Creative Piano Teaching Podcast

The AMEB has been examining music students in Australia for almost one hundred years, but they’re certainly not stuck in the past. They offer online music theory exams, piano for leisure and have recently added Rock School exams. As their 100 year anniversary approaches AMEB are looking for new ways to support the work of music teachers across Australia. The online music theory exams are great for busy piano parents and the Rock School exams are an exciting addition for those students looking for a less traditional track. AMEB is also looking at ways to provide more professional development opportunities for music teachers, to continue to promote music learning in Australia. Bernard Depasquale has been working with the AMEB for the last 8 years , and he’s on the podcast today to explain what it is that makes the AMEB different, and what their plans are for the future. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What makes the AMEB different to the other exam boards in Australia * What’s involved in the ‘Piano for Leisure’ exams * Why the AMEB is bringing the Rock School syllabus to Australia * How the online music theory exams work * How the AMEB ensures consistency in marking * Why the AMEB gives letter grades instead of percentages * How the AMEB exams are structured * The theory requirements for AMEB exams * How long each AMEB syllabus lasts * The diplomas offered with AMEB Today’s Sponsor How would you like to access step-by-step instructions and resources for running group classes? Are you ready to try adding some group teaching to your studio or trying a summer camp this year? How cool would it be to hear first-hand from people already ‘in the trenches’ and grab all their best ideas?! It this sounds cool, then you MUST check out the latest webinar series from Tracy Selle and Sara Campbell called Group Teaching 101. All podcast viewers get 10% off access during March, so don’t miss out.  Click here to find out more and get your code.  Items mentioned in this podcast: * AMEB website * AMEB online exams * Piano for Leisure * Rock School with AMEB * TTTV009: Paul Harris on Simultaneous Learning * MyTempo app 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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...

Have you ever wondered how to make your studio stand out from the rest? Every piano teacher needs to find a niche. By thinking outside the box, Lynnette has made her studio a unique experience for her students. One of the biggest differences in Lynnette’s piano studio is the way her lessons overlap. By carefully scheduling students in 90 minute slots, all students attend a private lesson, lab time and an ensemble lesson every week. As if this wasn’t enough, Lynnette also brings creativity into her lessons. She uses improvisation, lead sheets and transposing to give students a well-rounded and exciting music education. Like many piano teachers, she was not taught to improvise growing up; but through a little trial and error she has found ways to teach these valuable skills to her students. Trying something new doesn’t need to be scary, if we just take one new idea at a time. No matter what type of piano studio you run, we can all learn something from Lynnette’s positive attitude and willingness to embrace the unknown. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Unique scheduling ideas to incorporate group lessons every week * How to bring improvisation into your lessons * Ideas for music lab time * How to teach lead sheets to a mix of student levels * How mixed student level group classes inspire students * Lynnette’s top tips for trying new things * The effect the ensemble classes have on Lynnette’s retention rates * What Lynnette does in her beginning piano Summer camps * Why Lynnette incorporates solfa training into her lessons Today’s Sponsor   How would you like to access step-by-step instructions and resources for running group classes? Are you ready to try adding some group teaching to your studio or trying a summer camp this year? How cool would it be to hear first-hand from people already ‘in the trenches’ and grab all their best ideas?! It this sounds cool, then you MUST check out the latest webinar series from Tracy Selle and Sara Campbell called Group Teaching 101. All podcast viewers get 10% off access during March, so don’t miss out.  Click here to find out more and get your code.  Items mentioned in this podcast: * Lynnette’s Piano Studio Website * Pattern Play by Forrest Kinney * TTTV027: Piano Lab Time with Michelle Sisler * TTTV034: Building a Piano Community that Students Love with Laura Kahar * Music Tree * Celebrate Piano * Piano Safari * Piano Pronto * Books by Bradley Sowash * Piano Maestro iPad App * Music Flashclass iPad App *

