Blog Stories

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...

It happens to all of us.  Long teaching hours, family demands, church work, personal life errands.  What happened to the practicing you did regularly so long ago?  Realistically, for many of us, diligent daily practice began deteriorating once you were no longer in...

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...

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...