Fostering the habits of a successful music major I often meet students who have high hopes of pursuing music on a collegiate level. Sometimes these students are elementary school students just beginning their musical studies, and sometimes they’re in high school and much closer to their college career. No matter what age, there are habits that I believe set a student up for a better chance...
Read MoreDo your students have trouble playing in time? Years ago, when I first began teaching some part-time lessons to friend’s kids I did not have a home or studio to teach in, so I taught in each students home, driving from house to house. This gave me a bunch of great experience in seeing the family dynamic and it created some great stories, so I guess...
Read MoreSchool is out, so stress levels go down, and schedules lighten….right? Not really. At least, not for teachers that continue to teach in those lazy, hazy days of summer. It can be a unique challenge to maintain student progress when schedules are in flux. Teachers are tasked with planning the curriculum around a long string of vacations and stay-away summer camps, or forsake progress until...
Read MoreAs a teacher that is constantly explaining to parents and students the importance of daily practice many are surprised when I say to a break. This is not advice I would give to a new student or a student that does not practice enough but only for advanced students that work and are playing hours a day. For this type of student taking short breaks...
Read MorePicture this, a brand-new family is about to board your studio but they have no instrument at home to begin studies. Or a current student/family is attempting to purchase or upgrade to a newer (hopefully better) instrument (a piano, trumpet, guitar or violin) for lessons and as their teacher we are trying our best to get the student to commit to some serious practicing, study...
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