Top Tips on Performing Well Under Pressure
(Photo by Sophie Zhai) End of the semester recitals are upon us and with the preparations come nerves. Meet pianist Siqian Li who has some well timed advice for students…
Deep Practice: Inspect Your Piece
My creative juices started flowing when I read this article by Terry Heick of Teach Thought, How to Read a Book (super info-graphic included). Many of the points he makes about reading books…
Backing Up Your Studio Parents: 5 Things You Can Do Now
This year, with so many families simultaneously working and schooling from home, I've needed to go out of my way to communicate more with all my studio parents. I've also…
So Not About The Notes
Without question our studio motto is: Not About The Notes (#NATN). Against that little voice inside me, which often screams, “fix-correct-repair,” I remind myself to step back and let students take…
Adult or Late Teen? Find Your Perfect Music Teacher
Are you a late teen or adult who missed out on the opportunity to learn to play an instrument when you were younger? Have you tried learning on your own…
Intermediate Harmonic Troubles Untangled
Many of my students are transfers from other teachers or adults coming back to piano. They are good readers and know their basic major and minor scales and progressions at…
Advice for Balancing Family and Profession When Working Remotely
I once started a joint conference presentation by saying, For the past few years I’ve been collaborating with this guy I met on the ;It was actually the truth. There were…
Key Signature and Accidental Potholes: 5 Ways to Fix Them
My Dad taught me to drive. He spent many hours on the road for work and was a demanding teacher. One day we were practicing on a back road that…