I’m proud to say that tomorrow my blog celebrates 17 years! Thank you, readers, for being here.
To celebrate, I’m running my annual sale. Use promo code 17YEARS to get 20% off any of the digital items in my shop here. Good through March 31, 2026.
A colleague recently asked me to lead a series of group classes for her students while she was away for a month. Her goal: keep them engaged with their piano pieces and hopefully practicing in her absence.
While I have a variety of activities and games I draw upon when working with my own students, it proved an interesting challenge to consider what to do with a group of students whom I’d never met. I wanted to come up with activities that would be enjoyable while also musically meaningful.
Continue reading “How I Planned Guest Group Classes for Students I’d Never Met”
Hi friends,
Quick reminder about Amy and my upcoming live online workshop, Organize Your Life With Notion. If you have been meaning to join us, the early bird discount ends after February 15.
If your lesson notes, links, recital plans, and to-dos are spread across email, paper, Google Drive, and random sticky notes, Notion can pull it into one place.
Organize Your Life With Notion (live online workshop)
Fridays: February 27, March 6, and March 13
Time: 12:30 – 2:30 pm Eastern
Use code NOTION60 by February 15 to take $60 off your registration.
This workshop is for piano teachers and music professionals who want a simple, flexible system for keeping studio and life details in one place. We will guide you step-by-step, live, and you will have time to build alongside us.
By the end, you will be able to set up a workspace you can use for things like:
You will also get access to a library of free Notion page templates Amy and I handmade for music professionals, so you can copy what you need and customize quickly instead of starting from scratch.
Learn more and sign up here.
Hope to see you there,
Joy
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? Learn more here about the next offering of Organize Your Life With Notion, a 3-part online workshop for music professionals offered by Amy Chaplin and myself.
Continue reading “How I Onboard New Piano Students”
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.
Continue reading “Why Piano Teachers Should Charge a Flat Monthly Fee for Lessons (And How to Calculate It)”
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.
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.
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
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.
Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Piano Recital Themes: 50+ Creative Ideas for Teachers”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
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.
Continue reading “TEACHER FEATURE: Alexandra Schock’s Themed Piano Studio Recitals”
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.
Continue reading “MichiganMTA 2025 State Conference”Your Cart is Empty
