17Jun 2024 by Shelly Davis
PPP 358: Helping Parents Frame Music as a Gift, Not a Chore with Crystal Boyack

PPP 358: Helping Parents Frame Music as a Gift, Not a Chore with Crystal Boyack

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Crystal Boyack is a leader in early childhood violin pedagogy and the best selling author of Wee Violin: Music for Young Violinists Preparatory to Twinkle. She currently teaches at the University of New Mexico’s Lab School and runs a private studio teaching Suzuki Violin and Music Together in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She loves spending her time gardening, doing yoga, and spending time with her husband and four young children. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Connect with Crystal: Crystal Boyack Music Studio website Learn more about Crystal's Wee Violin books. Follow Crystal on Instagram Listen to the other interviews mentioned on today's show with Christine Goodner and Andrea Miller Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to…
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06Nov 2023 by Shelly Davis
PPP 354: “No Book Beginners” with author and TopMusic.co Founder, Tim Topham

PPP 354: “No Book Beginners” with author and TopMusic.co Founder, Tim Topham

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
In today's episode, author and international teacher of piano teachers, Tim Topham shares his approach to music learning in his new book, "No Book Beginners". Rather than stifling your piano kid's enthusiasm for piano by slowing down music-making with foreign terminology and symbols and expecting them to learn to read music before they expore the interesting sounds the piano can create, Tim's book offers a different approach. Get your piano kid creating music and exploring sounds right from the first lesson! Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Listen to previous conversations between Tim and Shelly: TTV066: The Piano Parent Podcast with Shelly Davis PPP 121: Helping Students Learn to Create Music for a Lifetime with Tim Topham TC 248: Building Community with Piano Parents and…
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18Sep 2023 by Shelly Davis
PPP 351: The Value of Reading to Your Piano Kids with Author, Vicky Weber

PPP 351: The Value of Reading to Your Piano Kids with Author, Vicky Weber

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
 Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. All her current titles are based on her background in music education or her heritage. While she has taught a variety of grade levels, primary-level education is where her passion lies. It has long been a dream of hers to teach children through the magic of books and she hopes you love reading her works as much as she loved writing them. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Find Vicky's books everywhere books are sold!Amazon Vicky Weber BooksVickyWeber.comConnect with Vicky on Instagram(I started my Vicky Weber collection with the three books Vicky highlighted on today's show: Lazlo Learns Recorder, The Song Garden, and Rhythm Rescue.) Social Sharables Click an image…
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21Aug 2023 by Shelly Davis
PPP 347: Brock Chart with My-Melodies Publishing (sometimes our trajectory changes with the flip of a coin)

PPP 347: Brock Chart with My-Melodies Publishing (sometimes our trajectory changes with the flip of a coin)

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Enjoy this delightful conversation with Kansas piano teacher, award-winning composer, and founder of My-Melodies Publishing, Brock Chart.Brock Chart is a composer and studio owner in Kansas. Brock composes in many genres and mediums including jazz, pop, educational piano, and film music. He is a proud alumni of KU and was 2022 Composer of the Year by Kansas Federation of Music Clubs.Brock was awarded twice in DownBeat Magazine for composition in large jazz ensemble writing, and small group writing. He was an honorable mention in the 2017 NY Youth Symphony Commissions for his piece, “Down to the Wire”. Brock also composed music for the MoMA’s short film series, “How to See” which was in BFI’s “Best Video Essays of 2019”. Since 2020, Brock composed and published six books through his company, My-Melodies Publishing: Five-Finger Jazz!…
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12Jun 2023 by Shelly Davis
PPP 337: My First Piano Sheet Music with Author, Emily Norris

PPP 337: My First Piano Sheet Music with Author, Emily Norris

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
One of the best ways to help a child learn to play an instrument is to get them singing familiar tunes. When your piano kid is able to sing a song, playing it on an instrument is exponentially more successful.On today's show, we meet with an author who understands this fact very well. Emily Norris has written a new book of piano sheet music to help young children begin learning to sing and play familiar songs on the piano and she is here to tell us all about it. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Pre-Order Emily's books: https://ebnmusic.com/books/Penguin Randon House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2285112/emily-norris/Connect with Emily:On Instagram @ebn.musicOn YouTube Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in…
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01May 2023 by Shelly Davis
PPP 331: Technique is a tool that serves performance with Ken Thompson

PPP 331: Technique is a tool that serves performance with Ken Thompson

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
In today's show, Ken Thompson shares valuable insight into piano technique. "Technique is a tool that serves performance. If you use the tool in performance, you are able to be free musically, to express yourself, and to send a musical message to your audience. In order for that to happen, the tool needs to be reliable." Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Music Studio Startup - Ken's interview with Andrea Miller, Snapshot 001Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata, 3rd movement. I thought you would enjoy this compilation of 24 pianists performing the iconic piece Ken mentioned in his piano journey. See if you can notice the different ways the performers use their full bodies to make such a large, expressive sound.Thomas Mark's book, "What Every Pianist Needs to Know…
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13Mar 2023 by Shelly Davis
PPP 324: Work Smarter, Not Harder with Ashlee Young

PPP 324: Work Smarter, Not Harder with Ashlee Young

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Ashlee Young is a piano teacher with a passion to help musicians plan more effective and efficient practice sessions. In today's interview, she shares how you can move from reading individual notes to more lengthy phrases in the same way we progress in reading letters, words, and sentences. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show This is the reel that sparked our conversation today:https://www.instagram.com/reel/CmlsjBRgnek/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_linkFollow Ashlee Young:Ashlee Young InstagramAshlee Young YouTubeAshleeJYoung.com Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image isn't branded, please link back to this page and help us spread the word about all the great resources at Piano Parent Podcast. Thank you! Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts:Leave…
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24Oct 2022 by Shelly Davis
PPP 314: Mindfulness and Breathing with Dr. Fernanda Nieto

