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Being a Flexible Music Teacher

Improve your teaching approach by developing strategies and skills for learning with this music teaching course from ABRSM.

565 enrolled on this course

Asian boy playing saxophone

Being a Flexible Music Teacher

565 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

Pursue your professional development as a music teacher

Whether you have been teaching for decades or are about to teach for the first time, taking the opportunity to develop the skills you need to become an effective teacher can enhance musical outcomes for your students. It can also help you develop sustainability for the future of your business and reduce day-to-day stress by enriching your skill-set, creativity, and confidence.

You’ll look into a future where technology and music teaching comfortably co-exist, supporting students in the best possible way. This four-week course from ABRSM will help you pursue your professional development as a flexible music teacher in the post-pandemic world.

Develop learning strategies for students with different needs

You’ll reflect in a structured way on your own practice, developing an awareness of the core skills you bring to your lessons.

You’ll also find new ways to professionalise your work in the music education sector and reflect on how to adapt your lessons for the needs of your students. With this knowledge, you’ll be inspired to implement these ideas into your lessons immediately, whether face-to-face or online.

Engage in collaboration with other teachers worldwide

Teachers have adapted their teaching practice during the pandemic to continue to deliver high-quality music education. You’ll have the opportunity to share what’s worked for you with teachers from different parts of the globe, communicating knowledge and skills that will contribute to the development of others.

Study with ABRSM

ABRSM is the UK’s largest music education body and the world’s leading provider of music exams, holding over 650,000 assessments in more than 90 countries every year. As a registered charity, they also make significant donations towards music education initiatives around the world.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Reflecting on your teaching

    • Welcome to the course

      A chance for us to introduce what this course is all about and to get to know you!

    • What's changed and what's endured?

      Take a breath and reflect on your teaching practice. Where has your teaching practice travelled from and where is it heading?

    • Models of reflection

      In this activity we explore some existing models of reflection and ask you to take part.

    • How has your teaching adapted?

      One of the biggest adjustments most of us will have made was the move from primarily face-to-face, to online learning. For those without much experience of teaching in this way, the move, will without doubt have caused us to adapt

    • Peer observation

      Reflecting on your own practice can be a powerful learning tool for teachers. Observing other teachers at work, both those with a similar background and experience base as you, and those with more, or different experience.

  • Week 2

    Starting from the body

    • Supporting musical development away from the instrument

      We share some good starter activities for you to incorporate into your teaching.

    • Activities to support performance

      in particular when considering the challenges presented by online learning.

    • What can we learn without our instrument?

      Short introductions in some methods you might find helpful to incorporate in your teaching.

  • Week 3

    Developing yourself as a professional

    • Supporting your physical and mental wellbeing

      A chance to learn some new ways to take care of yourself, so you can be most effective in your teaching.

    • Building your professional support network

      Make sure you have the support network to teach effectively.

    • Teaching in a digital environment

      Are you really making the most of technology in your teaching?

  • Week 4

    Adapting to the needs of your learners

    • Understanding individual needs and aspirations

      Getting to know our pupils as whole people is something that as teachers, we don't always attend to enough. Here teachers share insights into how they approach this from a range of perspectives, starting with Rob, and football....

    • Bringing repertoire to life!

      We're going to end this section with a chance to get really creative in a collaborative lesson planning activity!

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Reflect on and evaluate your journey to teaching during the pandemic
  • Develop an understanding of a range of teaching and learning principles
  • Compare teaching and learning principles for flexible learning
  • Assess how you approach teaching technique to your pupils in face to face and online environments
  • Reflect how your own teaching practice can remain sustainable and adaptive, bolstered by awareness of professional values and practice
  • Design a broad, individual learning plan for pupils with reference to short term goals
  • Engage with other teachers and contribute to discussions about teaching in a post-Covid world
  • Explore musical learning away from the instrument

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for all music, instrumental, and vocal teachers who provide lessons in any style or genre.

People who have taken the Becoming a Better Music Teacher course will benefit from this course.

This course will also be advantageous for new teachers as well as existing ABRSM customers.

Who will you learn with?

Hi. I've been a music educator for most of my professional life, working with everyone from 4 year olds to post graduate students training to teach. Looking forward to sharing this course with you!

Hi everyone, i'm an instrumental teacher who happens to also have a day job at ABRSM. I'm responsible for day to day management of this course and I look forward to meeting you!

I am the Chief Examiner and an Executive Director at ABRSM. Previously a teacher myself, I’m passionate about nurturing and encouraging the next generation of teachers and musicians.

Who developed the course?

ABRSM

The world’s leading provider of music exams, holding over 650,000 exams in over 90 countries each year. ABRSM makes significant donations towards music education initiatives around the world.

Ways to learn

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$349.99 for one year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$104/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 22 May 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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