Balance for your life … Creativity for your studio.
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.
When we include women composers in repertoire, it goes beyond having a diverse studio. These 3 non-music reasons show why!
Knowing how to use digital escape rooms when lessons are already busy can be a struggle. Use these simple tips to make the most of them!
Teaching music online can have its challenges. However, being more effective 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 …
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Years ago, I was a junior high teacher at a special needs school. It came with lots of joy when a student would have a breakthrough behaviourally, developmentally, or academically. But, it also came with its challenges.
While most students eagerly await winter break & the change in routine, for many special needs students this can be a time of stress. At the school, we always knew that December & June were going to be tough months for both students & teachers. For students, the upcoming change in routine tended to lead to anxiety, more frustration with routine tasks, & a big focus on what the new routine over the holidays would be. For teachers, it required a lot more patience & an eagle eye as we did our best to keep things from escalating. How do we help our piano students transition to the upcoming winter break?
This is the time of year when families are typically overscheduled, tired & counting down the days to vacation. Many studios, including mine, have at least one event before the break. This is despite the fact that we may feel much like our studio families. So, are Christmas studio activities worth it? I’m going to …
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Practice. It is a necessary part of learning any new skill. But, practice made fun? Really?
Let’s Get Outside! Instead of students gazing outside wishing they could be there … move those music lessons from the piano to the backyard with these easy ideas!
Music theory & improvising. It’s important to have both in our teaching. But, what is the best way to teach music theory? To avoid the mistakes of the past, music theory should above all be done in a timely, hands-on manner that ensures students see the connection between theory & application. One of the best …
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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 …
Continue reading “Teaching Sound Before Sight or The Chicken vs. The Egg Dilemma”