PPP 314: Mindfulness and Breathing with Dr. Fernanda Nieto

Mom to Mom, Podcast, Teacher Interviews
After dealing with everything we have over the last two years, our brains have gotten really good at facing problems and anxiety - maybe too good. We might have accidentally trained our brains to be hyperresponsive to uncomfortable circumstances. On today's show, Dr. Fernanda Nieto shares some wonderful ways to help our brains and our bodies to relax and breathe. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Reach out to Fernanda on her website for a copy of her presentation notes and additional resources.www.FernandaNietoPiano.comConscious DisciplineBig Life JournalMoovlee videosGoNoodle Flow"Growing Up Mindful" book by Christopher Willard Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image isn't branded, please link back to this…
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22Aug 2022 by Shelly Davis
PPP 305: Stephen Hughes – Jazz Piano, Part 2

PPP 305: Stephen Hughes – Jazz Piano, Part 2

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Stephen Hughes, shares practical tips and strategies for that moment when your high school band director recruits you to play keyboard in the school jazz band.In part 2, Stephen will talk about core triads and 7ths to focus on, how to decipher chord symbols, and how to practice chord voicings. Listen to the full episode here In part 1 we talked about being proactive, focusing on chords, and listening to Jazz Classics.You can listen to Part 1 at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/304. Connect with Stephen Hughes Website: Online Piano StudiosHe put together a resource page for first-year jazz pianists. Thanks, Stephen! Click here to go to Stephen’s resource page.YouTube: Stephen Hughes’ Virtual Piano Studio Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If…
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15Aug 2022 by Shelly Davis
PPP 304: Stephen Hughes – Jazz Band, Part 1

PPP 304: Stephen Hughes – Jazz Band, Part 1

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Stephen Hughes, shares practical tips and strategies for that moment when your high school band director recruits you to play keyboard in the school jazz band.In part 1, we'll talk about being proactive, focusing on chords, and listening to Jazz Classics. Listen to the full episode here Be Proactive Ask for clarification about your role in the Jazz bandAsk your piano teacher for help with the chartsListen to various recordings of the music Focus on Chords Learn how to build chords (more on this in PPP 305 - coming soon)Create a vocabulary of "stock voicings"If you are given fully written notation, it's still a good idea to study the chords and edit out some of the notes Listen to Jazz Classics Listen to the rhythm and styleStart with theseCharlie ParkerCount…
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07Mar 2022 by Shelly Davis
PPP281: Setting Up Your Space for Online Lessons with Stephen Hughes

PPP281: Setting Up Your Space for Online Lessons with Stephen Hughes

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, Technology
Stephen Hughes, NCTM is a professional pianist, online piano teaching specialist, and music technology trainer. His vast musical training & experience ranges from classical, composition, church, jazz, to pop music. His unique approach to teaching is a hybrid blend of various pedagogies, with an emphasis on creativity & strategic practice. His online teaching studio, Virtual Piano Studio, is a growing community of students & music teachers of all ages & skill level, who take private instruction via Live Online Lessons. He teaches students in the U.S., China, UK, & Australia. Stephen was teaching online long before it became a necessity in 2020. Today, he shares how parents can help their piano kids set up their home practice space for optimal online piano lessons. Listen to the full episode here A picture…
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24Jan 2022 by Shelly Davis
PPP275: Cameron Dennis talks about Ear Training

PPP275: Cameron Dennis talks about Ear Training

Music Theory, Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Cameron Dennis is an amazing fusion of music and technology. While continuing to pursue graduate degrees in performance and music theory he is combining his musical knowledge with his skills in technology to create wonderful online resources for music students of any skill level.On today's show, Cameron shares his new Ear Trainer. This resource is extremely valuable to help piano kids learn to identify and notate the sounds they hear. Listen to the full episode here Resources Mentioned in this Episode Listen to Cameron's first appearance on the podcast: PPP208Check out Cameron Dennis' online theory platform - Lion TheoryThe newest iteration of Lion Theory's Ear Trainer can be found here.Cameron would love to book a one-on-one call with you. Click here to schedule a time to visit. Social Shareables Click…
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17Jan 2022 by Shelly Davis
PPP274: Janna Williamson talks about our historic heritage of piano music

PPP274: Janna Williamson talks about our historic heritage of piano music

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Janna Williamson, NCTM, is a pianist, educator, and collaborator. Janna enjoys high retention in her independent piano studio in the suburbs of Chicago as well as the rewards of students who have gone on to enjoy a lifetime of music.Janna joins us on the show today to discuss our rich heritage of piano music. Listen to the full episode here Connect with Janna Williamson Janna's website: JannaWilliamson.comJanna's YouTube ChannelAs a special gift for our piano parent listeners, Janna has compiled a list of Piano Pieces Every Piano Student Should Know. (Click here to see the list. Use the code: pianoparent.)Piano teachers, there is a list for you as well! Click here. Social Shareables Click an image to share directly to your Pinterest account. Download an image to share in your…
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10Jan 2022 by Shelly Davis
PPP273: Rami Bar-Niv discusses The Art of Piano Fingering

