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
Teach Piano
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
What Do The Piano Pedals Do?
A common first question from new piano students is, “What do the pedals do?” The pedal on the right clearly changes the sound of the piano, but the other pedals might not seem to sound very different. Let's learn about the purpose of the pedals, starting with the pedal on the right. Sustain Pedal The sustain pedal, also called the damper pedal, is the pedal you will use the most at the … [Read more...] about What Do The Piano Pedals Do?
Free Easy Piano Sheet Music: We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Here's a favorite holiday song that is super easy to play on the piano: We Wish You A Merry Christmas. This is song is festive and perfectly encapsulates the Christmas season. Here are two super easy versions of We Wish You A Merry Christmas in Middle C Position. One is notated on the staff, the other is off the staff. Click here to download sheet music: We Wish You A … [Read more...] about Free Easy Piano Sheet Music: We Wish You A Merry Christmas