Creative Piano Teaching Podcast

Katie Wardrobe is the ultimate guide to have when it comes to music teaching technology. She helps teachers all over the world to incorporate technology into their teaching with workshops, online training and tons of awesome resources. Explore these games for rhythm teaching and get started using them simply and easily in solo and group lessons. Teaching rhythm to students doesn’t have to be a struggle when you have great technology at your side. Want to get your students to experiment more with composition? We’ve got you covered there too. Take a listen and discover pedagogically sound and enjoyable ways to use technology in your piano teaching. (We’ve even included some options for the non-apple users out there.) Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member?   In this episode, you’ll learn * What this “ba-boom-slap-clap” thing is all about * Ideas for developing body percussion and layering in other skills * How to use rapping in the music studio * Non-apple music tech options for PC and android users * What drum grids are and how you can use them * How to create band experiences in the piano studio * How to avoid wasting time online and stay productive * Tips for using Google Docs efficiently Links Mentioned * Hooktheory * CPTP088: 15,390 Pop Songs and Counting with the Hooktheory Guys * Groove Pizza * Garageband * Rap My Name Lesson Plan * Soundtrap * My Rhythm app * Chrome Music Lab * Last Pass * Productivity Webinar * Clapping Music app Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to 

Building a studio website might seem overwhelming at first. There is so much jargon to wade through and so many questions to answer…What’s a host? What platform should you use? What pages do you need? Never fear. To kick off tech month on the podcast, I’m talking to Nicola Cantan today all about studio websites. From WordPress to CTAs to finding images, we’re covering it all in this episode. If you want a complete step-by-step of how to set up your studio website the right way then you’re going to want to get join my Inner Circle. Nicola has put together a comprehensive Online Studio Launchpad course for my Inner Circle members that will hold your hand throughout the whole process of setting up your studio website. Click here to find out more about Inner Circle membership. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? Today’s Free Download This free guide will help you to put together a photo/media release so you can start getting photos of your smiling students up on your website. In this episode, you’ll learn * How to get permission to share student photos * Why we recommend building your website on WordPress * What hosting is and why you need it * The difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org * What pages you need on your site * Whether you should start a blog on your site * Where to find photos for your website * How to write great content for your website Links Mentioned * SiteGround hosting * WordPress.org * CPTP093: How to Nurture and Retain Students on Autopilot * Pixabay * Libre Stock Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally. Lastly, don’t forget to 

Kristin Yost has always had a keen mind for the business side of piano teaching. As you might know from her book, she became a $100,000 piano teacher – but she didn’t stop there! She went on to open her own music school, The Centre for Musical Minds, and throughout her journey she has always found ways to stand out. Even in a crowded market, you too can fill your studio fast if you play to your strengths and put plans in place. Take a listen to today’s podcast where Kristin shares how she has achieved her success and how you can find your unique point of difference for your studio’s brand. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? Today’s Free Download These two worksheets will help you figure out what your point of difference should be. In this episode, you’ll learn * How Kristen got started teaching piano * What she did to fill her studio fast * The mindset piece of Kristin’s success * How to diversify your income as a piano teacher * What it takes to open a successful multi-teacher studio * How to set yourself apart in a busy market * How to automate more of your studio business Links Mentioned * kristinyost.com * The Centre for Musical Minds * TTTV012: Reinventing the Recital with Kristin Yost * How I Made $100,000 My First Year as a Piano Teacher * Strikingly * Mindset by Carol Dweck * The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber * Quickbooks * Jot Form * Studio Helper * How I changed to monthly billing Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or

