The modern piano teacher’s blog
Teaching preschoolers brings it owns joys & challenges. The hugs are a-mazing! And, the smiles are the best kind of infectious. But, there are certain behaviours that can leave teachers wondering what happened at the end of lesson. And, perhaps needing a big nap. We have twin boys & oh how I remember how exhausting…
When I first started my business I brought WAY too much stuff with me while I taught. In fact, I had to bring two work bags with me each day. My biceps, I’m sure, got a great workout lifting & putting down those bags, but it really wasn’t practical in the long run. I needed…
Simultaneous Learning in the Piano Studio | Does it sometimes seem like there is not enough time to cover EVERYTHING in lessons? And with limited time, how do we have students simultaneous learning multiple concepts?
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). I was definitely feeling burnt out adjacent in the last few months. And, our studio…
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).
Or, perhaps your June looks a little more like our home & you are ready for summer to be here.
These are the signs that your students or you are done … & what to do to keep the excitement going until the very last lesson.
Last week, I shared some of the ways I’ve learnt over the years to manage my time on the road. After all, this is time travel teachers can all so easily ‘lose’ during their overall teaching week. However, one thing holds true whether you teach in your student’s home, your home studio, commercial location or…
Anytime we try something new, there is always a time of transition. This year, my students & I embarked on a new way of doing things in our studio. Granted, we always do something new each year … but, this year it was a BIG one. Setting up a travelling music lab.
After 3 weeks, I thought I would share the successes, the surprises (good & bad), the tweaks, & lessons I have learnt so far. Thankfully, overall the transition has been amazingly smooth & overwhelmingly positive.
You know the day I’m talking about. The one where you in danger of becoming Jacob Two-Two because you have repeated the EXACT same phrase to (almost) every student you are teaching. Perhaps it’s been one of those days (or weeks) where you have repeatedly heard …
I would like to say my memory has gotten worse over the years, but that wouldn’t be completely accurate. I have always been the teacher who walked up & down the aisles saying student names under my breath for the first few weeks of school. (This always led to strange looks until I explained why…
This is the question EVERY teacher would love to hear at the end of each lesson. After all, a student who feels lesson flies by is much more likely to continue taking lessons & even tell their friends about how awesome piano is. Sure it can get a bit awkward when you get to listen to the following conversation.