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April 21, 2016

Before and after recital

Before and after recital
This past weekend I hosted a recital called Before and After. I started with the question, “How did you sound when you first began piano and how do you sound now?” In the recital, each one of my kids played the first piece of music they ever learned, followed by a current piece of music. I always try to develop ideas that show students a new perspective. Whether or not the students actually realized what I tried to show them, I have heard from parents about how interesting it was to hear othe...

April 18, 2016

What is the purpose of a music education studio?

What is the purpose of a music education studio?
When I first started teaching, I took over a studio of eight students that was left by someone who moved away. From day one, I was shocked that students in my new studio would walk into their lesson as the other student walked out and had no awareness of the other student. It was like the other student in the studio did not exist. These are students who have seen each other for months or years on a weekly basis and didn’t even have an idea of the other student’s name. Fast-forward to today an...

October 26, 2015

The Perfection of Pursuit

The Perfection of Pursuit
In the education world, we teachers are so focused on results and I just wanted to share a message I recently sent to my studio: Early on in my music education, I believed that doing well in recitals and competitions mattered most. Great performances made my mother proud, my teacher proud and it felt amazing to hear from other parents or judges that I was a ‘promising musician’. “The pursuit of perfection” – this was the maxim that I held as a child, but as I approached the professional level...

September 21, 2015

Step Up

Step Up
With a diverse music studio in ages and abilities, I often question what I can do to constantly improve myself as an educator of such a wide range of minds. What’s next? How can I better the student experience and skill while still helping them develop a great relationship with music? As most music teachers have realized, I use parent involvement in lessons, studio events, recordings and monthly performances to motivate kids and get them to discover the clear value in studying music. I see my...