Music Teacher Coffee Talk

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #170: Peek At Our Week: 5th Grade Main Theme: Peek at our Week: 5th Grade Tanya:  These are the songs and activities I am using to as move move into the second semester. For the rest of this year, I will be focus on love and joy of music through active music making and also bridging between elementary music and middle school music for those who will be continuing on. I also want to focus more on multi-cultural music. We'll be doing a Tinikling unit that includes both traditional Filipino as well as moving to modern popular music. We'll also be doing a unit about the son clave rhythm pattern and its use in music throughout various cultures and genres. I'm also exploring a project where students will research one of their favorite musician's musical influences. We will also be doing ukulele and keyboard units this semester. Carrie : I am working with my 5th graders on preparing a musical performance based on the book "What Do You D...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #169: Mid Year Check In   Main Theme: Mid Year Check In In this episode, Carrie and Tanya have a mid year check in conversation reflecting on goals and plans for the second half of the school year. We talk about big goals, curricular goals, and performances. Things we mention in this episode: David Row's video about creating a concert with the book What Do You Do With An Idea? by Kobi Yamada Coda Carrie is enjoying the album Diving Deep Live by Tori Amos Tanya is enjoying the movie A Complete Unknown Did you enjoy this episode?  Consider buying us a coffee to thank us for our work. Click the button below!

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #168: Peek at Our Week: 4th Grade Main Theme: Peek at our Week: 4th Grade Carrie : These are the songs and activities I'm using to practice low la, prepare low so, and present and practice the ti-ta-ti rhythm pattern (8th-quarter-8th note) Big Fat Biscuit: great for low la and low so and playing recorder! Songs for ti-ta-ti: Alabama Gal Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree Check out the New England Dancing Masters Folk Dance for Alabama Gal here! Practice activities with ti-ta-ti:  Read rhythms off of a beach ball with rhythms written on each color section Write rhythms with Note Knacks Play King of the Mountain with rhythm tent cards ( here are Tanya's cards in TPT ) King of the Mountain Students sit in a circle with a rhythm card in front of them. The student with “ta ta ta ta” is the King and starts each round. The King says their rhythm, and then another student’s rhythm. That student then says their rhythm, and then another rhythm. The gam...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #167: A Chat With Tom Michalek   Main Theme: A Chat with Tom Michalek In this episode, Carrie and Tanya have a chat with Tom Michalek, music educator and current president of the Organization of American Kodály Educators. We talk about the Kodály philosophy, the benefits of joining OAKE, and about the upcoming OAKE National Conference that will be in Chicago from March 6-9, 2024. Tom Michalek has been teaching elementary general music for a while now, currently with the Hastings Public Schools in Hastings, Nebraska at Watson Elementary School. Tom is currently the President of the Organization of American Kodály Educators. He teaches Kodály pedagogy in the summer Kodály training programs at Wichita State University and the Kodály Institute at Capital University. He is a frequent staff development presenter for many organizations and school districts throughout the United States. His areas of professional development specialization include Kodály-in...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #166: Peek at our Week: 3rd Grade Main Theme: Peek at our Week: 3rd Grade Tanya:  These are the songs and activities I am using to practice low la and also just focus on joyful music making during a busy time with a challenging group of students. This Land is Your Land with picture book for an opening song Hi, Lo, Chickalo : Turkey Turkey Gobbler : read more about ways to use this song here! Chimes of Dunkirk dance from the New England Dancing Masters book of the same name. Here's a video of the dance. Carrie : These are the songs and activities I'm using to practice re and prepare/present tika-tika (16th notes). Pumpkin Pumpkin : change the lyrics to "turn in to a pumpkin pie just like that!" Tideo : Paw Paw Patch Know Better, Do Better Check out Ashley Cuthbertson's new book Music as a Vehicle : A Practical Guide to Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching In Today's Music Classrooms. Work Smarter, Not Harder Tanya r...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #165: Realizing Diversity with Karen Howard Main Theme: Realizing Diversity with Karen Howard In this episode, Carrie and Tanya have a powerful conversation with Dr. Karen Howard about issues and ideas around diversity and culturally responsive teaching in music education. About Karen: Karen Howard is Professor of Music and Director of Graduate Studies in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas. Karen is the author of multiple articles and books related to diversifying music education through dispositions, repertoire, and pedagogical practices. She is a frequent national and international clinician supporting music educators in their journeys toward developing equitable teaching and learning environments. Karen is also a faculty fellow with the Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, she is the founder and editor of the World Music Initiative series through GIA Music (in which all musics are considered “world” music”), and is President Elect...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #164: Peek at our Week: 2nd Grade Main Theme: Peek at our Week: 2nd Grade Tanya: These are the songs and activities I am using to practice tika-tika (16th notes), practice so/mi/la, and prepare do. Of course we are also including some Halloween songs. Little Leaves Are Falling Rondo alla Turca (Tanya recommends the Glenn Gould recording Use scarves to sway on the steady beat Two Rubble Tum Bell Horses Black Cat  (check out Amy Abbott's blog for suggested activities) Say Hello: New opening song learned from Tom Borden Carrie : These are the songs and activities I'm using to practice 2-beat meter, practice rest, and practice so/mi/la. Bounce High, Bounce Low Students bounce and catch a racquetball to demonstrate 2-beat meter. Zapatito Blanco Ickle Ockle Blue Bottle We also did our first stations day in 2nd Grade. Here's what I did: Station #1: Linda McPherson's Dracula Dance interactive game Station #2: Rhythmic dictation with rhythm bl...