When families come to us about enrolling their children in piano lessons, one of the most common questions we hear is: How can we set our child up for success from the very first lesson? After years of teaching beginner students in their homes, we’ve learned a few universal truths: preparation, consistency, and encouragement go
Developing a clear, stable sound is at the heart of saxophone lessons sounding best tone—especially for new players. Whether working in your home or practicing in private, the focus needs to be on breathing technique, embouchure formation, and consistent long-tone work before moving into complex music or flashy effects. Core Foundations: Breath, Embouchure & Tone
Practice smarter, not harder This is for the parent whose student is struggling to get past a piece and feel they’ve hit a wall. Most practice is the following: Repetition – Play the same spot over and over again. Muscle memory – You play what’s in your memory and what “feels” right. Mixed – You
Three Ways to Learn Note Names Effectively for Piano Students This article details ways to practice identifying pitch notation specifically. Teachers and parents alike can use these resources to strengthen a student’s confidence when determining what pitch on the staff is being presented. When students of any age start piano lessons, one of the
We all make promises to ourselves for the New Year. “I’m going to be less stressed”, or “I’m going back to school”, “I’m going to be healthier”, “I’m going to better myself”. How about “I’m going to learn something new”? Learning something new increases brain power, makes us feel better about ourselves, and reduces stress.
As music teachers who specialize in private lessons for beginners, we’re often asked what to give a student—or music lover—that’s both personal and meaningful. Whether you’re shopping for a child, teen, or adult, these perfect music gifts anyone can enjoy strike just the right chord. 1. A Beginner Instrument Whether it’s a starter acoustic guitar,
Why You Should Learn The Bass Guitar When looking for an instrument to play, the first thing that seems to come to mind is the piano for most people. And while the piano can be a great instrument to start on, there are some other “foundational” instruments that are just as cool and can be
We’re a group of active music teachers who specialize in private lessons for beginner students, and one question we hear all the time is: “How do I start note reading on the grand staff?” Learning note reading grand staff unlocks music literacy for piano, voice, violin, guitar, and more. Let us walk you through a
3 Ways To Help With Posture While Learning Piano Okay, so I know, this is a less than exciting subject when it comes to piano, especially because we all are pretty certain that we know how to sit. It’s one of the many things we learn when developing. However, the fact remains that correct posture
Getting Ready for the Holiday Season—with Holiday Piano Music! This article is for teachers getting their students ready for an exciting time of year—a time for holiday music for students to share with friends and family! We will go over the basics of finding great sheet music for all levels and a practice plan that
