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
