Canada MLT Coffee Chat Videos

On this page you will find the videos of the current and past Canada MLT Coffee Chats, along with the topics of discussions and any corresponding links/files. 

Due to privacy issues, please do not share the link to this page with others who are not registered for the Canada MLT Coffee Chats.  If you would like someone to be added to the list, please feel free to send an email to [email protected] to have them added to the list. 
Coffee Chat - October 2023 - June 2024
Coffee Chats will be held on the 3rd Friday of each month. Please note that the topic for each date is tentative, we may push a topic back if a workshop happens on one of our regularly scheduled Fridays. If you have a topic you would like discussed, please feel free to let me know.  Coffee Chats take place over ZOOM.
                                   SAVE THE DATE
  • October 20, 2023 - Digging into Technique
  • November 17, 2023 - Digging into Technique, Part 2
  • December 15, 2023
  • January 19, 2024
  • February 16, 2024
  • March 22, 2024 - not the 3rd Friday of the month
  • April 19, 2024
  • May 17, 2024
  • ​June 21, 2024
COFFEE TIME
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET - ON
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CT - MB
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. MT - AB and SK* (SK members we’ll be meeting at 9:30 starting in November)
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. PT - BC 
*For Sask Residents, please note that when the time changes in November we'll be meeting at 9:30 a.m. When the time changes in March, we'll be meeting at MTN time - 8:30 a.m.
​MLT Canada Coffee Chat - May 17, 2024

The discussion was based on the following questions:
  1. Are there some highlights from your lessons in the last few months you'd like to share?  Or other aspects of the lessons you'd like to discuss?
  2. Are there any rote pieces you feel have gone very well for students this year and that fit very well with an MLT approach?
  3. Are there any aspects of the music moves books that have made more sense to you recently - pieces or activities that you once wondered about that now you see the reasoning behind?
  4. What are some creative experiences with students you've had recently?
  5. What are your expectations for summer practice for your students - or do you give them specific projects or practice suggestions for summer?
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - April 19, 2024

General Discussion and Questions a few of the topics:
  • Competitive vs noncompetitive activities
  • Triple Meter pieces that feel in two - how do you handle it rhythmically?
  • Technical challenges and adaptions to the melodic cadence I - V7 - I
  • Aiding students to sing on pitch
  • Canon as Rote Repertoire
  • And various other topics

Links to Canons that Suzanne mentioned from Rote Repertoire:
Note:  I'm looking for someone to host the next coffee chat on May 17.  We'll be able to use my ZOOM account and I"ll be able to start the meeting, but will need someone to moderate the meeting. If you're interested in this let me know. 
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - March 22, 2024

Building a Musical Technique:

​Building a musical technique with students based on an audiation approach.
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - February 16, 2024 - Part 2

Enhancements & Enrichments Beyond the Page:

​Discussion concentrated on MMFP  Keyalities and Tonalities and Book 2 & 3
Enhancements and Enrichments that we give our students beyond what is on the page.  We’ll use the last question from the last coffee chat as the segue into this week's discussion.  The question was, "When you review units, what do you review?"  What do you bring to the songs/pieces/repertoire that you didn’t do before?  This can range from LSAs (Pattern Instruction) to pieces that you teach and how we can expand upon the simple folksongs and Christmas carols we teach our students to strengthen their Audiation, skills, and musicianship.  Do you do mashups?  If so, which are your students favourite?  Feel free to bring any suggestions to the discussion. 
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - January 19, 2024

Enhancements & Enrichments Beyond the Page:

​Discussion concentrated on MMFP Keyboard Games and Book 1
Enhancements and Enrichments that we give our students beyond what is on the page.  We’ll use the last question from the last coffee chat as the segue into this week's discussion.  The question was, "When you review units, what do you review?"  What do you bring to the songs/pieces/repertoire that you didn’t do before?  This can range from LSAs (Pattern Instruction) to pieces that you teach and how we can expand upon the simple folksongs and Christmas carols we teach our students to strengthen their Audiation, skills, and musicianship.  Do you do mashups?  If so, which are your students favourite?  Feel free to bring any suggestions to the discussion. 
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - December 15, 2023

Questions:
Discussion on various questions asked.  A sample of some of the questions (with approximate time stamp):
  • Is there a sequence of movement for playing? (1:00)
  • How do you incorporate five-finger repertoire earlier than what appears in MMFP? (11:36)
  • When do you introduce Supplemental Material and what are the pieces? (17:00 min)
  • Do you keep playing connected or detached (23:00 min)
  • In sight reading how do you deal with passing tones? (35:00)
  • What should we do with students who sing lower than the key we sing in for the Tonal Patterns? (55:00 min)
  • When you review units, what do you review? (1 hr 4 min)
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - November 17, 2023

