The PTC Open Forum is a professional development initiative designed to promote growth and foster community among our teachers. Once a month, we gather in someone’s home, share some food and drinks, and talk shop. It is an opportunity to ask questions, get feedback, share experiences and techniques – and even vent to your sympathetic colleagues! It is designed to help us all become the best teachers we can be by pooling our resources, and to combat the isolation that often comes with this line of work. Some topics we discuss include:
PTC Open Forum
- First lessons
- Teaching staff reading
- Sight-singing/solfege
- Teaching rhythm, polyrhythms
- Teaching very young students
- Method books
- Teaching adults
- The teenage transition
- Marketing and publicity
- Teaching technique
- Performance preparation
- Billing and tuition
- Listening and concerts
- Theory and ear training
- Repertoire (beginner, intermediate, advanced)
- Retention/attrition
- Apps and software
- Improvisation and composition
The meetings generally run about two hours. The format is informal, although attendance is limited to the first 15 people to RSVP each month. Notes following each meeting are shared via email with those who attended. We hope to see you at Open Forum soon!
Hello PTC members! It is a new school year and a new season for Open Forum. To see what we’re all about, check out this link on the main website; in brief, we meet once a month to discuss teaching, students, and everything related. It’s a great opportunity to meet new friends, exchange ideas, and see what the rest of the field is up to. I know I personally benefited a lot from our meetings last year and hope you all will too!This year it was suggested by the Board that our first meeting have more of a party-like atmosphere, so we’re holding it Saturday, 10/21, at 7 p.m., and doing it potluck-style. The location is TBA. If you know of a centralized venue where we could hold it or would like to host, please let me know. I have also scheduled the meeting dates through the end of the year:Tuesday, November 14, at 10 a.m.Monday, December 11, at 10 a.m.The November and December meetings will be held at my apartment in Midtown East. Please mark these dates in your calendar and let me know if you plan to attend. Feel free to bring a friend – other instrumental/voice teachers welcome! – just let me know beforehand.Thanks, and hope to see you soon!Best,Eric Hunter