More than Music Lessons

Merlin B. Thompson invites music studio teachers to link their teaching with notions of humanity and presents a timely vision of bringing student-centered teaching to life in the applied music studio. Filled with a myriad of practical tips and strategies, inspirational ideas, and real-life stories, More than Music Lessons demonstrates how music teachers may thoughtfully build on and exercise what’s already there with students. This means teachers appreciate their students’ sense of self, their personal and world views, their culture, and their spiritual individuality: teachers share rather than direct their students’ musical journeys.

Parents, Practicing, Projects, and Character provide the student-centered framework. Having compassion for parents and the dynamics of students’ family home life is vital. Practicing fulfills our basic needs for autonomy, fluency, relatedness, purpose, and reflection. Non-performance projects bring fresh energy to students’ musical journey and amplify their musical persona. Character—an interweaving of authenticity, calling, soul, life force imprinted from birth—adds depth and integrity to musical explorations. The book features

• A myriad of practical and inspirational tips for vocal and instrumental teachers
• Real-life experiences with students and parents
• Ongoing reflective explorations
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Research from the fields of self-determination theory, humanistic psychology, and project-based learning

“This book is a refreshing perspective for any instrumental or voice teacher, straight from the heart of a highly experienced and particularly perceptive music educator. Merlin B Thompson considers nuances in the music teaching and learning journey from new and unusual angles, yet demonstrates just how fundamental these are.”

If you love to sit down with other music teachers to pick their brains about teaching philosophies and ideas that have worked with their students, then you will love Merlin B. Thompsonʼs new book, More Than Music Lessons. Clearly a caring and innovative teacher, Dr. Thompson practices what he preaches and generously shares his ideas and resources with readers. Any music teacher will find More Than Music Lessons a thought-provoking and practical addition to their studio library!

Merlin B. Thompson's latest well-researched work is a highly readable exploration of how studio teachers can successfully support student musical development. In More Than Music Lessons, Thompson aims to share "what can happen when music teachers take an interest in and have an ongoing appreciation for students' home life, their sense of self, their musical interests, their personal views and their world views, their culture" and "spiritual individuality".

Merlin Thompson offers practical, accessible, and research-based strategies for making practice time constructive and enjoyable. Thompson also looks beyond the practice room to consider ways in which music-making can be meaningful to students as they reach out to their respective communities and reach in to better understand themselves.

More than Music Lessons is an insightful, nuanced resource for music educators. The simplicity and elegance of Thompson's writing highlights core principles of quality music teaching.

More than Music Lessons is the kind of book I wish I could have referenced when I first started teaching. Merlin B. Thompson's sensitive demeanor and strong research holds valuable insights for the reader.

More Than Music Lessons will not be gathering dust on my bookshelf, because this is a slim volume to which I will be returning again and again, offering up a multi-course feast of food for thought.This is an important and superb book, which I can highly recommend to all who teach an instrument. Take time to read it more than once...

This book is multi-layered and needs to be absorbed in small doses. Reading a small section, pondering the ideas expressed, choosing one idea to pursue and integrate intentionally, engaging with other teachers in conversation, returning to the book and repeating each step is sure to fire some creative circuits in the brain and to re-energize the teaching/learning process. I highly recommend this book, as any teacher - regardless of age or experience - will benefit from its thoughtful, insightful approach.

Merlin B. Thompson is an award-winning music educator, scholar, and pianist with over forty years teaching experience in private studio, music conservatory, and university settings. He has worked with hundreds of music teachers, students, and parents throughout Canada, USA, Australia, Japan, Spain, Great Britain, Brazil, and New Zealand. He is creator of the podcast series The Music Educator’s Crucible.

Merlin B. Thompson invites music studio teachers to link their teaching with notions of humanity and presents a timely vision of bringing student-centered teaching to life in the applied music studio. Filled with a myriad of practical tips and strategies, inspirational ideas, and real-life stories, More than Music Lessons demonstrates how music teachers may thoughtfully build on and exercise what's already there with students. This means teachers appreciate their students' sense of self, their personal and world views, their culture, and their spiritual individuality: teachers share rather than direct their students' musical journeys. Parents, Practicing, Projects, and Character provide the student-centered framework. Having compassion for parents and the dynamics of students' family home life is vital. Practicing fulfills our basic needs for autonomy, fluency, relatedness, purpose, and reflection. Non-performance projects bring fresh energy to students' musical journey and amplify their musical persona. Character-an interweaving of authenticity, calling, soul, life force imprinted from birth-adds depth and integrity to musical explorations. The book features A myriad of practical and inspirational tips for vocal and instrumental teachers Real-life experiences with students and parents Ongoing reflective explorations Frequently Asked Questions Research from the fields of self-determination theory, humanistic psychology, and project-based learning

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