Teach Music 21C
Alumni connection: Merlin Thompson, PhD '13, Creator
Faculty: Werklund School of Education
Category: Education
Region: Calgary
Company information: Teach Music 21C is a groundbreaking professional development program that equips today's music teachers with 21st century teaching tools. Created by Merlin B. Thompson, TM21C recently benefited from participating in the UCalgary R2SI (research to social innovation) project. TM21C is leading the way in pedagogy-related explorations by introducing music teachers to socially-responsible strategies that engage diversity, enable accessibility and inclusion, and support thriving individuals and communities.
Additional information: Music teaching has traditionally followed a master/apprentice approach where teachers are in charge of students' musical journey. The problem with this approach is that the overwhelming majority of young people who take music lessons, once they reach adulthood, never pick up their instrument or sing again. (A small percentage become professional musicians.) TM21C tells a different story - where a paradigm shift in music teaching promotes and supports lifelong music making as a natural part of personal and community wellbeing.
Year established: 2023