Color In My Piano » blog http://colorinmypiano.com keeping music alive for piano teachers/students Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:56:37 +0000 en hourly 1 New: subscribe for daily OR weekly email updates! http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/08/10/new-subscribe-for-daily-or-weekly-email-updates/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/08/10/new-subscribe-for-daily-or-weekly-email-updates/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 12:01:20 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=2489 New!  You now have the option to subscribe to either daily OR weekly Color In My Piano updates via email.  Weekly updates might be just the thing for you if you want to stay updated with what’s new at Color In My Piano, but do not want your inbox cluttered with emails from each day.

Of course, for those of you who love the daily updates, thanks and please continue loving them!  =)

To subscribe to either the daily or weekly email updates, look for the subscribe buttons located on the left-hand sidebar of the Color In My Piano homepage.  If you are currently subscribed for daily updates and would like to switch to weekly updates, please unsubscribe to the daily updates via the link on the bottom of one of the daily email updates and then subscribe to the weekly updates via the form on the homepage.

You can also be a facebook fan of Color In My Piano by clicking here.

Thanks for being a follower of Color In My Piano!

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]]> http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/08/10/new-subscribe-for-daily-or-weekly-email-updates/feed/ 0 Free Studio Website Builder: Weebly.com http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/06/10/free-studio-website-builder-weebly-com/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/06/10/free-studio-website-builder-weebly-com/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:02:24 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=2156 Have you thought about starting a website for your studio, but felt that you didn’t have the resources or expertise to build one?  Check out Weebly.com — an attractive and easy-to-use online resource where you can create a website for free.

Personally, I currently use iWeb software (comes free on all Mac computers) to create and maintain my studio site.  However, Weebly sites are so attractive, I might make the switch someday!

Some great features:

  • Extremely user-friendly. The drag-and-drop site builder is extremely easy to use, even for those who might not consider themselves to be very technologically savvy.
  • No software is needed. That means, no buying or installing software onto your computer.  Creating and maintaining your website is done completely online.
  • You can use a free ___.weebly.com domain name, or use your own domain name. Weebly is one of the few free website building sites that allow you use your own url (e.g., colorinmypiano.com) if you desire.  Just purchase one from a site such as Name.com (a year usually costs around $10).  If you don’t want to use your own domain name, for free you can just use yourname.weebly.com.
  • Attractive themes. Of all the free website building sites I’ve seen, Weebly by far creates the most attractive-looking sites.  They have tons of great customizable themes to choose from.

Here are some links to some studio websites that were created using Weebly, to get you inspired:

Good luck!  If you are successful in creating your own studio site using Weebly, be sure to share the link with us in the comments!

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]]> http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/06/10/free-studio-website-builder-weebly-com/feed/ 1 Introduction of a New Series: The Monthly Forum! http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/06/07/introduction-of-a-new-series-the-monthly-forum/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/06/07/introduction-of-a-new-series-the-monthly-forum/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:42:29 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=2137 At the expense of sounding like an old record, I’d like to express once more (last time, I promise!) how much I’ve enjoyed reading all your comments lately, especially the shared stories on the giveaway post from a couple weeks ago.  It’s comments such as those that make Color In My Piano a success and a worthwhile resource for everyone including myself!   We have so much we can learn from each other.

For this reason, I’d like to introduce a new series that is coming to Color In My Piano designed to inspire and facilitate worthwhile discussions on various topics.  It’s essentially a place to “throw our heads together” and share our expertise and experiences so that we can grow and learn from each other.  Each month, a topic will be introduced in a post titled “The [current month] Forum: [topic].”  The success of this new series lies in your hands…so please, be ready to type away!   Think of it like a potluck: we each bring a dish to pass so that we can share a fabulous meal with each other.  =)

At the end of the month, I will post another post summarizing the various points of discussion brought up and perhaps adding more of my own thoughts, effectively bringing that month’s forum to a close.  (Although you may certainly feel free to continue commenting about the subject if desired.)  At the beginning of the next month, a new topic is then introduced.

Stay tuned for the introduction of the topic for the first-ever monthly forum — to take place tomorrow!

