Chrissy Ricker
  • Home
  • Publications
    • Piano collections
    • Pop & rock arrangements
    • Video game arrangements
    • Vocal music
    • Instrumental music
  • Search
    • Search my catalog!
  • About
  • Blog
  • Free Stuff
  • Contact

A Quick and Easy Ear Training Game for Online Lessons

4/29/2020

4 Comments

 
Picture

​Looking for more fun activities to spice up your online lessons? Today I am sharing a quick ear training game that has been a big hit with my students--and better yet, it requires no special  materials and no set-up time!

​Interested? Read on for more!





Read More
4 Comments

My Online Teaching "Do's" and "Dont's"

4/25/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture

To say this last month has been a learning experience for me would be putting it mildly. Like many of you, I would never have dreamed that I would be running a 100% online piano studio at this point in my teaching career.


​
​However, that is exactly what I have been doing for the last six weeks, and I have to say that I think lessons are going pretty well! I am grateful that technology has made it possible for me to continue working with most of my students at a time that face-to-face lessons just aren’t possible. And I am thankful that my studio families have been such good sports throughout this process as we have all learned how to make online learning a positive experience for everyone!


With that being said, I have found that some things seem to work better for me and my students in this new online format than others. So, today I would like to share my own personal list of online teaching “do’s” and “don’ts.” Curious to see how this list stacks up with your own experience teaching online? Read on for more!


Read More
0 Comments

My 5 Favorite Zoom Features for Online Teaching

3/29/2020

4 Comments

 
Picture
With so many teachers transitioning to online teaching for the first time, you’ve probably heard about the video-conferencing app Zoom.

​Maybe you have already tried it for your lessons, or maybe you’ve read about it and wonder what all the fuss is about?

​
I’ve just started getting my feet wet with Zoom, and I really like it so far! So, if you are considering Zoom for your lessons, or if you are currently using it and looking for more creative ways to make it work for you, read on to learn about my top five favorite Zoom features!


Read More
4 Comments

My Favorite Free Online Resources for Students

3/23/2020

0 Comments

 
PictureA cute cat picture just for fun...Maggie says hello!
Well, this last month has been a doozy, hasn't it? 

If you are like me, you may be working overtime to adjust to an entirely new way of teaching and to find resources to help you and your students during this difficult time of transition.

Let's work together! Today I am sharing links to some of my favorite free resources from around the web that I hope will help you and your students.


Read More
0 Comments

Free Practice Packets for Students

3/17/2020

42 Comments

 
Many of us have switched (or are making preparations to switch) to distance learning over the coming weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today I am sharing 6 free practice packets that I have put together for my own students to use during this time.

Each practice packet contains a music history worksheet, a listening activity, a theory page, and an arrangement by a famous composer. These packets are designed to be used in conjunction with the free materials on the Classics for Kids website HERE (a great resource to share with your students as well).

It is my hope that sharing these materials will ease a bit of the burden that many teachers are facing in the coming weeks. Feel free to share these practice packets with your students or with other teachers who you think might find them helpful. Stay well!



Read More
42 Comments

    Author

    Chrissy Ricker is a pianist, teacher, and composer from North Carolina. These are her thoughts on teaching, composing, and all things music.


    Looking for teaching ideas related to a specific topic? Use the "search" feature or scroll down to see blog posts organized by category!

    Archives

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All
    2 Minute Teaching Tips
    Active Listening
    Composer Focus
    Composition
    Duets
    Ear Training
    Easter
    Fall/Halloween
    Free Stuff
    Friday Funny
    Games
    Group Classes
    Holiday Music
    Lesson Planning
    Living Composers
    Memorization
    Music For One Hand
    Music History
    Musicianship Monthly
    NFMC Selections
    Online Lessons
    Patriotic Music
    Performing
    Pop Arrangements
    Practicing
    Professional Development
    Repertoire
    Rhythm
    Rote Teaching
    Saint Patrick's Day
    Sight Reading
    Sports Themed Resources
    Summer
    Summer Challenge Calendars
    Technique
    Technology
    Thanksgiving
    Theory
    Tips For Teens
    Transposition
    Travel Teaching
    Valentine's Day
    Wedding Music
    Young Beginners

    RSS Feed

    Subscribe to my monthly newsletter to stay informed about my latest publications and free teacher resources. Once you subscribe below, a fresh newsletter will be delivered to your inbox on the first of each month!

    *Your email will never be shared or used for any other purpose besides this once-monthly newsletter, and you may unsubscribe at any time by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of your newsletter email. 

Subscribe
 © ​Copyright 2016-2025 Chrissy Ricker. All Rights Reserved.
Photos from hyekab25, Giancarlo - Foto 4U, geraldbrazell, djordjemiladinovich, Rosmarie Voegtli, barnimages.com, brownpau, magicatwork, wuestenigel