By Julia Kossuth As a young teacher, and thus lacking years of consistent teaching in one place, I've been able to consider what works and what doesn't work to motivate my students. This has also been largely influenced by my own piano teacher through high school, who I maintain contact with to this day. I think the key to student success is lots of performance opportunities. At...
Read MoreBy Julia Kossuth As our end of the year recital approaches, a mere two and a half weeks away, it is my goal to maximize the time I have with each student so they are truly prepared for their performances. I've found that with only two recitals a year (Christmas and May) it can be difficult for students to maintain hard work and preparation, as there...
Read MoreBy Julia Kossuth We here at the Studios of Sarah Strout are so excited about our upcoming summer programs! Summer is a great time to offer extra activities for our students as well as have a bit more fun than in the more structured school year. Aside from regular lessons, here are a few of the programs we will be having: "Frozen" Camp Campers will get to sing...
Read MoreIn a recent post, The Masterclass: Then and Now, I discussed the purpose and importance of a Masterclass. Masterclasses are an integral part of my studio and I usually hold two or three per studio year. I enjoy the benefits of having my teaching validated by another colleague and it is so helpful for students to hear the some of the same ideas reinforced...
Read MoreBy Julia Kossuth One of the opportunities I have at the Studios of Sarah Strout is to teach a group piano class to three 4- and 5-year-olds. Being relatively new to teaching group classes, it's been a great learning opportunity for me regarding teaching strategies and being creative in class time. A useful tool I've been using lately has been, surprisingly, play-dough. I will have my students...
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