Have you ever experienced an uncomfortable moment when a music student says something inappropriate? Sometimes? Here and there? For music teachers, these moments can be unsettling, especially if you’re caught off guard or unsure how to respond. Whether it’s a rude remark, an off-colour joke, or an i...
Thanks so much to Josanna Justine for sharing her experience with Kitchen Party Concerts in this blog. It's super to tap into the thoughts and insights from Teach Music 21C members. Thanks Josanna!
Last year at a wedding reception – that beautifully awkward gathering of strangers, connected only beca...
As you probably know, I spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to be a music studio teacher in today’s music teaching world. Something that really impresses me is how we’re going through an extraordinary transformation in teacher mindset. Unlike previous generations, today’s teachers are i...
Please enjoy this guest post from Dyane Protzmann Rogelstad, a longtime supporter of Teach Music 21C. Thanks Dyane for sharing your reflections.
Have you ever had a mentor or teacher who recognized your potential before you could see it yourself—someone who gently nudged you onto a path that wo...
I’m always amazed at the power of words. Take for example the statement: “I can imagine you sharing this piece with others someday”. It’s the kind of statement music teachers incorporate that confirms the importance of music in students’ lives. It’s the kind of statement that can shift our students’...
When you first started teaching, did you ever feel like you needed to share everything you know with your students? Every insight. Every technique. Every shortcut to success. After all, isn’t that what great teachers do - we equip students with all the knowledge we’ve worked to acquire? In this blog...
Please enjoy this guest post from Paul McGlinchey, executive team member in charge of Community Development at Teach Music 21C. Thanks Paul for sharing your thoughts.
Music teachers are already designers, whether we realize it or not. We're especially good at designing a given student's curriculum, a...
Are you familiar with imposter syndrome? Those feelings of inadequacy that can wreak havoc with music teacher frame of mind. The sense that “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t really know what I’m doing” can be paralyzing, even in the face of real achievements and credentials. Within music teaching, w...
There's no doubt about it - every student is unique. And as music teachers, we have the amazing opportunity to help them build their own unique musical identity —the best of their own musical brand! We can shape each student’s journey to reflect their personality, interests, and goals. Whether they’...
I know I’ve been writing a lot these days about the transformation that’s taking place in music teaching. It's such an important development and there’s so much going on! It’s amazing to hear from so many teachers as we refine our teaching strategies. Which brings me to these timely questions: What ...
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.
Repetition is a foundation of music practice. But do students actually know how t...
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...
When my student Patrick recently told me that he didn’t much time to practice that week, it occurred to me there are basically two ways music teachers can respond. The first way, which we’ve inherited from previous generations of music teachers, is to tell s...
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’ ...
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?
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An informative session with Dr. Merlin B. Thompson. Q&A and discussions on a wide variety of music teacher topics: practicing, parents, communication, performance, and more.
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