Chrissy Ricker
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Battling Burnout: 5 Ideas to Jumpstart Your Musical Creativity

6/24/2022

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We’ve all gone through periods where we have felt less-than-inspired at the piano. Maybe you feel that you have lost the “spark” you once had for teaching, or maybe the idea of practicing a new piece just doesn’t hold the appeal that it once did?

Whatever the case may be, musical burnout is very real, and most musicians face it at one time or another! In today's blog post, I will be sharing 5 ideas that I have found helpful for battling burnout and rekindling my own creativity at the piano.

Keep reading to learn more…


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The Fundamentals of Phrasing

3/25/2022

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Do you struggle with teaching phrasing? If so, you are not alone!

​Unlike wind players and vocalists, pianists don’t have to coordinate their breathing with the musical phrases they are playing. This makes teaching the concept (and importance) of phrasing to our students a bit more difficult.


In today’s post, I will be sharing tips for teaching phrasing, starting with fundamental skills that can be taught from the very first lesson. 

Keep reading for more about teaching the fundamentals of phrasing!


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The 12 Days of Christmas Teacher Challenge

12/19/2021

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​Last year, I shared a "12 Days of Christmas" practice challenge for students, with one short piano-related activity that could be done each day of Christmas break.

This year, I thought I would mix it up and create a similar challenge for teachers! The end of the year is a perfect time for rest, reflection, and thinking ahead to the new year. This 12 day challenge will provide you with opportunities to play piano for your own enjoyment, organize your studio, and set goals for the new year.

Click HERE to get your free copy of the "12 Days of Christmas Teacher Challenge!" 

I hope you have a wonderful, rejuvenating holiday break! See you back here at the end of the month to kick off 2022!



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Create a Virtual Holiday Recital in 5 Minutes (or Less!)

11/21/2021

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​As the holiday season approaches, many of us are looking for options for hosting a safe, convenient holiday recital for our students.

If you have been considering hosting a virtual recital, but worried about the time commitment involved, this post is for you!

In today's post, I will be sharing tips for how you can put together a holiday recital using YouTube's playlist feature in under 5 minutes! Keep reading for step-by-step instructions for you and your students on how it works.


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Piano Parent Podcast Interview!

11/3/2021

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I had such a great time chatting with the wonderful Shelly Davis as part of her "Piano Parent Podcast!" We talked about teaching, composing, video game music, and much more! Many thanks to Shelly for having me on her show--it is such a great resource for piano parents and teachers! Check out our interview HERE. 
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    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!

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