Balance for your life … Creativity for your studio.
Whether it’s Pestalozzi, Mason, Suzuki or Gordon the idea of teaching aurally before getting students to read goes back hundreds of years. Yet many teachers tend to teach music from the notation first & aurally second. When it comes to a practical approach of teaching sound before sight it can feel a bit like the…
Unlike previous generations, the stigma of being a female composer is gone. So it could be easy to assume that contemporary female composers are not challenging the music industry’s status quo. This is far from the case! In fact, women today are challenging not only the music industry but societal expectations of women in general.
In the past year, digital escape rooms have become more popular in music studios. Many teachers have looked for online solutions that get students practicing music skills without the stress of trying to do everything live. These have become a student-favourite in my studio & for good reason! But, knowing how can we use digital…
March is “Women in History” month & as I was researching women in music history it was absolutely fascinating. There is a lot of fantastic music out there by both men & women (plus those that don’t identify with either gender). So, why should we specifically include women composers in our repertoire rather than just…
I had no idea just how much time I was spending on prepping for lessons. Until I started to track it. Isn’t it funny how that works out? At that point, I challenged myself with how to reduce prep time regardless of whether I was teaching in-person or online.
Teaching music online can have its challenges. However, maximizing effectiveness during online lessons doesn’t have to require a tech degree. With a few simple tweaks, I’ve discovered how to get through just as much, if not more, moving online vs. in-person. While I’m giving examples through the lens of online lessons, these tips will work…
There are times when in-person lessons are not the best option. The two most common are when someone is sick or the road conditions make travel dangerous. For some families, the idea of doing online lessons (even if only for emergencies) brings out an adamant NO. What do you do when parents don’t want to…
Whether it’s every once in a while or all the time, choosing the best resources for online teaching is important. Having the right tools & resources for your studio & situation is key to making the most of limited prep time. We all want the time & energy to pursue things outside of our studios,…
Many teachers were introduced to teaching online rather abruptly. Myself included. Love it or hate, there is an uncomfortable truth about online teaching. It’s here to stay. Why is this an uncomfortable truth (even if you love online teaching)? Because it signals a massive shift in how we deliver lessons in our industry. And change…
As teachers & business owners avoiding overwhelm can sometimes feel like an unattainable goal. We want to create the best experience for our students & their families. But, there are times when that backfires. Especially during times of change. Instead of fun, our days are filled with a series of tasks that “have” to get…