One of the reasons piano teachers don’t improvise in their piano lessons is that they’re scared. The other big reason is that they just cannot find the time. If you’re apprehensive and need the confidence to jump in then go read this article. But if you’re in the second “no time” camp then stick around….
Practice & Performance
Effective piano practice is one of my passions as a piano teacher. Make the most out of your students' practice time with these freebies, ideas and insights.
Improvisation and Cats: How to Start Scared!
Are you scared to start using improvisation in your piano teaching? I’ve totally been there. 7 or 8 years ago I had basically never sat down at the piano without a piece of paper in front of my face. It would not have even occurred to me. But then I discovered improvisation. I found out…
How to Teach Piano to Beginners with Games and Creativity
Let’s explore how to teach piano to beginners. Is it as simple as following a method book? Is there more to consider? Most beginner piano students arrive to us super enthusiastic to dive in to this world of music making. I believe we have a responsibility to teach piano to beginners in a way that…
The Ultimate Guide to Your Piano Teaching Curriculum (Part 2)
Creating a piano teaching curriculum might seem like an overwhelming or perhaps even Herculean task, but it doesn’t have to be. In my last article, I shared the why behind creating a piano teaching curriculum. In this post, I’ll talk you through the how. As I see it, there are 3 ways to go about setting…
Teaching Tips for ‘Menuet in G’ by Christian Petzold RIAM Grade 1 2019
The Ultimate Guide to Your Piano Teaching Curriculum (Part 1)
Do you have a piano teaching curriculum? Have you laid out what you want your students to learn and when? I believe all teachers should have a curriculum of some sort to guide them. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does require some thought. A piano teaching curriculum is not a set of…
Teaching Tips for ‘Minuet in G’ by Henry Purcell RIAM Grade 3 2019
Teaching Tips for ‘Morning Bounce’ by Bernard Geary RIAM Grade 1 2019
Teaching Tips for ‘On the Roundabout’ by Cuthbert Harris RIAM Grade 3 2019
How to Host a Creativity Showcase Recital
When you’re teaching improvisation and composition in your piano studio, shouldn’t your performance opportunities reflect that? Often the creative stuff gets left out of recitals but shouldn’t we show off those skills too? I believe we should. Every year I host a creativity showcase recital and in this article I want to give you some…