can help point me in the right direction, that would be great. I tend to do the lesson with the kids but can 'teach' it if not video-based.

We currently do solfa twice a week but are willing to put it to three.

thanks,

Marlon

Here is my response-

Dale Duncan inthemiddlewithmrd@gmail.com

Jul 17, 2022, 8:03 AM

to Marlon

Good morning!

Thank you for your interest!

During the pandemic, I collaborated with a colleague to create a version of the program that could be done online. I think that would be a good option for you.

Since you do it twice a week all year, you have a couple of options.

If you aren’t sure how committed you’ll be, I recommend just purchasing the first five lessons.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Distance-Learning-Bundle-1-Lessons-1-5-S-Cubed-Sight-Singing-for-Beginners-5647725

The link is above.

If you end up finishing the first five lessons, you can come back to me, and I will send you to the second bundle, which contains lessons six through 10.

If you want to go all in, purchase this bundle-

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Distance-Learning-Version-COMPLETE-BUNDLE-LEVEL-ONE-S-Cubed-Sight-Singing-5802934

It’s level one… 27 lessons.

Both options are the same… I bundled them differently so that people who teach in different situations would have options and would not have to buy unnecessary lessons. You would not need to lead the lessons because of how they are set up. My collaborator, Mario, leads each lesson through video. There are assessments included. The original version of the program was intended to be used by a teacher who teaches in a group setting.

I hope that helps!

3 years later, in 2025, I got this email from the same parent after having used the program.

Marlon marlon

May 16, 2025, 9:30 AM

I just want to say thank you for your great resource. We are a homeschooling family, and I have never used such a great solfa program. We LOVE Mr. C. I have never used a video teaching resource with someone who could reach students through video like that!. I guess when we are done with level 1, we move to level 2, which is available on TPT?

I didn't complete a distance/homeschool version of Level Two because most people don't get that far, but here is the thing: When your children finish Level One, they will be able to sight-sing in two-parts a capella with skips as wide as an octave and dotted-quarter/eighth note combinations just like the students in this video. Click here for Video 1. Click here for Video 2, which is just five minutes later. They do it a capella on their own without my help from the teacher, me!

Once your child completes the curriculum, you can have them continue to practice their skills by using Sight Reading Factory. SRF has an auto-assessment tool that gives instant feedback to your student. I highly recommend it!

At the start of the pandemic, there was a huge demand to create something teachers could use to teach their students to read music online, so Mr. D, the original creator, paired with long-time S-Cubed user, Mr. C, to create this program. Homeschool parents began to discover it over the last few years, so we've decided to rebrand it with hopes that more homeschool parents and co-ops will find it. This program uses video music lessons that are interactive to become fluent in the solfege hand signs while learning gradually over days, weeks, and months to read music if used 10-15 minutes per day. This program is designed to be fun and effective. 3/4 cup learning plus 1/4 cup fun = SUCCESS! That's the S-Cubed way.

Read below to learn more! Email me at inthemiddlewithmrd@gmail.com with questions!

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Original product description from 2020-

Since late April of 2020, soon after the shutdown began, we've worked to re-create all of these lessons so our students can continue to learn to sight sing from their computers in these guided lessons. They are designed so that you can simply upload them into your virtual platform (like Google Classroom, for example) and follow the teacher who is on video teaching you. The lessons are editable so you can do what you'd like as well in order to custom fit the lessons for your students.

Click here to read the original product description of this lesson from the original version of S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners.

Before proceeding with the purchase of this lesson, please read this product description if you wish to purchase the original version of S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners. Also, this blog post so you are very clear about what you are purchasing and what our goals are with this project. This is a "test run" of some distance learning versions of S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners.

These guided video lessons are a great resource for our students who are distance learners. Distance learning with Mr. C! follows a modified version of Music In the Middle with Mr. D! S-Cubed! Sight Singing Program for Beginners. In the event that your daily routines are disrupted, students are encouraged to continue learning at their own pace from home.

