Studio Business

How I Onboard New Piano Students

Welcoming a new student into your piano studio always feels special. A new inquiry lands in your inbox, you meet a bright-eyed beginner or an eager returning student, and suddenly you’re about to embark on a musical journey together. Exciting, right?

But between that initial spark of interest and the first official lesson, there’s an administrative process to navigate. And if you’re anything like me, you want every family to feel welcomed, informed, and excited about the journey ahead.

That’s where having an onboarding system makes all the difference. With clear steps to follow, things are less likely to fall through the cracks. You can focus less on remembering administrative details and more on what matters most — connecting with your new students and planning how you’ll help them grow as a musicians.

In this article, I’ll walk you through my simple six-step process for onboarding new piano students. Whether you’re looking to refine your current system or build one from scratch, I hope you’ll find some ideas you can adapt for your own studio.

PS: In this article, I will touch on how Notion — a free “everything app” I think everyone should know about — has become a one-stop organizational system for piano studio operations and most other aspects of my life, both personal and professional. It’s been a game-changer for managing all the moving parts of running a music studio! Intrigued? Join me for a free 30-minute webinar What Notion Can Do For You running TODAY at 12:30pm Eastern time, offered by Amy Chaplin and myself. Replay video available to those who register. Register here, and I hope to see you then!

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Studio Business

Why Piano Teachers Should Charge a Flat Monthly Fee for Lessons (And How to Calculate It)

When I relocated my piano studio after grad school, a colleague gave me advice that shaped my entire business model: charge via a flat monthly fee. At first, I wasn’t sure how it would work. But after hearing out my colleague and implementing it, I found it improved multiple aspects of my studio I hadn’t expected one change to address.

That same system has served me well for years, and I’ve watched other teachers adopt it with similar results. If you’ve been curious about flat monthly fees but weren’t sure where to start, this guide is for you.

In this article, I’ll make the case for flat monthly fees, explain how the system works, and show you exactly how to calculate your rate. You’ll also find answers to common questions that may arise.

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Announcements

Announcing: Upcoming Notion Workshop + FREE Webinar

Hello piano teachers,

I’m pleased to share that Amy Chaplin and I are giving a FREE, 30-minute webinar on Tuesday, February 10 at 12:30pm Eastern Time. It’s called “What Notion Can Do For You.” During the session, we will share exactly that: what Notion — a popular “everything” app that I think everyone should know about — can do for you as a music professional! You’ll also learn more about our upcoming online workshop “Organize Your Life With Notion,” taking place February 27, March 6, and March 13. Attend the webinar live and stay until the end for a special giveaway.

Register for the FREE webinar here. A replay video will be sent out to registrants afterwards.

Check out my past articles about Notion below:

PS: Have you been waiting for this next offering of our online workshop and are ready to register? Registration is open, and early bird rates are going on now. Reserve your spot now here.

Announcements

Teacher Talk with Joy Morin – Piano Pantry Podcast

Hello, readers!

Just a quick post today. I recently gave a podcast appearance on the Piano Pantry Podcast hosted by my colleague and friend, Amy Chaplin. You might enjoy our friendly, personal chat about my teaching journey, blog, retreats, self-published resources, Notion workshops, and more. Especially if you are new around here, you might enjoy getting to know me a bit better!

If you’d like to listen, click here to visit Amy’s podcast page. Then, click the appropriate button there to read the transcript or listen on your podcast platform of choice.

Announcements

Merry Christmas and Happy 2026!

Dear readers,

From my family to yours, here’s wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year! I consider it a pleasure and honor to get to write and publish about piano teaching (my favorite topic!) here on my blog, and I’m grateful for your interest and connection. I’m looking forward to continuing this joyful work in 2026 and beyond!

Thanks for being here.

Joy

Performances

The Ultimate Guide to Piano Recital Themes: 50+ Creative Ideas for Teachers

Have you ever held a themed recital with your piano students? Whether you’re planning your very first studio event or your fiftieth, adding a creative theme can transform a standard recital into something unique. Themes can add an extra spark of excitement, inspire your students, and help families create lasting memories.

