Guest post by Lucas Carbonneau with Forte Ah, summertime. The season of family vacations, fresh lemonade, and laying by the pool. Though we’re all enjoying the sunshine, music teachers often worry about how to work around their students’ summertime commitments. Music...
Making Video Lessons Work for You
Have you ever wanted to clone yourself? Oh, I have. It would be wonderful to have a clone that can pick up some of the responsibilities. *Small Spoiler Alert* My husband and I recently finished a show called “Living With Yourself”. It’s about a guy who was looking for...
Summer Scheduling
Every year about this time of year, piano teacher Facebook groups are flooded with the same question... how do you handle your summer scheduling? And the question is a good one because none of us like to lose income over the summer. I get it and 100% agree! Yet, this...
10 Safety Protocols for the Independent Music Teacher
If you teach music in a school classroom setting, chances are that you went through certain protocols to make sure that both you and your students would be protected. In the U.S., when you apply for any job in a school setting, whether paid of volunteer, you are...
Introductory Lesson Evaluations Part 3: Transfer Students (Music Teacher Tip #22)
Here is the final tip in the 3 part lesson evaluation series. In Part 3, I share what I like to evaluate and assess with transfer students who have had lessons before. Did you miss Part 1 or 2? View them below... Music Teacher Tip #20: Early Childhood...
Establishing Boundaries (Music Teacher Tip #19)
As we begin another school year, I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about boundary setting. While boundaries may come across as a negative thing, it is actually a very positive and healthy thing to establish. Establishing clear boundaries means you are...
Missed Lessons (Music Teacher Tip #17)
One of the most common questions I see or hear from independent music teachers is, "what do you do when a student needs to miss a lesson?" OR "Do you do make-up lessons?" I don't do make-up lessons. Matter of fact, I am strongly against them. I don't know where the...
Help! My Student Wants to Quit!
Like all of us, over the years I have had students quit. Quitting is inevitable, we know this, but what makes it especially hard is when the quitting happens prematurely. It absolutely kills me when a student that has so much potential and is on what I would consider...
Putting Together the “Puzzle” of Lesson Schedules (Music Teacher Tip #16)
If you have ever put together a fall schedule, then you know what I'm talking about when I say it's like putting together a puzzle. Student, A needs to switch over to Wednesdays at 4 pm while student B needs to move up an hour, then let's not forget students C, F, G,...
Music Teacher Tips and Tricks
I'm really excited about a new collaboration project that involves YOU! I strongly believe that we all have something to share. And as a teacher, I know you have experienced that "one" tip or trick that has made all the difference. Whether it's teaching tips, lesson...