I have so appreciated your ideas and was wondering, if you find any great Christmas arrangements that you just love, will you let us know? With our Christmas Recital coming up later this week, Christmas music is definitely on my mind! Here are some of the favorites on our program this year: It Came Upon […]
Monday Mailbag
Monday Mailbag – Media Release Forms for Piano Students
Love the student videos. Do you have your students sign media consent forms before filming and posting publicly online? Just curious if you’ve experienced any negative reactions. I’m sure there are plenty of very positive ones as well! Yes, I include a Media Release Form along with the Parent Questionnaire, Studio Policy, and business card […]
Monday Mailbag – How to Incorporate Student Options Into Practice Incentives
What did you mean when you said a good practice incentive should include student options? One of the primary purposes of a practice incentive is to motivate students to practice. And what better way to do that than to let them choose what they are going to practice? As teachers, we have to tap into […]
Monday Mailbag – When to Start Teaching Scales
When do you start teaching scales? I have been using the “Piano Adventures” method books and really like them, but they don’t teach scales or time signatures until four books in, and I am debating about teaching younger students scales before they encounter them in their music. How soon do you start introducing scales and […]
Monday Mailbag – What’s the Point of Teaching Pieces by Rote?
You suggest teaching by rote, and your website lists “24 Piano Pieces Perfect for Rote Teaching”. I certainly appreciate that you took the time to develop this list. But I don’t get it. Why teach by rote? How does learning a piece by rote develop skills necessary to aid in learning the next piece of […]
Monday Mailbag – Teaching Reading and Rhythm Skills to Students Who Already Play at an Intermediate Level
What kind of approach do you use for older transfer students who have trouble with reading and rhythm, without hurting their self-esteem or making them feel incompetent? I have one 12-year old transfer student who had been taught how to play the piano by rote, though he plays at an intermediate level. I was surprised […]
