I love using games as a way to reinforce concepts that students are learning. I want to make sure they are understanding what is being taught. The bonus in playing games is that it is an engaging platform that students love! I recently added some digital music games...
Review: Piano Patterns
Over a year ago I came across Piano Patterns at our local music teachers conference and have been wanting to share more about them since. Piano Patterns, created by Clara McDonald with Infusing Music, sets students up for success in learning scales and chords...
Positive Wins and Lessons Learned Teaching Online
Earlier this week I asked my email subscribers to let me know how they were doing and to share with me something positive they have learned or experienced during their time of distance learning so far with their students. As happy tears shed from my eyes reading each...
Easy Online Teaching Setup (Music Teacher Tip #27)
I am going to be completely open and honest with you. I've been feeling a little anxious lately. Okay, a lot... My head seems to be constantly spinning. I told my husband the other day that I want to help teachers get through this, but my head "noise" won't stop and...
Free Independent Music Activities for Students
With so many teachers transitioning their students to online or video lessons right now, I wanted to share some of my free music activity resources that work perfectly for students to use at home. These are all resources that can easily be done independently. If...
Review: Rock This Town
I'm always on the hunt for motivating and engaging music for my students. I'm sure you are the same. Canadian composer, Rebekah Maxner recently released a new elementary book, Rock This Town filled with 11 original piano works inspired by popular styles. The...
HP Reveal Shutting Down
The other day, minutes before I was leaving for a trip to celebrate my wedding anniversary I was notified by a kind teacher that HP Reveal was shutting down. To say I was totally bummed would be an understatement because HP Reveal has been an out of the box option for...
Thankful for Music Because…
This month I wanted to showcase in my piano studio why we are thankful for music. So I created a photo prop and stuck it in a page protector and had my students write with a dry eraser marker why they were thankful for music. Then I took a picture of them and will be...
Introductory Lesson Evaluations Part 1: Early Childhood (Music Teacher Tip #20)
Music Teacher Tips #20-22 will be a 3-part series. In part 1, I share what I evaluate with early childhood students (4-6 years) at the introductory lesson. Introductory lessons is a free interview and evaluation where I take the time to evaluate and assess where a...
Introductory Lesson Evaluations Part 2: New Beginners (Music Teacher Tip #21)
This is Part 2 of a 3 part series on lesson evaluations. In today's music teacher tip, I share what I like to evaluate with new beginners who have never had lessons before. This is typically any student 7 years old and up. (I go through what I do with younger students...