That Music Podcast: A Podcast for Elementary Music Teachers
Education & Explainer
About
This show will deliver tips and tricks for elementary music teachers looking to create high-quality musical experiences for students in the general music classroom.This show will provide answers to questions like:*How do I create an inclusive music classroom?*How do I sequence my elementary music lessons?*How to teach elementary music?*What songs should I use in my general music classroom?*How do I balance work and life as a music teacher?
Episodes
- 218 | Using Technology to Communicate with Families Without Sacrificing Your Time
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson dives into how technology can strengthen communication with families while still protecting your time and energy. He shares why visibility matters in the music classroom—not ju…
- 217 | The Technology Debate in the Elementary Music Classroom
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson tackles a heated debate he witnessed in an elementary music Facebook group: does technology belong in the music classroom? Instead of picking sides, he unpacks the real concern…
- 216 | 5 Effective Ways to Teach a Song in Elementary Music
Send us Fan Mail In this vault episode, Bryson goes all the way back to one of the most impactful conversations from early in the podcast and brings it back with a fresh perspective. Teaching songs is something we do constantly as elementa…
- 215 | Does Technology Belong in Elementary Music? Tools That Make Teaching Easier with Amy Burns
Send us Fan Mail Feeling stuck in the mid-year slump and wondering if technology is just one more thing to manage? In this episode, Bryson is joined by veteran music educator and technology expert Amy Burns to talk about how tech can actua…
- 214 | Engaging the Reluctant Learner: 5 Ways to Reach Unmotivated Music Students
Send us Fan Mail We all know that student, the one who shows up to music because they have to, sits with arms crossed, and makes it very clear they’re not impressed. In this episode, Bryson digs into what’s really going on beneath that dis…
- 213 | Calling Home About Student Behavior (A Framework for Difficult Conversations)
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast , Bryson tackles one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of teaching: calling home or having difficult conversations about student behavior. Specifically through the lens of music teach…
- 212 | Are Things Really Working? A Classroom Self-Audit for Music Teachers
Send us Fan Mail Two weeks into January, the “new year energy” can already feel like it’s fading. Routines that felt solid in August may suddenly feel clunky or exhausting, and it’s easy to blame student behavior when things start to feel…
- 211 | January Reset: Managing Classroom Behavior After Winter Break
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson reframes January as an opportunity, not to overhaul everything, but to reset with intention. Instead of reacting to behaviors or doubling down on consequences, he shares three…
- 210 | 4 Strategies for Sending Recorders Home Successfully
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Bryson wraps up our December recorder series with a topic every music teacher knows all too well: what really happens when recorders go home. Instead of crossing our fingers and bracing for the “my kid won…
- 209 | Top 5 Recorder Misconceptions (and What to Do Instead)
Send us Fan Mail The recorder may not always get the love it deserves, but it remains one of the most powerful tools in the elementary music classroom. In this episode, Bryson breaks down the five most common misconceptions about teaching…
- 208 | Rethinking Recorders with Erin Elliott
Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever felt nervous, overwhelmed, or downright stressed about teaching recorder, this episode is the breath of fresh air you’ve been waiting for. Bryson sits down with Erin Elliott, who brings a balanced, practical…
- 207 | A Case for Digital Sub Plans (My GoogleDoc Template)
Send us Fan Mail Sub plans aren’t anyone’s favorite part of teaching, but having a system that works every single time can take a huge weight off your shoulders. In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson shares how switching to a simpl…
- 206 | Take A Sick Day Without Throwing Off Your Lesson Rotation
Send us Fan Mail Ever hesitate to take a sick day because it’ll mess up your lesson rotation? You’re not alone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode, Bryson shares a simple but powerful strategy to keep your curriculum on tr…
- 205 | Just Take A Sick Day
Send us Fan Mail Let’s be real, teachers are pros at pushing through when they shouldn’t. Between planning sub lessons, worrying about routines, and feeling guilty for being gone, it’s easy to convince ourselves that resting isn’t worth th…
- 204 | Creating Effective Sub Plans for Elementary Music Classrooms with Rainy Barton
Send us Fan Mail Creating sub plans doesn’t have to be stressful. In this episode, Bryson is joined by Rainy Barton to talk about simplifying the process and setting yourself (and your students) up for success. From planned absences to une…
- 203 | 5 Favorite Extension Activities to Boost Any Music Concept
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson shares his five favorite extension activities that can be used with just about any concept in the elementary music room. From rhythm to melody (and everything in between), thes…
- 202 | Top 5 Songs to Teach Tika-Tika Rhythms with Confidence
