The All-in-One Approach Method and Workshop with Dr. Helen Marlais Last week, I had the very fortunate opportunity to attend a workshop by Dr. Helen Marlais—the author / composer of the All-in-One Approach to Succeeding at the Piano® series. Dr. Marlais provided a tour of the first 4 mini-levels in the series by guiding participants
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Changing Music Teachers – A How To Guide
What Happens If My Music Teacher Can No Longer Teach Me? This article is for students who are experiencing a teacher change. It gives you points to consider, as well as a fresh outlook on a situation that you may be approaching reluctantly due to the bond established between your private music teacher your student(s).
What Can My Rock Guitar Student Play at a Recital?
Rock Guitar Recital Songs for Beginners: A Guide from Private Music Teachers As a team of dedicated music educators specializing in private lessons for beginners, we often receive the question: What can my rock guitar student play at a recital? Selecting the right piece is crucial to showcase a student’s progress and boost their confidence.
Debunking Drum Lessons – We Don’t Want To Hear It
I think most people can agree that the idea of being a drummer is super cool, but it’s still an instrument that lacks the same popularity in lessons and willingness to get started as—say—piano and guitar. Even culturally, I can say that as a musician, I know far fewer drummers than other instrumentalists, and they
Accreditation & Adjudicated Piano Events – Getting Started
How to Get Started with Piano Accreditation Exams and Adjudicated Events This article is a student’s guide to pursuing standardized exams and festival events for piano accreditation. The goal of this article is to take the intimidation and mystery out of going for these achievements by explaining their benefit and ease of taking the first
21st Century Piano Lessons – Video Chat Make Up Lessons
Piano Lessons In the 21st Century: Utilizing the Internet for Make Ups This article details the way teachers and students can use the internet and video calls to conduct piano lessons when they otherwise may not be able to take place. The purpose of the information found here is not to advocate for or against
How to Start Beginner Piano Lessons Easily: A Step-By-Step Guide for Families
Starting music lessons can be exciting—and a little overwhelming. We’ve worked with hundreds of first-time students and families, and we know that the key to long-term success is starting strong. Whether you’re enrolling your child or jumping in as an adult, here’s how to start beginner piano lessons easily and with confidence. Step 1: Choose
First 3 Months Of Piano Lessons – A Teachers Guide
This article is for teachers of young beginners on piano who need lesson plan ideas. General thoughts included here work especially well for the first 3 months of study, which is when a routine and familiarity is established with the instrument. For young beginners, piano study is a great way to begin music lessons, and
Teaching Piano Voicing In Lessons
There comes a time in every student’s piano journey when they stop simply pressing keys and start creating sound. That’s where I like to focus my energy—teaching piano voicing in lessons, which may not show up in the method book table of contents, but is quietly transformative. Voicing is the ability to highlight melody within
Can Beginner Piano Students Memorize Music? Yes—And Here’s How
Let’s bust one of the most common piano myths out there: “My child is just a beginner, so they can’t memorize music yet.” Not true. In fact, beginner piano students memorize music all the time—sometimes without even realizing it. As teachers who work with young and first-time pianists, we’ve seen students as young as five
