That Music Podcast: A Podcast for Elementary Music Teachers

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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 just for concert reminders, but for advocacy, relationship-building, and helping families truly understand the learning happening behind the fun. When used thoughtfully, simple digital tools can create a powerful window into your classroom and build trust before you ever need to have a hard conversation.

But this conversation isn’t just about what to use—it’s about how to use it well. Bryson unpacks the importance of following district policies, communicating in equitable ways, and most importantly, setting clear boundaries so you’re not available around the clock. If you’ve been looking for ways to improve family communication without feeling overwhelmed, this episode will help you think strategically about what’s worth your time and what’s not.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:24 Staying Compliant with District Technology Policies
• 2:25 Using Social Media Pages & Private Groups Effectively
• 5:40 Announcements & Schoolwide Communication Tools
• 6:53 Setting Boundaries Around Parent Communication
• 8:22 Why Newsletters Still Work (Digital + Print)
• 9:56 Takeaways
  
  

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!

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 concerns and challenges teachers to think beyond the noise. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about what someone on the internet says. It’s about what works for you and the students in front of you.

Bryson shares practical examples of how technology can expand creativity, increase accessibility, amplify authentic voices, and even unlock musical potential in students who may not thrive in traditional performance settings. This episode isn’t about going all-in on tech or throwing it out completely; it’s about using it purposefully, strategically, and always as a tool, not the teacher.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:59 Concerns About Using Technology in the Music Classroom
• 4:51 Tech Challenges: Wi-Fi, Support & Backup Plans
• 6:39 Screen Time vs. Active Learning: Is Tech Too Passive?
• 8:33 The Benefits of Technology for Creativity & Accessibility
• 10:46 Using Technology Purposefully (Not as a Replacement)
• 13:58 Takeaways
  
  

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!

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 elementary music teachers—but doing it the same way every time can limit engagement, reach, and musical understanding. This episode revisits five effective ways to teach a song and explores how changing your approach can completely transform how students experience repertoire in your classroom.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:22 Teaching by Rote
• 6:21 Teaching with Motions
• 7:48 Ask Guided Questions
• 9:22 Teach with a Game (An Upper Elementary Favorite!)
• 11:07 Teach Through Storytelling
• 13:18 Takeaways
  
  

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!

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 actually make your life easier in the music classroom, not harder

Together, they unpack common misconceptions about music technology, explore how tech can enhance (not replace) music-making, and share realistic ways to use digital tools even if you don’t have 1:1 devices. From engaging reluctant learners to saving serious time on lesson planning, file conversions, and daily workflows, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can use right away without overhauling everything you already do. If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t add one more thing,” this episode might just change your mind.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:12 Why now is the right time to add a new tech tool
• 2:46 Does technology belong in the elementary music classroom? (common misconceptions)
• 5:17 Making tech work without 1:1 devices (accessibility & equity)
• 9:55 Favorite go-to tools for music teachers
• 13:25 Why versatility matters when choosing tech tools
• 19:34 How technology can actually save you time
• 25:07 Amy’s Masterclass (what teachers will take away)
• 27:32 Takeaways
  
  

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!

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 disengagement and why most “reluctant learners” aren’t trying to be difficult; they just haven’t found their way in yet. You’ll explore five common reluctant learner archetypes and practical ways to connect with each one. This episode will challenge you to look at engagement through a new lens and walk away with small, doable shifts that can help more students feel seen, valued, and genuinely connected to music class.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:48 The Pop-Culture Enthusiast
• 5:07 The Digital Native
• 6:40 The Silent Observer
• 8:26 The Cultural Disconnect
• 10:23 The Socially Distracted
• 11:39 Common Questions & Solutions
• 13:14 Takeaways
  
  

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!

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 teachers, this episode addresses how being a specialist can complicate communication with families, classroom teachers, and administrators, and why avoiding these conversations often makes things worse.

You’ll walk away with the CALM framework: a practical, four-step approach to behavior-related conversations that helps you stay professional, reduce emotional escalation, and keep the focus on student learning. This episode is packed with realistic strategies you can use immediately to support classroom management, protect your well-being, and confidently navigate tough conversations without dread.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:53 The CALM Framework - C
• 3:09 The CALM Framework - A
• 4:24 The CALM Framework - L
• 5:46 The CALM Framework - M
• 6:21 Helpful tips
• 7:49 Takeaways
  
  

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!

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 off. In this episode of That Music Podcast, Bryson invites you to pause and ask an important question: are things actually working?

Instead of adding more to your plate, this episode guides you through a simple mid-year self-evaluation to help you uncover which classroom routines and planning systems are quietly draining your energy. Through reflective prompts and practical insight, Bryson helps you identify small, meaningful shifts that can reduce chaos, increase efficiency, and help you reclaim your focus for teaching music and taking care of yourself.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:50 Question 1
• 2:12 Question 2
• 2:28 Question 3
• 2:43 Question 4
• 3:00 Routine Audit Takeaways
• 4:08 Question 5
• 4:36 Question 6
• 4:52 Question 7
• 5:23 Question 8
• 5:39 Final Takeaways
  
  

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!

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 small but powerful mindset shifts that help you increase engagement, reduce chaos, and set your classroom up for success for the rest of the year.

You’ll hear how simple adjustments can transform the way your classroom feels, without adding more to your plate. If January feels heavy, overwhelming, or just plain exhausting, this episode will help you reset in a way that feels realistic, supportive, and sustainable for you and your students.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:06 Embrace the Power of Pacing
• 4:29 From Correction to Clarity
• 6:17 Granting Implicit Permission
• 8:41 Takeaways

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!

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’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 more peaceful, purposeful, and joy-filled recorder season (yes, it’s possible!)This episode gives you everything you need to set your students, and their families, up for success.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:29 The Introduction Letter
• 4:20 Holding Off on Sending It Home
• 6:06 Setting Clear Home Expectations
• 8:31 The “You’re the Boss” Strategy
• 10:33 Takeaways
  
  

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!

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 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..

Whether you love teaching recorder or prefer ukulele, barred instruments, or something else entirely, this episode offers a thoughtful reset: a reminder that our instruments, whatever they are, are simply tools for exploration, confidence, and connection.

Episode Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:18 Myth 1
• 4:49 Myth 2
• 7:30 Myth 3
• 9:43 Myth 4 
• 11:51 Myth 5
• 12:56 Takeaways
  
  

Links and Resources: 

• The Elementary Music Summit®
• Elementary Newbie Guide
• Disabilities Guide
• Steady Beat Survival Guide
• Join Elementary Music EDGE™

Use coupon code PODCAST at checkout for 50% off your first month of Elementary Music EDGE™ today!

Have questions or want to share feedback? Reach out to us at [email protected] - we’d love to hear from you!