It's that time of year again! Amidst all of the craziness I find it monumentally important to carve out time to reflect and reevaluate what worked well this year and what can be changed or adjusted for 2023. I always find this process interesting. Undoubtedly there are things that worked better than expected and others …
Author: McKenzie
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It's that time of year when our lives are busy and we just want our studios to keep ticking without added pressure. Looking at my calendar I realize I only have 3 weeks of lessons before our Christmas break begins. In that time, my students will perform at our annual Music Against Hunger performance, I …
Fun Fact Friday: The Stories of Musical Instruments
Or that the accordion is the national instrument of Finland? The percussion triangle used to have as many as eight angles? The celesta looks like a piano but is actually a percussion instrument that is relatively new to history? There is a pocket trumpet that is wound tightly so it is only 8 inches in …
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Habits – Why They Should Matter to the Musician.
As I was looking over my reading lists from the past few years, I realized that I've read an unusual amount of books about habits. And though their titles and premises may all seem very different, I was startled to look back and realize that all of them relate to the phrase "how we spend …
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Summer Strategies: Warming up to Piano Practice
Any studio that chooses to teach through the summer understands that it will present its own unique challenges. Schedules change, motivation can wane, and those who are not as self-motivated in personality tend to struggle through practice during the months off of a school routine. With this in mind, there are two ways to gear …
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Questions to Ask Before Your Child Quits Piano
It's that time of year where schedules change, tuition increases are implemented, and those who have been contemplating whether or not to continue lessons will make the final call as the calendar switches to summer. Sometimes those that move on are not a surprise, while others seem to quit out of nowhere. But it never …
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Looking for Easter Basket Fillers With a Longer Shelf Life?
Spring is in the air, and Easter is just around the corner! And whether or not you view Easter as a big holiday with gifts, music, and celebration, this holiday is an opportunity waiting to be taken hold of when it comes to encouraging a musical home environment 🙂 Easter baskets and chocolate bunnies are …
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Women in Music: Women’s History Month 2022
What do your students learn about composers and professional musicians in your studio? Because I desire to see my students become composers and invested musicians themselves, it is monumentally important that I introduce them to a wide array of musicians. Who can be a musician? Anyone! Color, race, gender, or any other category do not …
Fun Fact Friday: America’s Composer
Did you know that February 8th was John Williams’ 90th birthday?! Not only has this incredible man had a lifetime of composing many of the most recognizable movie soundtracks (Star Wars, Home Alone, Jaws, Jurassic Park, among many, many others), but he continues to conduct orchestras today! By the time he was out of grade …
Black History Month in the Music Studio
Welcome to February! The month where all things love, winter (snow seems to fall a bit extra in Cleveland), and Black History month converge! While I strive to incorporate Valentine’s Day and weather-related activities in with my student’s learning, February presents a unique opportunity to celebrate artists and music styles in a very specific and …
Piano Possibilities 