Music Teacher Coffee Talk

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #201   Upcoming Events: April 18, 2026: Carrie will be presenting "Keep Them Singing, Keep Them Playing" for the Wyoming AOSA chapter at Alta Vista Elementary in Cheyenne from 8:30-4:30. More info and register here. July 11-24, 2026: Tanya and Carrie will be teaching at the Colorado Kodály Institute in Fort Collins. Learn more and register here. Main Theme: Kodály Myth Busting In this episode, Carrie and Tanya address some common myths and misconceptions about Kodály-inspired teaching.  Things we mention in this episode: World Music Initiative series with GIA : song collections and resources from many cultures throughout the world Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond Organization of American Kodály Educators  - find a chapter or training program near you Know Better, Do Better Carrie recommends reading this article:  Black Music Aesthetics in General Music by Loneka Wilkinson Battiste . Know Better, Do B...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #188: Lifelong Learning with Katrina Hedrick   Announcements: Carrie and Tanya will both be presenting at the  OAKE Western Division Mini-Conference  on November 7th and 8th in Denver. Tanya will be presenting a session on Friday, Carrie will be presenting on Saturday, and we'll be doing a live podcast recording on Saturday. If you plan on attending the conference, we'd love to see you at our sessions! Want to cheer us on with some Music Teacher Coffee Talk merch? We are doing a pre-order of T-shirts, coffee mugs, and tote bags that can be picked up at the conference.  Complete this form to order your swag!  (Orders for WDOAKE conference attendees only- items will be delivered at the Western Division OAKE Conference in Nov. 2025) We will also both be presenting in January at the  Colorado Music Educators Association state conference  in Colorado Springs. Be sure to say hello if you go! Main Theme: Life-Long Learning w...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #186: Tanya's Takeaways from World Music Pedagogy Announcement! We will be doing a live recording of Music Teacher Coffee Talk at the OAKE Western Division Mini-Conference on November 8th in Denver! If you plan on attending the conference, we'd love to see you at our session.  Want to cheer us on with some Music Teacher Coffee Talk merch? We are doing a pre-order of T-shirts, coffee mugs, and tote bags that can be picked up at the conference. Complete this form to order your swag! (Orders for WDOAKE conference attendees only- items will be delivered at the Western Division OAKE Conference in Nov. 2025) Main Theme: Tanya's Takeaways from World Music Pedagogy In this episode, Carrie asks Tanya about her experience taking World Music Pedagogy training this past summer. We talk about what the class was like, what Tanya has learned, and how she's implementing new ideas into her teaching this year. Things we mentioned in this episode: Smit...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #185: Music as a Vehicle, with Ashley Cuthbertson Main Theme: Music as a Vehicle with Ashley Cuthbertson In this episode, Carrie and Tanya chat with Ashley Cuthbertson, the author of Music as a Vehicle: A Practice Guide to Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching in Today's Music Classrooms . We read Ashley's book for our 2025 summer book club, and it was so great to be able to ask her some follow-up questions in response to our reading. You can learn more about Ashley and her work at AshleyCuthbertson.com . Coda Ashley is enjoying Beyonce's Cowboy Carter album and was able to see her concert in Chicago Tanya is enjoying the movie Sinners Carrie is enjoying the album What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow by Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson Did you enjoy this episode?  Consider buying us a coffee to thank us for our work.  Monthly Memberships are also available! Click the button below!

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #182: 2025 Summer Book Club, Part 3   Main Theme: 2025 Summer Book Club, Music as a Vehicle, Part 3 This summer we are reading Music As a Vehicle: A Practical Guide to Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching in Today's Music Classrooms. In this episode, Carrie and Tanya discuss our thoughts about Part 3: Selecting Diverse Repertoire and Materials. We invite you to  purchase the book  and read along with us! Things we mention in this episode: "Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors" essay  by Rudine Sims Bishop " Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors" video Coda Carrie is enjoying the album "Wild and Clear and Blue" by I'm With Her Tanya is enjoying music by the Haitian band Boukman Eksperyans Did you enjoy this episode?  Consider buying us a coffee to thank us for our work.  Monthly Memberships are also available! Click the button below!

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #181: 2025 Summer Book Club, Part 2 Summer Fun! Carrie gave Tanya this Bob Dylan trivia quiz. Main Theme: 2025 Summer Book Club, Music as a Vehicle, Part 2 This summer we are reading Music As a Vehicle: A Practical Guide to Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching in Today's Music Classrooms. In this episode, Carrie and Tanya discuss our thoughts about Part 2: Setting the Stage for an Affirming Music Learning Environment. We invite you to  purchase the book  and read along with us! Coda Tanya recommends the Handsome Podcast Carrie recommends the book  Starter Villain by John Scalzi Did you enjoy this episode?  Consider buying us a coffee to thank us for our work.  Monthly Memberships are also available! Click the button below!