Piano can be a lonely activity. The opportunities for ensemble and group playing tend to be less common than with other instruments, and it can leave students feeling…all alone. This is why building a sense of community within the piano studio is so important. Piano can be fun and social too! That’s where the piano community comes in! Laura Kahar runs a thriving piano studio in Sydney. Alongside regular private lessons, students also attend eight group lessons a year. These group classes are organised by age, and give students an opportunity to play for each other and learn as a team. Challenges and competitions are also run between students in each group, encouraging effective practice and progress. The consistent group lessons throughout the year allow Laura’s students to see they’re not alone in their musical journey. Laura believes that being part of a wider community not only makes piano learning more fun, but can also help with teen retention rates. Teenagers are social creatures, and when piano means hanging out with friends, they’re more likely to keep taking lessons. You won’t want to miss this podcast with Laura today, not only does she have fantastic ideas, but her positivity is positively infectious! In this episode, you’ll learn: * How Laura fosters a sense of community in her studio * Studio wide incentive and challenge ideas * How to organise and schedule groups * How Laura stays ahead of the planning required for group lessons * Some of the activities Laura uses in her group classes * How a sense of competition drives students forward * Why themes make everything more fun and easier to plan * How to make your older students “piano mentors” for your youngest students Today’s Sponsor   How would you like to access step-by-step instructions and resources for running group classes? Are you ready to try adding some group teaching to your studio or trying a summer camp this year? How cool would it be to hear first-hand from people already ‘in the trenches’ and grab all their best ideas?! It this sounds cool, then you MUST check out the latest webinar series from Tracy Selle andSara Campbell called Group Teaching 101. All podcast viewers get 10% off access during March, so don’t miss out.  Click here to find out more and get your code.   Items mentioned in this podcast: * Teach Piano Today * Color in my Piano (Joy Morin) * Teaching Piano in Groups * Let’s Play Music * Laura’s studio website Laura’s Favourite Links for Inspiration: * pinterest.com * teachpianotoday.com * letsplaykidsmusic.com * pinterest.com * colorinmypiano.com * teacherspayteachers.com * pianoanne.ca * composecreate.com * youtube.com   Thank you for Tuning In!

It’s group piano month at timtopham.com, and we’re kicking off with Paul Myatt and Gillian Erskine. Paul & Gillian run thriving group based piano academies, Forte Schools of Music. They believe that teaching piano in group lessons is not only a quality option, but the best option for creating well-rounded musicians. Both Paul & Gillian first started teaching group piano classes through the Yamaha piano method. Gradually they started to want things that the Yamaha method didn’t offer, and began designing their own curriculum. Their group lessons now incorporate elements of the Orff, Kodály and Dalcroze methods. Students at Forte begin in group classes, and start to add some private instruction as they move into intermediate repertoire, but the group classes always remain the core part of their instruction. Within the group lessons students explore music through movement, ensemble playing and performing for the class. Paul & Gillian have so many great ideas about effective group teaching, and how to get started in small ways incorporating group concepts in your studio. Take a listen to find out more about this unique music school. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The philosophy behind Forte music lessons * How they use elements of Orff, Kodály and Dalcroze * The approach they take to reading * How to get started with movement in piano lessons * How to incorporate ensemble teaching in one-on-one lessons * Simple ways to get started with group lessons * How group teaching helps with motivation * At what point Paul introduces one-on-one lessons Today’s Sponsor   How would you like to access step-by-step instructions and resources for running group classes? Are you ready to try adding some group teaching to your studio or trying a summer camp this year? How cool would it be to hear first-hand from people already ‘in the trenches’ and grab all their best ideas?! It this sounds cool, then you MUST check out the latest webinar series from Tracy Selle and Sara Campbell called Group Teaching 101. All podcast viewers get 10% off access during March, so don’t miss out.  Click here to find out more and get your code.  Items mentioned in this podcast: * Information about starting your own Forte school * Forte School of Music on YouTube * Yamaha Music Education * Gordon’s Music Learning Theory * Wendy Steven’s Rhythm Cups * Dalcroze Eurythmics with Paula Melville Clarke * 5 Secret Ingredients to Successful Group Teaching * Orff Schulwerk levels courses * Tac...