PPP273: Rami Bar-Niv discusses The Art of Piano Fingering

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
RAMI BAR-NIV (RAMee Barneev) is one of Israel's most acclaimed and sought-after pianists. He travels extensively and has become an international citizen, concertizing all over the world. Rami has performed on every continent with the exception of Antarctica (I suppose we'll excuse him from that one).In addition to concertizing and lecturing, Rami also composes and has written two books. On today's show, Rami will share insights from his first book, The Art of Piano Fingering. Listen to the full episode here Connect with ... Rami Bar-Niv websiteThe Art of Piano Fingering bookBlood, Sweat, and Tours: Notes from the Diary of a Concert Pianist bookFollow Rami's YouTube Channel here Resources Mentioned in this Episode Rami generously shared two articles he has written for students and performers:Performance Anxiety Notes PDFReading Music as…
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13Dec 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP271: Anna Fagan takes travel teaching to a whole new level

PPP271: Anna Fagan takes travel teaching to a whole new level

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Piano teacher, Anna Fagan is a native Floridian who has been sharing music for over 50 years. She has a BM in Piano Performance from the University of Central Florida, and currently has an online studio with about 35 wonderful pianists! She has been the organist and pianist at the Church of the Lakes in Orlando for 30 years and recently served as President of the Florida State Music Teachers Association. Most recently, she and her husband downsized from a 2700-square-foot house to a 300-square-foot Class A motorhome, so she can travel and teach from…anywhere! Listen to the full episode here Travel teaching like no other! Anna's husband transformed a bunk bed sleeping area into a state of the art piano teaching studio. Before – this space began as a…
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22Nov 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP268: Christopher Oill shares the value of sight reading

PPP268: Christopher Oill shares the value of sight reading

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
A textbook definition of sight-reading would be the ability to read a piece of sheet music on the spot and to be able to play it as you're reading it. Another aspect of sight-reading is the ability to use your eyes to track the music on the page while your hands find the notes without having to look at them. On today's show, Christopher Oill talks about sight-reading - it's value and how to improve this skill. Listen to the full episode here What is a good definition of sight-reading? A textbook definition would be the ability to read a piece of sheet music on the spot and to be able to play it as you're reading it. Another aspect of sight-reading is the ability to use your eyes to…
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01Nov 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP265: You Know More Than You Think You Know with Christopher Oill

PPP265: You Know More Than You Think You Know with Christopher Oill

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Christopher Oill is a concert pianist, composer, and teacher, who leads performance and pedagogy into the future, perfecting “what is” and experimenting with “what could be.” Through his teaching business, the Oill Piano Universe, he helps open up the minds of creative musicians around the world, and he gives them the tools to succeed in their own niche way. In addition to teaching, he also assists in production work for the Faber Piano Adventures and publishes pedagogical piano music through the FJH Music Company, inc. His piano compositions have been described as “unique” and “refreshing,” so they make a nice addition to any piano teacher’s sheet music library.Christopher holds an MM in Piano Performance Pedagogy from Arizona State University, and a BM in Piano Performance and Music Education from the…
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25Oct 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP264: Level Up Your Video Game Music with composer Chrissy Ricker

PPP264: Level Up Your Video Game Music with composer Chrissy Ricker

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Chrissy Ricker, NCTM, is a pianist, teacher, and composer from North Carolina. Chrissy holds a Master’s degree in piano performance and pedagogy and has been teaching piano for 23 years. Chrissy specializes in creating exciting original music and arrangements for pianists of all ages and skill levels. She has published over 30 collections of piano solo and duet music for students, and her piano music is featured regularly on the contest lists of teaching associations across the United States and Canada. A prolific arranger, Chrissy has also arranged hundreds of pop, classical, video game, and anime titles and is a Signature Artist for the digital music retailer Musicnotes. You can learn more about Chrissy at her website, chrissyricker.com. Listen to the full episode here "When I got to about middle school…
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04Oct 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP261: Stacy Fahrion with Whimsically Macabre

PPP261: Stacy Fahrion with Whimsically Macabre

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Piano teacher and composer, Stacy Fahrion, didn't start composing until her adult years. Because she found her musical voice at a later age, she is intentional about making sure her students start composing as early as possible. Listen to the full episode here Stacy's Bio Stacy Fahrion is a Colorado-based composer, pianist, and piano teacher who loves encouraging everyone to compose. She holds a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa. Stacy writes in a style she calls “Whimsically Macabre.” Stacy’s poet-friend, Wayne A. Gilbert, describes her music best: “Offbeat quirky seriously beautifully funny mischievously madly serious.” Her educational piano music is published by Piano Pronto Publishing, and includes books such as Lullabies for Arachnophobes, Whimsy & Wonder, Tricks & Treats, Once Upon a Time, These Are…
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13Sep 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP258: Serve up a delicious “Practice Pie” with author Nicola Cantan

PPP258: Serve up a delicious “Practice Pie” with author Nicola Cantan

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
A practice pie? Just like learning to bake a delicious pie takes a bit of trial and error, helping your piano kid with their home practice isn't an easy accomplishment.A pie is a perfect analogy because the basic, essential elements are the same yet there is so much variety with flavors and textures. Your home practice also needs a few essential ingredients but you will never get bored as your child grows as an individual and as a musician.  Listen to the full episode here Nicola Cantan is a piano teacher, author, blogger and creator of imaginative and engaging teaching resources. She loves getting piano students learning through laughter, and exploring the diverse world of music making; through improvisation, composition and games. Nicola's Vibrant Music Teaching Library is helping teachers all over…
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16Aug 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP 254: Practice is NOT the Same as Playing with Clinton Pratt