Mario Contreras, who leads the Distance Learning sessions in S-Cubed, aka “Mr. C.”, has been a middle school choir director for 9 years. He has used S-Cubed! to build strong foundations with his choirs for many years and has seen and heard positive feedback from his students.

In light of world events that have led to an increase in Distance Learning, Mr. C has created student-friendly video instruction of S-Cubed! He has modified the original product to fit the needs of our distance learners.

This product fosters continued music education at home, and would benefit students who require extra learning accommodations in choir. Mr. C has also added suggestions for assessing a student's mastery within the documents he has created.

Although this is not a replacement for a hands-on learning experience in a traditional choral setting, this will help build and maintain a strong foundation in individual music literacy and choral techniques for our young musicians.

Guided video instruction from a real middle school choir director
Follows a modified version of S-Cubed level 1
Continued music education at home/ remote leaning
Introducing/reinforcing new music knowledge and skills
Suggested Assessments of Mastery

Celebrate Summer with this "End of June" S-Cubed Sight Singing Program and Mastery Belt System Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:15:30 +0000

Around the country and beyond its borders, most teachers are out for the summer.

So, I am hosting a giveaway of the largest bundle in the S-Cubed series, and also the newest addition to the S-Cubed Series family, Mastery Belt System, created by Pamela Weaver of The Choir Room on TpT. That is over $400 worth of free materials! Someone will get those items for free on Monday, June 29, 2026. All who enter the giveaway will receive an email from me on Monday morning, June 29, letting them know how to get some items in my store for 50% off that day only, including the Mega Bundle and the Mastery Belt System Bundle.

By now, most choral music educators have heard of the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners, but if you haven't, click this link to see the reviews that I've kept for the last 13 years as I've been sharing it, and you can also check out the reviews in my TpT store.. And click this link to access the FREE curriculum map, which is available exclusively in my TpT, so you can see how the lessons flow and what is covered if you want to learn more about the program.

If you haven't heard of the Mastery Belt System, make sure to read the product description in this link. And also, watch this video of an interview I did with the creator, Pamela Weaver, in late February. She has created a wonderful incentive program for students of S-Cubed in which they progress from one color "belt" to the next as they master the various skill sets of each individual lesson successfully. If you are a long-time user of S-Cubed, her program can inject new energy into your journey with S-Cubed.

Also, if you are a long-time user of the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners, and you've created something that you think could enhance or amplify the S-Cubed journey of teachers and students, email me at inthemiddlewithmrd@gmail.com. In the subject line, write "Can we schedule time to talk about what I've created?", and I'll get back to you.

That is exactly how my journey with Pamela Weaver and The Choir Room began. It was almost a year ago when Pamela contacted me to share her system with me. We worked together slowly and steadily over several months before we offered it, and many teachers have purchased The Mastery Belt System and are using it in their classrooms. If you're one of those people, and you are reading this, please leave reviews on TpT in my store or hers, depending on where you purchased it. We need them! It helps more people find our work when we have reviews. In fact, if you leave a review for any product of mine that you have purchased in my TpT store between today (June 22, 2026) and June 28, 2026, email me, and I'll send you a product from my store that is worth up to $25 in value. In the subject line, please write "I left a review for..." and list the product. I get notifications from TpT on every single review that is left, but I don't get access to your email addresses when you do that, so please make sure to email me.

So, back to the giveaway- You can enter below these photos!

*When you enter, make sure you include your correct email address in your entry. Otherwise, you will not be entered in the giveaway.

*There are multiple ways to enter, and you are welcome to do them all to increase your chances.

Click the link below in blue to enter the giveaway anytime between now (June 22, 2026) and Sunday night, June 28, at midnight Eastern time. >>> .

Good luck!

The Curwen Hand Signs Leverage all three learning styles for S-Cubed Sight Singing Program

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:14:56 +0000

Using the Curwen Hand signs is not that hard.

