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Scripted Communication for Sticky Situations
It’s easy for me to know when boundaries are being crossed. I can feel it. It feels…well, bad. My blood pressure goes up, I lose sleep I feel angry. Maybe,…
The Value of Independent Piano Work
My goal as a teacher is to make myself unnecessary. I am happiest when I see my alumni playing music they have learned without my help. However, getting students to…
Ten Ways to Make Your Piano Studio More Profitable
I don’t know about you, but I feel like things are getting more and more expensive and money is getting harder and harder to come by. As piano teachers, we…
Make Time Fly While Teaching Piano Lessons
If you never feel bored, tired, or burned out while teaching this post is not for you. If you could use a little help to “Make time fly while teaching…
Still trying to Please Everyone? Stop it! You Can’t.
I had almost forgotten. It’s been a little while since I’ve been hit with a dose of negativity. Things have been going pretty well lately. I got a job at…
What Kind of Piano Teacher are You?
What Kind of Piano Teacher am I? Take the Quiz below In my last blog post “Still Trying to Please Everyone? Stop it! You Can’t” I describe an incident…
Love Will Keep Us Together
I have one, most all-important wish for every person (adult or child) who comes into my studio to begin piano lessons. That is, that they fall in love with the…
10 Ways to Make Your Piano Studio More Profitable Without Raising Rates
I don’t know about you, but I feel like things are getting more and more expensive and money is getting harder and harder to come by. As piano teachers,…
How and Why to Teach Folk Music to Piano Students
Folk Music, by definition, is the music of the people. It is simple enough that the average person can perform it and it reflects the lives and concerns of its…
10 Great Piano Teaching Games Using Chopsticks
Like most teachers, I always have an eye out for things that I can use when I am teaching. I came across a great set of twenty Chopsticks in the…
How to Draft a Piano Studio Policy
There are always questions coming up about studio policies. Recently I was asked to help draft a studio policy for the Arts Center where I teach. The idea was to…
Create Your Own Hands-on Piano Piano Activities
Hands-on is Helpful. I live in Cleveland Ohio in the U.S. There is a large and vibrant classical music community here due to the presence of the Cleveland Institute of…
A Heart for Teaching Piano Teachers – Part 1
I remember my very first piano teaching job at a music store in New York. I got the job because my violin teacher and her husband owned the store. I…
A Heart for Teaching Piano Teachers – Part 2
Here is the second part of last week’s blog post. A Heart for Teaching Piano Teachers – Part 1. Continued. Everything has a downside While it is true that most…
Piano Studio Etiquette 101
Here’s a post I plan to publish at pianoparents.net. I thought piano teachers might find it entertaining. I would love to hear some of your comments and stories. Piano studio…
10 Ways to Make your Piano Studio More Profitable
I don’t know about you, but I feel like things are getting more and more expensive and money is getting harder and harder to come by. As piano teachers, we…
Preschool Piano Skills and Goals
What does it mean to be the best piano teacher in town? It means having preschool piano skills and goals that will attract and maintain great students. Here are some…
Why Do We Need a Piano and What Type Should We Get?
Why do we need a piano and what type should we get? Students need a piano because they need to be able to practice at home. Learning to play any…
Discovering Peace and Prosperity
I am so honored and excited to present this guest post from my friend and colleague Sarah Buckley, owner of Keys to Success. In addition to being a piano teacher,…
Why Teach Music History to Piano Students?
Music History…Music History! Are you still with me? Why teach music history to piano students? Honestly, I used to hate my college Music History class. “Music Misery” does that ring a…
Time to Say Goodbye
How and When to Let Go of a Piano Student Ashley is an eighth-grader and she’s one of my favorite students. She’s been coming to lessons every week for the…
Sight-Reading
Sight-reading piano music is no easy task! Actually reading piano music at all is no easy task. Being able to instantly play music that is set before you is nothing…
Free Piano Sheet Music
The other night I desperately needed to print out a simple version of “Amazing Grace” for a Tuesday night choir rehearsal. I know that this song is in the public…
9 Tips for Teaching Teenage Beginning Piano Students
I started learning the piano at age 12. Which is kind of late musically speaking. The fact is the earlier in life you start piano lessons the better. However, not…
Understanding Parents and Caregivers
This blog post is taken from my book “The Happiest Piano Teacher in Town”. Chapter 14 – Understanding Parents and Caregivers “Expect the best and people will rise to the…
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