Laugh a Little
His fingers were collapsing as he played, so I picked up my phone and took a close-up video of his...
Engaging with Students over Holiday Break
We take a three-week break for the holidays in my piano studio. That's a pretty long time not...
Two Christmas Duets
I still remember vividly the first time my piano teacher played a duet with me. I was absolutely...
Creating a Seamless Musical Experience
Has the Carpenter's Christmas Portrait album ever held a spot on your holiday music rotation? I...
Quick-Win Pieces
Sometimes, we piano teachers just need some quick-win pieces to keep our students encouraged and moving forward. What are some of the pieces that have worked well for you?
Halloween At Its Best!
There is a wealth of fun, well-written Halloween music for piano students, but some of my favorite...
Collaborative Playing
In my studio, summer is a great time to let students work on collaborative projects. Schedules...
On Fostering Creativity
"I want to work on song writing in my piano lessons this summer," Dylan said. "Okay, get some...
Say Yes to Silly
"If I had a third arm, I could play this duet all by myself," Annie commented after learning both...
Sometimes, a listen is worth a thousand words.
Chase, age 12, was playing The Christmas Song. You know the one: "Chestnuts roasting...
On Being Flexible
"I hate that piece!" Patrick responded after hearing Simple Gifts, the next piece in his method...
Halloween Lessons
Do you teach on Halloween, or do you take the day off, knowing your younger students...
The Scheduling Puzzle
Are you stressing over setting up your fall teaching schedule? It’s that dreaded time...
Google Photos for Piano Teachers
Teaching piano, I use my smartphone camera in lessons every day. I photograph...
“Mashed Potato Clouds” by Diane Hidy
"My dream has finally come true! I get to play Mashed Potato...
Caring
"Hey, Mr. Light!" I heard a voice yelling in the distance. I was waiting for a traffic light at a...
It Takes a Village
"I'm struggling to inspire your son to practice," I confided in the father at our...
“Incognito” by Jason Sifford
Incognito, a jazz nocturne, is a piece I've discovered only recently, but I...
Elliott Improvises on Black Keys
Six-year-old Elliott sat down at the piano and started improvising when she arrived...
The Secret Word
“Why is there an army of minions in your piano studio?” No one has actually asked the...
Playing the Blues
Not what I meant.