Music Teacher Coffee Talk

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #207: Sequencing Instruments and Songwriting with Tony Hartman Main Theme: Sequencing Instruments and Songwriting with Tony Hartman About Tony:  Tony Hartman is a musician, educator, and composer based in Middle Tennessee. As an educator, he teaches K-5 general music, and is also director of Steel de Boro: a 4-5th grade after school steel pan program. He is an Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Middle Tennessee State University. He has also taught beginning band and jazz band. Tony is Kodály certified and quite Kodály inspired, and he has also completed Level II training in Orff-Schulwerk and draws much inspiration from his Orff peers as well.  He has presented workshops and conference sessions across the US. He currently serves as the General Music Chair for the Tennessee Music Educators Association.  Where to find Tony: Webpage: tonyhartmanmusic.com Instagram: @tonyhartmanmusic Youtube: Tony Hartman Music - melodic and rhythmic p...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #205: Long-Range Plans Main Theme: Long-Range Plans Tips for creating Long-Range/Yearly Plans: Start with one grade level Determine how many times/classes you will have them this school year Plug in concert dates and preparation lessons for performances Avoid presenting new material at “distracted” times (weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, for example) Determine PRESENT dates/classes Work backwards from present times for presentation lessons Add in holiday and seasonal considerations (ie: tika-tika is great in the fall) Yearly Plan Templates: Vertical Yearly Plan Template Horizontal Yearly Plan  Template Other MTCT Back to School episodes: #184: Desert Island Music Room Essentials #159: Starting the School Year: Put First Things First #139: Back to School: Tried and True vs. Mixing It Up #118: Setting Students Up for Success in the Music Room #117: Setting Up the Music Room Know Better, Do Better Carrie reminds us that The OAKE Upstander R...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #203: Personal Musicianship Tune-Up   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. Main Theme: Personal Musicianship Tune-Up In this episode, Carrie and Tanya discuss strategies for maintaining your personal musicianship outside of your classroom. Things we mention in this episode: Colorado Dulcimer Festival Erin Mae Music: Dulcimer player and teacher Gretchen Rubin - Four Tendencies Harmony Jam Sessions : Denver area singing events Know Better, Do Better Carrie talks about planning for concert next year and mentions a specific resource for choral and vocal music: The Justice Choir Songbook is a free, downloadable resource of songs that focus on social justice and unity. Work Smarter, Not Harder Tanya talks about a whole-class reward idea to end class with students getting calm and focused w...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #202- Big Lows   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...

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 #195: Work Smarter - Right Now! Main Theme: Work Smarter - Right Now! In this episode, we encourage you to complete some tasks in real time while listening. Each task will hopefully take 5 minutes or less and we give you some tips on how to think about completing those tasks in your own classroom. This episode is inspired by the Clear the Decks! episode from the Happier podcast. Tasks to complete: Clean up your school related playlists. Jot down five ideas for future programs/performances/concerts. Check out MTCT episode #152  or #119 for some ideas. Answer a tricky email. Choose 1 desk drawer to de-clutter. Make a list of instrument repairs and find out how to start the repair process Add a fun activity to your calendar to look forward to (personal). Make a short list of PD you want to attend this Spring and Summer. Tanya's recommendation: Joan Litman: Shadows in the Moonlight: Songs of the Middle East, A virtual book study February 5, 19, 26, 2...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #194: Deinfluencing Your Classroom Main Theme: Deinfluencing Your Classroom Carrie and Tanya discuss strategies for deinfluencing your music classroom by thinking carefully about the resources and materials you are bringing to your students and the things you are consuming as an educator. Things we mention in this podcast: American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA)  - check out their resource library for high-quality materials! Organization of American Kodály Educators  - look for online workshops or chapter workshops in your area Kodály Center - American Folk Song Collection  - great searchable database of folk songs for your classroom Katia Chesnok on Instagram Coda Carrie recommends the movie A Clüsterfünke Christmas Tanya recommends the book The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick   Did you enjoy this episode?  Consider buying us a coffee to thank us for our work.  Monthly Memberships are also available! Click the button bel...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #193-New Year, Same You, New Plans! Main Theme: New Year, Same You, New Plans! Things we mention in this episode: Episode #191: Live from the OAKE Western Division Mini-Conference Know Better, Do Better Tanya talks about the  history of Jingle Bells.   Work Smarter, Not Harder Carrie talks us through a new Google Slides option to record directly into your slides. Coda Carrie recommends the movie  Kill Bill   Tanya recommends the Apple TV show  Pluribus 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 #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 #190- Thanksgiving Ideas We Are Thankful For Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #191- Thanksgiving Main Theme: Thanksgiving Ideas We Are Thankful For Read more about Turkey Gobbler at  Tanya 's blog Know Better, Do Better Carrie talks about not defending the decision to keep harmful literature in your classroom just because "you sang it when you were a kid" or "it's been done for years." Let's normalize changing our mind about things when presented with new information. Work Smarter, Not Harder Tanya talks about a lesson planning tip: Consider planning multiple lessons in the same day where you can use the same instruments or materials and not have to put things away in between classes.  Coda Carrie recommends attending the Organization of American Kodaly Educators conference in Chicago March 5-8, 2025. Registration is now open! Tanya recommends the book Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler Did you enjoy this episod...