I have often been asked what advice I have for new piano teachers just starting out. Today I'd like to share four basic suggestions t...
Quotes on Teaching “Asking ‘What’s the best thing that happened today?’ actually forces a certain kind of cheerful retrospection that pulls up from the recent past things….you wouldn’t otherwise thing about.” – Austin Kleon “An answer can just as easily […]
Starting as a new music teacher is overwhelming. I want to share some new music teacher advice to help you start your teaching career with confidence.
How many students does it take to make you a full-time piano teacher? Knowing the answer can help you make changes that affect your health and income.
How to be a Brilliant FE Teacher is a straightforward, friendly guide to being an effective and innovative teacher in post-compulsory education. Focussing on practical advice drawn from the author's extensive and successful personal experience of both teaching and training teachers, it offers sound guidance, underpinned by the latest research, theory and policy in the field. Structured around the questions that all new teachers and lecturers ask in their first teaching post, it is an introduction to both essential teaching skills and what to expect from working in this exciting, fast-paced sector. Key chapters cover: The learners - who they are, diversity and motivation; What will actually happen - organising teaching, technology and resources; How to keep your students' interest - understanding and responding to learning styles; How will I know if they've learned it? - assessment and feedback; Making sure it's working - student evaluation, reflecting on and improving practice. Packed throughout with information about where to find the best materials and resources to support your teaching, this book also offers sensible advice on balancing home and life, working effectively with your colleagues and progressing in your career. How to be a Brilliant FE Teacher will be a source of support and inspiration for all those embarking on their initial training and first post in the sector, as well as qualified professionals looking for reassuring, fresh ideas. 9 Tables, black and white; 8 Line drawings, black and white; 8 Illustrations, black and white
Whether your child just started piano, or you’re a seasoned...
Parents play a big role in helping their children practice their musical instruments. Use these five tips to make music practice time easier. In our household, music takes a high priority. Not only does it make our living for us, it is what makes life worthwhile (in our humble musician opinions). Because we have deemed...
In celebration of this year’s national piano month of September, we’ve put together 10 of our favorite inspirational quotes for piano teachers, or any music teachers, to share with students.
TEN WAYS FOR POSITIVE PRACTICE By Christy Hodder Www.Scotiasuzuki.org NUMBER ONE: PRACTICE EVERYDAY Make your practIce time a natural part of everyday life in the same place and at the same time. Create a physical space that is peaceful and without distractions. (In this webinar session, you can see some actual exam...
How can you have a more consistent piano teacher income? Here are ideas from Kristin Yost on generating a healthy piano teaching income.
In June, my studio hosted our first ever all online...
The meaning of a piano education has changed immensely over the past decade. But what does the future of piano teaching look like?
Want to know how to structure a group piano class? If you've started teaching groups instead of 1-on-1, you'll need some help. Get all the tips here!
Music History Posters for Middle School to High School. Decorate your music classroom with this Music History Time Periods decor set. Each poster shows the title of the music era and its start and end date according to Roger Kamien Music: An Appreciation text. PRINTABLE FORMAT Print, laminate and display on your classroom bulletin board WHAT'S INCLUDED: This 12-poster set is landscape, 11 x 8.5 and contains the following eras and options: Medieval Renaissance Baroque Early Baroque Late Baroque Romantic Early Romantic Late Romantic The Modern Era 20th Century and Beyond Twentieth Century and Beyond THESE POSTERS ARE PERFECT FOR: classroom decor hallway decor bulletin boards middle school music history Print off, laminate, and create a History Wall for your classroom! ⭐️CHECK OUT THE PREVIEW FOR MORE INFORMATION! ___________________________________ WHAT TEACHERS HAVE SAID: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jessica Graf said, "Thank you! This will make a nice addition to reference in my classroom." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ David Breland said, "Great resource! I love having this up in my classroom to reference with my students!" ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Laura A. said, "Wonderful set for my music classroom, still trying to find a place for it, but it's going to look great when I do! Thank you!" ___________________________________ Copyright © MusicTeacherResources. All rights reserved by the author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Not for public display. Please purchase additional licenses if you intend to share this product. ___________________________________ ➯ Follow my store to be alerted of new products and sales. ➯ Don't forget to leave feedback. You will receive TPT credits that can be used on future purchases!
While some people may disagree, I strongly believe that boys and girls learn differently and that certain strategies can help when teaching boys piano.
Use these methods to help the student who won't practice. These will help students get on a regular practice schedule!
Need some new teacher advice and inspiration? These tips are practical, funny and honest. Classroom management, decor, organization, planning, name games, finding a mentor and more are part of the encouragement for new teachers.
