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 #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 #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 #173: Simple Sub Plans Announcement! We are starting up a 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 appreciate you supporting our work! Main Theme: Simple Sub Plans In this episode, Carrie and Tanya share some ideas and tips for when you need to leave sub plans in the music room. Here are some things we mention in the episode: Musication YouTube videos Lomax the Hound of Music YouTube videos Remarkable Farkle McBride  YouTube video Ready Go Music  YouTube videos Elementary GrooveTracks  YouTube videos Mr. Henry's Music World YouTube videos Tanya's Rhythm Tent Cards including directions to the "King of the Mountain" game Cheryl Lavender's Instrument Bingo Musicplay Online Edpuzzle : create interactive lessons Blo...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #172: Brewing Up Fresh Ideas with Music Teacher Coffee Talk   Main Theme: Brewing Up Fresh Ideas This episode is a replay from live a Facebook/Instagram video with Carrie and Tanya. We share some of our favorite Valentine's Day songs and activities, answer a few listener questions, and give some updates on what's new with Music Teacher Coffee Talk. Announcements! We are starting up a 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 appreciate you supporting our work! Are you tired of spending HOURS writing lesson plans for your upper elementary students…only to have them roll their eyes at you? That’s why we're super excited to participate in the Music Room Meet-Up! This is a free 3-day summit with 18 sessions all about the upper e...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #161   In this episode, we welcome Beth Duhon, the "Happier Music Teacher." Beth is passionate about music teacher self-care. She has presented on the subject for  the OAKE national conference, IAMEA, Musicplayonline.com, TMEA, TCDA and Houston Arts  Partners conferences. She has been a podcast guest on Mrs. Stouffer’s VIP Music Room Podcast,  Afternoon Ti, Musicast, The Elementary Music Teacher Podcast and The Music Room with Aileen  Miracle. Ms. Duhon’s Facebook group is “Happier Music Teachers.” She is the author of  “Happier Music Teacher: 50 Days to Being a Happier Music Teacher at Home and School” and  the host of the podcast “ Happier Music Teacher: Self-Care for the Music Educator.” Beth holds an undergraduate degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University and a  graduate degree in horn performance from the University of Houston. Beth has taught pre-K  classes, elementary music, mid...

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 w...

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...

Music Teacher Coffee Talk · MTCT #149: New Year's Intentions Main Theme Happy New Year! In this episode, Carrie and Tanya talk about their intentions for the New Year, both at home and at school. Things we mention in this episode: Headspace  guided meditations 10% Happier  app and podcast Calm for sleep and meditation Coda Tanya recommends  More Happier podcast with Gretchen Rubins   Carrie recommends watching The Crown on Netflix 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 #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...