Archive for the ‘ ✏ Teaching Thoughts ’ Category

Make-up Lessons

When I first started teaching (many years ago), I did not have a make-up policy, and was charging by the lesson. No show = no pay. (Yes, fellow teachers, I can sense your horror and disapproval!) Alas, those days are over; I now charge a monthly fee, and have a make-up policy. Still, the issue [ READ MORE ]

The Price of Private Music Lessons

One of the most challenging aspects of being a private music teacher is running the studio as a business. One of the most frustrating aspects of being a private music teacher is dealing with payments. Many students and parents do not understand the price of private music lessons, what it means and what it includes. [ READ MORE ]

How much should I practice?

One of the most frequently asked questions I get from students/parents is "how much should I/my child practice?" As every teacher will tell you, while this depends on the student's age, natural ability (sometimes referred to as talent), current skill level, interest level, personal goal and reason for studying piano, and family circumstances, the simple [ READ MORE ]

What to do when students want to quit lessons?

As a teacher, I am never surprised when I hear from a parent that their child does not want to take lessons anymore. It is very normal for students to go through stages in their learning where the challenges and amount of hardwork required exceed the "fun" aspect. After all, piano study is a rather [ READ MORE ]

Comparing Different Music Exams/Tests/Auditions

The following is my latest article for Music Teachers Helper Blog. I am inspired to write this blog entry after reading Valerie Kampmeier’s great post “Music Exams – What do you think?” I have always believed in the benefits of assessment opportunities for students. They can be called exams, tests, auditions, festivals, or other names, [ READ MORE ]

Benefits of Music Auditions

Yesterday four of my students participated in the California Association of Professional Music Teachers Piano and Ensemble Auditions. They each had to prepare two solos from memory, as well as playing in an ensemble. They receive a report and a rating from the judge, and if they score a rating of 5 (top score), they get invited to play in the CAPMT convention next February. I have always believed in the benefits of enrolling students in formal assessment/competitive events, both for the students involved, and for myself as a teacher. I would like to share some key points[ READ MORE ]

Piano Buying Tips

As the holiday season begins, I am getting more enquiries than usual from students and friends interested in buying a piano. Most shops are starting their holiday advertising campaign, hoping to fill many living rooms with their pianos for this holiday season. Understandably, most people do not want to spend a fortune, yet want to [ READ MORE ]

Classical Music in Movies

I was reading an article on Music Teachers Helper Blog about Musical Movies that inspire students. I too have a few favorite movies that feature Classical music, especially piano music. It is expected that movies such as The Pianist, or Shine, i.e., movies featuring musicians as protagonists, would contain a lot of classical music in the soundtrack, but here I am referring to movies that do not have a musical storyline, but contain memorable scenes where classical piano music is featured. Two of my students are currently learning a duet piece as part of their CAPMT Piano Auditions: the Berceuse from Dolly Suite by Gabriel Faure. My students played the piece in our October group class, and after their performance, we started talking about how Classical music is often used in movies. Here are some examples[ READ MORE ]

Practising with score

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Singing and playing

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