Category: Lesson Planning

Fun First Lesson Activities for Beginners

7/13/2021

Ah, the excitement of a very first piano lesson! Getting to know a brand-new student and watching them explore the piano for the very first time is always so special. It is one of my favorite things about being a teacher!

Today I am sharing a few of my all-time favorite "first lesson" activities! These activities are fun, educational, and sure to be a hit with new students of all ages. Best of all, almost every activity is available as a free download, so you can use these right away and even send students home with their own copy if you like!

Keep reading to join in the "first lesson" fun!

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Tips for introducing a piece by rote

4/19/2021

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Following up on my post last week about my new pattern-based pieces for beginners, today I am sharing a few thoughts on teaching by rote.

In the past few years, there has been a resurgence in the idea of teaching by rote, with numerous articles and books dedicated to the subject. But how exactly do you go about teaching a piece “by rote”? And more importantly, how does rote teaching benefit your students?

Read on for my thoughts on rote teaching and the step-by-step process I use for introducing a piece by rote.

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New Blog Feature: Musicianship Monthly!

11/28/2020

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I am excited to share a new monthly feature here on my blog that I hope will be very helpful for teachers and students!

If you've read some of my previous blog posts, you know that helping my students to build solid musicianship skills (ear training, improvising, harmonizing, transposing, etc.) is one of the foundations of my teaching philosophy. However, it often can be difficult to fit these skills into our lessons on a regular basis when much of our time is occupied with working on repertoire, music theory, and technique.

My strategy with my own students has been to rotate through these musicianship skills by using many of the free resources I have posted here on my website, along with others that have been generously shared by other educators from around the web. So, starting this month, I will be highlighting one musicianship skill each month and sharing some of my favorite free resources related to that skill. It is my goal to give teachers new inspiration and helpful resources for fitting these musicianship skills into their lessons on a regular basis.

Would you like to join in on the fun? If so, read on for resources related to the musicianship skill I will be highlighting in December: lead sheet playing!

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The Power of Patterns

9/10/2020

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Do you remember the very first piece you ever learned to play on the piano?

Chances are that before you ever had a formal piano lesson, you learned to play something like “Heart and Soul,” “Chopsticks,” or maybe even a bit of "Für Elise." Many of us have fond memories of being shown how to play one of these timeless tunes by a friend or family member.

What do all of these familiar pieces have in common? The allure of these pieces can be summed up in one word--PATTERNS. Each of these pieces is pattern-based, can be learned quickly, and sounds impressive when played correctly. No wonder so many people fall in love with the piano after being taught to play one of these catchy tunes!

Pattern-based music can be a powerful tool in your teaching arsenal. Want to learn how to harness the power of patterns in your studio? Read on for more about how pattern-based pieces can energize your teaching!

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Tips for Teaching Busy Teens

7/11/2020

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Do you have students who seem to “hit a wall” in their piano progress once they reach high school? Often these students enjoy piano and have a desire to learn, but are so overwhelmed with school work, extra-curricular activities, and college-prep that they just don’t have time to practice.

Even when students have limited practice time, I think there are benefits to continuing piano lessons. Playing a musical instrument can provide an important emotional and creative outlet for students during the stressful high school years. In addition to the life-long skills of self-discipline, problem-solving, and creative thinking that learning to play piano provide, the musical skills students learn at the piano can be enjoyed for years to come as well. For example, your students might wish to play for their church or community choir or to help their own children practice piano one day! Finally, participation in piano lessons looks great on those college applications your students are working so hard on.

So, how do we best help these students, who have a desire to play piano and want to continue lessons, but have a limited amount of practice time? Read on for my tips for teaching busy teens!

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Fun First Lesson Activities for Beginners

Tips for introducing a piece by rote

New Blog Feature: Musicianship Monthly!

The Power of Patterns

Tips for Teaching Busy Teens

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