I learned them in my 30s while creating the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners, and I did so through daily use in a gamified setting. I learned the power of lifting and lowering the hands and pulsing to connect the rhythm to their brains. I took it further with exercises like "Follow the Hand". Then I incorporated increasingly subtle hand movements when I added the "Ear Training" component, which is woven throughout S-Cubed.

Using the hand signs with my students was simple, not scary, and a game-changer.

Many choir teachers learned to read music while they were children, taking piano lessons.

In that setting, there are multiple advantages-

*The privilege of private instruction

*The early start to learning to read music

*The kinesthetic/visual/auditory connection that comes while you are reading and hearing the music that you are making while reading it from the page.

Most of our beginners have had none of those privileges.

So, we must find ways to successfully get our students...all of them...to successfully read...no matter what learning limitations they have.

We know that leveraging all three learning styles is one of the best ways to do that, so if you've resisted learning and using the Curwen Hand Signs, rethink it.

When I did it, I literally did so in front of my students through the game Forbidden Pattern each day. They loved the game, and before I knew it, I was fluent in the usage of the hands signs, and so were they.

I've always recommended these charts from Dancing Crayon on TpT because she created them just for my program when I was getting started sharing S-Cubed. She also created one for the Chromatic hand signs that I use in S-Cubed, which is available for you if you dare to get that far into the program.

I've kept track of the reviews and testimonials from teachers who have used my program for years.

If you are thinking about using S-Cubed next year, take time to read them and take a look at the free curriculum map located in my TpT store!

If you have any questions about the program, as always, email me directly- inthemiddlewithmrd@gmail.com. Subscribe to my email list by emailing me and writing "Subscribe" in the subject line.

Prioritizing your health

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Sat, 16 May 2026 01:32:46 +0000

I've always prioritized my health.

I still do it.

When I wake up every day, I am thankful.

Then, I decide...When am I going to work out? What does that look like? How long do I have? Do I really want to work out hard, or do I want to play Pickleball for 2 hours?

Today, I did a quick leg workout, jump rope, and some plyometrics between sessions with clients at Lifetime.

I am 62, so it all looks different now than it did back in the day.

I'm helping this amazing human being return to prioritizing her health as she retires from an epic career.

I am thankful for the opportunity to do it.

I am careful with her.

She is just two years older than I am, but because she has not always prioritized herself and her health, I want to get her where she wants to be, one step at a time, without injuries.

This is my next chapter.

I've always prioritized my health, even as I ran a program of 350+ students in public schools as a choral music educator.

I want to move as well as I can, as pain-free as I can, for as long as I can.

That is what I want to help others do.

I am loving this next chapter.

Need a free Broadway Musical Unit for the end of the School Year?

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:50:00 +0000

Need a free Broadway Musical Theater Unit for the end of the school year?

This one is great!

You can test out my Broadway musical theater series that I have in my TPT store with this free lesson.

This unit focuses on the musical Hairspray! There are so many great lessons that come from the plot of this show, and the kids love watching the musical. As with all of my musical theater units, it is filled with activities that are interactive. There are games. There are opportunities for singing, acting, writing and creation.

Go and get it… And then consider purchasing some of the other units in my TPT store on Broadway Musical Theatre. Leave a review! It helps more teachers know the quality of the product, and it helps me help you better!

Mr. D- Creator of S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners on "The Choir Guys" Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:02:00 +0000

We had a blast talking about everything ranging from Pickleball to my "not so secret" past as an Aerobic Gymnast to the Olympics to solfege and sight singing!

Blake Richter and Daniel Gutierrez are two delightful hosts of The Choir Guys podcast. They love teaching middle and high school choir, and so did I before I retired and moved on to things like Pickleball and personal training!

One of my core missions in life is and has always been to help middle school teachers, and that is also what these two are doing with their podcast.

Listen to it here or wherever you get your podcasts!

Do you hate it when your admins and counselors dump children into your Choir Program?

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:06:00 +0000

Do you hate it when your admins and counselors dump children into your choir program mid-year?

