Music Teacher Coffee Talk

  Upcoming Events: Kodály Levels at the Colorado Kodály Institute July 11-24, 2026: Tanya and Carrie will be teaching at the Colorado Kodály Institute in Fort Collins.  Learn more and register here. Highs and Lows: Tanya's recommendations for 5th grade continuation songs: It's Raining Tacos! (Just kiddin'!) Our Time (6 Whole Years) by Risha Allen Our Time on TpT Main Theme: Lows In this episode, Carrie and Tanya talk about some lows from their careers. Resources: Mental Health for Teachers Colorado Educators Support Know Better, Do Better Tanya recommends the book The Race Card:  Leading the Fight for Truth in America's Schools Work Smarter, Not Harder Carrie recommends using a verbal sound (like "chh-chh-chh") as a cue for students to shrink, enlarge, or move a circle. Coda Tanya recommends the book What Kind of Paradise by Carrie recommends the ballet The Rite of Spring with choreography by Glen Tetley Here's some history about The Rite of Spring ballet....

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 #199: 2026 OAKE Conference Takeaways Interested in Kodály Levels courses? Check out to the Colorado Kodály Institute where Tanya teaches Level I Pedagogy and Materials and Carrie teaches Level III Pedagogy and Materials. Classes will be held July 11-24, 2026 in Fort Collins Colorado. Come study with us! Main Theme: 2026 OAKE Conference Takeaways In this episode, Carrie and Tanya talk about their takeaways from the 2026 OAKE National Conference. Things we mention in this episode: Organization of American Kodály Educators Shadows in the Moonlight: Song of the Middle East by Joan Litman and Wassim Ibrahim Next year's OAKE Conference will be March 4-7, 2027 in Chicago at the Palmer House. We hope you can join us! Know Better, Do Better Check out this resource from New York Public Schools: Black Studies as the Study of the World, a PK-12 Black Studies Curriculum . There are many lessons that directly relate to music and the arts. Work Smarter, Not H...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #197   About Paul Maley: Paul Maley is in his 15th year teaching general music and is currently at Estes Park Elementary. Paul holds a Bachelor’s of Music Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado where he also received his 3 levels of Orff Schulwerk. He received a Master’s degree in Music Education from Colorado State University with his Level III Kodaly training and Eurhythmics training. Paul has led professional development sessions for multiple districts throughout Colorado and is a regular guest presenter at UNC and CSU in their Elementary Methods courses.   Paul is the chair of the General Music Council for CMEA and is currently finishing his 7th year on the GMC council. He has presented sessions, brought ensembles to perform, and started a Thursday night folk dance night to support music teachers through the joy of movement.    Paul is a multi instrumentalist who plays professionally around Colorado ...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #192: A Kodály Meets Dalcroze Conversation with Crystal Henricks   Main Theme: A Kodály Meets Dalcroze Conversation with Crystal Henricks Crystal Henricks currently teaches lower school music at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. Her experience includes Nursery School-12th grade general and choral music, both in Chicago and China. She holds a BS in Music Education from Asbury University, Kodály Certification and MMEd from Capital University, and is a Master Teaching Artist with the American Eurhythmics Society. She completed levels I- III Orff Schulwerk Certification from the University of Kentucky and Anderson University. She is an active clinician for workshops throughout the United States. Crystal has taught elementary music pedagogy and folk song research classes at Colorado State University, California State University Bakersfield, DePaul University, VanderCook College of Music, and the University of Central Missouri. Things we men...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #191- LIVE from the OAKE WD Mini Conference Main Theme: Live from the OAKE Western Division Mini-Conference This episode features a live recording from the OAKE Western Division Mini-Conference held in Denver, CO on November 7-8, 2025. Tanya and Carrie hosted a Q&A session where participants asked questions about Kodály-inspired teaching. Thank you to everyone who attended! Coming Soon: Check back later for the music educator-specific evaluation look-for's as discussed in this episode. WD Regional Rep Melissa Headrick will be leading a post-conference virtual recap on Tuesday, November 18. We'd love to see c onference attendees that want to reminisce and share about their highlights AND music educators that were unable to come to the conference but wanted to. Date and Time: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 8:30pm MST / 7:30pm PST Meeting Details:  OAKE WD Clubhouse: Where Music Still Soars - Conference Stories & Highlights  Video call l...

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 #187: Carrie's Contemplations from Orff Schulwerk Level II 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: Carrie's Contemplat...

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 #184: Desert Island Music Room Essentials   Main Theme: Desert Island Music Room Essentials It's back to school time! In this episode, Tanya and Carrie share some of their essential materials in the music room, both tried and true stuff and things that are new to us that we are planning to incorporate this year. Materials and Manipulatives: Popsicle sticks and beat charts Puppets, preferably with moveable mouths or a "pop-out" feature Recorder stands: both soprano stand and consort stand Whiteboards, staff boards, and noteheads (mini erasers, bingo chips, etc) Parachute and stretchy band Related resource: Parachutes and Ribbons and Scarves, Oh My! Storybooks and picture books Curriculum Materials: Susan Brumfield's First We Sing series , including pedagogy books and songbooks Our own folk song collection and curriculum materials as developed in Kodály certification courses, workshops, and conferences World music song collections: Fi...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #179: Summer Learning Plans   Announcement: May Membership Upgrade Giveaway at Buy Me a Coffee! We are excited to offer our listeners support and resources through our new Membership site on Buy Me a Coffee. We have two membership options: Solo Single Shot ($5/month) and Duet Double Shot ($15). Check out our  Buy Me a Coffee membership site  for all the details including the perks you get with each level of membership.  We are doing a giveaway in May:  anyone who becomes a Solo Single Shot member this month will be eligible for a drawing for a free upgrade to the Duet Double Shot Membership for one year! Be sure to join by May 31st to be eligible. We appreciate you supporting our work! Main Theme: Summer Learning Plans Tanya and Carrie discuss the importance of summer learning and their plans for professional development over the summer. Summer Book Club Announcement! This summer we'll be bringing back our summer book club and ...