Mastering Manie Musicale with Roxxem & Brandon Wilson

Meet Brandon Wilson, a French teacher at Brampton Centennial SS in Ontario who has turned Manie Musicale into the absolute highlight of the school year. Brandon isn’t just running a bracket; he’s building a classroom culture where students are genuinely invested in the artists and excited about French learning. Learn more about Brandon here.

We sat down with him to get the inside scoop on how he uses Roxxem and a few clever strategies to keep the energy high from before the first match-up to the final vote.

His 5 steps for a perfect Manie game plan?

1. Ratchet up the excitement as you go

2. Start off each class with a fun game

3. Go beyond the music

4. Bring on the competition

5. It's all about the community

Watch the full podcast here or read more below!

Let's dive deeper into Brandon's 5 step game plan

1. Ratchet up the excitement as you go Don’t use all your best tricks in the first week. Brandon likes to build momentum by playing the songs early just for fun, then using simple activities during the opening rounds. As the kids start picking favorites and the stakes get higher, he leans into full units on the finalists. It makes the "real work" feel like a natural part of the hype.

Explore Roxxem's interactive music video features with "Extraordinaire" by Fredz

2. Start off each class with a fun game Brandon swaps out passive listening for active play. He starts every class with Roxxem Whac-A-Word live games to turn the tournament songs into an interactive experience. Students master the lyrics and pick up vocab while they compete, and Brandon loves the energy it brings to the room. It even encourages his students to get to class on time!

Try Whac-A-Word with "Je rentre à la maison" by Boulevard des Airs

3. Go behind the music It’s not just about the beat. Brandon uses "Song of the Day" chats to dive into artist backgrounds and the stories behind the songs. It turns the tournament into a global journey, giving students a much deeper connection to Francophone culture. He recommends using Roxxem slides for an easy, no-prep start to these discussions.

Explore Roxxem's intermediate level slides for "NOUICI" by JYEUHAIR

4. Bring on the competition If you want engagement, Brandon suggests joining the Roxxem contest. This is a global competition where classes worldwide compete for the highest scores on games tied to each Manie song. He loves seeing his classes work as a team; students encourage one another, share tips on how to beat certain games, and motivate each other toward a common goal. That drive to climb the leaderboard keeps them in the target language longer because they’re having too much fun to realize they’re studying.

Join the classroom contest to prizes and bragging rights

5. It’s all about the community At the end of the day, Brandon’s goal is to bring everyone together. By the time the finals hit, the room is electric. Students are debating, cheering, and fully invested. Nurturing this excitement through in-class activities and competitions creates a shared energy that makes Manie Musicale stick long after the last vote is cast.

Explore how Roxxem can enhance your Manie experience

Watch the full podcast

The official Manie playlist

The Roxxem Student and Classroom contest

With Roxxem Pro, gain access to the class contest, homework assignments, slides, and more. We're running a one-time 25% off discount for an annual price of $44.99 per teacher. Use code MANIE2026 at checkout.

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