If you can retain piano students in your studio over the long term, your business will be more efficient. You won’t need to keep scrambling for new students if your existing ones stick around. The key to great student retention rates is nurturing your relationships with the students and their parents. Chantelle Duffield is a master at this and has some wonderful marketing strategies to share with us today. From email autoresponders that save you time, to little parent check-in ideas, this episode is full of studio marketing gold. Tune in to find out how to retain piano students better and more easily over the long term. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member?   In this episode, you’ll learn * What’s changed in effective studio marketing * How get results when you follow up with lesson enquiries * How to save yourself some headaches with automation * Where to get started with a studio website * What you shouldn’t put on your website * How to avoid having dead ends on your site * The value of hiring out the jobs you shouldn’t be doing * How to increase student retention * How Chantelle recovered from burnout and redesigned her business Links Mentioned * Studio Expansion * Mailchimp (email automation) * Upwork (hiring virtual assistants) * Fiverr (hiring for specific tasks) * Canva (image creation) * Google Analytics Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally. Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Do you struggle with student retention? Did anything hit home in this episode that’s causing your bucket to leak? What do you think you could try to keep students in lessons longer? If you can retain piano students in your studio over the long term, your business will be more efficient.

The Music Mentor Group (AKA Debra Perez, Robyn Harris, Kathy Rabago and Natalia Huang) draw upon their diverse wealth of experience to help teachers succeed in business. This is studio planning with a difference. The difference being that instead of getting caught up in the small things, we’re going to look at the big picture today. In today’s show, we cover a lot of ground. We look at marketing, student retention, automated systems and group teaching. Above all though, we’re focussing on one question: what is your vision for your business? Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? In this episode, you’ll learn * How the Music Mentor Group got started * Why they chose the word mentor * The biggest mistakes music teachers make in business * Why putting automation in place  is so important * How to guard the things that only you can do * Top tips for improving student retention rates * How to keep the one to one connection in a big studio * What group lessons shouldn’t look like * How to begin the transition to group teaching in your studio * Considerations when hiring staff and teachers Links Mentioned * The Music Mentor Group * 88 Creative Keys Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally. Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. What’s your studio planning system? Do you look at the big picture first? Do you sometimes get stuck in the day to day and the nitty gritty? The Music Mentor Group (AKA Debra Perez, Robyn Harris, Kathy Rabago and Natalia Huang) draw upon their diverse wealth of experience to help teachers succeed in business. This is studio planning with a difference. The difference being that instead of getting caught up in the small things, we’re going to look at the big picture today. In today’s show, we cover a lot of ground. We look at marketing, student retention, automated systems and group teaching. Above all though, we’re focussing on one question: what is your visio...

This podcast is a little bit different. Today’s show is a coaching call with one of my members, Rosemarie Penner. Rosemarie is a travelling piano teacher from Canada who has been blogging for a while. She wants to know how to take her site from blog to business. How can she monetise? What should she be doing with social media? What’s her next step? We cover these questions, and much more on this coaching call. As well as looking at automation more generally, and considering your ideal reader or customer. This should be interesting to all of you who are looking at online business, or just running your local business more effectively. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? In this episode, you’ll learn * How even a travelling teacher can have a music lab * How to first introduce paid products on your site * Where to host your website or blog * How to choose your ideal reader * Ways to make your emails stand out and get read * Advice for choosing a niche for your online business * How to schedule and automate social media * The balance between free and paid products * Why and how to outsource tasks when you can Links Mentioned * The Unfinished Lesson * Wordress.com (free and easy) * WordPress.org (self-hosted) * Typeform (survey creation) * CoSchedule (social scheduling) * Edgar (social scheduling) * Canva (graphic creation) * Canva tutorial Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally. Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Are you getting into online business? What steps have you taken so far? Which parts of Rosemarie’s call stuck out to you?