PPP 254: Practice is NOT the Same as Playing with Clinton Pratt

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
Clinton Pratt (BM, MM, NCTM) has a Masters degree in Piano, training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, over 20 years teaching experience, and was the 2016 Certified Teacher of the Year for his OhioMTA district.His successful private studio offers students a solid musical foundation, but with the added benefit of improvisation, ear training, rhythmic games, and multimedia recitals. He has served on local and OhioMTA boards, is on the editorial committee for American Music Teacher, and is a member of the College of Examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music.Clinton has presented at local and state conferences, MTNA, and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. Listen to the full episode here Session Topics In today's session, Clinton talks about:Parenting StylesParental InvolvementCreating a Habit LoopPracticing at Home Connect with Clinton cj@pianosensei.comPianoSensei.com Resources Mentioned…
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02Aug 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP252: Make a BIG DEAL of your piano kid’s playing, with Jennifer Eklund

PPP252: Make a BIG DEAL of your piano kid’s playing, with Jennifer Eklund

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
Jennifer Eklund is the founder of Piano Pronto Publishing, Composer's Community, and FM Sheet Music. In today's episode, we dig into Jennifer's personal piano story and how inspirational her mother was for Jennifer's success as a pianist. We will learn about the struggles she faced to try to get her Piano Pronto method series into the hands of established publishing houses and how she determined to create her own publishing firm. Parents are invited to browse the Piano Pronto website to discover new music with their piano kids. The Sheet Music Wizard is a wonderful tool, not only for discovering new, original piano music but also a great tool for listening to music in various styles, keys, and meters. Jennifer's first love is arranging music and she is a signature…
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26Jul 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP251: The path of life often takes unexpected turns with Adonna Donovan

PPP251: The path of life often takes unexpected turns with Adonna Donovan

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Adonna Donovan was a professional trumpet player making her way in the world of orchestral music. Her musical journey was a winding pathway that weaved in and out of various musical groups, teachers, and schools. Adonna even spent time working for Southwest Airlines! Two weeks after enjoying the pinnacle opportunity of performing with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in New York's Carnegie Hall, Adonna was on her way to have lunch with a friend and share pictures from the experience. As she was walking to the restaurant, Adonna stumbled and fell. With pictures in her hands, she had no way of catching herself and hit the pavement face first. What does a professional trumpet player do after such a devastating mouth injury? Listen to today's interview to find out. Listen to…
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07Jun 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP244: The Role of the Parent is Crucial, with London piano teacher, Andra Kruka

PPP244: The Role of the Parent is Crucial, with London piano teacher, Andra Kruka

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Piano teacher, Andra Kruka, is a delightful teacher based in London. In recent years, her attention has been drawn to a greater understanding of advanced child psychology. In today's interview, Andra shares several important considerations for parents as they fulfill their crucial role in supporting their children's musical piano journey. Listen to the full episode here Tell us your piano story. Andra Kruka, originally from Latvia, began piano lessons at the age of four. Her musical education was much different then than the way she teaches now. Her parents, like many parents today, wanted to offer a variety of learning experiences for their daughter. When her first teacher didn't connect well with Andra, her parents found a different teacher for her. Andra also enrolled in harp lessons and that teacher…
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17May 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP241: Raising EQ Kids with The Musician’s Coach, Jodie Jensen

PPP241: Raising EQ Kids with The Musician’s Coach, Jodie Jensen

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
              .   Jodie Jensen is a life coach who has taught piano lessons for almost 20 years. After studying sociology, international development, and music at Brigham Young University, she worked in a non-profit in West Africa, teaching people skills for success and self-reliance. As a mother of five, she has brought her two passions together to create resources to help young musicians to find more success in their studies. How often are you emotionally triggered by an emotional response from your child? On today's show, Jodie Jensen will help us gain a greater understanding of our own emotional intelligence so we can help our piano kids mature their emotional intelligence. Listen to the full episode here What is EQ? EQ refers to Emotional…
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08Mar 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP231: Learn How to Make Sight Reading More Fluent with Note Quest App Developer, Grace Lee

PPP231: Learn How to Make Sight Reading More Fluent with Note Quest App Developer, Grace Lee

Music Theory, Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Grace Lee is a piano teacher from California who noticed a gap between traditional note naming using music flashcards or flashcard apps and fluent sight reading. In order to close that gap and help students become more secure in their sight reading abilities, Grace developed one of the fastest-growing apps focused on note reading and sight reading music - Note Quest. In today's interview, Grace shares her personal piano story as well as the process of developing Note Quest. Listen to the full episode here Grace's Piano Story Grace's family wasn't innately musical but they enjoyed classical music and church music. Grace remembers watching PBS Great Performances as a child and her parents noticed how much she enjoyed this music. Soon, they enrolled her in formal music lessons.A combination of a…
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08Feb 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP227: Travis Lohmann Paints Musical Portraits

PPP227: Travis Lohmann Paints Musical Portraits

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Travis Lohmann is a composer and piano teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada. We first met Travis on the podcast when he chatted with Jeremy Duck and me about church modes in episode 207.You can listen to PPP207: Teacher Chat about Church Modes with Jeremy Duck and Travis Lohmann here.I invited him back today to share his personal piano story as well as his current composition project. Listen to the full episode here Here is a short video clip from my interview with Travis Lohmann Travis works out his compositions with old-fashioned pencil and paper. Each page in his music journal carries with it the blood, sweat, and tears - and memories - of writing each note. https://youtu.be/RfkdrxgGwnU Happy 89th Birthday, John Williams! The working title of Travis' latest composer portrait is…
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25Jan 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP225: “2021” with Songwriter and Piano Kid, Violet Rivers (and company)

PPP225: “2021” with Songwriter and Piano Kid, Violet Rivers (and company)

