More than Music Lessons

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 listeningProjects - amplifying students' musical persona with non-performance projects.Character - engaging students' inborn authentic character to ensure meaningful musical participationGrounded 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.

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.

Introduction - Build On and Exercise
Chapter 1. Sharing the Journey
Student-Centered Teaching
Curriculum Models
Teaching for Inclusion and Diversity
Part One - Parents
Chapter 2. Parents Make A Difference
Family Home Life
Music & Family Home Life
Teachers & Family Home Life
Independence & Ownership
Chapter 3. In the Lesson
Step In, Step Back, Let Go
Diverse Family Needs
Taking Homework Notes
Chapter 4. Meaningful Conversations
Parents & Questions
Acceptable Tension
Parents' Most Practical Resource
Teachers Letting Go
Opening Doors
FAQs
Part Two - Practicing
Chapter 5. Framework of Basic Human Needs
Chapter 6. Practicing & Autonomy
Assumptions About Autonomy
Language & Gestures
What About Mistakes?
Protecting Students
Homework Notes
Teacher's Belief in Autonomy
FAQs
Chapter 7. Practicing & Fluency
The Activity Itself
Repetition
Creativity & Challenges
Review & Refinemen
Slow Practice
Immediate & Evolving
FAQs
Chapter 8. Practicing & Purpose
Musicianship & Artistry
Beauty
Caring for Music
Vision of Life
Real Life Stories
FAQs
Chapter 9. Practicing & Relatedness
Teachers & Students
Unconditional Personal Connections
The Power of Smiling
Sense of Humor
Caring Relationships
FAQs
Chapter 10. Practicing & Reflection
Developing Awareness
Questions
Silence
Follow Up
Student Report Cards
Parent Check Ins
Teen Student Reviews
FAQs
Chapter 11. Practicing & Listening
Listening 001 - Internalize
Listening 002 - Inspire
Listening 003 - Share
Further Thoughts
Part Three - Projects
Chapter 12. Non-performance Music Projects
Background
Project-Based Learning
Teacher's Role
Chapter 13. Giving Voice to Students
Students' EMC Projects
Junior High Threshold
Amplifying Students' Musical Persona
FAQs
Part Four - Character
Chapter 14. Imprinted from Birth
My Gallery of Student Portraits
Connecting with Life Skills
Chapter 15. Character & Music Lessons
Exercising Character
Empathy Starters
Talking About Soul
Character Reflections
More Than Music
FAQs
Finale. Our Shared Humanity
Appendix A: Challenges
Appendix B: Parent Letter & Teenager Letter
Appendix C: Everyday Music Connections Projects
Appendix D: Character Cards
Bibliography