As music teachers who guide beginners daily, we love exploring the fun side of musical language—even playful phrases like tickle the ivories. Understanding where these sayings come from deepens students’ connection to music, bringing a sense of history and joy to their lessons. Origins of “Tickle the Ivories” The phrase “tickle the ivories” dates back
Taking music lessons is a fun activity for many children, but have you ever wondered what your child can ‘do’ with their lessons as they progress? From pursuing a college degree in music, to starting a band, playing gigs, accompanying others, playing with or for friends in a social setting, or just establishing a lifelong
You Can’t Play This To Not Make A Mistake The words above, “You Can’t Play This To Not Make A Mistake” were spoken by a director at a recent music festival to a group of high school band and orchestra students. I’m honestly not sure the students really understood, but as a conscious observer, pianist,
Refer a Friend – You Both Get a Free Lesson! At Lessons In Your Home, our best advertising comes from the families we already teach. To thank you for spreading the word, we’ve created a simple referral program: You Get: One free lesson Your Friend Gets: Their first lesson free It’s easy to participate: There’s
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
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).
Martial Arts and Drum Lessons If you’re the teacher or parent of a drum student taking drum lessons, this article will identify a lesson plan similar to that of a marital arts training session. This is a sort of a personal story of a martial artist and musician. Group lessons, like martial arts, follow a
Ear training isn’t just for advanced musicians or college theory classes. In fact, the most successful beginner pianists start developing their musical ear from day one. As a team of private instructors working with young students, we believe that teaching ear training during piano lessons is essential—not optional. The good news? It doesn’t have to
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.
One of the most common questions we get from new students or curious parents is:“What kind of music will I learn in guitar lessons?” As a team of guitar teachers who work with beginners every day, we totally understand the curiosity—and the excitement. Learning an instrument is more fun when you’re playing music you recognize