What do you say when you get that call? Johnny is finding lessons too hard, practice is a struggle, and he wants to quit. How do you convince that parent to stick it out when things get hard? Anita Collins is a music teacher, who got curious and turned to the field of neuroscience to find out what effect music education has on the brain. She started looking at the work of neuroscientists and applying a music teacher’s perspective to the studies. Her talk at Ted Ed (and many other talks worldwide) takes this work and make it understandable the non-neuroscientists, so we can see some of the amazing effects music has on the brain.   Anita has so many fascinating insights into why students quit, the value of music education, motivation and practice. She not only shares this wisdom with fellow music educators, but with parents and also with students. Allowing students and their parents to understand why they’re having a tough time, can help them to stick it out. Take a listen to today’s podcast to arm yourself with the science to stop students quitting. See also a full transcription below. Transcript Download: In this episode, you’ll learn: * How music education makes kids smarter * Why some teenagers get overwhelmed and quit * Why Anita believes some extrinsic motivation is good * What to say when a parent calls you to quit your studio * Why today’s kids lack grit and determination * How to educate parents so their children can get the most out of lessons * How Anita is helping her students to prioritise effective practice * Why students need to understand that sometimes learning is uncomfortable Items mentioned in this podcast: * How playing an instrument benefits your brain * What if every child had access to music education * Anita Collins’s website * Bigger Better Brains Facebook community 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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. 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 fact were you most surprised by in today’s episode? Will you try using some of this information to talk parents out of quitting? Transcription Anita: And part of what I was able to turn around to this kid and say, and then I’ve said it to his parents, is that of course there’s students who do music right up ’til year 12 tend...

As part of practice and motivation month at timtopham.com,  today we’re taking a closer look at the RCM exams. Exams can be a great motivator for students, if used wisely. Having an upcoming exam can lead to a big spike in student practice times. Of course we don’t want students only working when there’s an exam on the horizon, but if structured carefully, exams can be a great tool in your teaching toolkit. The RCM has been around since 1886, with more than 5 million alumni. Elaine Rusk has been working with the RCM (AKA The Music Development Program in the USA) for the past 19 years, and she’s here today to give us the scoop on all things RCM. Some of the highlights of the RCM exams include diverse repertoire lists, published repertoire books, and a whole host of resources available for free online. I’m sure you’ll get a lot out of today’s podcast, even if you don’t use the RCM exams in your studio, so have a listen for an inside look at one of the world’s biggest exam systems. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The philosophy behind the RCM exam system * How the RCM piano exams are structured * How to avoid students studying only exam pieces * What teacher qualifications are available with the RCM * How the examiners are trained with the RCM * What the RCM does to encourage memorisation * How to transition from another exam system to RCM Items mentioned in this podcast: * RCM exam information * RCM Popular Piano Selections List * RCM Teacher Certification * RCM resources * Music Matters newsletter * Guide for students and parents * RCM Teacher’s Portal * Videos of RCM exam rooms * The Benefits of the Royal Conservatory Certificate Program * Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Training * Celebration Series 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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. 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,

You asked and I listened! The number one requested topic from my recent survey, was how to get students motivated to practice. There’s a good reason this is the top concern for piano teachers worldwide, because when students don’t practise, they don’t progress. So, how do we get our students to practice? When students are making progress, they are usually motivated to keep going. This is why how students practise is even more important than how much they practise. The more we model effective practice in lessons, they more likely students are to practise that way at home. If we encourage good practice habits, our students make speedy progress and are therefore encouraged to continue. Michael Griffin is a renowned educator, speaker and writer. His most recent book (Learning Strategies for Musical Success) talks about just this issue, how best to learn and practice a musical instrument. I’m so excited to have Michael on the podcast to share his wisdom about motivation, mindset and practice. Take a listen to amp up the practice in your studio! In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why kids don’t practice * How to get parents involved with practice * Why we need to get explicit about what good practice looks like * The three essential elements of good practice: repetition, slow practice & chunking * How you can reverse the roles in your lessons to demonstrate practice techniques * How to foster autonomy in your students * Why our relationship with our students affects their motivation * What growth mindset is and how it affects piano students Items mentioned in this podcast: * Learning Strategies for Musical Success * Mindset: The New Psychology of Success * Carol Dweck’s TedTalk about the growth mindset * Growth Mindset infographic * Coach’s Eye iPad app * What I’ve learnt from asking more questions in music lessons * Access to Michael’s Dropbox Watch the full interview here: Practice Pack Download: 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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.

