Teacher Workshops & Professional Development
Join us in 2025 for a Series of Three Online
Workshops Presented by Merlin Thompson
FREE for members of ARMTA Calgary Branch
Non-Branch Members are welcome for a fee of $25.00 per session
The general public is also welcome for a fee of $25.00 per session
The Chill-Out Concert
This informative session focuses on how music teachers can increase student engagement by including a Chill-Out Concert in their yearly schedule. The session will include preparations, concert protocols, and what first inspired Merlin to include this event in his studio.
Thursday, January 9, 2025
10:00 to 11:00 am
What Music Teachers Need to Know About Practicing
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
10:00 to 11:00 am
This practical session examines recent neuroscience research into how people learn. The goal is to translate research into real life application of learning to sing or play a musical instrument. An informative session.
Twenty Years from Now
This session contains strategies and tools that music teachers may use in their current lessons to sow the seeds for students as future recreational or amateur music makers. The emphasis is on including aspects in music lessons that synchronize with students’ own personal musical connections. A game-changer session.
Thursday, May 22, 2025
10:00 to 11:00 am
Each session includes a presentation and time for Q&A
Merlin Thompson is an award-winning educator, Calgary-based pianist, teacher, and author who has worked with hundreds of teachers, students, and parents in webinars, workshops, conferences, universities, and mentorships online and in-person. His recent projects have been featured throughout Canada, USA, China, New Zealand, Australia, and
Finland. He is author of More Than Music Lessons: A Studio Teacher’s Guide to Parents, Practicing, Projects, and Character. He is creator and founder of Teach Music 21C: a professional development platform for today’s music
teachers that aims to change to the tone of music teaching one lesson at a time.
(PhD, MA, BMus)