Music Teacher Coffee Talk

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We are elementary music teachers who love to share songs, activities, lessons, and ideas for the music room.

Carrie Nicholas and Tanya LeJeune


    • May 19, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 59m AVG DURATION
    • 179 EPISODES

    4.9 from 120 ratings Listeners of Music Teacher Coffee Talk that love the show mention: music teachers, elementary music teacher, teacher friends, tanya, coffee talk, carrie, ly, well planned, 16 years, highs and lows, classroom, district, professional development, please fix, grade, new ideas, great ideas, show notes, thank you ladies, transition.


    Ivy Insights

    The Music Teacher Coffee Talk podcast is a fantastic resource for music teachers looking for fresh ideas and inspiration. As a long-time music teacher, I was feeling stuck in a rut and this podcast came to my rescue. After listening to a dozen or so episodes, I have already compiled a long list of songs, resources, and other ideas that I am excited to use in my upcoming lessons.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the practicality of the ideas shared. The hosts, Tanya and Carrie, are both Kodaly music teachers and they provide practical ideas that can be easily implemented in any music classroom. They also share their own experiences and offer tips on how to be a more culturally responsive music teacher, which is invaluable in today's diverse classrooms. The different sections of the podcast flow seamlessly together, making it easy to follow along and take away actionable ideas from each episode. Additionally, the show notes are detailed and provide additional information on topics discussed in the episode.

    As for the worst aspects of this podcast, it's difficult to find any major flaws. However, one minor downside could be the lack of variety in guest speakers. While Tanya and Carrie do an excellent job sharing their expertise, it would be interesting to hear from other experts or experienced music teachers as well.

    In conclusion, I highly recommend the Music Teacher Coffee Talk podcast for all music teachers seeking professional development and inspiration. Whether you're new to teaching or have been in the field for years like myself, there is always something valuable to take away from each episode. The hosts' passion for teaching shines through their discussions and listening to them feels like being part of a supportive team. Overall, this podcast has reinvigorated my love for teaching music and has provided me with countless ideas that I am excited to implement in my classroom.



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    Latest episodes from Music Teacher Coffee Talk

    MTCT #179: Summer Learning Plans

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 52:30


    Tanya and Carrie discuss the importance of summer learning and their plans for professional development over the summer.

    MTCT #178: Continuation Songs

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2025 58:42


    MTCT #178: Continuation Songs by Carrie Nicholas and Tanya LeJeune

    MTCT #177: Outside Singing Games, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 56:44


    MTCT #177: Outside Singing Games, Part 2 by Carrie Nicholas and Tanya LeJeune

    MTCT #176: Managing Spring Fever Behavior

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2025 60:40


    Tanya and Carrie talk about strategies and lesson ideas that help when managing Spring Fever behavior challenges in the music room.

    MTCT #175: 2025 OAKE Conference Reflection

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2025 62:16


    Carrie and Tanya talk about their takeaways and favorite moments from the 2025 Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) national conference that was held in Chicago in March, 2025.

    MTCT #174: Post Performance Ponderings

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2025 61:57


    Carrie and Tanya talk about recent grade-level performances they've led at their schools.

    MTCT #173: Simple Sub Plans

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2025 61:14


    Carrie and Tanya share some ideas and tips for when you need to leave sub plans in the music room.

    MTCT #172: Brewing Up Fresh Ideas with Music Teacher Coffee Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2025 55:35


    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.

    MTCT #171: Developing the Singing Voice with Anne Mileski

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2025 44:01


    Carrie and Tanya talk with Anne Mileski about developing the singing voice in the elementary music classroom.

    MTCT #170: Peek At Our Week: 5th Grade

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2025 58:08


    Carrie and Tanya share songs and activities they are doing with 5th grade this week and this semester.

    MTCT #169: Mid Year Check In

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 56:12


    Carrie and Tanya discuss plans and goals for the second half of the school year.