This guide presents over 50 recital theme options — each with suggested titles, visual concepts, and keyword inspiration to help you search for related repertoire. Whether you’re exploring themes for the first time or expanding your existing approach, you’ll find ideas that range from seasonal celebrations to musical periods, from geographical journeys to creative activities.

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Announcements

Just a Quick Note

Hello readers,

Just a quick hello today to let you know that the music snowflake Christmas ornaments I ordered from Amazon for my students are back in stock! View them here.

Also, if you’ve been eyeing a Yoto player (read my review here), I’d recommend putting one in your cart and watching to see whether any Black Friday deals apply next weekend. They usually hold a decent sale around this time of year.

Happy Thursday, and I look forward to publishing a new blog post next week!

Joy

Performances

TEACHER FEATURE: Alexandra Schock’s Themed Piano Studio Recitals

This Teacher Feature spotlights my local piano teacher colleague and friend, Alexandra Schock. In this interview, Alex shares about the themed recitals she hosts featuring her piano students each spring. Inspired by her approach after meeting her three years ago, I’ve experimented with themed recitals of my own (see here, here, and here). Perhaps you’ll be inspired to try them too! –Joy


Tell us about yourself and your piano teaching.

My name is Alexandra Schock, and I am a piano teacher in Ypsilanti, Michigan. I started playing piano at age five and have always been drawn to teaching piano. Growing up, I tried to teach both my dad and my sister—though neither was enthusiastic about learning. With a background in psychology, I love applying that knowledge to my teaching. I’m passionate about learning and regularly participate in professional development. Teaching continually pushes my own knowledge and limits, which is something I truly value.

What was the original impetus for using themes for your piano studio recitals, and why do you continue this tradition to this day?

I often think back to the excitement I felt as a child anticipating or experiencing fun events such as holiday festivals, birthday parties, prize boxes, or scavenger hunts. These events stand out in my mind as some of my favorite memories of childhood. I remember the butterflies of excitement and the pure joy of being wholly absorbed in the magic. I try to incorporate this kind of magic into my recitals, hoping they become such positive experiences for my students that they leave a lasting imprint.

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Conferences

MichiganMTA 2025 State Conference

A few weekends ago, I attended the annual state conference of the Michigan Music Teachers Association (MMTA), held October 10-11, 2025. The venue was Saginaw Valley State University — about 1.5 hour drive from home. I had the pleasure of serving on the conference planning committee this year, and was especially looking forward to seeing how the event turned out.

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seasonal / holiday

My 2025 Christmas Gifts for Piano Students

Around this time last year, I found and recommended some beautiful yet affordable music ornaments to order as holiday gifts for my piano students. Many of you ordered and told me you were pleased with those ornaments.

Guess what: here I am again this year, with another recommendation I’m thrilled about!

I’m delighted to have found the wooden music snowflake ornaments pictured below. [Update: These sold out but are now back in stock!] Aren’t they elegant and fun?! I think my students will enjoy recognizing the music symbols hidden within the snowflake designs.

Note: This blog post contains Amazon affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my work!

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Technology

How to Make Custom Playlist Cards for a Yoto Player

Last week, I shared a review of the Yoto Mini, a screen-free audio player that has become an everyday fixture in my life as a parent and piano teacher. One of the best things about Yoto is how easy it is to create your own cards with custom playlists. Doing so allows me tailor listening for my kids and for the piano lessons I teach.

In this guide, you’ll find a clear, step-by-step process and two Canva templates to help you design artwork and build custom playlists for “Make Your Own” Yoto cards.

Why create “Make Your Own” Yoto cards?

Yoto offers hundreds of excellent audiobook and music cards. However, Yoto’s “Make Your Own” cards unlock additional possibilities that are personal, flexible, and fun. Here are examples of what you can do:

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Reviews

Meet Yoto Mini, A Music & Audiobook Player

Have you heard of Yoto? It’s an audiobook and music player designed for kids…but guess what: I have one of my own as a piano teacher. If I’ve piqued your curiosity, read on!

In this article, I’ll tell you why I first bought a Yoto Mini player, what I like about it, and how I use it in my piano teaching and home life with my two young kids (ages 5 and 3). Below, along with my review, you’ll find a quick video demonstration along with reflections on my experience with Yoto so far.

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