Summary: <br> Irina Gorin is famous in the piano teaching world. Irina’s YouTube videos of her teaching have helped and inspired so many teachers, especially when it comes to teaching technique.<br> <br> Irina didn’t always feel so confident teaching beginners. When she first moved to the USA and used traditional method books, they always felt a bit…lacking. The five finger positions used in these method books didn’t set her students up for success at the piano.<br> Tales of a Musical Journey is a unique piano method in many ways. Irina’s approach to technique, and narrative style is engaging and effective in teaching beginners. Her use of props helps young children connect to tension free piano playing.<br> I hope today’s podcast will inspire you to think a little differently about how you teach your beginners. I know we can learn a great deal from Irina’s experience.<br> Transcript<br> Please find a full transcript of this episode at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, click below to download a PDF. If you are an <a href="https://members.timtopham.com/inner-circle/join-the-community/">Inner Circle Member</a>, you can find the full video and transcript in the <a href="https://members.timtopham.com/podcasts/">Member Resources Area</a>. Not a member? See below for how you can get $50 off your membership today. <br> In this episode, you’ll learn<br> <br> * What prompted Irina to get started on YouTube<br> * They key difference Irina noticed between Ukraine and USA piano teaching<br> * How Irina came to create her own method books<br> * When music education should begin<br> * How Irina assesses a child’s readiness for piano lessons<br> * The piano parents’ role in Irina’s studio<br> * How pre-reading fits into Irina’s philosophy of teaching beginners<br> * Beginning improvisation tips and tricks<br> <br> Links Mentioned<br> <br> * <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/pianoteaching/playlists" target="_blank">Irina Gorin’s YouTube Channel</a><br> * <a href="http://amzn.to/2dPcXdd" target="_blank">Tales of a Musical Journey</a><br> * <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1470329303224128/" target="_blank">Tales of a Musical Journey Facebook Group</a><br> * <a href="http://magazine.theinstrumentalist.com/" target="_blank">Piano Explorer Magazine</a><br> * <a href="http://amzn.to/2digHra" target="_blank">Noise Putty</a><br> * <a href="http://amzn.to/2dR1P1x" target="_blank">Elastic Hair Band</a><br> <br> Podcast Video<br> This’s Month’s Sponsor<br> Make More, Teach Less – The step-by-step online course for running Piano Summer Camps.<br> <br> Are you looking for step-by-step guidance for creating your own piano summer camps and workshops this year? Are you new to the whole summer camp thing and unsure of how to get started? Want someone to help you?<br> If you’d like someone to guide you every step of the way from planning to financing to contracts, then this course will be perfect for you. I’m so excited to be announcing that my great blogging friend Jennifer Foxx has recently released her own training dedicated to helping teachers get started with their own summer camp programs.<br> The course is called Make More, Teach Less and it will be the ultimate companion for anyone looking to start their own summer camp program. Featuring nine online video modules that you can follow at your own pace, Jennifer’s training will cover everything you need to know.<br> Remember that the best thing about a course like this is that it will save you heaps of time and money and avoid you making all the mistakes that Jennifer made when she ran her first camps. Do it right the first time and enjoy the extra income and benefits of a summer-time program for your students.<br> Want to get $10 off the course today and grab some summer camp lesson plans?
