Blog Stories

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...

Here we are starting week 4 of the school year in North Carolina.  No matter who you are, how much experience you have, or the number of degrees you have aquired, we all at times need to deal with an unhappy and/or unrealistic parent.  This past week was rocky for me...

Here we are!  Whether you have started teaching in the past week for the fall semester or are not beginning until after Labor Day, summer is essentially over.  I find summer to be a mindset--somehow even through teaching in the summer we get that "summertime" pace. ...

Last spring I was unable to have my spring recital.  The church I regularly rent had closed as had almost all churches across the country.  Many of my colleagues chose to have Zoom recitals.  Due to a family emergency I was unable to summon the time and energy...

Depending on where you live, your state or country may or may not be heading back to in-classroom teaching this fall.  Perhaps students will be attending on a staggered or reduced class schedule.  everywhere parents are frustrated and concerned about all the...

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...

Dear Pianists and Teachers,   It is clear that until a vaccine is readily available for Covid-19, recitals, festivals and music student activities will likely take a new shape at least for the coming school year.  As I begin my summer session next week, I have...

Welcome to Summer Keys!  I will be posting a series of articles with suggestions to make summer studies meaningful and well-structured.   As we reopen our studios (please see previous post) it's more important than ever to plan for well-structured lessons.  Generally...

Dear Colleagues, It's almost two months since shutdown here in North Carolina and we are moving slowly toward reopening and going "off-line."  I hope you have had the same stability of income and success as I have had, as my studio remained intact and steady...

When it became apparent that COVID-19 would likely close schools, stores, offices and most likely music studios I quickly decided that online teaching would be my only viable option.  I trial tested a lesson 2 weeks before shutdown and informed my parents that this...

I am now 7 days into teaching online through Skiype and Face Time in my studio.  This week has already smoothed out quite a bit from this time last week.  For one thing, I've found everyone's address or they've found mine.  Last week everyone had a lesson but there...

I was going to post another topic today but given the issues worldwide with the coronavirus (depending on where you live) I thought I would post a timely article.  Here in North Carolina, we have had only one case of the virus--an adult that visited the nursing home...

The Millenium Parent poses new and challenging issues for today's music studio teacher.  Are they engaged with their children?  Definately.  Stretched too thin with too many activities?  Absolutely.  When it comes to organizational skills such as tracking recitals,...

In many places in the United States and Europe studios are at the apex of their teaching year.  Festival season followed by many of the exams will take place between March and May.  Here in North Carolina, the fun begins with State Festival coming in just two short...

Greetings to all of you far and wide, 2020 brings us the opportunity to build a new and better teaching model in the decade ahead.  Where would you like to be in 2030?  It's a fair question, and one we all need to consider as we navigate our studios and performances...

With the waning days of summer, comes the realization that soon all schools will reopen and the regular fall schedule of private lessons will commence.  Considering how important skills are to the overall development of your pianists, now is a great time to plan for...