Balance for your life … Creativity for your studio.
Whether over the Summer or another season, it’s important to take regular breaks. But, it’s SO hard when you teach or run a studio. Right?
Oftentimes, I like to make a list of tasks that I want to accomplish before the rush of a new school year starts. While I like to relax as much as the next person, there is something about extended periods (more than 1 – 2 weeks) of doing nothing that just doesn’t work for me.
Continue reading “Lazin’ Around … Teacher Style”How many times do you catch your students (or maybe even yourself) gazing out the window wishing they weren’t stuck at the piano? Let’s stop fighting a losing battle & give our students what they want with easy outdoor music lesson ideas!
Towards the end of a semester, it’s all about keeping our students engaged until the very last lesson. What if I told you that you could have an educationally sound, music filled lesson … outside? Yes!
Continue reading “Take It Outside! Easy Outdoor Music Lesson Ideas For Your Studio”It’s that time of year where it is oh-so-easy to just let go & coast to end of the month. But, is that really what’s best for our students? No! Fun music theory ideas designed for the end of the year are the perfect way to highlight the amazing progress each student has made.
Continue reading “Fun Music Theory Ideas For End of Year”June. The weather is perfect for dinners on the patio, a fantastic fruity drink in hand, kids running around with their friends not to be seen for hours, visiting with friends in the extended evenings & relaxing in the sun (or shade, if you burn like I do). But, keeping students engaged to last lesson can be challenge.
Or, perhaps your June looks a little more like our home …
Continue reading “Keeping Students Engaged to the Last Lesson”While June is a natural break in the school year, it seems inevitable that we will be saying goodbye to some students as they leave the studio … even during the regular academic year. Sometimes, it’s due to a move away from the area. Other times, priorities or financial situations have changed & lessons are no longer an option. And, other times … well, perhaps we are breathing a sigh of relief after a tough year with a particular family. (Though hopefully this last one is a rare occurrence.)
Continue reading “Saying Goodbye to Students Regardless of the Situation”It can be a bit tricky to plan student led conferences at first. Especially since it’s a completely different from a teacher-centered approach to lessons. But, with a few tips you’ll be able to add this to your studio programming with ease!
Continue reading “How to Plan Student Led Conferences in Your Music Studio”Student led conferences work incredibly well in the music studio. And, this is because our subject matter tends to be among the least understood, visually confusing &, at times, overwhelming topic a non-musical parent can be faced with. But, it doesn’t have to be like this!
Continue reading “Why Student Led Conferences Work So Great in the Music Studio”Having a studio recital is a lot of work. And, it’s completely worth it. But, you may be thinking, “The recital is over … now what?” Maybe you are feeling burnt out or “burnt out adjacent” (the feeling of don’t-add-anything-more-because-I-am-JUST-barely-able-to-get-everything-done). Having some post recital ideas to keep lessons engaging is a must!
Continue reading “The Recital Is Over … Now What?”It’s that time of year & many studios are working towards one goal. Making sure students have their recital song mastered. Or, songs depending on the size of the studio. Sometimes I wonder who is more stressed before the recital: the teacher or the student. And, I think that it all depends on how soon the recital is.
Do you have a student that procrastinates on their songs until the last minute? And, then struggles to master them in the last week or two before the recital?
We all know how that turns out. The student typically chokes during the performance, audience members try to be supportive (though with all the stops & starts it’s a challenge), & the recital starts feeling like a chore to everyone that attends.
Continue reading “Help! My Student Doesn’t Have Their Recital Song Mastered.”Hosting a virtual recital, much like an in-person recital, has many moving parts. The nice part is that many of these parts are the same regardless of the format! After hosting my first in-person recital … & the sheer exhaustion afterwards, I’ve been on a mission to plan a recital without stress. Thankfully it has become much easier over the years & I’ll be sharing the tips & tricks that have made planning much, much easier.
P.S. This is part 2 of a series covering virtual or online recitals. Be sure to read about choosing the right type of virtual recital & marketing or to clients/teachers in Part 1. Just like this article, you can use the ideas for in-person recitals when you are trying out something new in the format or activities.
Continue reading “How to Host a Virtual Recital: Part 2”