Parent Interviews, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
Violet Rivers put a smile on my face with her delightful song and her charming interview. I love that she is learning to work through difficulties and challenging times with creativity and songwriting.Music truly can soothe the soul - and bring a giggle.In this episode, we hear from Violet along with her parents, Mark and Kristen Rivers, and her piano teacher, Gere Fennelly. Violet's dog, Walter, even makes a brief appearance! Listen to the full episode here Piano Parent Takeaways: "You can do anything for 10 minutes." Just get to the piano for 10 minutes. Your piano kid will likely play longer than that but we just have to get them started.I tip my hat to anybody who's making a living playing music. They're not working some office job they…
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18Jan 2021 by Shelly Davis
PPP224: The Practicing Pro, Christy Hodder

PPP224: The Practicing Pro, Christy Hodder

Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
Christy Hodder is a violin teacher and director of the Scotia Suzuki School of Music. She is on a mission to "help parents have effective, positive, and FUN practicing in their homes". Listen to the full episode here Tell us your music story. Christy's mother is the hero of her music story. Her mom joined the RCA record club and receive a new album every month. Christy remembers hearing amazing music in her home from a very early age. She attended an orchestra concert with her family and fell in love with the violin and knew that she wanted to learn to play.Christy's older sister studied flute in school but after about a year decided she didn't want to study flute anymore. When Christy announced that she wanted to learn…
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14Dec 2020 by Shelly Davis
PPP221: Teacher Interview Spotlight on Dorothy Yan, Tony Parlapiano, and Marvin Blickenstaff

PPP221: Teacher Interview Spotlight on Dorothy Yan, Tony Parlapiano, and Marvin Blickenstaff

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
This is the next to last episode for 2020. Last week we ran down some of the most popular episodes of the year so this week I thought we would highlight some of the wonderful teacher interviews. In the podcast, you will hear short excerpts from each of my interviews with Dorothy Yan, Tony Parlapiano, and Marvin Blickenstaff. If you scroll through the show notes below, you will find links to listen to their original interviews in full. Listen to the full episode here In PPP201, we learned about listening from Dorothy Yan Dorothy currently teaches at the Musical Arts Center in San Antonio, Texas as well as the University of Texas at San Antonio but her musical journey started when she was eight years old. Visit the show notes page…
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10Aug 2020 by Shelly Davis
PPP205: Marvin Blickenstaff talks about Shaping the Sound

PPP205: Marvin Blickenstaff talks about Shaping the Sound

Music Theory, Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Marvin Blickenstaff rightly says, "Music is a lot more than playing the right notes and playing the right rhythm. Music is basically expressive sound. The reason for music's existence is to express who we are as human beings and the feelings that we have as we go through life's journey." Listen to the full episode here Shaping the Sound With all the information composers and publishers place on the music score, there is still much more that goes into shaping the sound to create beautiful, expressive music.Here are a few of the Shaping the Sound Rules of Thumb Marvin mentions on the show.No two notes in a row may sound exactly alike, because if they're alike, they're not doing anything. Students are so focused on playing the correct note at the…
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03Aug 2020 by Shelly Davis
PPP204: Dr. Kathy Koch Shares Your Piano Kid’s “8 Great Smarts”

PPP204: Dr. Kathy Koch Shares Your Piano Kid’s “8 Great Smarts”

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
The first time I heard Dr. Kathy Koch, I was driving my car in Tyler, Texas on my lunch break in the early 2000's. She was on a mid-day radio program speaking about the variety of ways God has fashioned our brains to receive and retain information. From that first encounter, I have become a huge fan of Dr. Kathy. I have read several of her books, listened to  her talks out on YouTube, and now follow her podcast. Since the early days of my own podcast, one of my hopes was to one day bring Dr. Kathy on my show so you could hear her inspiring message. Friends, today is that day! Listen to the full episode here The 8 Great Smarts (Summarized because I'd rather you listen to Dr. Kathy's…
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13Jul 2020 by Shelly Davis
PPP201: This is a Crucial Time to Talk About Listening | Dorothy Yan

PPP201: This is a Crucial Time to Talk About Listening | Dorothy Yan

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
When I heard Dorothy Yan present her session about three levels of listening at the 2019 TMTA Convention, I knew we needed to bring her on the show! Now, a year later, our need to listen and learn from others is greater than ever. I am delighted for you to hear everything Dorothy has to share on this episode! Listen to the full episode here Tell us your piano story. Dorothy currently teaches at the Musical Arts Center in San Antonio, Texas as well as the University of Texas at San Antonio but her musical journey started when she was eight years old. Dorothy's wise parents told her they would support her choice to study piano but the decision had to be hers. If she made the decision to study…
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01Jun 2020 by Shelly Davis
PPP195: Dr. Heather Nelson Shares How to be Cautiously Creative During This Time of COVID

PPP195: Dr. Heather Nelson Shares How to be Cautiously Creative During This Time of COVID

Mom to Mom, Podcast, Teacher Interviews
During times of crisis, many of us find comfort in gathering together, often singing in worship. Unfortunately, that might not be a good idea right now due to the uncertainty of exactly how COVID is spread and contracted in the community. Dr. Heather Nelson, a vocologist with a PhD in voice pedagogy and voice science shares, her insight into how we can be cautiously creative when it comes to gathering and singing at this time. Listen to the full episode here Singing is a valuable asset for music study Parents can help their piano kids develop a stronger sense of music internally through singing and listening. Use singsong in your conversations. Instead of speaking, sing your words. You may feel silly at first but that's what children love! Call and…
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16Mar 2020 by Shelly Davis
PPP184: Make Music Part of the Rhythm of Your Life with Tony Parlapiano