​Digging Into Technique:
Many of us are used to the RCM technique requirements that we ourselves have learned and have taught. In MMFP, the technique we focus on begins slightly different, with TDT cadence, TDT arpeggios . . . To me, it seems that MMFP focuses on the practical and functional (applied) aspects: TDT cadence & arpeggios while RCM focuses on categories of basic theoretical understanding of concepts: Scales, triads, 4-note chords, octaves, etc.  
  • How do we go about deciding what to include if we were to create our technical requirements now after having gone through RCM and now encountering MMFP?  
  • Would there be an overarching goal/purpose to the technique we guide/teach students?  
  • Are there essentials and beneficial aspects to both MMFP focus and RCM focus technique?  
  • Do we use them all? Are there ones to not focus on as much?
Brief touch on: 
RCM/CC/CNCM Ear training and sight reading - how can we approach these with a sequenced MLT approach? 
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - October 20, 2023
Discussion on "Digging into Technique::
  • Note that this discussion deviated to the physiological aspect of technique and it relates to MMFP​

LInks shared during discussion (these will open in a new window):
Files shared during discussion:
MMFP - Keyality Introduction for Technique
File Size: 74 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
MMFP - Scope & Sequence Books 1 - 5
File Size: 173 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Coffee Chats: October 2022 - June 2023
DATE and TOPIC of  COFFEE CHAT
  • September 23, 2022 - General Discussion
  • October 21, 2022 - Improvisation
  • November 25, 2022 - Supplemental pieces 
  • December 16, 2022 - Teaching Unfamiliar Music
  • January 20, 2023 - MLT, Festivals, Competitions & Exams
  • February 17, 2023 - Supplemental Repertoire & Adaptations
  • March 17, 2023 - Series of Questions
  • April 21, 2023 - Symbolic Association & Reading
  • May 19, 2023
  • ​June 16, 2023
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - June 16, 2023
Discussion on Running an MLT Studio:
  • Studio Events from studio to Community
  • Planning students' curriculum and rote pieces
  • Organization of studio material
  • Progress
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - May 19, 2023
Topic: Running an MLT Studio
Discussion for this video includes:
  • Registration and New Students
  • Students and Types of Classes/lessons 
  • Essential Skills

​This discussion will continue in June.
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - April 21, 2023
Topics include (perhaps not in this order):
  • How to address the topic of sound before symbol to parents.
  • When to start Symbolic Association (Reading)
  • Pre-Reading Activities
  • The Teaching of Stepwise patterns

NOTE: There has a been a fair bit of "post coffee chat" discussion on some of these topics that occurred after the coffee chat on Facebook.  Check out the Canada MLT Facebook Page to see the various discussions and posts based on the various topics discussed in this video.  If you aren't a member of the Canada MLT Facebook page, you should be able to find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/824765130969255
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - March 17, 2023.
  1. How do we learn hymns through an MLT approach?
  2.  How do we learn/teach Bach à la MLT?
  3. How do we teach a Canon à la MLT?
  4. How do we ourselves learn a repertoire through an MLT approach? 
  5. Adult Folk or Familiar Song Repertoire
  6. Folk Songs from Different Cultures or Countries 
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - February 17, 2023
  • Supplemental Repertoire​
ML Canada Coffee Chat - January 20, 2023
  • MLT, Music Festivals, Competitions, and Exam - In taking an audiation approach to teaching music, how do you approach music festivals and exams, which are based on a decoding approach.
  • For those interested in the book Otty mentioned it is: Paul Lockhart - A Mathematician's Lament: How School Cheats Us Out of Our Most Fascinating and Imaginative Art Form
  • For those interested in the Piano Skills Achievement Level charts that Laurel mentioned are part of Marilyn's Paid Resources, which require a $50 USD subscription to access. These can be found under the folder 902  You can access these resources here: www.musicmovesforpiano.com/resources​
ML Canada Coffee Chat - December 16, 2022
  • Teaching Unfamiliar Music - e.g. when a student comes to the lesson and wants to learn a song/piece they've heard from YouTube or radio.  How do you approach this?
  • Along with a variety of other topics crept into the discussion, e.g. Teaching Christmas Music, Use of lyrics in aiding students to learn songs, brief discussion on intrinsic motivation. 
  • The book Rochelle mentioned in the chat was: 
  • For those interested in the book Rochelle mentioned it is: Alfie Kohn - No contest: The Case Against Competition. 
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - November 25, 2022
  • Supplemental Repertoire
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - October 21, 2022
  • ​Improvisation
Coffee Chats: October 2021 - June 2022
  • October 15, 2021 - Aural/Oral
  • November 19, 2021 - Verbal Association
  • December 17, 2021 - Verbal Association - Part 2 and Partial Synthesis
  • January 21, 2022 - Partial Synthesis Part 2
  • February 18 - Symbolic Association/Composite Synthesis
  • March 18 - Generalization
  • April 22 - Creativity and Improvisation
  • May 20 - Theoretical Understanding
  • June 17 - Online Workshop with Chris Azzara - Part 2
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - May 20, 2022
  • Theoretical Understanding
  • Question and Answer
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - April 22, 2022
  • Creativity/Improvisation
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - March 18, 2022
  • Composite Synthesis and Generalization
​
NOTE: if you didn't attend or watch the Symbolic Association Coffee Chat - February 18, it is strongly recommended you view that video before viewing this video (Composite Synthesis).  The reason being is to understand how some of the reading resources demonstrated at Composite Synthesis are initially used at the Symbolic Association.
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - February 18, 2022
  • Symbolic Association/Composite Synthesis