    MTCT #168: Peek at Our Week: 4th Grade

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2024 66:03


    Carrie and Tanya share songs and activities they are doing with 4th grade this week.

    MTCT #167: A Chat With Tom Michalek

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2024 39:33


    Carrie and Tanya chat with Tom Michalek, music educator and current president of the Organization of American Kodály Educators. We talk about the Kodály philosophy, the benefits of joining OAKE, and about the 2024 OAKE National Conference that will be held in Chicago March 6-9.

    MTCT #166: Peek at our Week: 3rd Grade

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2024 59:25


    Tanya and Carrie share songs and activities they are using in their 3rd grade general music lessons this week.

    MTCT #165: Realizing Diversity with Karen Howard

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2024 70:47


    Carrie and Tanya have a powerful conversation with Dr. Karen Howard about issues and ideas around diversity and culturally responsive teaching in music education.

    MTCT #164: Peek at our Week: 2nd Grade

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2024 54:57


    Carrie and Tanya share songs and activities they are using in their 2nd grade general music lessons this week.

    MTCT #163: Creativity in the Orff Classroom with David Row

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2024 68:15


    David Row joins Carrie and Tanya to discuss ideas and strategies for creativity through improvisation in the Orff-inspired classroom.

    MTCT #162: Peek at our Week (1st Grade)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 66:00


    Carrie and Tanya talk about the songs and activities they are doing with their 1st graders this week.

    MTCT #161: Implementing Summer Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 50:26


    Carrie and Tanya welcome Beth Duhon to discuss ideas for implementing summer learning into your classroom.

    MTCT #160: Peek at Our Week: Kindergarten

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2024 63:14


    Tanya and Carrie share songs and activities they are doing with their Kindergarten students this week, including ideas for establishing routines and procedures with young musicians entering the music room for the first time.

    MTCT #159: Starting the School Year: Putting First Things First

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2024 55:00


    MTCT #159: Starting the School Year: Putting First Things First by Carrie Nicholas and Tanya LeJeune

    MTCT #158: Summer Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 44:06


    Carrie and Tanya share ideas for summer learning such as classes, podcasts, and book recommendations.

    MTCT #157: Movin' and Groovin'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 53:27


    #kodályinspired #musicteacher #elementarymusic #elementarymusicclass #musiced #generalmusicteacher #elementarymusicteacher #orff #kodaly #orffposse #musiceducator #teachingmusic

    MTCT #156: End of the Year Plans

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2024 60:41


    Tanya and Carrie discuss their end of the year plans including what content we are still going to teach and some of the extra fun things we do this time of year to keep kids engaged.

    MTCT #155: Realizing Diversity Check-In

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 70:59


    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.

    MTCT #154: 2024 OAKE Recap and Cowboy Carter Kodály

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 42:12


    In this episode, Tanya and Carrie discuss our takeaways from the 2024 OAKE National Conference as well as our general thoughts on Kodály-inspired teaching as we see it today. Of course we talk about Beyoncé too! It all makes sense when you listen.

    MTCT #153: Marvelous Music Manipulatives ft. Debbie O'Shea

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2024 51:34


    Carrie and Tanya welcome Debbie O'Shea from Crescendo Music Education to talk about manipulatives in the music room.

    MTCT #152: Performances in a Pinch

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 55:37


    Tanya and Carrie discuss strategies for putting together a musical performance when you are short on time.

    MTCT #151: Tips from the Trenches

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2024 58:03


    Tanya and Carrie share some of their favorite "work smarter, not harder" teacher tips.

    MTCT #150: What To Do When You Have "That Class"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2024 73:34


    Carrie and Tanya discuss strategies that help with classroom management and building relationships within a challenging group of students.

    MTCT #149: New Year's Intentions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024 48:44


    Carrie and Tanya talk about their intentions for the New Year, both at home and at school.

    MTCT #148: Elementary Choir

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 69:08


    Carrie and Tanya discuss the logistic of having an elementary school choir along with favorite repertoire and resources.