We've got a solution for users of the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners!

We officially introduced Pamela Weaver, of The Choir Room on TpT last night on Zoom.

She tells us all about the reasons she created the program and how to use it. We also learn about her donut obsession and how she starts the program to get "buy in" from every student.

The video begins at the 12-minute mark, and it includes an approximately 50 minute discussion of the Mastery Belt System for S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners created by Pamela Weaver of The Choir Room on TpT. She tells us the "what, the why and the how" of her new system that is sure to motivate your students to excitedly achieve the various concepts that students need to master to move toward the sight singing competency of each step of the program...and your admins will love it too. And another thing- When students get "dumped" into your program mid-year, you'll have exactly the tools you need to walk up to your counselor and say "We are setting this new student up for failure because the student is unable to do these things." Pamela provides the list in her lessons. It'll make it way easier for you to keep your program filled with students who are in the right class for their ability.

Sit down with a glass of your favorite beverage, and learn about this awesome new system that will enhance your experience using S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners while motivating your students to do their best.

Here is the link to the video.

Ask Mr. D and Pamela Weaver- Creator of The Mastery Belt System for the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners- on Zoom!

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 20:29:00 +0000

Pamela Weaver from The Choir Room on TpT has created a new series called "The Mastery Belt System" specifically for use with the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners.

Her students love it (and so do her admins!).

We will be on Zoom on 2/24/26 at 7 PM EST where we will learn what this supplemental program can add to your S-Cubed journey.

Join Dale Duncan, from Music in the Middle with Mr. D on TpT, and Pamela Weaver, from The Choir Room on our free Zoom to learn more about what choir teachers are talking about!

Reserver your spot here on my Facebook page- Click here.

I hope to meet you there!

TpT Cyber Sale Gift Card Giveaway from Music in the Middle with Mr. D

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 20:13:00 +0000

The TpT Cyber Sale is December 1 and December 2, and I am giving away a $20 gift card on Monday morning December 1! Use promo code Cyber25 to get 25% off anything in my store on those two days. My entire store will be 25% off for the entire sale.

You can use it to purchase anything you wish including the brand new companion product to S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners, the Mastery Belt System as well as other great items by awesome TpT sellers. Get your wish list ready.

Enter in one or all of the several ways I've included in the giveaway link at the bottom of this email. One of the ways to enter includes double points which may help you win. Make sure to try them all!

Check your email on Monday morning! Someone is going to have a gift card for $20!

Now... Scroll to the bottom of this post, click the link, and enter for your chance to win!

Enter to win with this link-

Guest Blogger, Pamela Weaver, on the real impact of using Mastery Belt System with S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 18:28:00 +0000

I've been writing and posting about the Mastery Belt System which is a companion product for my S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners. Pamela Weaver, from The Choir Room on TpT writes about how she used the Belt System last week.

Someone is going to win the Mega Bundle of my program, a large bundle of the Mastery Belt System, and my Sub Plan bundle one week from today- Here is how to enter.

On the morning of November 24th, someone is going to win the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program Mega Bundle, the new S-Cubed companion product created by Pamela Weaver, the Mastery Belt System, and two months of my sub plans!

It’s a big Thanksgiving giveaway! You can enter until 11:59 PM on November 23rd.

http://inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com/2025/11/thanksgiving-s-cubed-sight-singing.html?m=1

Pamela mentions below how she uses Sight Reading Factory- Reminder- If you use Sight Reading Factory with your students, use promo code "scubed" for a 10% discount. This past summer, I hosted Don Crafton on a Zoom, and we talked about the latest technology systems on Sight Reading Factory. It's great stuff. If you missed it, here is the link- Here it is.

Here is the blog post from Pamela Weaver-

Motivation, Beads, and Sight-Reading Factory

One of my favorite parts of the Mastery Belt System, built on the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners, is the motivation it creates. My students will do anything for their next belt—even when the “belt” is literally just a tiny pony bead.

And honestly? That motivation is a huge part of why this system works so beautifully across my entire program.

