There are quite a few places you can download and print free music note-naming flashcards. Anne Crosby’s website and Susan Paradis’ website come to mind, for example. However, I recently realized that I wanted a set of jumbo-sized cards, to use with my Piano Readiness classes. I can hold up these jumbo-sized cards during class and my [...]
Last week, we had a Forum Q&A discussion about health insurance for self-employed individuals (such as piano teachers). It has been great to hear all of your feedback about this important issue, and I have found it helpful with my research! I have a new question for you today. Your responses will be helpful when [...]
I love being able to print out rhythm cards for my students to practice at home. I can give them just a few cards to start, and add more advanced rhythms and time signatures as needed. My students store their cards in a zipper bag and bring them to their lessons each week. At first, [...]
My “piano party” group lesson this month was a lot of fun. We began with the Rhythm Name game — always a favorite. :) The Rhythm Name game is described in this post. Next, I played a variety of short classical pieces and asked students to aurally identify the piece as AB form or ABA. [...]
At last Saturday’s Piano Party with my students, we played a fun game that I call the Swat-A-Rhythm game. I have seen many variations of this game on various forums and websites, so I am not sure who to credit with the original idea. In any case, I will describe the way I played this [...]
Check out the newest item added to the ColorInMyPiano Shop! Being able to read notes on the staff intervallically is crucial for sight-reading. I like to tell my students that reading music is at least 80% interval reading, and only 20% note identification. To help my students learn to identify intervals quickly upon sight, I [...]
Even from the beginning, the pieces in most modern piano method books require the student to move around the keyboard quite a bit. Older piano methods (at least, the ones that utilize the Middle C reading approach) require the student to stay around the middle of the piano during the entire first level, or even [...]
Do you have any 4×6 photo frames lying around? It’s time to put one to good use! This do-it-yourself project will help remind your students about upcoming studio events each time they come for their piano lesson. :) Materials: 4×6 photo frame Printed background (download the free jpg file on the Printables > Other Resources [...]
Have you heard about International Week of the Piano Geek, yet? Starting next week on Monday, the folks behind TeachPianoToday.com are holding a fun week of emails, giveaways, and more. Visit pianogeekweek.com to learn more and to subscribe to the email list to get the updates. Color In My Piano will be making an appearance, [...]
Last weekend, my hubby and I took a little trip to my hometown in Michigan to visit family. I also had the opportunity to meet up with a fellow piano teacher in Grand Rapids — Jody Deems-McCarger. I connected with Jody last fall through my blog, and then soon after had the opportunity to meet [...]
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Easter weekend! Saturday was my students’ Spring Recital! Like last year, I held it at my local library. My students all did such a nice job — they make me so proud! In photo above you’ll see each student with a rose, which is a tradition I’ve kept [...]
Joy is a pianist and teacher in Ohio with great passion for helping students experience the wonders of music making!
