Networking and marketing: panel discussion.(Pedagogy Friday: Exploring Evaluation and Assessment)(Discussion)

This panel of remarkable women, similar in that they are all distinguished music teachers who have established unique and successful careers for themselves in the music field, shared their views on establishing strong music programs in studios and communities and professional development for music instructors.

Angela Elster spent the first half of her career teaching music at the Royal Conservatory of Music and at York and McMaster Universities. For the past 12 years she has focused her energies on the professional development of teachers. As founder and executive director of the "Learning Through the Arts" (LTTA) program at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, her work currently helps shape the teaching practices of 4,000 teachers in 12 countries. This national program aims to transform the way in which curriculum is taught and learned in schools across Canada: The LTTA program evolved out of the premise that schools that encourage teachers to make learning and teaching participatory, active and connected to the personal interests and learning style of each student are the most effective in achieving academic, social and personal development in these students. A professional development component is central to LTTA. It offers teachers skill development workshops, frequent in-class practice and support by a team of experienced LTTA artists. An extensive list of programs available can be found on their website www.ltta.ca.

Shelia Vail, director of the Indian Springs Academy of Music (ISAM) in Cincinnati, Ohio, offers prospective teachers professional development opportunities by lecturing at local universities and colleges. In her lecture entitled "Creating, Establishing and Maintaining the Independent Teaching Studio," she provides sample products (such as brochures and business cards) and addresses such practical points as curriculum proposals, fee structures and marketing strategies. As part of this lecture, students are invited to tour her teaching academy.

The Academy's website, www.indianspringsacademy.com, highlights a variety of appealing programs available to both students and teachers. Vail has also lectured at various teachers associations on the topic "Creative Studio Curricula--How to Make Your Studio Pay!" This includes an exploration of the "developmental vs. the recreational" curricula offering ideas such as student merit programs, in-house activities and creative scheduling to keep summer sessions alive.

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Through ISAM, she has created ...