Kenneth Thompson brings a wealth of insight into what makes music lessons truly transformative. Drawing from his experiences as a performer, educator, and founder of Musical Arts Centers of San Antonio, Inc. (MACSA), Ken shares how lesson atmosphere shapes the student experience. In this episode, he unpacks the five pillars of effective teaching, the balance between trust and intensity, and the powerful role teachers play as guides and leaders in their students’ journeys.
Kenneth Thompson is a recipient of the Texas Music Teachers Association’s (TMTA) Pre-Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award and MACSAthe Leadership in Education Award from Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW). He received a BM in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music where his teachers were Nelita True and Anton Nel. He has been featured in articles about music business and the study of music in USA Today and on MSN.com.
Kenneth has performed extensively as a chamber musician and soloist. Feeling a calling to teach, Mr. Thompson turned his attention to the development of pre-college advanced pianists. His piano students have performed more than 120 complete solo recital programs and performed more than 40 times as soloists with orchestra including many performances with the San Antonio Symphony. He has had several students perform in New York at Carnegie Hall and has had two students perform on National Public Radio’s hit show “From the Top”.
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.
If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.
Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Fridays weekly.
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