When Daniel Patterson’s studio wasn’t magically full three months after graduating college, he realised he had a thing or two to learn about marketing. So he set about finding out everything he could about advertising and growing a music studio. Daniel now shares what he learnt with other teachers on his blog. If you’re looking to grow your studio, he’s the man to listen to. He knows what works. Take a listen to find out how to grow your studio and differentiate yourself in a crowded market, why group teaching might deserve a second look, and what advertising methods are best for music teachers. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? Today’s Free Download This eight page pdf will help you figure out marketing, business and how to grow your studio. In this episode, you’ll learn * How Daniel first got into the world of studio marketing * Why it’s better to take ownership of business issues * How group teaching could make you a better teacher * The best way to get started teaching groups * What Daniel has learned from his mistakes over the years * Why online advertising is the best choice for most teachers * What prospective piano parents actually want * How to get great testimonials for your website * How to target your advertising and appeal to your ideal clients Links Mentioned * Grow Your Music Studio (Daniel’s blog) * Planning Your First Summer Camp with Jennifer Foxx * Scaling Your Summer Camp * The Testimonial Technique: A Simple Way to Grow Your Studio Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally. Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Do you need to grow your studio? Are you happy with the studio size you have?

Carol Matz is well known in the piano teaching community for her Famous and Fun series, and more recently for her Interactive Piano Method. She’s also an experienced piano teacher herself and she knows what works when it comes to great pedagogical arrangements. But Carol is also on the podcast to talk about the other side of arranging: how to teach arranging skills to our students. Having this ability can connect our students to a whole variety of music styles and make them more likely to stick with their music studies. But how do we teach it? What’s the process? Carol has step-by-step advice for us that’s going to make teaching arranging as easy as making a sandwich. Take a listen to see what I mean. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? In this episode, you’ll learn * How to get a student to identify as a musician * Ways of making music more social for students * How to teach students about chords & arranging * A simple way to teach chords to beginners * How to drill chords in a way that’s not boring * Step-by-step instructions for getting kids to arrange music * How to fill out chords when students have small hands * What the interactive piano method is and why Carol wrote it Links Mentioned * Interactive Piano Method * Famous and Fun series * Top 10 Pop Songs to Teach Piano Students * The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Left Hand Patterns Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally. Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Do you teach arranging in your piano teaching? How do you go about it? Do you use a similar method to Carol? If you don’t teach this skill, what’s holding you back? Carol Matz is well known in the piano teaching community for her

Hooktheory is a truly innovative site. It looks at harmony from a completely different perspective than traditional music theory. This is what happens when you bring together three engineers with a shared passion for music. By analysing the underlying chord progressions of thousands of pop songs – these guys are not simply learning what makes for a hit. They’ve also developed new ways of teaching music theory so that students can see their instrument as a toolbox to be explored. The approach the guys at Hooktheory have taken is so inspiring. I’m delighted to be having them on the show today to talk about their journey and their philosophies on music education. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? In this episode, you’ll learn * Where the idea for Hooktheory started * How pop songs get added to the site * What to do when you first go to Hooktheory * Whether the infamous four chords are as common as we think * How a pop song can “sell” music theory to students * Why exploration is missing from many piano studios * The surprising lessons learned from creating Hooktheory * How to use Hooktheory as a teacher in groups and private lessons * When to expect a version that works on iPad Links Mentioned * Hook Theory tabs * Hook Theory books * Hook Pad software * I analysed the chords of 1300 pop songs for patterns. This is what I found. * Hook Theory – Hands Down the Best New Resource for Music Teachers * How Learning Guitar Made Me a Better Piano Teacher * No Book Beginners Course Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you ...

When it comes to teaching pop piano, I’ve heard it all. Teachers cite these six barriers for getting into pop teaching time and again. But today I’m going to bust these myths. I get why you might be reluctant to branch into this area. Especially if you’ve bought into any of these preconceptions about teaching pop piano. It doesn’t matter if you were classically trained, hate pop music or think it’s a waste of time; I think every teacher should at least be open to a sprinkling of pop in their lessons. Take a listen and see if teaching pop piano deserves a second glance for you. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? In this episode, you’ll learn * Why you don’t need to be a “pop fan” to teach pop piano * How pop music can give your student a quick win when they need it * How teaching pop piano music can help you to teach theory * What to do with tricky pop rhythms * How you can make your students happy with just small sections of songs * Why your students should be accompanying their own singing * How you can save yourself some prep time * Why you might not need sheet music at all Links Mentioned * Hal Leonard Pop Piano Hits * Repertoire Rap Video #1 * Noviscore Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally. Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. What’s stopping you teaching pop? If you’re already teaching pop piano yourself, what do you think stops other people? Do you think I missed any of the big myths about pop piano? When it comes to teaching pop piano, I’ve heard it all. Teachers cite these six barriers for getting into pop teaching time and again. But today I’m going to bust these myths. I get why you might be reluctant to branch into this area. Especially if you’ve bought into any of these preconceptions about teaching pop piano. It doesn’t matter if you were classically trained, hate pop music or think it’s a waste of ti...