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #180: 2025 Summer Book Club, Part 1   Main Theme: 2025 Summer Book Club, Music as a Vehicle, Part 1 This summer we are reading Music As a Vehicle: A Practical Guide to Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching in Today's Music Classrooms. In this episode, Carrie and Tanya discuss our thoughts about Part 1: Developing a Mindset for Equity in Music Education. We invite you to purchase the book and read along with us! Things we mention in this episode: Ashley Cuthberton's Website Ashley Cuthbertson's Blog Post on Understanding Cultural Proficiency Coda Tanya recommends the Petty Crimes podcast Carrie recommends the book Secret Place by Tana French Did you enjoy this episode?  Consider buying us a coffee to thank us for our work.  Monthly Memberships are also available! Click the button below!

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 #158: Summer Learning Main Theme: Summer Learning This summer, Carrie and Tanya will be taking a break from the podcast and we will not be hosting a summer book club. However, we have some ideas for summer learning opportunities you can take advantage of until we return with new episodes in August. Summer Courses (ie: Kodály, Orff, Dalcroze, World Music Pedagogy, etc) If you are taking a summer training course, check out MTCT Episode #40: Preparing for Summer Learning Podcasts: Here are some of our favorite podcasts you can catch up on this summer Crescendo Music Education with Debbie O'Shea Make Moments Matter with David Row Music Tech Teacher Podcast with Katie Argyle Cult of Pedagogy with Jennifer Gonzalez Self-Care for Educators with Tina Boogren Happier Music Teacher with Beth Duhan How to Teach Music with Jessica Grant Teaching Music Tomorrow with Victoria Boler and Anne Mileski The Music Room with Aileen Miracle Reading: If you have missed ...

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...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #142: 🔥Hot Topics pt. 2 Upcoming Events:  Join us for a Virtual Coffee Chat with Kodály Educators of North Carolina on 9/28. Click here to register. Main Theme: Hot Topics, Part 2 In this episode, Carrie and Tanya discuss more Hot Topics as suggested by listeners and past Kodaly students. A few of the topics we discuss are: Balancing traditional Kodály-inspired lessons with PBL lessons. How to handle students who are not able to participate in certain holiday-based lessons. Tips on using and managing your sound system at school. How to approach matters of DEI while working in a more conservative community. Guiding students to choose appropriate movements. Things we mention in this episode: Aileen Miracle's Music Room Podcast Episode #142: Project Based Learning in the Music Room Fritz Anders Dalcroze-inspired YouTube Channel Have more hot topics questions? Feel free to email us at musicteachercoffeetalk@gmail.com Know Better, Do Better Carrie has...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #137: 2023 Summer Book Club Part 3 Main Theme: 2023 Summer Book Club, Part 3 This year we are reading  Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education  by Karen Howard . In this episode, Carrie and Tanya talk about Chapters 5 and 6. Things we mention in this episode: Michelle McCauley's video about Native American Music in the Elementary Music Classroom . Be sure to check out all of her videos on this topic! Book recommendation: Music Education for Social Change by Juliet Hess Book recommendation: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond Coda Carrie recommends the movie "Nope" Tanya recommends the book T he Spoon Stealer  by Lesley Crewe 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 #136: 2023 Summer Book Club, Part 2 Summer Fun:  Test your knowledge (or your friend's knowledge) in this Summer Song Quiz! Main Theme: 2023 Summer Book Club, Part 2 This year we are reading  Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education  by Karen Howard . In this episode, Carrie and Tanya talk about Chapters 3 and 4. Things we mention in this episode: Rachel Gibson's  ¡Canta Conmigo! Songs and Singing Games from Guatamala and Nicaragua Coda Tanya recommends the online game Geoguessr Carrie recommends the book The It Girl  by Ruth Ware 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 #135: 2023 Summer Book Club, Part 1   Main Theme: 2023 Summer Book Club, Part 1 This year we are reading Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education by Karen Howard . In this episode, Carrie and Tanya talk about Chapters 1 and 2. Things we mention in this episode: New York Times article about Amanda Gorman's book Book recommendation: Music Education for Social Change by Juliet Hess World Music Pedagogy courses Coda Carrie recommends the all-female bluegrass band Big Richard Tanya recommends the podcast You're Wrong About 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 #134: Summer Plans and Goals Main Theme: Summer Plans and Goals In this episode, Carrie and Tanya talk about summer plans and goals, including the official announcement of our 2023 Summer Book Club. This summer we'll be reading Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education  by Karen Howard . Here is our tentative reading/podcast schedule if you plan to read along with us. June 11:      Chapters 1-2 June 25:      Chapters 3-4 July 9:          Chapters 5-6 July 23:        Chapters 7-8 If you are interested in past book clubs, check out these books and episodes: 2022: Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain  by Zaretta Hammond Episodes 114-116 2021: Culturally Responsive Teaching in Music Education by Vicki Lind and Constance McCoy Episodes 91-94 2020: Music Education and Social Emotional Learning by Scott N. Edgar Episodes 69-72 2019: Teaching for M...