PPP184: Make Music Part of the Rhythm of Your Life with Tony Parlapiano

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Tony Parlapiano is a piano instructor and the creator of popMATICS, a concept based music curriculum that approaches learning by listening and reading through writing. Tony resides in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, where he enjoys fancy coffee, playing in spreadsheets, and carries a copy of his birth certificate for anyone who questions the authenticity of his last name. We first chatted with Tony in PPP127: Teacher Chat: Popular Music Styles with Stephen Hughes and Tony Parlapiano and we are delighted to have him back on the show. Listen to the full episode here Tell us your piano story. I was late to the piano. I started with the public school band program in 4th grade. I went to college, thinking I'd become a high school band director. I started playing piano…
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24Feb 2020 by Shelly Davis
PPP181: Benjamin Steinhardt talks about the Dorothy Taubman Approach to piano playing

PPP181: Benjamin Steinhardt talks about the Dorothy Taubman Approach to piano playing

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Benjamin Steinhardt is a well-respected teacher from Connecticut. He places an emphasis on creativity and exploration in his teaching and incorporates concepts from the Taubman Approach among others. In addition to his innovative piano instruction, Benjamin can be heard performing regularly in the New York metro area.Piano Parent Podcast listeners first met Benjamin Steinhardt in our teacher chat about Hanon Exercises (PPP177) and he is back today to dive deeper into his preferred method of piano technique. Listen to the full episode here Tell us your piano story. I began as an older student, closer to 10 years old. A friend left a keyboard at my house and I really got into it.I went from not practicing to practicing and playing a great deal, which lead to two bouts of…
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06Jan 2020 by Shelly Davis
PPP174: Nicole Douglas shares how we play piano with our brain

PPP174: Nicole Douglas shares how we play piano with our brain

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
It is my joy to bring Nicole Douglas back to the podcast for another insightful interview. We first met Nicole in episode 085. In that interview, Nicole briefly shared some of her research on underlying issues that our piano kids might be dealing with. Today she is back to tells us more.Some people say we play the piano with our hands. Some people say we play with our arms. If you go deeper still, you will see that we play the piano with our brain. So it’s in our best interest to create an environment that works with the brain and not against it. Listen to the full episode here Behavior is a symptom of an underlying belief Generally speaking, we can assume students want to do well. Behavior is…
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23Sep 2019 by Shelly Davis
PPP161: Marin Marka with FableNotes

PPP161: Marin Marka with FableNotes

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Piano teacher, Marin Marka, MS, OTR/L is a board certified pediatric occupational therapist with over a decade of experience as a music teacher. She’s been adapting piano lessons to include children with disabilities for 7 years and has a passion for making music accessible for all. Marin has sung professionally on a nationally televised special on ABC and video game trailers with the New York Film Chorale. She was also able to achieve 9 consecutive gold ratings in piano performance at the annual Schubert Club YMF competition. She graduated summa cum laude with a BA in child study and human development from Tufts University in 2015. She then went on to receive her master of science in Occupational Therapy from Boston University in 2018. Marin currently works as a pediatric…
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05Aug 2019 by Shelly Davis
PPP154: Don’t say, “I can’t.” Say, “I’ll try.” with Dr. Ruth Pitts

PPP154: Don’t say, “I can’t.” Say, “I’ll try.” with Dr. Ruth Pitts

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Ruth Pitts is currently the president of Waco Music Teachers Association. She has a B.M.Ed degree from Baylor University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She has just recently retired from McLennan Community College in Waco, where she taught music theory, music literature and piano for over 40 years. She still has a studio of over 30 piano students, and she counts it a joy and a blessing to be able to share her love of music with students every day. Dr. Pitts has served in all of the offices of Texas Music Teachers Association and was on the board of Music Teachers National Association for two terms and has received both the Texas Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association “Teacher of…
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27May 2019 by Shelly Davis
PPP144: Learn how important parents are to their child’s success with Judy Wilkins

PPP144: Learn how important parents are to their child’s success with Judy Wilkins

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
When I first started podcasting in 2016 I was nervous to ask my own piano teacher friends to come on the show. I'm not sure if I was embarrassed or intimidated. Actually, I didn't want to impose on our friendship to ask them for such a favor. Now that I have a few episodes under my belt and feel more confident, I want to share with all of you the wonderful teachers from my own community who have been such encouragement to me personally and professionally.It is my joy to introduce to you my good friend and piano teacher colleague, Judy Wilkins, NCTM. Listen to the full episode here Tell us your piano story. Judy's older sister was an inspiration to her as a child. She learned to play piano, which…
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06May 2019 by Shelly Davis
PPP141: Learn to Keep it Positive with Beth Horton

PPP141: Learn to Keep it Positive with Beth Horton

Teacher Interviews
I first met Beth Horton in the exhibit hall at the Texas Music Teachers Convention one summer. We were instant friends. I think anyone who meets Beth feels that way because she has a knack for helping you drop the awkward formalities that occur when you first get acquainted with someone. I had to visit with her to learn more about her teaching style and learn how she interacts with her students. Listen to the full episode here Tell us your piano story Beth's older sister started lessons when she was in first grade. Beth wanted to take lessons, too but was too young so she decided to conduct her own pretend lessons. Her parents did let her begin lessons when she started first grade just like her sister. Having…
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18Mar 2019 by Shelly Davis
PPP134: A Truly Inspiring Interview with Teacher, Leah Drake

