Blog Stories

Dear Colleagues, My Problem: For several years now, I have taught a lovely family of two girls.  No matter how hard I try, I cannot get the oldest girl away from note punching individual notes much too slowly.  This results in a never-ending slow and dragging...

After many years of using the same theory series, I decided it was time to make a change to a different series.  I decided on Basics of Keyboard Theory by Julie McIntosh Johnson.  A self published series, it is available for purchase on Amazon.com.  There are 10 books...

The time frame between Halloween and Christmas is filled with additional activities and distractions for all of our students.  If you throw in travelling over Thanksgiving, students often come back tired and having lost a week of practice.  The same thing can happen...

After many years of using the same theory series, I decided it was time to make a change to a differnt series.  I decided on Basics of Keyboard Theory by Julie McIntosh Johnson.  A self published series, it is available for purchase on Amazon.com.  There are 10 books...

This fall I made a commitment to develop my students into more "active listeners."  How's it going?  The truth is, I'm not sure.  It's too early to tell.  i can say I'm doing a lot more "exploratory teaching" these days.  After the student plays, I'm always tempted to...

Labor Day has come and gone and now it's time to get the new year rolling.  How can we open and look updated and fresh?  Consider rearranging furniture (NOT the piano necessarily!).  If you have a grand piano, it may not be possible, but you can alter the seating...

  SEVEN PIECES FEATURING FRANCE AND RUSSIA  For your progressing upper intermediate to early advanced students, here's a short list of pieces to consider for the coming year.  Now is a superb time to hunt and find those pieces that you only wish you'd thought of...

During the 2021-22 school year I finally had the three recitals on the "normal" schedule I previously had prior to 2020 and Covid.  It felt truly great to get the students back out and performing regularly!   My "go to" venue allowed me to book my dates in advance...

On the many blogs available for music teachers, one theme that continues to surface is the issue around summer lessons and the loss of income.  Of course, if you are running a school with group classes, those are dictated by start and stop dates and summers may be...

Welcome to Summer Keys!  I will be posting a series of articles with suggestions to make summer studies meaningful and well-structured.   As we continue to open our studios, it's more important than ever to plan for well-structured lessons.  Generally I plan one or...

It's late March and Spring is just around the corner!  As this school year winds down, it's time to consider what direction you would like your teaching to go in the future.  Spring and Summer months are the optimal time to plan ahead for the next school year.  Once...

Last Spring, I asked for a brief, 5 to 10 minute conference.  Students  students attended as well.  We discussed  to  future plans, how thie year went, and our future together.  I was amazed at just how unclear some parents were about expectations.  Some even thanked...

Most school's spring breaks a well into April this year (in our area, it focuses on the week before Easter).  This year, it is easy to run late with plans for the year end recital.  If you haven't already begun that final big plan for the end of the year rite of...

It is the heart of the school year.  Many festivals and activities are generally held between mid February and late April.  If you are a Guild, National Auditions, or Trinity Auditions teacher, the exams can spread into mid May to early June.  Now is the time to...

Continuing last week's post on making studio tuition and enrollment plans for August 2022 now instead of mid-summr, it's important to consider your personal worth.  In some areas of the United States, teachers often feel compelled to low ball their prices because the...

Are you kidding?  Plan NOW for next summer and fall!  YES, YES, and YES.  In my studio, paperwork/registration/tuition changes and any policy changes are announced in a new folder that is given to all existing families after spring break in April.  The deadline for...

It's almost that time.  For those of us starting school on the 23rd of August next Monday is the first day of the fall studio schedule.  Many teachers will follow an after Labor Day schedule.  Either way, time is drawing near.  Here are some tips to make your studio...