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 …
Category: Free Printables
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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Cupid’s Note Reading
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and Cupid is doing some target practice around my studio 🙂 This year I've committed to popping in quick and easy note reading practice every moment possible during lessons. Typically, keeping it short makes it that much more palatable for those students who typically squirm when note reading …
Can Santa Deliver Gifts AND Good Practice Habits?
Christmas music is in full swing, and the excitement is tangible around my studio 🙂 Now that it's December, we've had a few snowflakes, and there are sparkling Christmas lights hung everywhere, I have joined my student’s excitement in hearing the carols coming out of my studio (key word being December, not November). But sometimes …
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Spot It!: Nutcracker Edition
Tis the season where we often feel frantic. Holidays, events, performances, family ... and suddenly I feel tired just sitting here! Studio life can feel just as frantic - especially if your students will be performing. But providing fun and engaging holiday-related activities will add the push you and your students need to get to …
What’s November really about?
It's November! And around my studio, that means the Christmas music makes its first appearance. Everyone has their own philosophy on when Christmas music should begin. Because I'm a musician and I understand the idea of practice, I dutifully hand it out after Halloween. But my piano teacher ears can't handle Jingle Bells much before …
Resource Roundup: October 2021
If your schedule is anything like mine has been lately, you want to walk into October with your teaching materials as planned as possible 🙂 Your students will be thrilled at the prospect of anything Halloween related showing up in their lessons, but it doesn't have to be complicated! Below you'll find my favorites for …
Practice With A Purpose: Inspire Your Students to Use Their Music for Good In the Coming Months
What else do students gain from lessons besides the skill of playing an instrument? The list is LONG. We could talk about perseverance, longer focus and attention span, problem solving abilities, a healthy one-on-one relationship with an adult other than mom or dad, fine motor skills, and the list goes on. Music has the unique …
On the Hunt: A Free Score Study Printable
And just like that, summer is over and school has ushered in fall (although it's been in the 90s here in Cleveland 😉 ). Whether or not your students have continued through the summer and need a change of pace, or your students have been off all summer and need to get back into a …
Your Littlest Piano Ninjas
My youngest student is currently 3 years old, and right now we are focusing on counting, finger independence, and music appreciation. I also have 4 and 5 year old students working right alongside the rest of my students (I really do teach age 3-93 😉 ). And although some teachers refuse to teach little ones …
Piano Possibilities 