Tag: piano teaching

Technology

How to Make Custom Playlist Cards for a Yoto Player

Joy Morin

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.

[PS: If you are eyeing a Yoto Player, you may want to take advantage of the Amazon Prime Day sale going on now!]

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

Joy Morin

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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Studio Business

Freebie: Lesson Attendance Sheet Updated for 2025-26

Joy Morin

I just updated one of the studio business forms from my Printables page for the 2025-26 school year.  It is called the Lesson Attendance & Payment Sheet PDF.  Even though I don’t personally use this sheet myself anymore (because prefer to charge a monthly flat tuition rate), every year I receive requests from teachers asking if I would please update it for the upcoming school year. And I’m happy to do so! 

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Practicing

NEW: Musician’s Practice Planner

Joy Morin

Hi there! Here is a quick blog post to tell you about a project I’ve been creating and testing for over three years: an assignment notebook I call the Musician’s Practice Planner. I’m pleased to announce it is now available for order in hardcopy!

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Conferences

Day 4 Highlights from NCKP 2025

Joy Morin

[Click to read Day 1, Day 2, or Day 3.]

I began the morning by recording a podcast episode with my friend and conference roomie, Amy Chaplin of Piano Pantry. Click here to take a listen!

Then, I headed downstairs to attend a showcase session by Alfred Music. Davis Dorrough and crew highlighted a variety of their latest publications, including Rare Recital Treasures edited by Ingrid Jacobson Clarfield and Kevin Chance, a folio of early Florence Price works, Sandpaintings by Connor Chee, Saga Land by Elizabeth Swift (video game inspired pieces for early to mid intermediate levels), Take the Stage by Angela Marshall (creative performance pieces for early to mid elementary levels), and the Solo Celebration series by a variety of Alfred composers. I love hearing about what’s new!

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Conferences

Day 3 Highlights from NCKP 2025

Joy Morin

[Click to read Day 1 or Day 2.]

Once again, first thing in the morning I went to the exhibit hall to the make sure my Marketplace Table was arranged and ready for the day.

The conference schedule on Friday, July 25 began with a showcase session — presentations given by exhibitors. I attended the one by Hal Leonard. I always enjoy hearing the showcase sessions from the major publishers in order to hear about the latest publications. This session didn’t disappoint. I got to hear Glenda Austin’s incredibly expressive playing, highlighting her Solos for the Sanctuary series and Lyric Waltzes. Charmaine Siagian highlighted a new book called The Eugenie Rocherelle Collection in honor of Rochelle, who passed away earlier this year. Jason Sifford shared about his latest publication titled: “Play Piano Again” — an interesting book for adult students that pulls from the beloved music of John Thompson. And Brendon Fox talked about new releases in terms of classical piano publications.

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Announcements

Register Now: “Organize Your Life With Notion” Online Workshop

Joy Morin

Greetings and Happy New Year, my friends!

I’m pleased to announce that registration is now open for a three-day, online workshop about using Notion (a productivity and note-taking app) offered by Amy Chaplin and myself. In this workshop, Amy and I will teach you all about how to use Notion to create a custom digital workspace to organize your life and get work done. If you’d been around here for a while, you might have seen my past articles about Notion and how essential it has become to my workflow and life. I think it’s an amazing tool, and am pretty sure you’ll think so, too!

The dates will be on three Fridays, January 10, 17, and 24, 2024 from 1-3pm Eastern each day. Replay videos are included, and there is an optional follow-up session a few weeks after the main workshop is done.

Check out all the details and reserve your spot now HERE. (PS: Register now to take advantage of the early bird rate!) Hope to see you in the workshop on the 10th!

More reading:

Teacher Feature

TEACHER FEATURE: Penny Lazarus on Fundraising Practice Projects

Joy Morin

A few months ago, I was inspired to see a Facebook post by my colleague Penny Lazarus, a piano teacher in Newburyport, Massachusetts, about her studio fundraising projects. Since starting these yearly projects back in 2010, she has raised over $20,000 total to support a variety of non-profit causes across the years. Wow!

Inspired by this, I just had to reach out and ask for more details and hear the story behind this unique practice. Penny was delighted to share about what she’s been doing with her students. We had an enjoyable conversation over Zoom, and Penny also wrote wonderful responses to my written questions. The result is this Teacher Feature post, a continuation of a series I’ve published off-and-on here on my blog over the years.

Without further ado, below is my interview conversation with Penny. I hope you’ll be inspired by her projects.

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seasonal / holiday

My Favorite Collections of Christmas Carol Arrangements for Piano

Joy Morin

One of my favorite late-Fall traditions is bringing out my books of Christmas carol arrangements for piano. Over the years, I’ve built a collection for both my own playing and teaching, storing everything in a sturdy wooden crate in the basement (which my husband kindly carries up each year).

When it comes to my personal playing, I tend to gravitate towards quieter arrangements with a contemporary, New Age-inspired sound and interesting harmonies — but I appreciate having arrangements in a variety of styles. Some of the collections in my library have been my go-to books for years, while others are newer finds that quickly proved their worth.

In the following article, I will share a list my favorite Christmas carol arrangement books that are perfect for personal enjoyment, holiday gatherings, or church services. If you enjoy playing beautiful arrangements of Christmas carols at the piano, as I do, this article is for you! I hope you’ll find something of interest that will become part of your go-to holiday repertoire each year.

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Reviews

Review: MagSafe Tripod Stand for iPhone

Joy Morin

Today, I’m sharing a review of a tool I have found extremely useful as a piano teacher and blogger over the past couple of months: a MagSafe tripod for my iPhone. I have found it SO useful, in fact, that I wish I had ordered one much sooner!

Read on to learn more and/or watch my short video review below.

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Composition

NEWLY RELEASED: Composition & Improvisation Prompts for Piano, Now Available in Hardcopy

Joy Morin

I’m so pleased to announce that my Composition & Improvisation Prompts for Piano, previously available in Studio-Licensed eBook form, is now available in hardcopy!

Prompts for Piano provides a fun, easy way to guide beginner and elementary students to make their own music. Each of the 20 prompts provides inspiration and direction for the student to embark on a series of creative projects.

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