What do you know about the Suzuki Piano Method? I think many of us think of students who play by ear…but there’s a lot more to it than that! The Suzuki Piano Method takes the view that just as kids learn to talk before they learn to read, they should learn to play piano before learning how to read music. Students can begin at as young as three years old, with lots of parental involvement. Parents sit in on all lessons, and learn the repertoire alongside the young student so that they can be the coach at home. Rebecca Martin has been teaching using the Suzuki Piano Method for about 40 years, and loving it! I’m so excited to have her on the podcast today to explain the Suzuki approach, the logic behind it and how it works. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What the Suzuki piano method is * How and why rote teaching is used in Suzuki * The parents’ role in the Suzuki method * How Suzuki incorporates complex rhythms from the start * How Suzuki teacher training works and how you can find an institute * The sense of community in a Suzuki teacher’s studio * How Rebecca mixes Suzuki and other resources in her studio * When reading is introduced in the Suzuki method Items mentioned in this podcast: * Suzuki Association of the Americas * Suzuki Association Summer Institutes * Suzuki Music Australia * British Suzuki Association * Rebecca’s studio website 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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. 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 have any experience with the Suzuki Piano Method? What do you think of the ear training and rote teaching aspect? Does any aspect of this method particularly appeal to you? What do you know about the Suzuki Piano Method? I think many of us think of students who play by ear…but there’s a lot more to it than that! The Suzuki Piano Method takes the view that just as kids learn to talk before they learn to read, they should learn to play piano before learning how to read music. Students can begin at as young as three years old, with lots of parental involvement. Parents sit in on all lessons, and learn the repertoire alongside the young student so that they can be the coach at home. Rebecca Martin has been teaching using the Suzuki Piano Method for about 40 years,

What do you think of when you think of Dalcroze? My first thought is of students marching to a beat, and while that is part of it, there’s so much more to learn from this method! Dalcroze is all about experience and feeling before intellectualising. Moving from big, whole body movements right down to the fine motor skills needed to play something at the piano. I’ve always been interested in these non-traditional methods, and I’m so excited that Paula was able to come on the podcast today to share how she combines Dalcroze group classes, and private piano instruction in her studio.   As well as explaining the concepts and ideas behind Dalcroze, Paula is also sharing some videos of her teaching in action. This is so valuable as Dalcroze is all about movement and activity, so talking can only get us so far! If you normally listen to the podcast, you should definitely consider watching this one. It’s so inspiring to see Paula in action and I wouldn’t want you to miss out! In this episode, you’ll learn: * The foundation of the Dalcroze method * How movement can help students understand rhythm, beat and metre * The similarities between Kodaly, Orff and Dalcroze approaches * How Paula’s incorporates group movement classes into her piano studio * Movement activities Paula does with children as young as two years old * How Paula uses movement in private piano lessons * Creative ways to get students to feel tempo * What training as a Dalcroze teacher involves Items mentioned in this podcast: * Dalcroze UK * Dalcroze Australia * Dalcroze USA * Dalcroze Institute in Geneva * Rhythm: One on One * Book: Music, Moving & Learning in Early Childhood (click to buy internationally) * Book: Music, Moving & Learning (for Australian residents – get discount postage) What to contact Paula? Paula has kindly shared her email with everyone. Click here to get in touch if you’ve got questions or would like to get a copy of her book. You can also right click on that link to “copy email address” to your favourite email software. 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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...

Have you ever considered adding a piano lab time to your studio? Not sure where you would even start? The Keys to Imagination Double Click Curriculum makes it simple! Adding lab time can help you to increase your income (with two students in the studio together), and can help your students progress faster in their music studies. Michelle Sisler created the Double Click Curriculum which provides corresponding music lab activities for each concept introduced in method books. Not only does this make planning so much easier for us piano teachers, but it lends a certain “validity” in parent’s eyes to lab time, when they have a specific book to use in that time. Michelle has also created the online conference for music teachers, Music Ed Connect. You can now attend a complete conference from your own home! All the talks are available to stream live, and to watch back later, with online discussions and downloadable materials. Take a listen to to today’s podcast to learn how you can start a music lab in your piano studio, and for a special discount on Music Ed Connect 2016! In this episode, you’ll learn: * The benefit of adding a music lab to your studio * What you need to set up a music lab * How the double click curriculum works * The idea behind the Music Ed Connect online conference * How the online conference works * The benefits of an online conference Items mentioned in this podcast: * Double Click Curriculum * Video about the Double Click Curriculum * Music Ed Connect Conference * Piano Maestro * Flashnote Derby * Rhythm Swing * Tenuto * Auralia * NCKP conference Special Offer Michelle is offering $20 off the Music Ed Connect conference to Tim Topham TV listeners! Just visit the Music Ed Connect website and enter the code podcast16 at checkout. 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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,