This year I started using Sight-Reading Factory with my intermediate and advanced students as a way to assess the real application of their S-Cubed skills. They don’t need the same content-knowledge checks as my beginners, but I still need to know where their musicianship is landing. With 82 intermediate singers and 47 advanced singers, one-on-one hallway assessments just aren’t possible as often as I’d like.

SRF solves that.

Each student completes two sight-reading assignments a month—and they can do them in less than five minutes.

Yesterday, I told my classes I’d be handing out Orange Beads today. My students know the expectation: if their SRF assignments aren’t done, they don’t get the bead.

Later that night, an eighth grader emailed me to say she had just finished her missing assignment and wanted to make sure her grade was updated in time to earn her belt. This is a student who’s been through S-Cubed and the Mastery Belt System with me before, and now as an eighth grader, she’s applying those skills directly in our repertoire.

But the motivation is still there.

That drive to earn the next bead never goes away.

When a student completes their belt, I hype it up and hand them their bead with full performance energy. And when they earn all of their beads for the year, they become Masters—one of my students’ favorite end-of-year celebrations.

This small moment—a single email about a missing sight-reading assignment—captures exactly why the Mastery Belt System works.

Pamela Weaver

@the_choirroom

Update on the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners and the Mastery Belt System Collaboration

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:38:00 +0000

I announced earlier this fall that I was collaborating with Pamela Weaver from The Choir Room on TpT on a companion product that she developed for S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners called the Mastery Belt System.

Pamela purchased S-Cubed years ago, and is a very experienced user of the program. The Mastery Belt System is her creation that she uses in her classroom to assess the skills from each lesson in S-Cubed. She's created clear data points that help her learn about how successfully she's taught the skills from S-Cubed and how well the students have learned the skills individually. Administrators love it, and so do the students. When they master each skill, they advance to the next belt.

She wrote this blog post below yesterday about how she used it in her classroom earlier that day.

We will be giving away the Mega Bundle of S-Cubed, one of the large bundles of the Mastery Belt System and my Sub Bundle on November 24. Here are the details on how to enter-

It’s a big Thanksgiving giveaway! You can enter until 11:59 PM on November 23rd.

http://inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com/2025/11/thanksgiving-s-cubed-sight-singing.html?m=1

----

Pamela's post-

Orange Belt Assessments: Real-World Impact in a Big Choir Room

I’m in the middle of wrapping up the Orange Belt with my beginners—almost 100 sixth graders split into two huge classes of about 50 each.

A lot of people assume it’s impossible to keep track of every student in a class that size… and honestly, they’re not wrong. You do have to stay on top of your stuff! One thing that’s been a total lifesaver for me, especially in these beginning stages, is the Mastery Belt Assessments I built.

For example, we just finished the Orange Belt Final Test. A major focus of this belt is note-name identification. Students complete two assignments, several written warm-ups, and a final exam—all designed to check that skill. There’s also basic vocabulary like bar line, measure, staff, time signature, and accent.

Once the tests were done, I sat down and reviewed every score. I use that data not only to see who’s struggling, but also to gauge my own teaching. For instance, this time around, I realized I didn’t do as strong a job teaching rhythm rules—I had to rush that section—so many students missed those questions. That tells me it’s something I need to revisit.

For students who didn’t pass, I dug deeper to identify which skills they were missing. If it was vocabulary, I can review that quickly with the whole class (because chances are, others need that refresher too). If it’s note naming, that’s more foundational—so I plan to pull those students for small-group support and focused practice.

These assessments aren’t just about grades or data points. Yes, they give me evidence to share with administrators, counselors, and parents—and they help me speak clearly at IEP or conference meetings about where a student is growing or struggling. But more importantly, they ensure that every single student gets the chance to succeed.

Now that I’ve reviewed all the data, I’ve identified about six or seven students in each class who need extra help, plus exactly which skills they’re missing. I’ve even written a quick review sheet for my TA to use over the next two days so those students can get targeted support as we keep moving forward in the curriculum.

