It’s very hard to get into music without finding a link, something that attaches you sentimentally and technically as something to improve and use to express yourself. Unless learning how music works, this is reading, writing, and all of the structure of music, is just a hobby, there are always instruments, and or voice, but how do we know which in instrument is the one? Well it’s all about trying out...
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 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 More
One of the things that I think is so important as a music teacher, is to understand the end goal of the majority of our students. Most parents don’t enroll their students in lessons because they think they have the next Mozart on their hands (though you may end up having a few concert pianists in your bunch!) — they enroll them in lessons for the many benefits of learning a musical instrument, not the least of which is a richer and fuller life.
Keeping this in mind, it is important to inspire our students and help foster a love and appreciation for music. In order to do this, it’s vital to create a positive studio atmosphere. While you may have students who dread practicing (don’t we all?!), we want them to look forward to their time in the studio and be proud of what they accomplished.
I am a wee bit late in the game of updating my music lessons so that they feel as if we are actually in the 21st century and not the 20th. I only recently started using Apps in my lessons, and wow, I can't believe I waited so long! I wanted to share with you my current fave, "Piano Notes Fun." It's only $1.99 and that...
Read More