Nick Ambrosino has two unique books about piano teaching, Coffee with Ray and Lessons with Matt. These are not your standard teaching textbooks, they’re presented as novels, with lots of teaching tips hidden inside. Nick has some interesting perspectives and techniques when it comes to how to educate piano students. For instance, he believes we should see ourselves as facilitators, not teachers. We’re helping our piano students on their journey, but a lot of the progress they make (or don’t) is done when they’re on their own at home. If we start taking all of these successes and failures on, as if they are our own, we’ll burn out. This is just one of the interesting distinctions that Nick explains on today’s podcast. Take a listen and you’re sure to think about some element of teaching in a new way! In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why you should start thinking of yourself as a facilitator, not a teacher * Using compliments wisely * How to start each lesson right * Why you should exchange buts for ands in your comments after a student’s performances * How Nick applies “Goldilocks” to piano practice * Why you should think about getting your students to write their own assignment notes * How teaching piano is similar to sanding wood Items mentioned in this podcast: * Coffee with Ray * Lessons with Matt * How to Raise an Adult * Nick’s website * Nick’s facebook * What I’ve learnt from asking more questions in music lessons Today’s Download: 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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. 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. Did anything today’s podcast make you see something in a new light? Was there one of Nick’s ideas that made you think about piano teaching differently? What will you change in your teaching this week after listening to Nick today? Nick Ambrosino has two unique books about piano teaching,

Have you ever wondered where all those piano books you buy come from? What the inside the world’s major music publishers looks like? Hal Leonard is the world’s biggest music publisher, and Hal Leonard Australia is an important part of bringing those books (and other publisher’s books) to Australia. Under the direction of Gina Wake, the piano department has been a fantastic force for good, connecting teachers all over Australia and providing them with resources and professional development. Gina Wake started ‘The Piano Teacher’  as a way to provide teachers with great content, articles and tips. The 40 Piece Challenge also grew from Hal Leonard Australia, with the help of Elissa Milne. This challenge has spread wider than they could have ever imagined, with teachers all over the world embracing the idea of students learning lots and lots of repertoire at varying levels. Take a listen to today’s podcast to get a peek inside the publishing world! In this episode, you’ll learn: * The inner working of Hal Leonard Australia * What projects are coming up in Hal Leonard * How the 40 Piece Challenge began * Where the idea for ‘The Piano Teacher’ magazine came from Items mentioned in this podcast: * Hal Leonard Australia * The Piano Teacher magazine * 40 Piece Challenge * TTTV007: Building a Multi-teacher Piano Studio with Carly McDonald 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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. 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. Were you surprised to find out how varied Hal Leonard is? Was there any aspect of the business that you didn’t expect? Did you wish you could have a warehouse like that as your music library? I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you have any questions specifically for the guys at Hal Leonard Australia, you can email australianpiano@halleonard.com.au. Have you ever wondered where all those piano books you buy come from? What the inside the world’s major music publishers looks like? Hal Leonard is the world’s biggest music publisher, and Hal Leonard Australia is an important part of bringing those books (and other publisher’s books) to Australia.

