The modern piano teacher’s blog
Maybe it’s my special needs teaching background. Maybe, it has to do with teaching at private schools. Or, maybe I just feel a deep desire to be organized (or at least feel like I’m mostly organized). Whatever the reason really is, each summer I make annual student growth plans. Why would I subject myself to…
At this time of year, I am always torn between finishing out the year with a bang & wanting to get going on next year’s plans. So this week, I wanted to share the articles & ideas that kept my excitement up … during a time of year that typically leads to burn out.
Raise your hand if you love the admin side of your teaching job? … No? While I LOVE researching new ideas & teaching, all the other admin stuff that comes with running my own business? Not so much. A couple years ago, I finally opted to extend my screen in an effort to be more efficient…
Planning lessons can take up a lot of time. When I first began teaching, I was told to budget an hour for each hour I taught. Thankfully, there are tools that have taken that planning time to a much more reasonable & sustainable level.
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?
Setting up a routine is important for having a successful year. Not only does it ensure we make time for the concepts we want to teach, it makes time for when we need to step back and let our students lead. For our special needs students, a routine can be the thing that makes piano lessons a safe and enjoyable part of their week. How are you getting ready for back to lessons?
How we learn. That’s what we, as teachers, really want to know because it lets us know how to best teach.
As I watched my kids complete some of their daily tasks I got to thinking about teaching, of course. I wondered, “Should we let students make mistakes or should we correct everything right away?” My thinking has changed over the years, both in teaching and parenting.
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!