My version of How To Teach Piano In 84 seconds by Andrea Dow of the Teach Piano Today blog. Here’s how you can make it and use it in your lesson with students who have short attention …
Memorizing music is difficult for some students? Here's a guide to the pros and cons of memorizing music and how it can benefit or discourage the student.
Distribute an article that gives discipline strategies and behavior management tips to use in the music classroom.
Vocal warm up routines that are fun are EASIER to remember. And singing warm ups using animal sounds employ a lot of the "primal" sounds beginning singers need to learn how to use.
Fanny Waterman DBE has become a legend in her own lifetime. The original edition of this book, published in 1983, distilled the knowledge and experience of a brilliant piano teacher over a 45-year career. Twenty years on, this new edition has been updated to reflect Dame Fanny's most recent experiences. The book's insights into fundamentals of playing technique and of musicianship, it's shrewd practical advice and illuminating turn of phrase have immeasurably benefitted all who teach and all who learn the piano. Now fully updated, Dame Fanny offers some inspiring thoughts and words of advice not just for pianists but for all musicians. The book now includes a new chapter about the world of competitions (local, national and international), for which she has become renowned, and an appendix with some of the thought-provoking and often inspiring "Rules and Maxims for Young Pianists" of Robert Schumann, which are still startlingly refreshing and relevant for today's musicians. black & white line drawings, printed music items
I'm planning my incentive program for the coming year, and this year, I'm making a drastic change. In the past, my incentive program has relied heavily on the students' keeping a log of their daily practice minutes. I felt that this was an equitable way to reward for diligence rather than talent. But, I've been unhappy with the way it has turned out. As a rule, only a small percentage of my students keep the log in an accurate way. Most of them don't sit at the piano with a timer going, and most of them don't write down anything on the log until they're in the car on the way to the lesson, and then they guess at when and how long they practiced. Even if they are only required to place a check on the day that they practiced, many of them will check even if they only doodled around for a few minutes. The parents often sign the log as the student is walking in the door, if they even remember to sign it. It doesn't seem right to reward students for practice time when I strongly suspect but cannot prove that the log is dishonest. For that matter, I don't really want them to obsess over time. I want them to create results. When I was young (a million years ago!), I was never, ever asked to keep a practice log. My teacher made a quick list of what I was supposed to work on. I was expected to find time every day to work on those things and to come back the next week sounding better. Period. Not, "please be sure you've checked off at least 5 days and no fewer than 4, and please be sure that you practice for at least 30 minutes, and better yet, an hour each time." There's an assumption in that statement that you are going to practice on some days and not on others. I've come to believe that the more picky and detailed I get in telling students how much they are to practice, the more they focus on how they can practice just enough to satisfy those demands, not whether or not their practicing is creating results. The only good answer to "how much should I practice?" is "as long as it takes." The truth is, I don't care if they practice for 5 minutes or 500. I just want them to make progress on their music and complete their assignments. I can tell them how to be organized with their time, but I can't make them actually do it, and I'm really tired of wasting lesson time policing their work habits. So, out with the practice log! This year's incentive program will reward students for the results of their practice, not practice minutes. I feel a huge weight lifting off of my shoulders! I'll ask students to acheive specific weekly goals appropriate to each individual's ability, and it will be their problem, not mine, to determine how much time and repetition it will take to achieve them. I'll report here on how it's working out. Maybe practicing will improve! Maybe it will get worse. We shall see! Do you require students to keep a practice log? What problems or successes have you had? Feel free to disagree with me, just be nice! Update: I haven't used a practice log for the last 5 years, and I haven't missed it. Read more here.
Editor’s Note: I connected with Andrea Miller several years ago when she invited me to be a guest on her podcast, Music Studio Startup. As we got to know each other, I recognized that we have a lot in common! Andrea is a piano teacher and savvy entrepreneur and I think you’ll really enjoy learning
5 Tips to Get Kids to Practice. Organized Chaos. Tips for parents to help motivate their children to practice their musical instrument at home!
Learn about how to find a blog host that's perfect for your teacher website, content you might include, and how to get started.
It's important that students know how to practice. But, this might not come easily to everyone. Find out how students can learn how to practice piano.
Every parent wants their child to succeed. Taking piano lessons is a big commitment and there are a number of ways parents can be involved to set their kids up for succees at the piano. Even if you have no background in music or piano, you can still be your child's number one fan and encourager.
It is no secret that one of the most difficult aspects of singing is hitting the high notes. Good or bad, these notes will usually bring the singer the most attention.
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Here are 5 ways to increase your piano teaching efficiency and work smarter, not harder as a piano teacher. These 5 areas will save you time and energy!
