In June, my studio hosted our first ever all online piano camp over Zoom. Even though at times it felt like we were reinventing the wheel, it turned out to be a great experience! Hosting an online piano camp has given me other ideas for piano workshops and classes that I can hold throughout the year. The theme of this year's piano camp was John Williams Movie Music. We had 14 kids ranging … [Read more...] about Online Piano Camp Recap
Teach Piano
Playing The Piano With Ease: How To Avoid Injury and Discomfort
Have you ever practiced the piano and felt pain, tension or fatigue during or after your practice session? Maybe your hands or arms felt tight. Or, your neck or shoulders were sore afterwards. Perhaps your back was tired. Pain and tension are very normal body responses to any type of repetitive activity, especially when we use too much effort or or don't take into consideration how the body … [Read more...] about Playing The Piano With Ease: How To Avoid Injury and Discomfort
5 Ways To Teach Rhythm To Piano Students
Rhythm skills are so important for piano students. I try to squeeze rhythm activities into as many piano lessons as possible. I find that it really helps students to work with rhythm outside of the context of playing music so that they have a good foundation and skills to draw from when tricky rhythms show up in music. Here are five rhythm resources that I use regularly in piano lessons. … [Read more...] about 5 Ways To Teach Rhythm To Piano Students
Porch Piano Lessons
Over the years, I've taught piano lessons in the closet of a school, in piano labs, in practice rooms, in my 1-bedroom apartment, in my dining room, in my living room, in music stores, in my own studio, in other teachers' studios, in students' homes, in churches. I never thought I'd be teaching through the window of my kitchen, but here we are! As piano teachers, many of us thinking about … [Read more...] about Porch Piano Lessons
Acoustic Vs. Digital Pianos
I often coach my piano students and their families on what to look for when purchasing a piano. There are a lot of options out there and first big choice is digital or acoustic. Personally, I own and enjoy playing both digital and acoustic pianos. I use both types for teaching in my studio as well as for my own practice. I tend to gravitate towards different pianos for different reasons, … [Read more...] about Acoustic Vs. Digital Pianos
5 Ways To Learn Piano Scales
It can be hard to get piano students excited about playing scales. They can be messy, confusing and complicated. But, once they start making sense, most piano students take off with their piano playing. Sight reading skills, technique, understanding of music theory and many more musical skills all start coming together when students master scales. As a piano teacher, playing scales can get … [Read more...] about 5 Ways To Learn Piano Scales