This article about music and music history books for children was originally posted as a Colourful Keys page on June 6, 2017. Think back to your childhood. Did you enjoy reading dry, dusty history books? Me neither. But history doesn’t have to be like that. Every kid loves a good story, and today’s music and…
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VMT085: “I Just Want Him to Have Fun”
Do prospective piano parents ever tell you they just want their kid to “have fun”? Or that they don’t want him to be a concert pianist? I know why it gets on some teachers’ nerves. But in this episode, I want to unpack what they’re really saying there and how we can help them see…
5 Changes for a More Eco-Friendly Music Teaching Studio
Have you thought about making your music teaching studio as eco-friendly as possible? Since we’re in the business of teaching the next generation — the ones who will bear the burden of the choices we make now — I think it’s only right that we do everything we can now to reduce our waste and…
VMT084: Who is Your Studio Website For?
Do you have a studio website? Have you ever considered exactly who it’s for? Thinking about the purpose your music studio website is serving can make it so much more effective. In this episode, I’ll help you figure it out and put some best practices in place. Relevant Resources How to Help Your Child Practice…
Teaching Music History to Kids Through Storytelling
I’m excited to share with you the following article about teaching music history to kids by guest blogger Gigi Sliger from the United States. Gigi, who has a Bachelor’s degree in Keyboard Studies: Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, and Synthesizer, teaches both piano and yoga to children at her home studio in Tennessee, Harmony and Balance Studio….
VMT083: Feel the Beat in Your Feet
Do you do any dancing in your music lessons? This is a fantastic way to get students to understand different time signatures, feel the metre, and just shake off some of the mid-lesson wiggles! Relevant Resources The Transformative Power of Classical Music Download the Transcript Are you a Vibrant Music Teaching member? Click here…
VMT082: One of my Least Favourite Words
What does it mean to be “talented”? Let’s think about our word choices and how to develop more grit and hard work in our students instead of reliance on natural abilities. Relevant Resources Developing a Growth Mindset Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Download the Transcript Are you a Vibrant Music Teaching member? Click…
Do we really need to teach classical piano music today?
Most music studios still have a pretty strong focus on teaching classical piano music. Is this how it should be? After all, classical music is essentially just old pop music. Bach and Mozart weren’t composing “art” music. They were writing music to please the public. Sure, they pushed the boat out from time-to-time but for…
VMT081: The Nothing Tasks
Do you think about how you spend your time? When you run your own business, every minute matters. Join me as we discuss the different types of work we all do and how you can make more time for the important tasks on your to-do list. Relevant Resources Piano Teaching Productivity Tip: Understanding Important vs….
Calculators for Music Lesson Rates
What to charge is one of the trickiest questions for music teachers. Calculating your music lesson rates often feels like a mixture of market research, pixie dust and self-belief. I can’t and wouldn’t attempt to tell you how much you should charge for your music lessons. (Although, the music industry report might help you think…