Tag: educator resources

Preparing Your Students for Solo and Ensemble Festivals

The most wonderful (aka stressful) time of the year is quickly approaching for many music teachers, and if you’ve never attended a solo or ensemble festival with your students you’re in for a treat. There’s nothing quite like having your students stand up in front of a judge to perform a solo or ensemble that […]

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What Are the Best Methods for Teaching the Piano?

Selecting the best piano teaching method can be a daunting task, especially if you’re a brand new piano teacher. There are as many methods as there are piano teachers to teach them, but for the sake of this article we’ll cover the most popular. Some piano teachers stick with one method throughout the course of […]

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Success With the Young Guitar Student

I have been teaching guitar for over 30 years, and through those years I have taught students of all ages 12 through the mature adult.  I was working out of the local music store where the bulk of my students were teenagers, young adult rockers or the retired adult who always wanted to play guitar […]

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Stress Free Tips for Wrapping Up the School Year

Stress Free Tips for Wrapping Up the School Year

So, you’ve completed all your end-of-year performances and summer is right around the corner. While rest, relaxation, and some great vacations may be in your near future, you need to finish out the school year first. Unfortunately, wrapping up the school year can be just as stressful and complicated as preparing for a new one, […]

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Teaching Tools: Top 5 Lists and Practice Logs

By Thomas Furdon Something I find most helpful in guiding my students while keeping them motivated is “Top 5” lists. I ask all of my students to make top 5 lists while keeping a practice journal. This helps them, and me, realize their goals and set benchmarks while tracking their progress. All of my students […]

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Using Teaching Tools in Lessons

Using Teaching Tools in Lessons

Written by Susan Lawrence  As you know, there are so many strategies used in effective teaching. Recognizing the student’s lifestyle, schedule, and learning style is important in knowing what I can set for expectations. Students teach me about themselves. I am constantly adapting my teaching approach in order to keep the lessons moving in a positive […]

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Piano

Piano Workshops: Why You Should Attend

As a piano teacher, it can be hard to learn new teaching methods, stay creative in the classroom, or find ways to earn more money–especially when you’re also tasked with finding new students and keeping your current students enrolled in lessons. Sure, you can join teaching organizations, visit message boards, and head to monthly meet-ups, […]

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Beginner’s Luck: Easy Play-Along Method Books

Teaching is an art form that positively touches the lives of our students.  I’ve seen many changes and improvements of this art in my 50+ years of public school and studio teaching.  One big change is technology.  Digital media is changing the way students learn. Music educators today have access to a wide variety of […]

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Tips for Releasing an Album While Teaching

Hello fellow Teaching Artists! My name is Mike Casey. I’m a saxophonist, songwriter, and teaching artist currently living in Hartford, CT. I am also the saxophone, flute, and clarinet instructor at the Avon, CT Music & Arts location. My debut album The Sound of Surprise: Live at The Side Door comes out in February and […]

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How to Get Your Music Students to Practice Over the Holiday Break

by: Donna Schwartz For many students and their families, Holiday breaks mean a break from everything school-related, even music practice. Some take a break because they want to get away from the stress of learning pieces for school. Others take a break because they feel like they have nothing to play. There’s no Band music […]

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