Music Teacher Coffee Talk

Tanya and Carrie discuss resources and strategies for teaching dynamics and tempo.

Tanya and Carrie discuss resources and strategies for teaching instruments of the orchestra. Show notes are here https://tanyaelementarymusic.blogspot.com/2019/01/mtct-31-teaching-instruments-of.html

Tanya and Carrie discuss their favorite 2018 things in and out of the music room.

Tanya and Carrie discuss building school traditions and community through music.

Tanya and Carrie discuss creative movement and organized dances in the music room. Complete show notes can be found at Teaching Music: Tanya's Kodály Aspiring Blog https://soundcloud.com/user-966091434/mtct-episode-28 Some things we discuss: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Celesta Demonstration Henry Cowell's The Banshee Beat Activities Billy Joel's Root Beer Rag *Sleigh Ride CORRECTION! I (Tanya) mentioned at first that I adapted my movement for Sleigh Ride from Brent Gault but it actually came from the wonderful Jo Kirk! Sleigh Ride performance by the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra on Late Night with Dave Letterman Movement for March from The Nutcracker Tanya's Nutcracker Play Along Bundle Dolly Parton's Jingle Bells Troika Dance Simple Square Dance Ariel view of Sashay the Donut Jingle Bell Dance from Music a la Abbott Resources Sanna Longden materials (Jingle Bell dance can be found in Sanna's 1 1/2) New England Dance Masters (Peter and May Alice Amidon) Rhythmically Moving Step Lively from Marion Rose (NOT Marion Lively, I mis-spoke on the podcast!) Shenanigans' Dance Music For Children Level 1 Listen Up! by Brent Gault Coda (recommendations) She and Him Harry Belafonte and the Muppets Banana Boat Song Musication Banana Boat Song Play Along

Tanya and Carrie talk strategies and resources to turn to during challenging times.

Carrie talks about her 5 favorite iPad apps for the elementary music room.

Fall is here! Tanya and Carrie share their school week and some of their favorite Fall songs and activities. Complete show notes at http://tanyaelementarymusic.blogspot.com/2018/09/music-teacher-coffee-talk-25-favorite.html

Tanya and discuss solfege. Why use it? What are the controversies surrounding it? How are we using solfege to teach melodic concepts? What are our favorite songs for each melodic concept?

Our latest episode is all about music class procedures and building a positive community within each class. Some of the things we talked about: Music Making: Bring the joy of music to them as soon as possible. o Start the class with a “no-fail” singing game or chant. This could be a singing or chanting name game. Is there a singing game students have begged to play again and again in class in your past years? Start the year and your class with that gem! o Aim to include singing, moving/dancing, and playing instruments, within the first 4 lessons. Rapport: Build relationships between you and the class o Use students’ names frequently, (this will help you memorize names quicker, too.) o Smile and be willing to share a laugh with the students. o Talk to kids when they’re not in music class and show that you care about them. o Share a few of your “what I did on my summer vacation” pictures with each class. (They need to know about you, too.) o Verbalize why you became a music teacher. o Give a short performance for each class. You are a musician, too. Share that part of you. · Rules: Communicate your behavior management plan and class rules on the first or second day. o Keep it simple. More than 4 or 5 rules is too many. o Emphasize mutually respect. (Pair and share: “I want my teacher to know:__________”) o Give specific examples of following or not following a classroom rule. Procedures to Practice: Coming in to the room Mindful Minutes Reading the learning target Lining up/Leaving the room Asking a question Pair and Share/”Back to Class” Bathroom procedures Time Out procedure Answering the phone Fire Drill Lock-Down Making a Circle Moving in a Circle Passing out materials Getting small percussion instruments Going to drums Going to barred instruments