Music Teacher Coffee Talk

Main Theme: Movin' and Groovin' Carrie and Tanya share some of their favorite singing games, play parties, and dances that are specially good for keeping kids moving and grooving at the end of the year.  Broom Dance: Check out this video from Bow Tie Music Rig a Jig Jig - coming soon! La Raspa  Recording and dance instructions can be found in  Sanna Longden's "More Folk Dance Music for Kids and Teachers, CD 2" Shake Them 'Simmons - coming soon! Simple Square From Chimes of Dunkirk - New England Dancing Masters Music:  Golden Slippers Formation:  Square Dance (8 in a square, standing next to partner).  Ensure that students know their partner and corner.  Also make sure everyone knows if they are couple 1, 2, 3, or 4 and who are the head couples (1 and 3), and head couple (2 and 4). Introduction: Honor to your partner (bow or curtsy to partner) Honor to your corner (bow of curtsy to corner) Wave to the folks across the square (wave to other dancers in the square

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #156: End of the Year Plans Main Theme: End of the Year Plans Tanya and Carrie discuss their end of the year plans including what content we are still going to teach and some of the extra fun things we do this time of year to keep kids engaged. Past Music Teacher Coffee Talk episodes for the end of the year: #111: Wrap it Up! #112: 3-2-1, The Final Countdown! #90: Your Future Self Will Thank You #39: End of the Year Gems #13: Outside Songs and Games Other things we mention in this episode: Example of Carrie's review planning document (this is 2nd grade) Teaching Music Tomorrow podcast with Anne Mileski and Victoria Boler Musication Day-O (Banana Boat Song) Blob Opera Incredibox BeepBox Groove Pizza Gimkit Blooket Know Better, Do Better Carrie talked about the importance of gender neutral concert dress codes. Here is a great article with ideas and things to consider. Work Smarter, Not Harder Tanya recommends creating a document now that goes into s

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #155: Realizing Diversity Check-In In this epsiode, Carrie and Tanya check in on how they have implemented things they learned during the 2023 Summer Book Club while reading Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education  by Karen Howard. Main Theme: Realizing Diversity Check-In After reading Realizing Diversity , we were inspired to create a "Music Culture Project," similar to the project outlined in Appendix D in the book. With the help of a few other teachers in our district, we created a 5-lesson unit that traces the "Son Clave" rhythm from Ghana to the Americas and how it appears in music of many cultures, genres, and time periods. Here are some resources we mention as we discuss the unit we created and taught to our 5th graders: 2023 Summer Book Club Episodes: Episode #135:  Part 1 Episode #136:  Part 2 Episode #137:  Part 3 Episode #138:  Part 4 Let Your Voice Be Heard: Songs from Ghana and Zimbabwe by  Abraha

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #153: Marvelous Music Manipulatives ft. Debbie O'Shea Today we are excited to welcome Debbie O'Shea to our to our podcast to talk about manipulatives in the music room.  DEBBIE O’SHEA  is an enthusiastic and experienced music educator. Her qualifications include a Masters of Music Studies, a Graduate Diploma of Music Education, a Bachelor of Education, and the Holy Names Kodaly Summer Certificate (California - held in Brisbane). In 2020 Debbie earned national accreditation as a Highly Accomplished Teacher.  Debbie is passionate about supporting music educators through Crescendo Music Education. She has worked as a classroom teacher, primary music specialist, early childhood music teacher, curriculum writer, lecturer, workshop presenter, massed choir conductor and composer. Debbie is currently a Kodály Queensland Committee Member and has the Kodály Philosophy in the heart of her teaching. She has had the honour of working with Catholic Educatio

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #152: Performances in a Pinch   Main Theme: Performances in a Pinch In this episode, Tanya and Carrie discuss strategies for putting together a musical performance when you are short on time. Keep a simple theme or concept to your performance Picture book adaptation Thematic concert Informance Interactive experience like a Singing Games night or Folk Dance night Keep costumes/scenery at minimum Maximize class time Split different parts or sections of the performances among different classes/sections so each group doesn't have to learn everything. Use musical selections that you have already taught Give students opportunities to practice at home by sending home practice sheets or posting to Google Classroom (or whatever LMS you use) Get help from other teachers or parent volunteers Avoid the time crunch next year Schedule your programs for next year in May Limit your performances to what is doable for you and don't say yes to everything Past Mu

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #151: Tips from the Trenches Main Theme: Tips from the Trenches Tanya and Carrie share their favorite, tried-and-true "work smarter, not harder" teacher tips.  Tips for Lesson and Classroom Planning Set a timer to stay focused on specific tasks. Keep an index card or paper handy to write notes of things you will take care of later so can you continue to be focused on one task at a time. Take time to write down notes on lessons you've already taught to make sure you teach the same thing to future classes. For family communications, send home at least 3 notices in either paper or electronic form: 1st notice: At least 1 month out 2nd notice: 2 weeks out 3rd notice: 3 days out Tech Tips: Organize Google Drive folders with color coding and number system that works for you. Use Canva to make worksheets Schedule emails Use Google Classroom (or another LMS) for extracurricular ensembles and clubs Make a master Google Slides deck to house all vis

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #150: What To Do When You Have "That Class" Upcoming Event! Virginia Organization of Kodály Educators February 10, 2024 9:00-1:00 Carrie and Tanya will present "Work Smarter, Not Harder" at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA Main Theme: What to do when you have "That Class" Things we mention in this episode: Restorative Practices PBIS Alfie Kohn Tanya's Music Money system: If you are interested in getting a copy of Tanya's Music Money template, leave us a review on iTunes and then email us at musicteachercoffeetalk@gmail.com and she'll send it your way! Tanya's Rhythm Tracing Worksheets Know Better, Do Better Tanya talks about the concept of narrative vs. counter-narrative when considering music to present to your students. This is a concept that Brandi Waller-Pace presented at a resent workshop for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of AOSA. This is a great reminder to include under represented musicians who