Teaching Done Differently
Reasons why we dream can help us discover the reasons why we play by Nicole Douglas, owner of Nicole Douglas Music Studio www.nicoledouglasmusic.com I love hearing people tell their stories--“aha” moments, the ups and downs of life, the latest and greatest thing they’ve discovered. Because at the heart of all of that is a […]
Read more
By Nicole Douglas I love teaching. I never expected to become a music teacher. But once I discovered the joy of helping a student, I was hooked. Over time, though, I began to realize that it was becoming difficult to play for my own enjoyment. Every time I would sit down at the piano, […]
Read more
by Chrissy Ricker, NCTM www.chrissyricker.com If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then I think it is safe to say that music is in the ear of the beholder. Have you ever noticed that three different people can listen to the same piece of music and experience it in three completely different […]
Read more
By. Chrissy Ricker, NCTM www.chrissyricker.com Will your students be participating in recitals, festivals, or competitions this year? If so, chances are that they will be required to memorize some, if not all, of their music for these events. Performing from memory is a relatively new practice in the history of music. Prior to […]
Read more
My daughter made the travel basketball team! I have loved watching her play. It is mesmerizing and so fast-paced. As activities have started to conflict, however, I’m finding I am automatically canceling or deferring her other interests/lessons without remembering how the art/music/science professionals running those after-school activities view our choices. It can appear that maybe […]
Read more
By. Chrissy Ricker, NCTM www.chrissyricker.com One of my goals as a piano teacher is to help my students learn how to practice both efficiently and independently. Since most of the work of learning to play an instrument happens outside of our weekly lessons, I want my students to have a full “toolbox” of practice […]
Read more
By Gail Fischler, founder of Piano Addict I love mixed-level group activities. Yes, students need to learn alongside those who are working on the same skills and concepts. But, I believe it’s equally important to occasionally kick things up a notch and combine levels. Mixed-level activities allow less experienced students to aspire to something […]
Read more
by Lou Ann Pope & Nicole Douglas, Creative Education Specialists Want to engage your students during the holiday season in a fun new way? Check out the newest addition to the Tonara’s Examples section of the Repertoire area on the teacher’s desktop platform. (You can right-click the image to save it to your computer.) […]
Read more
by Chrissy Ricker, NCTM www.chrissyricker.com Assigning and pacing the repertoire we use with our students is one of the most challenging tasks we face as music teachers. The music we assign not only shapes the development of our students’ technical skills--it can also play a huge role in maintaining our students’ motivation to practice. Some […]
Read more
By Gail Fischler, founder of Piano Addict Blog Do you judge yourself as you practice? Those negative inner thoughts are human nature. Sometimes voices from the past echo in our heads. Sometimes, the thoughts have nothing to do with the task at hand at all. Every good book that I have ever found, on practicing […]
Read more