Blog by Merlin B. Thompson

I appreciate all the recent conversations I’ve had with music teachers who are intentionally changing the tone of music lessons. Like Sophia who’s integrating students’ own choice right from the first lesson. And Patrick who’s grown comfortable with promoting student independence. And Joanne who pre...

This blog post is authored by Dyane Protzmann Rogelstad, a long-time supporter of Teach Music 21C. Thanks so much Dyane for sharing your reflections on Questions & Concepts from TM21C. There's lots to think about in your words. 

What makes TM 21C so great for me? 

In March, 2020, when I ...

It's an immense pleasure to welcome Paul McGlinchey (TM21C Executive in charge of Community Outreach) as author for this post. Thank you Paul for your insight into music teaching and commitment to Teach Music 21C. 

I don’t often talk about my age. When you get old, there’s not much you can do about it! But these days it seems quite remarkable that I’ve been playing piano for 66 years and teaching for 47. That means I’ve been around long enough to observe some remarkable changes. I’ve seen trends come and go. P...

Group Classes are a mainstay of my teaching. I appreciate how bringing students together once a month fosters a vibrant, collaborative environment that complements our weekly individual lessons. These sessions provide opportunity to dive into a wide range of activities, but there’s one activity that...

Everywhere I go these days, I’m impressed to see how many music studio teachers are reevaluating the traditional master/apprentice model. There’s an extraordinary transition taking place as teachers work hard to incorporate the various layers of student-centered teaching: authenticity, flexibility, ...

It's January 2025: a timely moment to consider how music teachers guide our students’ musical development. This year, I’m inspired by a remarkable trio of life skills: persistence, excellence, and reflection. It’s amazing to consider how these three qualities play fundamental roles in our students’ ...

I must admit I really appreciate this time of the year. With the holiday break just weeks away, the pace in my studio has slowed down. The big concert was a success in November. An informal family concert held online at the beginning of December brought everyone together. Now it’s time for December ...

In two previous blogs, I began a three-part exploration of Universal Technique - the idea that there are fundamental components across vocal and instrumental musical development. Firstly I took a look at "the core". Secondly it was "breath". Now it's time for the final element - ...

In my previous blog, I began a three-part exploration of Universal Technique - the idea that there are fundamental components across vocal and instrumental musical development. Last time it was "the core". Now it's time to take a look at the second element. Can you figure out what it is?

As a vocal or instrumental music teacher, I suspect you’ve already got a fairly concrete list of technical aspects that you want to pass on to your students. You pay close attention to various factors that assist students with producing beautiful tone, developing technical ease, and promoting musica...

We all know that our students’ musical futures are shaped by what we do today. Through countless conversations and explorations, we help students acquire the mindset, tools, strategies, and knowledge to pursue their own musical futures. Which brings me to these questions - How do the activities you ...

Have you ever had a week of teaching that really made you stop and think - What’s going on? Why is this happening? Most likely you have. So you won’t be surprised if I tell you that last week was one of those weeks when I realized a group of my students had been stuck on a plateau for quite some tim...

The first conversation between music teachers and parents can be the spark that ignites a lifelong passion for music making - or the moment that parents decide music lessons may not be for their child. Responding to parents’ initial inquiry into music lessons can be challenging especially when paren...

Music teacher wellbeing is a topic that doesn’t seem to come up all that often in teacher discussion groups. And when it does, factors like regular physical exercise, balanced diet, and adequate sleep take center stage. But these factors only tell part of the story. There’s another element important...

These days I’ve been thinking music studio teaching really is a complex undertaking that requires a unique blend of creativity, adaptability, and emotional intelligence from music teachers. Each day brings new challenges—some within our control, like passing on musical skills and knowledge, and othe...

Take a look at this scenario - Angie is a 12-year-old voice student whose family recently moved to your city. Angie has had several years of voice lessons, has completed several levels of voice studies, and is an accomplished performer. Her parents are eager to for her to continue her musical journe...