PPP134: A Truly Inspiring Interview with Teacher, Leah Drake

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
[podcast src="https://html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/9021560/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/187dba/" height="90" width="100%" placement="top" theme="custom"]Click here to download this episode. I e-met Leah online when her studio participated in the PIANOVEMBER Practice Challenge. She runs a vibrant studio, that is actually called Vibrant Valley Music Studio. She is active in her own pursuit of learning to teach her students. In fact, we were just able to book this interview before Leah heads to the MTNA Convention in Spokane, WA. I love the name of her studio, Vibrant Valley Music Studio and I especially love her teaching philosophy, "Nurturing tomorrow's musicians through creativity, inspiration, and community." Listen to the full episode here Resources Mentioned in this Episode Debra Perez “Way Cool Keyboarding” Bullfrog Jamboree by Mayron Cole Jennifer Eklund’s Piano Pronto FM Sheet Music Teacher video recommendation "Things and Wings"…
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25Feb 2019 by Shelly Davis
PPP131: Let Music Be Your Diary with Raphaelita Justice

PPP131: Let Music Be Your Diary with Raphaelita Justice

Teacher Interviews
In this episode we learn ♫ How Raphaelita’s instructor, mentor, and lifelong friend discovered her when she was practicing at a local church one day.♫ How Raphealita’s upbringing and the influence of her mother helped her become an excellent student.♫ The difference between the casual piano parent who aims to broaden their child’s interests and knowledge versus the more stern piano parent who views piano study as a launching pad for additional opportunities for their piano kid in college and beyond.♫ How Raphaelita uses WhatsApp to help her students stay motivated and practicing throughout the week.Listen to the full episode here: One question I enjoy asking the teachers I interview is, "If you could spend time with any composer, who would you choose and why?" Without hesitation, Raphaelita gave me…
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07Jan 2019 by Shelly Davis
PPP124: Going Beyond the Music Lesson with Abigail Peterson & Christine Goodner

PPP124: Going Beyond the Music Lesson with Abigail Peterson & Christine Goodner

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Abigail Peterson and Christine Goodner are violin teachers in Wisconsin and Oregon, respectively. Together, they host the "Beyond the Music Lesson" podcast.I really enjoyed hearing how things work in their violin studios and learning that their students have similar struggles to mine. I hope you will enjoy the conversation as well. In this week's episode you will learn: How Abbey and Christine got started in violin as players and teachers.Even violin students have to be reminded to practice.Parental involvement is so important to the success of the student. How to help your child “get started” with home practice.Good Attitude Practice Challenge.Why listening is so foundational to learning to play music.What keeps Abbey and Christine motivated to continue teaching.How they never get tired of hearing all the variations of the “Twinkles”.How…
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03Dec 2018 by Shelly Davis
PPP121: Helping Students Learn to Create Music for a Lifetime with Tim Topham

PPP121: Helping Students Learn to Create Music for a Lifetime with Tim Topham

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
It is always such a joy to visit with other piano teachers to learn how things are working in their studio.  It is a special delight to visit with someone from another part of our world. Today, I am excited to share my recent conversation with Austrailian piano teacher, Tim Topham. Tim has a real passion for helping students find "their" music and giving them tools to allow them to create music for a lifetime. If you are a piano teacher, already familiar with the amazing resources Tim shares in the piano teaching industry, I think you will get a kick out of hearing his backstory and the wild journey that brought him to piano teaching. It all started with a small Casio PT-1 keyboard. Resources and Apps Tim mentioned…
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15Oct 2018 by Shelly Davis
PPP114: Find Your Musical Voice with author Lisa Donovan Lukas

PPP114: Find Your Musical Voice with author Lisa Donovan Lukas

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
It is a delight to welcome Lisa Donovan Lukas back to the podcast. You can catch her previous interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/091.During that interview Lisa mentioned her book, "The Young Musician's Guide to Songwriting: How to Create Music & Lyrics" and today we get to dig into the details of her book even more. Who is this book designed for? Tweens and teens. Students of this age a making big leaps in their emotional development. They are discovering who they are. They have social challenges at school.Music is a creative and safe way for them to work through emotions: joy, love, relationships, trials. "The Young Musician's Guide to Songwriting" gives them tools to use and learn to work through all the ups and downs of the teenage years. How did the book…
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24Sep 2018 by Shelly Davis
PPP111: Start With What You Know For Sure, Andrea Miller

PPP111: Start With What You Know For Sure, Andrea Miller

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
I first met Andrea Miller on Instagram when I started following her page, Music Studio Startup. She was announcing the launch of her new podcast so I direct messaged her. Later, she called me, we met face to face when she presented a workshop at the Texas Music Teachers Association Convention last June, and now I consider her a friend. I am grateful to have her on the podcast. Tell us your piano story. We had a piano in the living room when I was growing up and I was a very determined and curious kid, so I tried to figure out how to play it. My mom gave me one piano lesson, where she explained how the grand staff worked and I took it from there. I taught myself…
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06Aug 2018 by Shelly Davis
PPP104: Children Need Their Parents To Help Them Through Challenges with Tracy Selle

PPP104: Children Need Their Parents To Help Them Through Challenges with Tracy Selle

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
PPP104: Tracy Selle Piano teacher, Tracy Selle, has been an independent piano teacher in North Texas for 16 years. Listen to the full episode here Tell Us Your Personal Piano Story Started playing in 3rd grade. Became the pianist of my church when I was 13th. Continued that job through high school. Graduated from VA Tech. I did study some music, but ended up focusing on science and became a TV Meteorologist. But still worked at a church pianist on the side. Once my son was born, I knew I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. That’s when I transitioned to teaching piano. Were You A Good Student? Define “good.” Haha! I was REALLY busy with dancing and other activities. I could have practiced more. (Although my mom made sure…
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16Jul 2018 by Shelly Davis
PPP101: Encouragement for Piano Parents with Cortney Toumayan

