Music brings out our student’s creativity and expressive potential. But when students experience frustration or trauma or stress, we often encounter different responses. What is the role that music teachers play in this situation? How do we make ourselves aware of our actions? Stress and trauma can affect our students, which then affects us, too. And that is why building trust and connection with our students is imperative. By using therapeutic techniques, we help calm our brains and our students’ brains, consequently unlocking their potential.

* [03:22] Gloria shares her educational background.

* [04:09] The story about how she found out about trauma-informed teaching.

* [08:42] Behaviors or examples in the studio that may be related to trauma.

* [13:15] The biggest pushback that intervention practitioners get.

* [25:17] The shift in Gloria’s teaching philosophy and how this enabled her teach more because of this.

* [28:01] Gloria gives an example of building trust and connections with her students.

* [31:30] Being aware of and addressing the sensory needs of your students.

* [38:36] The importance of being aware of yourself as a teacher.

* [40:53] Learning more about the different attachment styles of teachers.

* [44:02] Working together with parents as teachers.

* [49:50] Resources available on trauma-informed training.

Resources Mentioned

* NCKP Presentation on Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Tools For the Trauma-Informed Piano Studio

* Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development

* Book: Beyond Behaviors by Mona Delahooke

* Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory by Steve Porges

* The Whole Brain Child and No Drama Discipline by Dan Siegel

* The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of TraumaBy Bessel Van der Kolk

Links Mentioned

* Musica Gloria Piano

Today’s Guest

Dr. Gloria Tham-Haines is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music and a member of the Music Teachers National Association. She is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Practitioner and a national presenter on incorporating Trust-Based Relational Intervention® strategies to build a trauma-informed piano studio.

Dr. Tham-Haines has recently been named lecturer of music at Oklahoma Baptist University. She has taught class piano and applied piano there since 2017. In 2019, she was selected as a Teacher of Distinction by the Royal Conservatory of Music, Canada.

Thank you for tuning in!

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.

Music brings out our student’s creativity and expressive potential. But when students experience frustration or trauma or stress, we often encounter different responses.