About the author

Tim Topham

Tim Topham is the founder and director of TopMusic. Tim hosts the popular Integrated Music Teaching Podcast, blogs regularly at topmusic.co and speaks at local and international conferences on topics such as integrated teaching, creativity, business, marketing and entrepreneurship. Tim has been featured in American Music Teacher, The Piano Teacher Magazine, California Music Teacher and EPTA Piano Professional. Tim holds an MBA in Educational Leadership, BMus, DipEd and AMusA.

My ten tips for how to become a viral YouTube star – Valentina Lisitsa

by Tim Topham

Like thousands of pianists and teachers out there, I’ve long been inspired by the remarkable talent and story that is Valentina Lisitsa. Valentina is a Ukranian-born pianist who struggled for years to get any kind of performance gigs despite being prodigiously talented: In 2007 the brilliant Ukrainian pianist found her career was floundering. The concert ... My ten tips for how to become a viral YouTube star – Valentina Lisitsa

08/30/2022 Read more

Best Student Duets with Just 5-fingers from Diabelli

by Tim Topham

If you haven’t yet introduced the duets of Anton Diabelli to your teaching studio, you are missing out on some of the best student duets for beginner and intermediate students. In fact, as long as students can read a 5-finger position in C Major, they can at least play the first couple of these pieces. Diabelli ... Best Student Duets with Just 5-fingers from Diabelli

08/29/2022 Read more

Piano Teacher Grows His Revenue 10x In Less Than 2 Years

by Tim Topham

Phavian Phipat is an experienced piano teacher who trains young beginners aged 10 and under. But when he decided to focus on growing his music teaching business, the task was more difficult than he expected. How This Piano Teacher Used TopMusicPro: Phavian used TopMusicPro’s tools and training to improve his students’ learning enjoyment and success, ... Piano Teacher Grows His Revenue 10x In Less Than 2 Years

06/22/2022 Read more

TopMusic Teaching Manifesto

by Tim Topham

If you’ve decided to become a music teacher, you’ve undoubtedly found your vocation. Our journeys to becoming piano teachers can vary.  Whether it was a friend’s child or your own, you may have been asked to teach your grandchild, or you may have been recognized in your neighborhood for being a performer on stage or ... TopMusic Teaching Manifesto

06/08/2022 Read more

6 Mistakes I Made When I Started Teaching Piano

by Tim Topham

We’re all still learning. Even the best teachers who have been teaching piano for decades will tell you that you will never stop learning. And that’s great, because it means we’re always trying to better ourselves, even if we make mistakes along the way. I want to get personal and share the top six mistakes ... 6 Mistakes I Made When I Started Teaching Piano

05/11/2022 Read more

2022 Webinar and Course Schedule

by Tim Topham

We’re getting a few questions about what’s actually coming up this year, what webinars are we hosting, what courses are we releasing, all that kind of good stuff. So I’m going to show you quickly our course calendar for 2022, which we’ve finally been able to put into place, which I’m super excited about. February- ... 2022 Webinar and Course Schedule

03/17/2022 Read more
 

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TopMusic Acquires Upbeat Piano Teachers

by Tim Topham

. Upbeat Piano Teachers all started because of questions from piano teachers just like you… “How do I get more students?” “What app would be good for ___?” “Can someone tell me how to set up a music lab?” “How do you advertise for your studio?” “How do you keep your students engaged?” “Does anyone ... TopMusic Acquires Upbeat Piano Teachers

03/12/2022 Read more

Studio Success Path for Music Teachers

by Tim Topham

Take your studio from "Meh" to mind-blowing with the Studio Success Path.

02/28/2022 Read more

Why We Built This: Introducing TopMusic Guitar

by Tim Topham

NEW: TopMusic now includes Guitar!

08/04/2021 Read more

How to Teach Beginner Piano Students [No Book Beginners]

by Tim Topham

What is the best way to teach beginner piano students and to inspire, engage and motivate them in their first lesson? Is it through opening a method book and teaching students how to read middle C? Or, is it through: Exploring the piano Creating musical stories Playing games Playing by ear Transposing Harmonising, and Improvising? If ... How to Teach Beginner Piano Students [No Book Beginners]

04/01/2021 Read more

Top 10 Pop Songs for Piano Students

by Tim Topham

If you’ve decided to embrace teaching pop in your studio in the last few years, well done! (If you haven’t, then keep reading as I’m determined to get you thinking more about how this can impact your studio positively starting right now). There are myriad pedagogical benefits of working with students on pop music including keeping ... Top 10 Pop Songs for Piano Students

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27 Easy Chord Progressions for Your Piano Students

by Tim Topham

Here are 27 easy chord progressions to inspire your students.

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