Photo credit: incase. | CC 2.0

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]]> http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/06/07/introduction-of-a-new-series-the-monthly-forum/feed/ 0 Just checking in…. http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/05/25/just-checking-in/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/05/25/just-checking-in/#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 14:02:18 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=2100 Hello all,

Just a brief update for today, as my husband and I are in the middle of moving to a new apartment!  This week’s posts will be not as intensive as usual.  Hopefully, we will be more settled by this weekend, and next week’s posts will return to normal.

Meanwhile:

  1. If you haven’t already, check out the Discussions page of the Color In My Piano blog facebook page.  A few of you have introduced yourselves there, and I can’t tell you how exciting it is for me to get to learn a little bit about my readers!  Thank you to those who’ve taken the time to post.
  2. Also, if you haven’t already, enter yourself in the free giveaway that ends Thursday, May 27 at midnight!  And feel free to spread the news!  If you’ve entered already, however, you should still take a moment to visit this post to read the great things others have shared in the comments.  Thanks for sharing your memories, tips, and quotes – they are so fun to read. =)

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]]> http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/05/25/just-checking-in/feed/ 0 Readers, Introduce Yourself! …on the Color In My Piano facebook page http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/05/13/readers-introduce-yourself-on-the-color-in-my-piano-facebook-page/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/05/13/readers-introduce-yourself-on-the-color-in-my-piano-facebook-page/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 14:12:24 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=2063

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, click the “like” button on the facebook page.  It’s a very easy and convenient way to stay updated.  Please give it a try!

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]]> http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/05/13/readers-introduce-yourself-on-the-color-in-my-piano-facebook-page/feed/ 2 New Music Blogs on the Block http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/04/15/new-music-blogs-on-the-block/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/04/15/new-music-blogs-on-the-block/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:10:37 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1919 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.

The Teaching Studio – tips and discussions on piano teaching.

Heidi’s Piano Studio – games ideas and other piano teaching tips.

Music for Tots – tips for parents and teachers about using music with children.

Notes of Joy – a blog about teaching piano lessons.  Visit now for a chance at receiving a free giveaway!

Music Teaching Success – tips and ideas for running a successful music studio.

Musician’s Way – a blog for pianists and other musicians by Gerald Klickstein, author of The Musician’s Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness (Oxford University Press).

I don’t anticipate running out of reading material for a long time! :)

If you have your own links to share, post them in the comments below.  I’d love to see them!

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]]> http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/04/15/new-music-blogs-on-the-block/feed/ 3 So you want to start a blog? http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/04/01/so-you-want-to-start-a-blog/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/04/01/so-you-want-to-start-a-blog/#comments Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:31:35 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1770 Today, I thought I’d share a little bit about my experiences as a blogger.  I don’t claim to be an expert by any means, but I would like to share what I have learned over the past year!

Considerations before starting your own blog:

  • Determine your audience. Who are you writing for — your students?  fellow piano teachers?  Music teachers in general?  Find your niche and start generating ideas for what to blog about.
  • Choose a focus/goal. What kind of topics would you like to cover?  What do you hope your readers will gain from your blog?
  • Think long-term. What are your goals in having a blog?  How long do you see yourself blogging?

Tips for successful blogging:

  • Post original content. While it’s great  to share links to great sites and blogs where you’ve found great resources, you don’t want to be constantly directing your readers away from your site.  Posting original content is what will keep them coming back!
  • Keep yourself on a schedule. How often do you plan to post on your blog?  Every day?  Once a week?  Think realistically, make a plan, and stick to it!
  • Keep an “ideas” notebook. Are you bursting with ideas for blog posts?  Capture all your ideas on paper, before you forget them!  Later on, you can return to this list and continue blogging even when inspiration is low.

Appearances are everything:

  • Choose a blogging platform. It may be best to start with a free blog through WordPress or Blogger (there are others, but these two are probably the most popular and user-friendly).  If you want your own domain name (i.e., without the “wordpress.com” part), you can purchase a year or two’s worth through sites such as Name.com and JustHost.com.
  • Find a theme you like. If there aren’t many options, you may be able to find other free themes online.
  • Use photos. Spice up your blog posts by including photos.  I use search.creativecommons.org to find photos that are under the creative commons copyright on Flikr.  Be sure to credit the photo to the owner each time.
  • Be careful about ads. Putting ads all over your blog might not be the way to go when you are first starting your blog; it may turn your readers off.  You don’t want to give the impression that the only reason you are starting a blog is to make money.  I once read somewhere that you should not consider putting ads on your site until you have at least 100 subscribers.  It’s something to consider!

