The modern piano teacher’s blog
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!
Music Learning Theory (also known as MLT) is quickly becoming a buzz word in music education. But, what is it?
See how it looks in my studio and what types of clients LOVE this approach.
Halloween often is an interesting time in the studio with the excitement for trick or treating, the sugar rush (and crashes) from all the candy, plus all the accompanied redirecting that goes into a lesson. It can be exhausting for everyone.
This year, I decided to go with it and embrace these challenges! If you can’t fight ’em, join ’em.
I LOVE reading blogs and follow quite a few so that not a day goes by in which I am not exposed to a new idea or way of doing something. It keep me excited about my chosen profession … teaching music!
Here are a few new (to me) resources that will bring fresh ideas to your teaching!
The big music education news on social media these days is all about the apps that no longer work with iOS 11. I’m one of the lucky ones with only about 30 apps that no longer work with the new update. Some teachers are finding that there are even more apps that will no longer work! What is a teacher to do?
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.
One of my biggest successes from last year was the addition of a travel music lab. My students who were in lab had a lot of fun & learnt so much at the same time.