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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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.
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 [...]
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: [...]
Get to know the other readers on this blog – please take a moment to introduce yourself on the discussion page of the Color In My Piano facebook page! There are a few introductions there now, and I’d love to get to know more of you. To receive blog updates right in your facebook newsfeed, [...]
When you get a phone call from an parent of a potential student asking about studio information, should you inform potential students of your rates first, or should you tell them about your studio first? I know a fellow teacher who does not answer the “rates question” - even when specially asked about it - until the [...]
A few months ago, I received a call from a parent who was looking for lessons for her two daughters. She was a little reluctant to commit to lessons because of a past experience with another teacher: the teacher was an excellent performer, but unfortunately not as great of a teacher. I chatted with her [...]
A colleague of mine and I are planning to learn some four-handed piano music this summer, and perhaps do a whole recital together of just four-handed music in the fall semester. So I’ve been digging around on YouTube, looking for repertoire ideas. And I have couple of cool videos to share with you today: What [...]
Many of us teachers are probably currently preparing our student for spring recitals, so today I thought it might be beneficial to discuss a way of preparing for performances: recording your students playing their pieces, and then listening to the playback together. Benefits of Recording The student practices performing. Playing for a recording device can [...]
This week, I recently stumbled upon some great blogs about piano teaching to add to my blogroll. Some are new, and other have been around for a while, but they all have wonderful things to share! Jen’s Piano Studio Blog – lots of game ideas and free resources.
Joy is a pianist and teacher in Ohio with great passion for helping students experience the wonders of music making!
