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!
Wednesday, September 16
How Are You Doing?
Covid strategies, support, how did we spend the summer?
Tuesday, October 13
Grading Programs (following Janet Lopinski’s lecture)
RCM, ABRSM, NYSSMA
Wednesday, November 18
New Technologies
Thursday, December 10
Meditation and Mindfulness in the Teaching Studio