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson dives into one of his favorite rhythmic concepts to teach, tika-tika (four sixteenth notes), and shares five of his go-to songs for making this rhythm come alive in the element…
- 201 | Unlocking the Repertoire-Based Curriculum Framework for Music Teachers
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Bryson introduces a fresh way of thinking about your curriculum by flipping the script: instead of hunting down songs to teach concepts, what if your repertoire guided the concepts you teach? He breaks dow…
- 200 | Top 5 Songs for Teaching Steady Beat In Elementary Music
Send us Fan Mail In this milestone episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson celebrates 200 episodes by digging into one of the most essential building blocks of elementary music: steady beat. He shares his top five favorite songs and chants t…
- 199 | Unlocking the Power of Double Duty Songs with Carrie Nicholas and Tanya LeJeune
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Bryson sits down with Carrie Nicholas and Tanya LeJeune from Music Teacher Coffee Talk to explore the magic of double duty songs, those special tunes that can support teaching multiple musical concepts ove…
- 198 | “I’ve Always Used That Song”: Reconsidering Songs with a Questionable Past & Finding Respectful Replacements
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson dives into a challenging topic many music teachers face: those familiar songs that might actually have a questionable past. He explores why it’s important to reconsider what we…
- 197 | How to Include Music from Other Cultures Authentically and Respectfully
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson tackles a tough but essential topic: how to include music and cultural activities that aren’t from our own backgrounds in a way that’s authentic and respectful. He shares pract…
- 195 | Filipino-American History Month in the Music Room with Melissa Fuller Flores
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson sits down with Melissa Fuller Flores to chat about celebrating Filipino American History Month in the elementary music classroom. Melissa opens up about her personal ties to th…
- 194 | 5 Low-Stress Ways to Learn Student Names Fast
Send us Fan Mail Learning student names isn’t just a classroom management strategy; it’s a powerful way to build trust, connection, and community from day one. In this episode, Bryson shares five practical, low-stress ways to confidently l…
- 193 | Reflect & Renew: Setting Intentions for a New School Year
Send us Fan Mail Season 7 kicks off with a fresh invitation to pause, reflect, and set meaningful intentions for the school year ahead. In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson shares six thoughtful reflection prompts designed to help…
- 192 | Season 6 Finale: Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead
Send us Fan Mail In this season finale of That Music Podcast , Bryson reflects on the journey of the show from its early days to now, sharing his excitement for what’s ahead in Season 7. He highlights how the podcast has grown alongside hi…
- 191 | The Free PD Event Music Teachers Love: The Elementary Music Summit® Returns!
Send us Fan Mail The Elementary Music Summit® is back for its fourth summer, offering five days of content-specific professional development tailored for elementary music teachers. Bryson shares all the exciting details about this year’s e…
- 190 | How to Advocate for Better Professional Development As An Elementary Music Teacher
Send us Fan Mail Not all PD is created equal—and if you’ve ever sat through a session on a math curriculum you don’t teach, you already know that. In this episode, Bryson breaks down why content-specific professional development is a must…
- 189 | How to Make Music Class More Accessible for All Students with David Bedard
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast , Bryson sits down with David Bedard—educator, preschool teacher, and longtime advocate for inclusive music education. You may remember David from his energetic presentation at the Ele…
- 188 | Preparing for a Music Teacher Interview
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson dives into the exciting yet sometimes nerve-wracking process of preparing for a music teacher interview. Whether you're fresh out of college or exploring new opportunities, Bry…
- 187 | When Do I Tell My Principal I’m Job-Searching?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson dives into a question that many educators face: When is the right time to tell your principal that you're job-searching? Whether you're looking for a new position, interviewing…
- 186 | Getting Ready for a (Classroom) Move
Send us Fan Mail Packing up your classroom? Whether you’re switching schools, transitioning into retirement, or just heading to a new room down the hall, this episode is packed with practical tips to help make the move a little less overwh…
- 185 | Your End-of-Year Survival Guide: Music & Movement with BethAnn Hepburn
Send us Fan Mail Feeling the end-of-year burnout creeping in? In this episode, BethAnn Hepburn joins Bryson to share simple, creative ways to keep your music classroom feeling joyful and energized—especially when testing is over and attent…
- 184 | Baby Steps Toward Movement (Sequencing Unstructured Movement to Prevent Chaos)
Send us Fan Mail Movement in the music room doesn't have to be chaotic, and it definitely shouldn't start with a complex folk dance if your students have never done movement before! In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson breaks down…
- 183 | Is This Movement Song Appropriate?
Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder if that movement activity you’re planning is the right fit for your students? In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson dives into what it really means for a movement song to be “appropriate.” Tune in for r…
- 182 | What’s the Point of Movement Props?
Send us Fan Mail Ever felt hesitant to bring movement props into your music room? You’re not alone. In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson opens up about his journey from movement prop skeptic to full-on scarf enthusiast. Bryson exp…
- 181 | The Power of Movement in Music Education
Send us Fan Mail We’re bringing back a fan-favorite episode that’s more relevant than ever! Movement is a game-changer in the music classroom, helping students develop motor skills, deepen musical understanding, and stay engaged. In this e…
- 180 | Transform Learning Through Movement with Leanna O’Brien
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson sits down with Leanna O’Brien to dive into the power of movement in the music classroom. Leanna shares her journey from a struggling first-year teacher to discovering how meani…
- 179 | The Benefits of a “Silent Rehearsal”
Send us Fan Mail What if you could teach without saying a word? In today’s episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson Tarbet explores the surprisingly effective technique of a "silent rehearsal" and how it can transform your classroom dynamics.…
- 178 | Getting Attention without Yelling (Tricks & Tips for getting a class to stop talking)
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson dives further into vocal health and shares practical strategies for getting your students' attention without straining your voice. Whether you're tired of shouting over the noi…
- 177 | Become your “Inner Popstar” Teacher Mic Tips & Tricks
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of That Music Podcast, we're talking all about microphones for the elementary music classroom. Vocal health is crucial for music teachers, and using a mic can help you protect your voice while keeping your…
- 176 | How to Maintain Vocal Health As A Music Teacher with Dr. Jennifer Whitehead
Send us Fan Mail As music teachers, we use our voices constantly —but are we taking care of them the way we should? In this episode of That Music Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jennifer Whitehead, a vocal health expert and professor at Ohio…
- 175 | But I Can’t Play the Piano: Tips & Tricks
Send us Fan Mail Ever feel like your piano skills (or lack thereof) are holding you back as a music teacher? You’re not alone! In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson gets real about his struggles with piano—including failing class p…
- 174 | Rote vs Note (In a Choral Setting)
Send us Fan Mail When it comes to teaching choir, should we focus on rote learning or reading notation? The answer might be a little bit of both! In this episode, Bryson unpacks the benefits and challenges of teaching by rote and by note i…
- 173 | Are Before/After-School Ensembles Equitable?
Send us Fan Mail Before- and after-school ensembles are a fantastic way to give students more musical opportunities—but are they truly accessible to all? In this episode, Bryson dives into an often-overlooked barrier to participation: tran…
- 172 | Keeping Choir Fun, Inclusive, and Inspiring with Debbie O'Shea
Send us Fan Mail Choral music is about so much more than just singing, and in this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson sits down with Debbie O’Shea to explore the magic of choir. They dive into what makes a great rehearsal, how to build…
- 171 | Curriculum Development Panel: Insights from the Elementary Music Summit®
Send us Fan Mail This week on That Music Podcast, we’re bringing you a special replay from the Elementary Music Summit®: January Refresh! Join a panel of experienced music educators as they dive into practical strategies for developing and…
- 170 | All PD Is Not the Same: CEUs vs. New Knowledge
Send us Fan Mail Not all professional development is created equal! In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson explores the crucial difference between PD that helps you check off boxes for license renewal and PD that actually enhances y…
- 169 | Professional Growth Shouldn’t Have an End Date
Send us Fan Mail Teaching is an ever-evolving journey, and in this week’s episode, Bryson shares his thoughts on how professional growth helps us stay flexible and relevant in the ever-changing world of music education. From navigating sys…
- 168 | DEI Shouldn’t Be Controversial
Send us Fan Mail In this thought-provoking episode of That Music Podcast , Bryson dives into a topic that’s as vital as it is sometimes challenging: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the music classroom. Sharing from his perspectiv…