Potpourri for Pedagogues

The landscape for music teachers has changed.  Traditionally we operated on our own little isolated island with occasional trips to the mainland for sustenance, the "mainland"  being educational institutions and professional organizations and publications. There were few opportunities for live shop talk with colleagues.  Teaching materials were usually limited to what had been inherited from other teachers or to a small selection offered in a local music store--if one were even accessible near the island.  No more! Everyone reading this has discovered the new bridge that has been constructed so that we can easily

A recent conversation with a young mother and piano teacher was illuminating.  She was attending a teacher conference, enjoying the relief from the isolation that she often felt teaching in her home studio.  I recall those days in my own teaching life.  My children were small, my in-laws need extra care, and there was little time or money to shop for materials or attend conferences, but oh how I wanted to!  That was before the internet, before Facebook, before interest groups—in fact before many people even had computers!

I told my young teacher friend about Music Educators’ Marketplace and our newly launched community where music educators can learn, collaborate, and shop. “That’s a great idea!” she responded.  That is the same response I received from a teacher who is homebound recovering from an ankle fracture.  And from a former student who is home schooling his daughter and looking for recommendations for appropriate materials.  And from a member of a piano teachers’ online group.  And from a harried school band director/piano teacher/church musician. All are eager to save time, to be effective teachers, and to interact meaningfully with the world.  Me too!

So here's what what you can do when you visit the community center at Music Educators’ Marketplace :

• You can network with music educators everywhere or one on one.
• You can discover and purchase useful and unique teaching materials created by our member teachers.
• You can publicize your own creative or teaching efforts to a highly targeted audience. (We will soon start accepting selected advertising.)
• You can research information, videos, and events tailored to your professional needs and growth.
• You can share your teaching problems and solutions.
• You can start or participate in an interest group.
• You can give and receive feedback about products.
• You can “attend” at any time you have internet access.
• You can click our links to follow your needs and pursue your interests.
• You can deal with a long-established (entering our twelfth year!) company that is monitored, managed and maintained by active music educator professionals.

By participating you can enrich your professional life and at the same time enhance the value of the site for everyone else.  Welcome to our new musical community! You are welcome here, neighbor.