Teaching Done Differently
by Lou Ann Pope, owner of Pope Piano Studio I have always considered myself to be a cutting-edge piano teacher who has embraced technology from the start of my teaching career. I have continually used music apps in my studio and have even given seminars on using computers in my teaching. However--and it’s a BIG […]
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by Chrissy Ricker, NCTM www.chrissyricker.com Have you ever been so wrapped up in playing your favorite piece of music that the outside world seemed to disappear? Have you ever been so absorbed in practicing a new piece that you completely lost track of time? If you answered “yes” to either of the above questions, you […]
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By Elisa Janson Jones If you've ever done a music history unit with your students, you've probably come to realize that the vast majority of the composers we teach about are men. And why is this a problem? Why do we need to seek out diversity? We talk so much these days about reflective practices […]
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The season for recitals and concerts is creeping up and the time to prepare for them is now. Whether it’s your concert that you’re performing in or your student’s concert that you’re putting together, you’ll need to prepare for it. One of the first tasks that you should be thinking of is creating the concert […]
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by Chrissy Ricker, NCTMwww.chrissyricker.com This time of year, many of us are preparing our students for festivals, recitals, and auditions. Helping our students to choose repertoire, practice correctly, keep their pieces fresh, and—most of all—stay calm can be a daunting task! How can we make sure that our students are confident, well-prepared, and ready to […]
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Figuring out how much to charge for music lessons is a daunting task that a lot of peripatetic music teachers face on a regular basis. Many teachers that are just starting out also experience some hesitation when trying to determine the appropriate amount. There are multiple factors involved when deciding how much to charge for […]
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Is learning piano online better than taking in-person piano lessons? I’ve tried to figure this out myself by trying both, and I’ve found that there is not any hard-and-fast answer. Learning piano online vs with a teacher is very convenient, I’ll admit, but I’ve found out that I had been making a lot of mistakes […]
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Pinch harmonics are a great tool for musical expression and special effects on the guitar. However, playing killer pinch harmonics takes practice and know-how. Harmonics can be tricky on any instrument, but mastery of them can improve your sound. They can even help you play guitar faster. After decades of teaching guitar, we know many […]
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by Chrissy Ricker, NCTM www.chrissyricker.com I have a confession to make. Sight-reading doesn’t come easily for me. Growing up, I was always a diligent practicer. I worked hard to prepare for my lessons, and I learned how to use my time efficiently to break apart my music, and practice it well. However, being able to […]
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by Jennifer Foxx of Music Educator Resources Teaching online lessons can be a little scary as there are some things that could go wrong. However, there is so much more that can go right! I wanted to share some benefits that I have found as I have taught online lessons over the years. 1. Location […]
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