A Little Planning Goes a Long Way
No none wants to spend all of their vacation working on studio projects. But, no one wants to be flooded with work when they get back from vacation. So, what to do?
Author: Rosemarie Penner
Thinking Outside the Box … Looking Ahead When Things are Uncertain
Wouldn’t it be great if you could look in a crystal ball to see what is coming up? It would certainly save a lot of time & wondering, wouldn’t it? But, alas it not meant to be. While looking ahead is important, we don’t get to know all the answers. And, that isn’t necessarily a…
Can We Truly Figure Out Everything?
As I write this, I look back on the last few months of the COVID pandemic. We had to pivot. And, we had to do so quickly. There was a lot of “Can I actually figure out everything?” And, after having experienced this massive pivot, I think the answer is a resounding “YES!” One of…
How to Make the Most of Your Summer Planning
We may take a “break” over the summer, but many teachers & studio owners also use this time to get ahead of the rush of a new semester. However, if you go, go, go all the time you run the risk of burning out before the rush even starts. How do you make the most…
How to Move Forward When Indecision Is Holding You Back
It can happen to the best of us. There are times when uncertainty and the unknown can seem like too much. When we aren’t sure what we’re going to do or what the best path forward is. What do you do when indecision is holding you back?
How to Build a Studio That Lasts
When you think about your studio, what comes to mind? A list of tasks that stretches so far in the future you just want to focus on this week. A studio that doesn’t feel like work, at least most days. The first mindset leads to a short-term view. But if you want to build a…
How to Motivate Students When Summer is on the Brain
Usually, June is filled with outdoor sports, end of year concerts, enjoying the patio & emerging from our cocoons. With the COVID pandemic, things look a little different this year. Or, do they? Students still want to be outside visiting with friends & take a more relaxed approach to their learning. How do we motivate…
Rhythm Warm-Ups That Get Students Off the Bench
With the end of the year just around the corner (or so it seems), many of our students will be getting a bit wiggly on the bench, perhaps a bit teary-eyed at staying inside on a sunny day, and in general wanting to do something just a little bit different.
One of the favourite warm-up activities we did in my studio this year was rhythm warm-ups. I wanted my students to feel a steady pulse as they played piano, but I also wanted them to improvise with rhythms so when they saw them in their music it was easier to recognize. I wanted a warm-up that kind of did it all. This week, I am sharing the warm-up with you!
How to Introduce Chords to Students … Without Losing Their Interest
Chords are the backbone of music. Yet, how many of us take the time to teach our students about chords? Not as part of their technique exercises or on a theory page, but as an element that makes a song … well, a song. And, how many times do we sing chords so we can play chords?
How to Handle Studio Registration Online
Whether you teach in a home studio, commercial space or in student’s homes, the registration season always brings its own unique juggling act. Yet how to handle studio registration online, when in-person interviews are not possible, does not need to be complicated.