Blog Stories

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...

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...

As a young teenager, my first concerto moment was the Bach Concerto in F Minor, movements 1 and 2.  It was a stretch even then and a whole new world of learning pieces with more length.  Add to that my first experience playing with a second piano, and you have a full...

In my last blog entry, I began to outline some of the ways you can be creative and add a "theme," genre, sets or group projects to your recital offerings.  Today I would like to suggest just some ideas for ensembles that can be done in your studio.  When we realize...

In last week's post, I discussed the many possibilities that offering multiple recitals per year can add to the quality and interest in your studio.  This week, I would like to offer just some of the ideas for creative programming.  Expanding your horizons both in...

There's nothing like it--walking back into your home or flat realizing that the year-end recital program is Done and Done.  That was yesterday for me.  I always feel like celebrating.  No one faltered badly.  We had 36 players comprising almost 40 duet teams and...

It's that transitional time--Mid Summer.    If you haven't already, it's time to plan your fall registration and paperwork.  My fall registration is due by June 1st for a July 1st "new year" start (my new year encompasses summer session.)  Every spring I take a look...

One of the greatest predictors of success and progress that is often overlooked is lesson length.  Often studios make no requirements on length of the lesson.  Many times a young child of 6 or 7 years starts at 30 minutes per week but somehow that length never...

I'll bet they are sitting right on your shelf--books you bought at the last conference or even ordered or picked up for yourself that remain unopened and just waiting for you to decide to get motivated and read!  I'm the same way.  With the busy teaching weeks and...

It seems that during the past two years I have had a harder time ordering music and receiving it in a timely fashion.   Last fall the hurricane in North Carolina and other east coast states delayed the delivery of music books and materials by more than a few weeks. ...

Many years ago, How Much Do You Charge was the top question I received when answering an inquiry.  With patience and a clear curriculum outline of my studio teaching, however, I have gradually learned to offer parents an answer that is most revealing of the quality of...

It happens.  Just last Thursday, a student walked in and counted on his dad to put the books in the piano bag, but alas......no books except one.  If yours is a studio like mine where everyone has different repertoire and even the kiddos in method books have different...

Last week's post covered the financial and student retention issues involved with an enhanced summer program.  This week I'd like to explore the many options you can consider for your studio!  Let's look at a few: 1.  Summer Camps--generally, a piano camp can last 1.5...