Earlier this year, two parents contacted me about music lessons for their children. They visited my studio. We chatted. They had questions. So did I. After some time, the reassuring look on their faces told me we had arrived at an important commonality. We had zeroed in on something remarkable that would provide momentum and meaning for their boys’ music lessons. What was it? What did our conversation reveal?
A vision of lifelong music makers. We were unanimous in our enthusiasm for using music lessons to nurture their children’s own lifelong relationships with music. We had a vision of lifelong music makers - of what music lessons could accomplish for their two boys that reached far into the future.
What strikes me as noteworthy in our discussion was that it didn’t feel like I needed to convince the parents of anything. It wasn’t about me talking the parents into my point of view. My impression is that we were able to agree on our enthusiasm for lifelong music making because parents care about their children’s futures. Especially today with the intrusive presence of technology, parents want their children to experience life-affirming activities that prepare them for the future. They don’t want playing video games and scrolling to take over their children’s lives.
Vision and Inspiration - Since meeting with these new parents, I’ve been exploring how vision and inspiration impact music teaching. What I’m discovering is that when vision is present and consistently shared, it alters the entire studio experience. Having vision changes the way we inspire our students. It informs how we talk during lessons, the words we choose, and the actions we take with the goal of shaping how students build on and exercise their own relationship with music. When we teach with vision, we inspire students to explore music making as something that belongs in their everyday lives. Vision helps students and families understand what we’re doing and why it matters. Inspiration is how we put vision into action.
The more I explore this idea, the more I see that vision and inspiration need to be intentional. It’s about choosing words that open doors and reflect possibility. It’s noticing when students are most engaged and naming why that matters. It’s helping families experience for themselves how music making supports a full and meaningful life. It’s about doing all this again and again - week after week and year after year.
This is where Teach Music 21C continues to grow for me. Now I’m planning ahead to bring clarity to what vision is and what we can do as inspiring music teachers. Not with trendy music teacher add-ons, but through the meaningful discussions we have, the timely questions we ask, and the activities that bring life to our student’s musical journeys. I’m looking forward to sharing more about the link between visionary thinking and the actions we can take to inspire students.
Starting Today - I appreciate how teaching with vision and inspiration is something we can all begin right away. One conversation. One sentence. One gesture that connects what we say with what we do. When we teach with vision and inspiration, we do more than guide students through lessons—we help shape the role making music will play in their lives for years to come.
When you describe your teaching approach to parents, what future are you inviting them to imagine?
In your teaching, where does your vision of lifelong music makers naturally show up? Where might it be missing?
How do you help students see making music as part of their life, not just preparing for their lessons?
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If this exploration of teaching with vision and inspiration has got you thinking, I’d love to hear from you. Click HERE to send me an email message.
This is your invitation to keep the conversation going....