PPP101: Encouragement for Piano Parents with Cortney Toumayan

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
PPP101: Encouragement for Piano Parents with Cortney Toumayan Listen to the full episode here Cortney's personal piano story When Cortney was three years old, she discovered her love of music through a popular musical - "The Phantom of the Opera". As she listened to the music over and over, she eventually began to pick out the melody on the piano and her parents decided to try out piano lessons. Over the years, Cortney learned from four different music teachers. She began to seriously consider music as a career when she was 16. However, after being told that music wouldn't be as sustainable, Cortney went into the dental field for a few years before quickly returning to her first love - music.For many, there is a mindset that music is just…
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18Jun 2018 by Shelly Davis
PPP097: A Jazzy Conversation with Wade Cottingham

PPP097: A Jazzy Conversation with Wade Cottingham

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
PPP097: A Jazzy Conversation with Wade Cottingham Piano teacher, Wade Cottingham, owner of Lakewood Piano Lab near Dallas, Texas. According to his website, he uses his lab as "a place of discovery and growth". He is more than the typical piano teacher who interacts with their students in the traditional sense, Wade creates jam sessions where each student learns to use their musical voice. Listen to the full episode here Wade's personal piano story... While there was a baby grand piano in Wade's childhood home, his mother was reluctant to enroll him in lessons because of the negative experience she had in lessons. He convinced his mom to sign him up for piano lessons but they only lasted three years because he quit to run a paper route. In high…
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28May 2018 by Shelly Davis
PPP094: Music is Theraputic with Jeanine Wheeler

PPP094: Music is Theraputic with Jeanine Wheeler

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Jeanine Wheeler is a piano teacher and music therapist serving the Lubbock, Texas and Abilene, Texas communities. Jeanine's Musical Journey Jeanine comes from a very musical family. Her father plays bassoon, her mother learned cello, her older sister studied violin. Naturally, Jeanine wanted to play an instrument too. Her parents didn't enroll her in lessons immediately but Jeanine was persistent and begged for lessons for over a year. They finally allowed piano lessons to begin then Jeanine was nine years old. Growing up in Michigan, close to Michigan State University, the first college in the country to offer a music therapy program. When Jeanine was twelve, her mother took her to a lecture presented by Dr. Deforia Lane. She also got Dr. Lane's book, Music as Medicine, for Christmas which…
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07May 2018 by Shelly Davis
PPP091: Learn about musical career possibilities with Piano Teacher, Lisa Donovan Lukas

PPP091: Learn about musical career possibilities with Piano Teacher, Lisa Donovan Lukas

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Lisa Donovan Lukas has been a teacher in the Los Angeles area for 15 years. Tell us your personal piano story as well as how you chose piano teaching as a career. I started formal piano lessons when I was about 5 ½, almost 6 years old, and studied classical music with the same teacher until I graduated from high school.  His name was Ed Willumsen and he was an excellent pianist and teacher, and he was also a composer and played popular, contemporary music as well as classical repertoire. As I advanced through classical repertoire, he would also have me play a pop song or a show tune or a standard at the end of the lesson, and he taught me to compose my own original music as well.…
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25Mar 2018 by Shelly Davis
PPP085: Looking at the Big Picture with Piano Teacher, Nicole Douglas

PPP085: Looking at the Big Picture with Piano Teacher, Nicole Douglas

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
PPP085: Looking at the Big Picture with Piano Teacher, Nicole Douglas Piano teacher, Nicole Douglas, has learned how to look past the symptoms of children not wanting to practice or try new music. She looks deeper and searches for the underlying causes, which may surprise most people. Resources mentioned in this episode Coursera Piano Teacher Institute with Joy Morin National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Episode 042 with Piano Parent, Beth Hughes Piano Pronto Series with Jennifer Eklund NinGenius Nicole recommends listening to the 3rd Movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSulR9Fymg Nicole recommends listening to Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDSxPiFOrEY Connect with Nicole Douglas Nicole Douglas Music Nicole's Blog "Connected Life Learning" Facebook Twitter Instagram
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04Dec 2017 by Shelly Davis
PPP071: Is There Hope for Your Non-practicing Piano Kid? Piano Teacher, Nicola Cantan, says Yes!

PPP071: Is There Hope for Your Non-practicing Piano Kid? Piano Teacher, Nicola Cantan, says Yes!

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Is there hope for your non-practicing piano kid? Are they going through a season of no motivation to practice?Are they needing some new music that they are passionate about learning?Nicola Cantan shares the value of great music and encouraging parents in today's show.Nicola Cantan is a piano teacher from Dublin, Ireland.Nicola readily admits that there was a time in her younger years as a piano student that she didn't practice as much as she should have. This should be music to the ears of piano parents with children who are struggling to get to the piano. Help them get through this season and spur them on with engaging music and positive feedback. Listen to the full episode here In addition to being a passionate piano teacher, Nicola is also a…
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17Jul 2017 by Shelly Davis

PPP051: Words of Wisdom from This Year’s Piano Teachers

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Last summer when I first began producing the Piano Parent Podcast, I sent an invitation to the piano teachers in one of the Facebook groups I belong to asking teachers to do an interview with me. The men and women in this group are some of the best piano teachers in the world and their overwhelmingly positive response gave me the boost of confidence I needed to keep pursuing this online dream. (more…)
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06Feb 2017 by Shelly Davis

Episode 028: Learn How to Prepare Your Child for Piano Exams with Parent/Teacher Dr. Mario Ajero

Parent Interviews, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews
Dr. Mario Ajero is internationally recognized as an authority in technology in piano pedagogy and music education. He has been invited as a presenter and performer at conferences such as the MTNA National Conference, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference, and the Royal Conservatory Summer Summit. Dr. Ajero is Professor of Piano at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he serves as the Keyboard Area Coordinator, teaches applied piano, piano pedagogy, and group piano classes. (more…)
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