It is wonderful to have the cold winter behind us and to look forward to warmer weather including a sense of rebirth in the air! We have had a lot of compliments about how lightning fast Studio Helper is. That is wonderful news that at the end of the day, through the rough spots, the upgrade was a huge success! A big thank you to...
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In my years of experience as a piano teacher, I can honestly say that the most challenging part of the recital isn’t the recital itself — it’s the preparation for it. Getting students to practice efficiently and well in preparation for a recital can seriously do me in. Here’s a few things I include as part of my students’ preparation for an upcoming performance:
-Technique: I try to include technique exercises that will enhance their recital piece. If a student is learning a sonatina filled with scales and trills, her warm-up exercises each week will emphasize building strength to play these scales and trills quickly, accurately, clearly and confidently.
I am a huge believer in the power of community. How do you foster a sense of community in your studio? For me it is about providing opportunities for students to learn with each other and from each other. For parents to meet each other and have conversations that go beyond "hi, how are you". And for the whole studio to feel like we are...
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“The best way to get started is to stop talking and start doing.” – Walt Disney
Recently I attended the 2013 Music Teachers National Association annual conference, held at Disneyland Resort. Among the many highlights of the conference were master classes, concerts, young artist competitions, invigorating sessions, exhibitor showcases, and connecting with colleagues from around the nation. There was so much packed into the five-day conference that my head was spinning by day two! However, my big “take-away” was from a session given by Karen Thickstun, a nationally certified teacher of music from Indiana.
Karen presented a session on Lessons Learned from Disney. We can learn so much from Walt Disney’s entrepreneurial skills. He was an innovator in animation and theme park design. He stretched the boundaries of possibility during his lifetime. In addition to being an innovator, he paid impeccable attention to quality. He wanted only the best. For instance, when hiring musicians for the orchestra, he hired the absolute best, never skimping on quality.
In a recent music teachers workshop, a professor from our local university’s music department gave an excellent presentation on the topic of motivating your students. I imagine this is something every studio owner struggles with, and since students who aren’t motivated have a tendency not to progress and not to enjoy what they’re doing, this can also affect student turnover.