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Essential resources for planning your piano workshop activities

by Marie Lee

I’m so glad that Inner Circle member Marie Lee (who you saw on TTTV Podcast Episode 37) has been able to write a blog article this week, continuing the theme of Summer Camps and planning your Piano Workshop Activities. In this article Marie tell it how it is: if you’re not providing summer camp/workshop options, you may need a new prescription!  ... Essential resources for planning your piano workshop activities

05/03/2016 Read more

3 Tips to Beat the Summer Lesson Blues

by Sara Campbell

An aritcle by Sara Campbell from SarasMusicStudio.com. Whether you’re a first-time summer piano teacher or a 10-year seasoned veteran, we all know that the summer months can be nerve wracking for piano teachers. Vacations, holidays, and summer activities can really wreak havoc our teaching schedules! Combine those factors with income loss and lack-luster practice because ... 3 Tips to Beat the Summer Lesson Blues

04/27/2016 Read more

Why chopsticks are more than just a handy eating utensil

by Tim Topham

One of the ways that I always stress that teachers can most easily and effectively build rapport with students and start creating a lasting relationship is by meeting them where they are at and finding out what new students can already do. This means that when you start a new student, the most important question ... Why chopsticks are more than just a handy eating utensil

04/18/2016 Read more

Planning a Piano Summer Camp

by Tim Topham

One of the best ways to increase your income as a piano teacher is to run a summer camp. Whether you're in the northern or southern hemisphere, school holidays are a great opportunity to increase your income by running special group activities or camps with your studio and so this month is designed to get you thinking about how this could work in your studio. Welcome to Summer Camp Month! Even if your summer vacation isn't until the end of the year (like here in Australia), I know that the ideas and concepts that we'll be discussing this month will be invaluable for any holiday period or group activity, even if they are months away at the moment. It's always good to start planning early!

04/04/2016 Read more

Encore: A must-have new graded repertoire collection for your studio

by Tim Topham

Finding good collections of music at graded levels can be quite a challenge and so I was really excited to explore and review the ABRSM’s Encore Collection which was released last year. I actually can’t believe how long it’s taken me to get into these books – lots of things have unfortunately taken priority since they ... Encore: A must-have new graded repertoire collection for your studio

03/28/2016 Read more

6 of the Best Piano Games for your Group Lessons

by Heather Nanney

Piano games and music activities are SO beneficial when it comes to teaching beginner piano students, especially in group classes. Whether you’re looking to use games as a little break or as a fun way to reinforce music theory, Heather Nanney is here to give us a step-by-step plans of action for her various games ... 6 of the Best Piano Games for your Group Lessons

03/14/2016 Read more
 

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Teaching group piano, classes and labs

by Tim Topham

If you've ever wondered how you can have a wider impact on a larger number of students while increasing your income and teaching fewer hours, then group teaching month at topmusic.co is going to be perfect for you. Even if you don't think that groups are your cup of tea, hang in there because teaching groups takes many different forms and this month's articles and podcasts will consider all the different options and how you can test them out in your own studio. Teachers often tell me that they struggle to fit everything in: not just in their lessons (eg. theory, aural, sight reading, etc.), but also in their own lives: teaching, lesson preparation, going to workshops, exploring new ideas or repertoire and still finding time for family, friends and a social life. The problem is...

03/01/2016 Read more

Piano Practice Guides for Motivating Students [Free Resources]

by Roberta Wolff

Have you ever wondered how a student’s practice diary or assignment book can best support their development as a musician or if there’s even any point in writing things down each week? Have you ever wondered if there are better ways that you can guide your students to practise effectively during the week? Many of us ... Piano Practice Guides for Motivating Students [Free Resources]

02/23/2016 Read more

Piano Practice and Motivation

by Tim Topham

Do you have trouble getting your students to practise? Do you struggle to help your students make progress because they seem so over-scheduled? If this sounds like you, then Practice & Motivation month is going to be a huge help in your studio. "Getting kids to practice" was the single biggest frustration that teachers mentioned in my recent survey so stay tuned for podcasts and articles from industry leaders, teachers and authors that will give you ideas and strategies to that you can immediately implement in your studio.

02/12/2016 Read more

Flipped Practice: Can YouTube encourage effective practice?

by Paul Myatt

You’ve probably all heard about the “Flipped Classroom” and “Flipped Learning”. But what about about “Flipped Practice”? Just last week one of my students who is in year 6 at school (11 years old) and about to complete his Grade 4 piano was given a chord chart for the Jazz band at school. Even though I’m ... Flipped Practice: Can YouTube encourage effective practice?

02/08/2016 Read more

The Magic Question: “How Do You Practise?”

by Andrew Ingkavet

  Practising a musical instrument is a process that needs to be learned. It’s just like learning how to study any subject in school. In fact, good instrumental teachers should consider themselves teachers of “practice” just as much as teachers of “piano” or “trumpet”. How often do you teach students how to practise? And have ... The Magic Question: “How Do You Practise?”

02/03/2016 Read more

2015 Best Selling Piano Teaching Resources [according to our readers]

by Tim Topham

Your “Best seller” list Over the Christmas break, I had a good look into my Amazon account to see what products and books you guys had been purchasing through my links, reviews and recommendations in 2015. It turns out that there were some surprises and so I thought I’d share my first “Best Seller List” ... 2015 Best Selling Piano Teaching Resources [according to our readers]

01/25/2016 Read more