Category Archives: Improving as a Teacher

An interview with fellow grad student Loretta Lanning

By joy (admin) | Published: 13 August 2010
An video interview with fellow grad student Loretta Lanning, discussing her thoughts on "Piano Teaching as a Profession." This video was recorded and edited using iMovie.
Also posted in Resources / Links, Topics in Teaching Piano, What I'm Up To, studio business | Tagged , | Leave a comment

SUMMARY | July Monthly Forum: Discussing Method Books

By joy (admin) | Published: 9 August 2010
Read about what readers posted concerning their thoughts about various piano methods, and also check out the list of questions to ask yourself when evaluating piano methods to use with your students. This post serves as the summary of the July 2010 Monthly Forum topic: Discussing Method Books.
Also posted in Monthly Forums, Repertoire/Method Books, Series, Topics in Teaching Piano | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Summer Piano Mini-Camp

By joy (admin) | Published: 13 July 2010
Last week, a colleague of mine and I held a summer piano mini-camp with the help of our piano professor.  Here’s what we did: We planned to hold the camp on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12:30 – 2:30pm. Application forms were sent to all the piano teachers who are members of our local chapter [...]
Also posted in Ideas, Topics in Teaching Piano, What I'm Up To, piano camps | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Improvisation Yields Creativity and Musical Understanding

By joy (admin) | Published: 9 July 2010
The benefits of including improvisation activities in piano lessons. The freedom to explore and be creative. Discovering musical concepts on your own. Developing your musical ear. Playing by ear. Composing an original composition.
Also posted in Beginners/Elementary Level, By Student's Level, Composition, For During the Lesson, Ideas, Improvisation, My Students, Topics in Teaching Piano | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Piano as a way to build community

By joy (admin) | Published: 8 July 2010
Check out this fascinating news story: It’s great to see the great potential music (especially the piano) has to connect members of a community in a unique way!  This story really got me thinking: what are some ways we as teachers of music can use our skills to connect and benefit the community?  We tend [...]
Also posted in Resources / Links, The Power of Music, inspiration | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

SUMMARY | The June Forum: Making Your Vocation A Vacation

By joy (admin) | Published: 6 July 2010
June is over (summer is going by so quickly!!), and so is the June Forum: Making Your Vocation A Vacation topic.  Thanks for all the thought-provoking comments, all!  Here’s a summary of your comments, along with some thoughts of my own mixed in: Teach only when you want to. Don’t overdo it.  Only schedule yourself what [...]
Also posted in Monthly Forums, Motivation, Series, Topics in Teaching Piano, inspiration, studio business | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bench Height: Try Little Pillows for Little Students

By joy (admin) | Published: 2 July 2010
Just thought I’d share my recent find.  One again, I’ll admit, I found another treasure at the dollar store.  (Does anyone else love dollar stores as much as I do?) It might not seem like much, but I see great potential in this little blue pillow.  My little student won’t have to sit on a [...]
Also posted in Beginners/Elementary Level, By Student's Level, Topics in Teaching Piano, technique | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Teaching Music Theory: Our Responsibility

By joy (admin) | Published: 24 June 2010
This article talks about why integrating a music theory component is important for teaching private lessons in piano or any musical instrument. It is our responsibility as music teachers to give our students a well-rounded education in the area of music - including theory.
Also posted in Advanced Level, Beginners/Elementary Level, By Student's Level, Intermediate Level, Topics in Teaching Piano, music theory | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

My Thoughts on Practice Requirements

By joy (admin) | Published: 11 June 2010
Many of you may remember being required by your piano teachers growing up to practice a certain amount of minutes each day/week.  Perhaps your requirement looked something like this: 15 minutes a day, 140 minutes each week, or 45 minutes, 5 days a week. One of my previous teachers built her incentive program around how [...]
Also posted in For During the Lesson, Ideas, Motivation, Topics in Teaching Piano, incentive programs, practicing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The June Forum: Making your Vocation a Vacation

By joy (admin) | Published: 8 June 2010
As mentioned yesterday, a new series is being introduced here at Color In My Piano: a monthly forum of sorts, where readers put their heads together a discuss various topics.  The success of this series depends on YOU, so please, type away! Without further ado, allow me to introduce the topic for the June forum: [...]
Also posted in Ideas, inspiration | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments
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