At the end of the day that’s what The Mastery Belt System is about—structure, equity, and success for every learner.

— Pamela

"One Life, One Chance"

How did you change the world today?

QUICK! I need ideas for my Choir Lesson! Topic- Concert Planning Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:54:00 +0000

We all know the importance of proper planning.

It's really important to the success of our students when we are preparing for concerts.

Concerts are a "thing". Concerts are "moments" for our students, and it is our job to make the moment memorable for all of the right reasons instead of the wrong reasons!

A lot of the things that can go wrong can be avoided with good planning.

This "QUICK!" series lesson is aimed at the teacher- The choir teacher, the orchestra teacher and/or the band teacher.

It is designed to get your brain expecting and anticipating all of the parts of the concert planning process from picking and ordering music to the dress rehearsal.

In this lesson, you are advised to create various templates that you can use long term for all of your concerts to make things easier for you and for your students.

All of my "QUICK!" series lessons are designed to. help you get ideas and to think about things differently than you might have without my "QUICK!" lesson.

Please leave a review! Teachers count on them, and I do too!

We must set the up for success.

Here is the lesson on TpT!

Thanksgiving S-Cubed Sight Singing Program Giveaway- Enter here on my blog through 11/23/25

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:59:00 +0000

Please follow my TpT Store, and if you've purchased a product, leave a review!

It's Thanksgiving season, and I am thankful for every teacher who has used, is using or wants to use S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners, so I am giving it away to one lucky winner on the morning on November 24, 2025- the Monday before Thanksgiving. This is a $379 value, and you get the entire program for life.

You enter at the bottom of this blog post. More info on that later...

I've kept a running log on my blog of many of the reviews, testimonials, and emails here on my blog since I began sharing the program in 2013. My work has been reviewed over 900 times on TpT since I began sharing my work. One of my newer lessons from my "QUICK!" series on Developing Tone and Overtones just got this review earlier this week. I've screenshot it for you here-

It is because of teachers who took a chance on my work early on my journey that people have heard of my program, and I am grateful. They post on social media about it and talk about it in meetings and at present about it at conferences all over the country. No company helped me make this happen. Teachers did.

There are two prizes in addition to the Mega Bundle. The brand new Mastery Belt System. Pamela Weaver, from The Choir Room on TpT, created this reward/assessment system, and we both offer it in our stores. We are rolling it out slowly. Click here to see one of the bundles that includes lessons 1-18. Read the product description. If you use S-Cubed already, this could enhance and energize your experience. It's a $30.50 value.

And who can't use two months of sub plans? Click here to see! $59 value.

So, this giveaway is huge because I am thankful.

Someone will win and will be notified the morning of 11/24/25. All who enter and leave their email addresses will be notified via email that morning with a special one day offer to buy these products at a huge discount for one day (11/24/25).

You can enter multiple ways. Do as many as you like. Note the point value for the various entries. If you do all of the entries, you get huge point bonuses. The winner is randomly chosen. If you post on social media, tag me please! Comment on posts!

Help more people learn about these products. We've worked hard on them!

Thank you! And Good luck!

Creating and Developing Overtones with your Choir- And also- Have you ever had a singer who can't match pitch? A new "QUICK!" series lesson for you!

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 18:48:00 +0000

"This is an excellent resource for all choirs at every level."

That is what Kendra N. wrote today in a review on TpT on my "QUICK!" series lesson focused on producing overtones. Click here to see it!

My affordable series "QUICK! I need ideas from my Choir Lesson!" is filled with tons of ideas designed to help choir teachers of all levels with various things we face and need help with on a daily basis in our choral classrooms.

The review Kendra N. (139 reviews! Amazing!) left for me here captures exactly what I hoped would happen with this series of lessons. Reviews are so important on TpT, and I am grateful for every single one!