Getting the word out:

  • Encourage readers to subscribe via email or RSS reader. Make it easy for them – add a widget in the sidebar so they can easily subscribe to email updates or receive updates in their RSS reader (such as Google Reader).
  • Provide widgets that make sharing easy for readers. …with links to social networking sites like Digg it, Stumbleupon, LinkedIn, facebook, twitter, etc.
  • Create a fan page on facebook. This allows readers to receive blog updates right in their facebook news feed.
  • Tweet. I confess that I have not tried using twitter yet as a way to promote my blog, but I hear it’s very effective and fun.
  • Connect with other bloggers. Comment on their posts, and send a quick email introducing yourself.  When you get comments on your blog, always try to return the favor.

If you have more tips and ideas for new bloggers, I’d love to hear them.  And if you’ve recently started a blog, please share the link in the comments below!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/darksidex/ / CC BY 2.0

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]]> http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/04/01/so-you-want-to-start-a-blog/feed/ 0 Celebrating One Year! http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/15/celebrating-one-year/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/15/celebrating-one-year/#comments Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:05:44 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1695 After browsing through the colorinmypiano.com archives and — alas! — it seems that we’ve missed our own anniversary!

Here’s a rundown of the history of the colorinmypiano.com blog:

  • It was on February 28, 2009 that I first conceived of this blog and wrote my first post: a welcome and brief statement of purpose.  I found my inspiration largely from Natalie Wickham’s Music Matters Blog and Susan Paradis’ Piano Teacher Resources.  My blog was initially a free wordpress blog, titled “Piano Teaching Blog” (or something similar).  At this point, I was running a successful piano studio of about 20 students out of my parent’s home, and finishing up my Bachelor’s degree in piano performance.
  • In May of 2009, I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree.  Over the summer, my husband and I moved so we could attend graduate school the next year.  Unfortunately, this meant I had to “give away” all my piano students and find new ones.  =)
  • On July 9, 2009, I decided that I was enjoying blogging enough to go full swing: I came up with the title “Color In My Piano,” bought my own domain name and a year’s worth of web hosting, and gave the site a whole new look.
  • Since then, colorinmypiano.com has been steadily growing, including the addition of the Printables page for easier navigation through free resources, and new Facebook integration.
  • February 11, 2010 was a record busy day: 425 page views!
  • To date, colorinmypiano.com has had 18,371 visiters and has about 50 subscribers.  THANK YOU!

To celebrate our first anniversary, I’ve updated an old post from July of 2009: 3 Printables for Interviewing New Students.  The post previously contained only images of forms that I use in my own studio, but has been updated to contain pdfs that have been added to the Printables > Other Resources page.  My studio logo has been taken off all three forms, for better use in your own studio if you so desire.  That’s right, three new printables, all in one day!

Wow, one year!  Let’s CELEBRATE!  =)

Photo credit: D Sharon Pruitt @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/ / CC BY 2.0

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]]> http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/15/celebrating-one-year/feed/ 0 New Facebook integration http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/02/22/new-facebook-integration/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/02/22/new-facebook-integration/#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:07:46 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1615 Exciting news: you can now follow the Color In My Piano blog via Facebook!  Click the new button on the left, Find Us On Facebook, to view our page on Facebook.  Become a fan and receive blog updates right in your Facebook news feed!

In addition, now when you leave comments on posts at colorinmypiano.com, you can leave them using your facebook account.  Colorinmypiano.com will even display your current facebook avatar (photo) beside your comment.  What fun!

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]]> http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/02/22/new-facebook-integration/feed/ 0 Best of 2009 @ colorinmypiano.com http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/01/12/best-of-2009-colorinmypiano-com/ http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/01/12/best-of-2009-colorinmypiano-com/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:38:45 +0000 joy (admin) http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1422 The new year is here!  Here’s some highlights from 2009:

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