Playing classical music didn’t really appeal to Coen when he was a kid – so he started forging his own path. He found his way into piano playing through pop music and now teaches his students using the vocabulary of chords as the foundation. Coen is passionate about pop piano teaching. He treats teaching music like a language, and he thinks a harmonic vocabulary is the first thing they need to learn. When they learn about chords in this way, they see that these notes fit together, no matter which way they’re spelled. There are so many possibilities when it comes to beginner piano teaching. I hope you’ll get some inspiration for your studio from Coen’s unique, pop-based approach. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? Today’s Free Download Coen is generously giving away his Bare Essentials to Keyboard Harmony to my listeners. You’re not going to want to miss this comprehensive guide. In this episode, you’ll learn * How Coen came to teaching pop piano * What a piano “hack” is and why Coen teaches this way * Why chords should be the foundation of our teaching * What Coen would do in the first few lessons with a new student * The magic behind musical words * How chords can help students to compose music * The value of patterns for teaching harmony and rhythms * Coen’s ideas for teaching pop melodies * What a rhythm block is and how it helps to visualise patterns Links Mentioned * Piano Couture (Coen’s blog) * Piano Couture on YouTube * Amsterdam Conservatory Pop Department * My Rhythm app Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally. Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Have you tried teaching harmony first? What do you think of Coen’s approach to teaching? How much pop do you teach in your studio? Playing classical music didn’t really appeal to Coen when he wa...

When it comes to pop piano recitals, Kristin is a pro. Kristin’s students get a well-rounded education including pop and classical repertoire, and her annual pop showcase is one of her big studio highlights each year. This episode was first broadcast in September 2015. There’s a good chance you haven’t heard it unless you followed the podcast from the very start. Even if you did it’s definitely worth a re-listen. Kristin gives inspiring and practical recital ideas that will help you level-up your next concert. Take a listen and have a fresh look at your next event. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? Today’s Free Download Organise your first pop piano recital with Kristin’s free checklist. Enter your details below to get the download. In this episode, you’ll learn * Why you need to consider a pop recital * The value of multiple performance opportunities * What an art fusion recital could entail * Possibilities for collaborative music recitals * How Kristin balances pop and classical repertoire * How to prepare students to play with a band * What to do to get started teaching pop * Why you need professional musicians for your recital * Signs that your recital is tired and needs reinventing Links Mentioned * Super Metronome Groovebox * Kristin’s studio ‘Centre for Musical Minds’ * Kristin’s personal website * Video example from a Pop Showcase Recital * Kristin’s book ‘How I Made $100,000 My First Year as a Piano Teacher’ * Hal Leonard ‘Pop Piano Hits’ * Piano Flix ‘Teaching Pop Piano’ * David Cutler’s website * The Savvy Musician (David Cutler’s book) Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today,...

