Balance for your life … Creativity for your studio.
When you first start teaching piano it can feel very overwhelming. Actually, it can even feel overwhelming a few years in! So, how can you find the best approach to teaching piano?
For starters, understand that a method book series is not an approach to teaching. It’s a series of books that contain music & activities that follow a particular approach or philosophy. But, they are not the actual teaching approach.
Continue reading “What Is The Best Approach To Teach Piano?”We may all have the same 24 hours each day, but what happens during those 24 hours varies greatly from person to person. Trying to find work-life balance when running a studio & teaching outside of a 9 to 5 situation adds an extra challenge. This is why time management is so important for busy piano teachers.
Continue reading “Easy Time Management For People That Don’t Work 9 to 5”Chances are your studio is multi-cultural (even if it may not seem like it on the surface). While families differ in the way they celebrate their culture, we can honour family culture through the music we offer our students.
Continue reading “How To Honour Family Culture Through Music”Every studio has at least one pet lover. Usually that pet has fur or feathers, but sometimes it’s scales or something else. And, students love sharing about these special family members. Celebrate by teaching sheet music about pets! Not only do students love them, but families love hearing something that relates to their family.
Continue reading “Students Love Their Pets! Use This Piano Sheet Music”Valentine’s Day. Whether you celebrate it or not, it’s a great time to take a break from regular lesson activities! We all need regular breaks to keep excitement fresh. I’m sharing my studio’s favourite Valentine’s Day activities for both private & group lessons!
Continue reading “Fun Valentine’s Day Activities For Your Studio”Storytelling has been used for millennia to teach children & adults alike. But, how can we relate this to teaching a multitude of different songs? Once I added stories to my teaching, my students were much more engaged.
Continue reading “How Storytelling Makes For Better Teaching”Sometimes inspiration comes from new places & it can lead to places you hadn’t quite expected. “Snow Fairies Under The Moonlight” is a unique piece in the Snow Fairies Saga (collection) in that it falls under this category.
Continue reading “Snow Fairies Under The Moonlight: A New Inspiration”It might be cold outside, but the right playlist (including during teaching time) makes all the difference. While I like Christmas music as much as the next person, the playlist can get a bit … repetitive. Below are some Winter-themed music that students love to play. And, teachers love hearing during lessons!
Continue reading “Winter-Themed Music That Students Love”Running a studio, or any business, is not a static thing. It changes & evolves over time. But, how do you know when to change your business approach? Because let’s face it. That’s not an easy thing to know when you’re in the midst of the day to day.
I’ll not only share signs you need to make changes, but advice to help you along the way. You’ll hear about what this has looked like in both my studio & The Unfinished Lesson. My hope is the lessons I’ve learnt along the way (& continue to learn) will make this an easier process for you.
You’ll also notice that I tend to use “business” instead of “studio” throughout. One, you are running a business when you run a studio. Two, with so many teachers creating resources & running a side business it’s important to look at each business for the best results.
Continue reading “4 Signs You Need To Change Your (Studio) Business Approach”One of the most effective ways to get (& keep) your clients on your side is to keep them informed. Especially for families that are already juggling multiple after-school activities for each child. The easiest way to accomplish this is through a studio newsletter.
Continue reading “Keeping Clients in the Know”