Please note we really didn't get to Composite Synthesis, only touched upon it lightly. 

If interested in seeing a list of Greg's resources, a partial list can be viewed here: ​https://www.gregorychase.com/reading.html
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - January 21, 2022
  • Partial Synthesis - LSA Rhythm Patterns and Practical Application
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - December 17, 2021
  • Verbal Association - Part 2 - Bridging to Improvisation and Generalization-Verbal
  • Partial Synthesis - Definition and LSA Tonal Patterns.  We will carry on with PS in January
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - November 19, 2021
  • Verbal Association - due to the vastness of this topic we'll carry this over to the December 17 Coffee Chat
  • Definition & Purpose
  • Practical Applications of Verbal Association in LSAs (Learning Sequence Activities/Pattern instruction)
  • Bridging to Generalization-Aural/Oral & Creativity/Improvisation-Aural/Oral - Carried over to December 17 coffee chat
  • Questions and Answers
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - October 15, 2021
  • Aural/Oral
  • Definition & Purpose
  • Practical Applications of Aural/Oral
  • Bridging to Generalization-Aural/Oral & Creativity/Improvisation-Aural/Oral
  • Questions and Answers
Astronaut Chant
Here is a link to the Astronaut Chant that was mentioned in this month's video. 
https://mp3download.to/6en/DVZt36p1ljM.html
October 15, 2021 - Chat Text
File Size: 59 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Coffee Chats: January 2021 - May 2021

MLT Canada Coffee Chat - May 21, 2021
  • Sharing successes in our Studio
  • Teaching a piece that is not part of a MLT series
  • Beginnings of teaching improvisation
  • Selecting repertoire to supplement MMFP series
  • Determining tonal patterns for an intermediate level piece
  • Where do we go with reading after tonal patterns and rhythm patterns

Links to items mentioned in the Coffee Chat
  • International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP).  https://imslp.org/wiki/Main_Page
  • The Rote Repertoire Project Facebook Page   https://www.facebook.com/groups/3487710947987862  (Started by Anne Katherine Davis - Information shared by Drema)
    • ​To look for the pieces that everyone is pooling in each month, click on the EVENTS tab in the group. You will start to find monthly events such as The May Event. Each month contains a different set of requirements of pieces that we're looking for. This all started in September 2020, so by now there are 9 different categories.   To find the Google Excel sheet, just search that in within the group! 
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - April 16, 2021
  • How to incorporate MLT into the lessons with those who have been trained in the traditional way.
  • How to incorporate MLT with older students/adults.
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - March 19, 2021
  • Teaching diatonic melodic patterns/tonal patterns
  • Teaching changing meters and unusual/uneven meter
  • How do you know when to move or, or when to review - Using MMFP for teaching adults
  • MLT friendly festivals/Examination systems
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - February 19, 2021
  • Applying principles of MLT with older students or transfer students. e.g. Using an aural approach to more advanced literature
  • The use of tonal syllables - Moveable Do - Do-based major, La-based minor
  • Cory Mays - Executive Director of GIML on GIML Membership
MLT Canada Coffee Chat - January 22, 2021
  • Use of Rhythm Syllables in teaching 
  • Selecting repertoire outside of MLT Curricula
  • Informal chat on teaching students who are on the spectrum.