flowers26I’m so grateful for the community of teachers and pianists I am part of. Whether it’s face to face, online, or via social media, my piano peeps always come through. So, today I’ve put together some resources which I hope you find handy and helpful. Enjoy!

Repertoire Lists for Piano Teachers, a Project by Joy Morin

Joy has begun a collaborative project to give teachers a place to store their fav pieces for specific problems and situations. We all know how hard it is to find a thread after even a few days. Well, now after you comment on that FB post or Tweet that tip, you can add it to an organized database so that it can be easily accessed anytime.

Bach Scholar on YouTube, by Cory Hall

Cory has created a collection of clean performances of both standard teaching repertoire and some lesser known pieces. I say clean, because there are no liberties taken with rubato or pedaling—nothing to distract from rhythm, melody, or harmony. The performances are clearly meant to help a student of any age hear very precisely how each piece should sound. And, I think he succeeds in this. The tempos are not so fast that complicated rhythms cannot be discerned. For students who need to hear how everything works together in a piece without distraction, these videos could really be helpful.

So You Want to Play Piano, by Melanie Spanswick

This little volume answers many questions that a parent or individual might have as they consider taking lessons or begin piano study. There are chapters on choosing a teacher, choosing an instrument, the first lesson, practicing, diplomas & degrees, and even child safety. Melanie is a pianist and teacher from Great Britain so the listed books and evaluation programs are different from the US, however, her advice is pertinent no matter where you live. This is a nice resource to have on your studio bookshelf.

Musical Families, by Elizabeth Lawrence

Here is a blog to help families through the nitty-gritty of music lessons. From basic terminology, to managing a child’s expectations, to facilitating practice, these posts can really help parents support their child as they grow in music. Elizabeth has also published the book, A Parent’s Survival Guide to Music Lessons which guides parents and families as they begin lessons and is applicable to any instrument. She has a FB page with the same name which is also a great resource for parents.

TPT Podcasts, by Andrea & Trevor Dow

Teach Piano Today has added weekly podcasts to their informative line of posts and materials for teachers. The most recent edition features teacher and blogger Jennifer Foxx on incorporating group classes into the school year. It’s great to be able to listen to advice while driving, exercising, or doing chores. I wish that there was a separate tab on the site just for the podcasts though.

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