    MTCT #147: 6 Picture Books for the Music Room

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2023 58:06


    In this episode, Carrie and Tanya celebrate their 6-year podcasting anniversary with an episode all about 6 of their favorite picture books for the music room.

    MTCT #146: Icing and Sprinkles: Recipes for Success Pt. 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2023 67:08


    The fourth of a 4-part series: Recipes for Success in the Elementary Music Classroom. Carrie and Tanya talk about "icing and sprinkles" that make your lessons engaging and cohesive for students.

    MTCT #145: Transitions: Recipes for Success Pt. 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2023 60:16


    The third of a 4-part series: Recipes for Success in the Elementary Music Classroom. Carrie and Tanya talk about transitions for the music classroom.

    MTCT #144: Intermediate Lesson Segments: Recipes for Success Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 67:01


    The second of 4 part series: Recipes for Success in the Elementary Music Classroom. Carrie and Tanya talk about lesson segments for intermediate grades in the music classroom.

    MTCT #143: Primary Lesson Segments: Recipes for Sucess Pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2023 64:04


    The first of 4 part series: Recipes for Success in the Elementary Music Classroom. Carrie and Tanya talk about lesson segments in a K-2nd grade music classroom.

    MTCT #142:

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 69:29


    In Hot Topics part 2, Carrie and Tanya discuss: -Music literacy skills balanced with Project Based Learning -Sound systems: are you the resident expert? -Balancing diversity, equity, and inclusion values in the music room within a conservative school community and more!

    MTCT #141: Classroom Instruments

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2023 72:08


    Rhythm sticks, tambourines, and triangles, oh my! Tanya and Carrie talk about using classroom instruments in the elementary music classroom.

    rhythm classroom instruments
    MTCT #140:

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 67:17


    In this episode, Tanya and Carrie discuss Learning Targets, Data Tracking, and Turn Taking in the elementary music room.

    MTCT #139: Back to School: Tried and True vs. Mixing It Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2023 67:16


    Tanya and Carrie discuss plans for the beginning of the school year.

    MTCT #138: 2023 Summer Book Club, Part 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2023 72:26


    Carrie and Tanya discuss chapters 7 and 8 of Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education by Karen Howard along with some final thoughts and plans for implementation.

    MTCT #137: 2023 Summer Book Club Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023 73:03


    Carrie and Tanya discuss chapters 4 and 5 of Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education by Karen Howard.

    MTCT #136: 2023 Summer Book Club, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 55:54


    Tanya and Carrie continue the 2023 Summer Book Club by discussing Chapters 3 and 4 of "Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education" by Karen Howard

    MTCT #135: 2023 Summer Book Club, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2023 56:45


    Tanya and Carrie are kicking off the 2023 Summer Book Club by discussing Chapters 1 and 2 of "Realizing Diversity: An Equity Framework for Music Education" by Karen Howard

    MTCT #134: Summer Plans and Goals

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 43:40


    As they wrap up this school year, Tanya and Carrie discuss their Summer Plans and Goals.

    MTCT #133: Teacher Appreciation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2023 46:30


    Carrie and Tanya discuss their favorite teachers and characteristics of successful teachers.

    MTCT #132: 3 Stars and a Wish

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2023 53:57


    Carrie and Tanya discuss 3 things they did well in their first year at a new school and 1 thing to aim for next year.

    MTCT #131: Subbing for Yourself

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023 50:31


    Sometimes you have to teach when your energy is low or you're not feeling the greatest. Tanya and Carrie discuss lesson ideas for when you have to "sub for yourself."

    MTCT #130: 2023 OAKE Conference Recap

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2023 48:21


    Carrie and Tanya discuss the 2023 OAKE Conference.

    MTCT #129: "Real" Music and "School Music": Bridging the Gap

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2023 60:44


    Do your elementary music students think of "school music" as separate from "real" music? Tanya and Carrie discuss how they bridge the gap in the music room.

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