If you’ve been to a conference recently, you may have met Shana Kirk at one of the booths there. Shana is an expert on music technology and its applications in the piano studio. She’s here today to share seven ways you can use tech to make your recital more creative. We’ve all been to a recital that was…well…not too exciting. We want our recitals to be one of the cornerstones of our teaching business. If you’re going to go to the effort of putting on a recital, it better get people’s attention. These wonderful tech ideas for recitals will help your event stand out and leave students and parents looking forward to the next one. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? Today’s Free Download If words like MIDI and bluetooth sound like another language to you, today’s cheat sheet can help. Download the pdf and get connected – without the headaches. In this episode, you’ll learn * The role of tech in piano teaching today * Why having a visual element is important these days * Ways you could collaborate with other arts * Options for digital accompaniments * How to create a virtual orchestra for a performance * What it means to “duet yourself” and how you can do it * How a video performance project can motivate students * How to give your students a wonderful movie scoring experience Links Mentioned * Visual Performer * Home Concert Xtreme * Synthesia * Piano Maestro * Notestar * SuperScore * Garritan Personal Orchestra * Duet Yourself * Taking Your Online Lessons to the Next Level with Mario Ajero * Free Silent Films * Yamaha Den (for educators, especially those using Disklavier) Videos Mentioned Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page....

Exams are not for every student. There are many alternatives if you want to motivate your piano students to move forward and practice more. But if you do want to go for an exam, which one should you choose? I want to encourage you not to just pick the one you know best, or the one you used growing up. There are so many fantastic options out there – and they all achieve different things. Today I’m going through the differences to look out for in a piano exam syllabus. I’m also giving you some tips on how exactly to match your student to the best possible exam for them. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? Today’s Free Download This free checklist will help you to narrow down the choices for your student’s next piano exam. In this episode, you’ll learn * Alternatives to piano exams for motivating students * How to assess the best route to your student’s goals * How to decide what you want to achieve with this exam * The main differences between the exam boards * The types of piano exams available * How the marking system should affect your decision * What types of students suit which exam boards * Tips for trying out a new piano exam syllabus for the first time Links Mentioned * Making Practice Stick (guest article on Graham Fitch’s blog) * 6 Steps to Beating Overwhelm * ABRSM * AMEB * ANZCA * Trinity College Exams * Rock School Exams Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page. Reviews are extremely helpful when it comes to show’s ranking and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally. Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Which piano exam syllabus do you use? Do you use lots of different syllabi? Have you explored all the different options that are available?

Barry Walmsley grew up with the AMEB, but when he found Trinity College piano exams it was a much better fit. He started working with Trinity in 1990 and is the perfect person to give us an overview of what this exam board is all about. Trinity College piano exams have many features that make them stand out. The first one that jumped out to me was the option of either improvising or sight reading in the early grades. Trinity also has a great rock & pop syllabus which swaps out aural & general knowledge tests for “session skills”. The accompanying books are forward-thinking and full of great contemporary repertoire (that you can use even if you don’t go for the exam of course). Take a listen to today’s show and see if you might like to give Trinity College piano exams a try. Transcript If you’d like to download a PDF transcript of this episode, please click below. Inner Circle Members: You can access your PDF download now from the Resource Library. Not a member? In this episode, you’ll learn * What makes Trinity different from the other exam boards * How to Trinity exam board started * Where exams should fit in to our piano teaching * How to design a well-rounded music experience * How the Trinity exams are set up * Where the certificate exams fit in * The role of contemporary music in Trinity College piano exams * Advice for pleasing pushy exam focussed parents * Where the Trinity College piano exams are available * The exam marking and examiner training process Links Mentioned * Trinity College website * Australian Trinity College website * Trinity College Rock & Pop website * Episode 16: ANZCA Exams * Episode 17: ABRSM Exams * Episode 31: RCM Exams * Episode 32: AMEB Exams * Trinity Rock and Pop Books Get $100 off Annual Inner Circle Membership As a valued podcast listener, you’re eligible for a $100 discount on an annual Inner Circle Membership. This discount lasts for as long as you’re a member and whatever price you sign up for today is the price you’ll pay as long as you remain a member. Copy this coupon code to use when you see the “Coupon Code” box:  PIANOPODCAST. Thank you for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, and I’m grateful that you’ve chosen mine. Whether you’re at the gym, on the bike or in the car, I know that you and your students will get lots out of what you learn in the long run. Just make sure you try out some of the ideas before they get lost in the business of your next lessons! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons on the left of the page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes or on my Facebook page.