Teacher Feature

My Visit to The Piano Cottage

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 her in person when I gave a presentation to the local MTNA chapter in Grand Rapids last October.

Jody invited me over to chat and see her studio, so I took her up on her offer. I thought you might be as inspired as I was after seeing her charming studio, so I have some photos to share!

When Jody and her husband bought their home, behind their home was a stained-glass artist’s studio. After renovations, it became “The Piano Cottage:”

TPC 2013

When you step in the door, you’ll enter the cozy waiting room area. Here, students can warm up on a digital piano, relax on the chair, or admire the sticker chart on the wall.

Sticker charts2

…or, draw artwork in this blank journal:

DSC_20130420_174415

I love this idea! I love seeing students’ artwork. I’m going to check my local craft store for a blank hardcover book to put in my own waiting room…something like this one on Amazon.

DSC_20130420_174400

Guess what else was in the waiting room: some completed lapbooks from my shop! Jody offered a music camp during the week of Spring Break, and they studied a composer each day.

Lapbooks

Off from the waiting area, there are doors into two teaching studios, where Jody and the other instructors teach:

studio

A closer view of Jody’s studio:
JDM's studio

It was so fun to see Jody’s charming studio and her about the adventures happening within The Piano Cottage.

TPC Rocks

It kinda makes you wish you had your own piano cottage, eh? 🙂

studio outside

(Thanks for the inspiration, Jody!)

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9 thoughts on “My Visit to The Piano Cottage”

  1. Awesome! Everything is so cute and cozy– now I need to get a blank notebook for the waiting room. 🙂 Btw the fact that that you said “my hubby” just adds to the cuteness. 😉

  2. Oh my goodness!! What a wonderful studio, I admit I’m a little jealous. 😉 So beautiful. What a joy to teach every day there… and the artwork journal is such a great idea.

  3. Wow! This is truly amazing! I love the idea of the book for the student’s art. I’m going to do asap in my studio as well. Wonderful ideas!

  4. Wow! That is fun! What a grand idea, making the place so wonderous to children,
    especially. I think that’s part of keeping the enthusiasm. Very nice art work! Thank you.

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