More than Music Lessons

Book excerpt: Award-winning music educator Merlin B. Thompson invites today’s teachers to link their teaching with notions of humanity and create success by building on what students naturally bring to their own musical journey. Filled with over fifty practical and inspirational teaching tips, More than Music Lessons is a must-read for every genre of music studio teacher: vocal/instrumental, academic, traditional, individual/group, Suzuki, exam-based, and online. A four-part framework gets right to the heart of the matter: Parents - understanding the complexity of parental involvement and students’ home life Practicing - an adventure in autonomy, fluency, purpose, relatedness, reflection, and listening Projects - amplifying students’ musical persona with non-performance projects. Character - engaging students’ inborn authentic character to ensure meaningful musical participation Grounded in research yet enriched with real-life experiences and frequently asked questions, More than Music Lessons offers a comprehensive view of student-centered teaching, where teachers share rather than direct students’ musical explorations. This book provides resources for teachers who work with diverse student demographics and sheds light on how teachers may thoughtfully incorporate students’ sense of self, personal and world views, culture, individuality, and spirituality as anchors for their unfolding and unique musical journeys. More than Music Lessons will help studio teachers support and inspire their students for a lifetime of genuine and joyful music making.