In episode 85, Theresa and Kathryn sit down with Merlin Thompson, an experienced private music teacher, clinician, and the founder of Teach Music 21C. With over 45 years of teaching experience, Merlin shares powerful insights on fostering lifelong musicianship through reflective partnership teaching. He challenges the traditional master-apprentice model and instead emphasizes a collaborative, student-centered approach that encourages ownership, creativity, and personal connection to music. Merlin shares practical strategies for helping students engage with music beyond lessons, including his innovative “chill out concert” concept and the importance of integrating student choice into learning.
Music educators of all kinds—whether private instructors or classroom teachers—will find valuable takeaways in this conversation. Merlin’s framework of gathering information, exploring perspectives, and planning next steps provides a clear path toward more meaningful music instruction. If you’re looking to empower your students to become lifelong music-makers, this episode is packed with actionable ideas that you can implement right away. Tune in and get inspired to rethink how you approach student learning in your own teaching!
Connect with Merlin and learn more:
- Website: Teach Music 21c
- LinkedIn
- Book: More than Music Lessons
Resources from this episode:
- Episode 78: Fostering Collaboration, Ownership, and Creativity
- Student Decision Making Resource: Let Students Decide
Connect with Pass the Baton and learn more:
- Pass the Baton website
- Join the Coffee Club
- Amplify student voice with Exit Tickets for Self Reflection! Get it for free now.
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
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