The Alexander technique has helped professionals in many different fields to achieve greater coordination and ease, doing the thing they love. Many pianists have found this technique to be the solution to recovery from pain, while also helping them to perform at their best. As teachers, we all strive to foster good technique in our students, but some of the information we were taught might not always be the best advice. Telling kids to “Sit up straight!” for example, could be counterproductive if they are not balanced and moving comfortably from this position. Deeply ingrained habits can be hard to break. We all want our students to continue to play piano, and to be lifetime music lovers. Poor posture and technique can get in the way of this however. If we teach students good habits from the start, we are setting them up for success at the piano. Greg Holdaway has helped countless musicians to achieve pain free and tension free performance, and I’m so excited to have him share some of his insights today. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What exactly the Alexander technique is * How the Alexander technique can help pianists and piano teachers * The differences and similarities between Taubman and Alexander techniques * How to get your students to sit correctly at the piano * Why shoulder movement should be included in piano playing * Why you should be teaching students to be coordinated not to be relaxed Items mentioned in this podcast: * Sydney Alexander Technique 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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. 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 had any experience with the Alexander technique? Do you have any students who you think might benefit from this approach to piano playing? Or have you yourself experienced pain or injury and recovered from it? The Alexander technique has helped professionals in many different fields to achieve greater coordination and ease, doing the thing they love. Many pianists have found this technique to be the solution to recovery from pain, while also helping them to perform at their best. As teachers, we all strive to foster good technique in our students, but some of the information we were taught might not always be the best advice. Telling kids to “Sit up straight!” for example, could be counterproductive if they are not balanced and moving comfortably from this position. Deeply ingrained habits can be hard to break. We all want our students to continue to play piano, and to be lifetime music lovers. Poor posture and technique can get in the way of this however.

Teaching teens can be a completely different experience from your average 7 year old student. Teenagers are starting to figure out who they are and what they like. This means that they won’t always just play a piece because you gave it to them, and they won’t practice something they don’t think is relevant to their goals. Their goals could be to play a Beethoven sonata, but they also might be to write their own pop songs, or play in a school band. When teaching teens, you really need to have them on side. Creating a good relationship with your teenage students is so important. If they think piano “isn’t cool” (whatever that means to them) they won’t practice enough, and they just might quit. Do you ever have trouble with teaching teenage students? Do you find students dropping out when they get to high school? Then you have to listen to today’s podcast, I’m sharing my 5 top tips for teaching teens. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The difference in my approach to teaching teens/adults versus kids * How to relate piano practice to things in their world * Why building a rapport with teens is vital * How to become “the cool teacher” and why you should want to * How to convince reluctant teens to practice their scales   Items mentioned in this podcast: * Piano Pronto * Scales Bootcamp * Making scales fun with DecideNow * Best iPad apps for piano teachers * Teaching video: Student improvising backing tracks for scales * How to make piano scales fun 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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. 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 approach to teaching teens? Do you use any of the methods I talked about today? Is there something else that has worked for you with this age group? Or any part of my approach that you disagree with? Teaching teens can be a completely different experience from your average 7 year old student. Teenagers are starting to figure out who they are and what they like.

Have you heard about Piano Maestro? No?! Well it’s time we changed that! If you’re a piano teacher, Piano Maestro is free for you and all your students. Completely free. So there’s no reason not to jump in! Piano Maestro is an incredible iPad app for  sight reading. The music scrolls across the screen, and it “listens” to you play on any piano or keyboard (no wires!) and gives you feedback on how accurately you played. This is cool enough by itself, but the real magic of Piano Maestro is how it gameifies learning to read music. After each song, the student is given a number of stars for their performance. To progress to the next chapter in journey mode, the student has to get a certain number of stars. They can’t get ahead of themselves, they have to put in the work. There are too many amazing features of Piano Maestro to mention, such as the large library of method books, up to date pop songs, scales and arpeggios…the list goes on. Much better that you hear about these amazing features from Becki ‘Piano Maestro’ Laurent herself. In this episode, you’ll learn: * What Piano Maestro is for * How Piano Maestro works * How to navigate the Piano Maestro app * Why you should incorporate this kind of “gamification” into your teaching * How to get any student started in with the app ***Sorry about the delay in the video sync. I’ve been trialling some new software and still have some tweaks to make. Items mentioned in this podcast: * Free excerpt from ‘The Insider’s Guide to Joytunes’ Piano Maestro’ * Piano Maestro * Piano Dustbuster * Simply Piano * TTTV007: Building a Multi-Teacher Studio with Carly McDonald * Sheet Music on the JoyTunes website * Logitech speakers * The Insider’s Guide to Joytunes’ Piano Maestro * Tracy Selle’s Webinars Not a teacher? Here’s your discount code: JTS1MREPORTER 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. Being a full-time teacher myself, I know how busy teachers are and how much time, effort and passion we put into our students. Sometimes, the last thing we want to do in our time off is listen to more piano teaching stuff! So, well done for using this time for self-improvement. 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.