That Music Podcast: A Podcast for Elementary Music Teachers
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
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’t stop playing Hot Cross Buns” emails, Bryson shares four practical, teacher-tested strategies to help families feel informed, students feel empowered, and everyone stay sane.
If you’re looking for a...
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 recorder. He shares practical ways to move past the “mini-band class” mindset, how to differentiate without losing joy, and why focusing on process over performance creates deeper musical growth..
Whe...
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, and joy-filled perspective to an instrument that often gets a pretty bad rap.
Erin shares why recorders so easily spiral into chaos, the hidden reason many teachers dread teaching them, and the surp...
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 simple Google Doc completely changed the way he handles sick days. No fancy software, no overthinking, just one reliable document he can update from anywhere.
He walks through the structure of his digital ...
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 track no matter what life throws your way: the lesson numbering system. You’ll learn how to shift from date-based planning to sequence-based lessons, giving you more flexibility, consistency, and peace ...
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 the hassle.
In this episode, Bryson shares a heartfelt reminder that taking a sick day is not a sign of weakness; it’s an act of self-care that ultimately helps you show up as your best self for your st...
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 unexpected emergencies, they chat about strategies for making sub plans that are practical, engaging, and easy for anyone to follow, even non-music subs. Rainy also shares a sneak peek of her upcoming m...
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), these activities are student-approved, easy to adapt, and built for long-term use. Whether you’re looking to streamline your planning, increase engagement, or bring a little more magic to your classroom ...
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 elementary music room. With an eye toward thoughtful repertoire choices, he explores how to move beyond outdated or problematic songs and still bring the fun with engaging, student-approved activities. From...
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 down his Repertoire-Based Curriculum Framework: a practical, cyclical approach to choosing, organizing, and using high-quality music that’s both authentic and pedagogically powerful. Plus, Bryson shares...
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 that make steady beat practice fun and meaningful, along with how he uses them in the classroom to get kids moving, feeling the beat, and engaged. Whether you’re new to teaching steady beat or looking...
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 over time. They talk about why these songs are such a lifesaver when time is tight and share thoughtful tips on keeping your students excited and engaged with music they already know. Plus, Carrie and T...
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 include in our classrooms and offers thoughtful ways to identify and replace songs that don’t align with creating safe, inclusive spaces for all students. If you’ve ever wondered how to handle the s...
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 practical advice on research, avoiding stereotypes, and when—and how—to adapt materials for the classroom. If you’ve ever wondered how to bring diverse music into your teaching without missteps, this epis...
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 the Filipino community and how music plays such a special role in Filipino culture. Together, they dive into fun, hands-on ideas you can bring to your classroom, think clapping games, folk songs, and p...
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 learn student names, even when teaching hundreds of kids each week. It’s all about starting strong and showing students they matter, one name at a time.
Episode Chapters:
- 0:00 Introduction
- ...
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 music teachers process last year’s highs and lows, from student breakthroughs to classroom challenges and personal wellbeing.
Listeners will walk away with actionable ways to build on their successes...
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 his transition out of the classroom and how the addition of YouTube has opened new w...
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 event, happening July 7–11, including 28 expert speakers, live sessions with 24-hour replay access, and new features. Whether you attend for free or upgrade to ...
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 for music teachers and how to start advocating for it in your district. He shares three key reasons why general PD often misses the mark for music educators an...
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