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...

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...

Piano teachers often lament that a downside of teaching is the economic slide during the summer months.  While it is understandable that students (and teachers !) will take vacations and come and go during these months, it doesn't have to mean financial upheaval for...

Whether or not you've had spring break, now is the time to get those May and June recitals and programs outlined and planned.  Whether or not your students select a piece they have been playing for several months, or you are learning duets, it's not too early to...

Almost all independent teachers have a one week spring break scheduled.  It usually coincides with your public school system's week long break. This year, my studio waits until the 2nd week of April before our county closes through the Easter weekend.  It's been a...

The buds of spring are barely visible, yet its important to begin planning for fall.   I have found the best time for me to publish an updated studio policy, tuition fees and registration forms is immediately after spring break.  In my area, spring break will occur...

The spring season in piano and forward into the summer months is an interesting time of year.  Whether or not your studio’s students participate in spring festivals, or perhaps year-end auditions, the inclination is to “wind down” the year.  Perhaps you assign a few...

I was monitoring a room in our area auditions last year and noticed that as each student entered, they were asked if they would like to warm-up.  Of course, they said "yes."   What followed next was illuminating.  Some students took a stab at "half playing" their...

Splashing In a complete break from the “traditional” approach, Whiteside describes a method she refers to as splashing. The concept is based on a the simple principle of keyboard geography. While stressing a solid, rounded hand position, Whiteside advocates an...