423: The 4 Curriculum Models with Merlin Thompson

What if your role as a music teacher didn’t start and end with the method book? In this chat with Dr. Merlin Thompson, we're exploring how the curriculum models we choose can shape our students’ lifelong connection to music. From teacher-led to student-driven approaches and everything in between, Merlin offers a fresh perspective on how to rethink curriculum planning, repertoire, and even our own identity as teachers in the 21st century.

• Tim welcomed Dr. Merlin Thompson, a respected music educator and curriculum specialist.
• Merlin outlined four curriculum models: teacher-led, student-led, shared, and neurodiverse.
• He explained how shifting models supports lifelong musical engagement.
• They discussed the need to reframe teacher identity in today’s evolving music landscape.
• How students can take the lead in lessons while still receiving expert guidance.
• The importance of reflective teaching and adapting to students’ goals.
• How repertoire choices and improvisation can support different models.
• Teachers were encouraged to ask what musical activities their students will pursue as adults.
• Merlin highlighted project-based learning as a way to deepen student connections to music.
• He invited teachers to build community and continually reflect on their teaching values.

Links Mentioned

• Merlin's Website: Teach Music 21C
• Merlin's Book: More than Music Lessons
• Teach Music 21C Instagram: @teachmusic21c
• Teach Music 21C LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/teachmusic21c

Today's Guest

Award-winning music educator, pianist, author, keynote speaker, and podcast host, Dr. Merlin B. Thompson is a leading Canadian authority on music studio teaching and the visionary behind Teach Music 21C - a thriving community of music teachers focused on 21st century teaching tools. With nearly five decades of studio teaching experience and an international impact - including Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Finland - Merlin has inspired hundreds of teachers, students, and parents. His passions? Empowering music teachers with strategies that work in today’s evolving teaching landscape. And helping students to develop lifelong musical connections right from their first music lesson.

Today's Sponsor

Just a year ago, the German music publisher Bärenreiter celebrated its 100th anniversary. The story began modestly, with editions of folk songs and church music produced by the young founder, Karl Vötterle, in his parents’ living room. But the publishing house quickly expanded. After the Second World War, Bärenreiter increasingly focused on scholarly-critical editions, growing into one of the world’s leading classical music publishers. While the company’s early Urtext publications centered on Mozart, Bach, and Schubert, its catalogue now includes over 10,000 titles, featuring works by composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Fauré, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Ravel, Satie, and many others. Bärenreiter's Urtext editions are prepared by renowned musicologists, with no effort spared in locating and...