Blog by Merlin B. Thompson

What do you say to a teen student with lots on their plate and no sign of that changing any time soon? Their practicing time has shrunk considerably. They have a ton of homework. Every day seems to be scheduled to the maximum with extracurricular activities. Do they ever have a moment to themselves?...

For this blog post, I'm grateful to Dyane Protzmann Rogelstad for sharing her real life experiences in the piano studio. Thanks so much Dyane!

When we talk about neurodivergence (ND), we’re not describing a one-size-fits-all experience. The ND brain doesn’t follow a straight line.  It’s more lik...

When asked about their musical interests, many music students have no problem coming up with a whole list of pieces. But certain students, when teachers inquire about their musical preferences, have no idea how to respond. They shrug their shoulders, look away apologetically and say, “I don’t know”....

What is the best approach for beginning students? Should music lessons start with learning to read? Is it Ear-Before-Eye? These are compelling questions because how music teachers respond will definitely impact our students’ musical journey for years to come. So what’s the best answer? What do music...

With September music lessons just days away, I’m wondering about what the year has in store. What will my students take away from their music-making explorations? Fresh directions? Comfortable experiences? Taking risks and exploring the uncharted? When I think about the year ahead, I’m always r...

The final weeks of August can be an intense time for music teachers. Getting ready for September. Organizing the teaching schedule. Looking for fresh music. Tweaking everything possible. It can take a lot of time, energy, and thought. So let me share with you my own experiences regarding the end of ...

It's the middle of summer. A perfect time for some reflection and looking back on my teaching career. What jumps out? Two “pivotal conversations”. I call them my “pivotal conversations” because they genuinely shifted my attention and challenged me to think about teaching in ways I hadn’t anticipated...

Over the last several months, it’s been interesting for me to note how the topic of “efficiency” in music teaching has surfaced from time to time. I see it on social media platforms when music teachers reach out with concerns like the following: “I’m not sure what to do. How can I get more effi...

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...

Can you believe June is already here!? Where has the time gone? I really appreciate this time of year as an opportunity to look back and see what's happened over the past few months. All the big goals have come and gone. Now June is a month where we can just relax. It's not a "growth" time...

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...

Last year at a wedding reception – that beautifully awkward gathering of strangers, connected only beca...

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...