As 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...
Read MoreAs the school year winds down, students are focusing on end-of-year grades and summer plans. Unfortunately, that often means an end to music lessons for the summer. That doesn’t have to happen! Students need something to do during their two months off – what a great opportunity to focus on making some serious progress on their instrument or picking up some new music skills. Consider talking...
Read MoreIt is about this time of year when students get a little antsy. The skies are gray, temperatures fluctuate between glorious and heinous, and that long-awaited for spring break is so close they can taste it… almost as well as they can preemptively taste that basket full of Easter goodies. Here are a few tips to keep your students on track when things get gloomy...
Read MoreI discovered a neat trick in my private school guitar classroom last week…notation on the big screen. Every student was engaged and reading or trying to read and I could walk around the classroom and look at their technique and make suggestions while the others played along to the music. I have been searching for a more intelligent way of teaching a group of students in...
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