Because people know my work through S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners which is primarily aimed at Grades 4-10, I wanted to create something that ALL choir teachers can use. Whether you teach Church choir, High School Choir, Elementary Choir, or Middle School Choir, this series is for you.

I cover a range of topics from Teaching Concert Etiquette, Achieving Blend and Balance, Developing Part Independence and much more, and you can purchase and use the lessons on a whim for a very low price. The volume of ideas in each lesson is immense, so you will get a lot for what you pay.

I recently posted this video on Instagram, and it exploded. The topic was "Have you ever had a singer who can't match pitch? Here is a hack for you!"

I've created a new lesson in the "QUICK!" series that specifically includes the above video along with numerous other approaches to help you help your students match pitch better and to learn self-assessment and self-correction as they progress. From interactive partner games designed to be played with someone who has a similar voice range (soprano and soprano, for example) to activities that leverage visual, aural, and kinesthetic ways to address pitch-matching so we have a better chance of getting all of our students to match pitch.

At the end of the lesson, you'll get several "app" recommendations that the students will love using to continue to help them improve their ability to match pitch and to self-address and self-correct more quickly over time.

Here is the lesson on TpT!

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

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:59:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 18:43:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (inthemiddlewithmrd1.blogspot.com) — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 12:55:00 +0000

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!

In the Middle With Mr D

The Silver Medal that Felt Like Gold.

I Don’t Want AI to Replace Artistry. I Want It to Help Artists.

In 2013, the year I started creating S-Cubed, I didn't know what I was doing.

Then AI arrived.

And yes, there's another side to this for me.

Maybe that's where the middle ground is.

And now I'm building with it.

I'm still a musician and artist first.

Why I’m Building an AI Coach for S-Cubed

Why I’m Building an AI Coach for S-Cubed

Enter the S-Cubed AI Coach

I Know the Words “AI” Make Some Teachers Nervous

Why Lessons 1–10?

I’m Building This Carefully

October 6

I've been here before-

TpT Back to School Sale and some gift cards for you!

Why do so many children quit music lessons?

Why Do So Many Children Quit Music Lessons?

The answer may have less to do with talent... and more to do with how they're being taught.

Music Should Build Confidence... Not Frustration

Reading Music Is a Language

The Philosophy Behind S-Cubed

3/4 Learning + 1/4 Cup Fun = SUCCESS!

You Don't Need a Piano to Build a Musician

Every Child Deserves the Chance to Succeed

What if your child could learn to read music...without piano lessons?

What if your child could learn to read music...without piano lessons?

Why parents love it

Try Lesson One of the program for FREE

S-Cubed Homeschool Edition- Lesson 1-The Game- FREE on TpT

S-Cubed Homeschool Edition- Sight Singing Program for Beginners!

Dale Duncan <inthemiddlewithmrd@gmail.com>

Celebrate Summer with this "End of June" S-Cubed Sight Singing Program and Mastery Belt System Giveaway

The Curwen Hand Signs Leverage all three learning styles for S-Cubed Sight Singing Program

Prioritizing your health

Need a free Broadway Musical Unit for the end of the School Year?

Mr. D- Creator of S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners on "The Choir Guys" Podcast

Do you hate it when your admins and counselors dump children into your Choir Program?

Ask Mr. D and Pamela Weaver- Creator of The Mastery Belt System for the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners- on Zoom!

TpT Cyber Sale Gift Card Giveaway from Music in the Middle with Mr. D

Guest Blogger, Pamela Weaver, on the real impact of using Mastery Belt System with S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners

Update on the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners and the Mastery Belt System Collaboration

QUICK! I need ideas for my Choir Lesson! Topic- Concert Planning Checklist

Thanksgiving S-Cubed Sight Singing Program Giveaway- Enter here on my blog through 11/23/25

Creating and Developing Overtones with your Choir- And also- Have you ever had a singer who can't match pitch? A new "QUICK!" series lesson for you!

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

Sight Reading Factory's New Auto Assessment Feature 2025

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

Dale Duncan inthemiddlewithmrd@gmail.com