This practice incentive is all about results. Setting practice targets is a great way to keep students on track and achieving concrete progress during their practice time. Students work hard to achieve 30 bullseyes in a set period of time and earn this prestigious title. If you want a way to reward the students that … Read more
Composing is a fabulous way to engage piano students, and get them to think about music in a different way. I designed this project as a very loose template so I could use it with all levels of students. While suggestions include articulations and harmonies that newer students might not have come across yet, it’s … Read more
Student practice is more efficient when they know exactly what they’re working towards. We don’t want our students to be wandering aimlessly during their practice time. We want them focused on the end result. Piano practice targets and goals can help make that clearer. How to Use Use these sheets whenever your students need extra … Read more
Did you ever have a student come back in September after a long summer break and he was like…a brand new student? I mean, sometimes it can feel like he lost about 6 months of progress in those couple of months off from lessons. What can we do to stop this happening? That’s where the … Read more
As more and more scales get introduced, it’s great to have lots of tricks up your sleeve so piano students don’t mix them up. Try out all of these scale drills and your students will know their scales backwards, forwards and upside down! Have fun! How to Use Keep the sheet in your student’s folder/binder … Read more
When it comes to teaching piano students with special needs – teachers can be very nervous. You truly want to be all inclusive and spread music to every child, but maybe you feel you don’t have the expertise to teach these kids. Well, good news! I’m here to help. And as long as you’re willing … Read more
Piano studios usually have looser rules than school classrooms. We get to be a little more flexible because we have less students to redirect – often we’re working one-on-one. However, sometimes you will have a student that takes it too far. This student just doesn’t follow your directions. She ignores you, bangs on the keys, … Read more
Transfer students are tougher than students that you teach from the very beginning, and I see a lot of questions from piano teachers about students that come to them from another teacher. The next time you’re taking on a transfer student, use this cheatsheet to help you navigate the first lesson and get off on … Read more
If you teach your students to play scales you may have come up against this question. Perhaps every so often, perhaps even every week. Or every day! “Why do I have to practice scales? They’re so boring!” Most of us teachers understand the benefits of scales…but it can be difficult to articulate it when you’re … Read more
Habits are one of the most powerful ways we get stuff done. It is usually habit, not willpower, that keeps us eating healthily, exercising regularly, or learning new things. But how do we harness this power and help our students form real and lasting piano practice habit? How to Use Decide which of your students … Read more