Why Would Anyone Teach Preschool Piano?
Why teach preschoolers? Aren't there hands too small? And, they can't read? What can we possibly do in piano lessons that would help?
In this article, I share the story of how I got started with young kids. I share how it transformed the income I was making. I also share how, when we change the goals, the outcomes can be very beneficial to young students.
Our preschool materials can really help! Read on......
Why Teaching Steady Beat First Might Not Be the Best Approach for Young Pianists
Did you know that steady beat is not the first thing you should teach to a young child? Although it’s the first lesson in many piano books, it’s not the ideal starting point for a child's musical journey. Instead, the first thing a child needs to learn is how to listen to long and short sounds
A Love for Color - My Synesthesia > Music
I just thought I was weird. (which I now know is a common trait for creative, musical people!)
My synesthesia comes and goes. I hope that as I pay more attention to it - I experience it more often.
Here's how it works for me: when I play or hear a certain key, I get an "impression" of a certain color. I have talked to many people about this and done some research. Apparently, different people have different color associations than I do. That's okay. Some people have different forms of synesthesia - it can be associated with any two forms of perceptions.
What you need to know about kids who have GAPS
Gaps show up in piano lessons all the time.
Here are some examples of places gaps can arise: 1) notation. Notation is an abstract representation of sound. Kids are literal.
2) rhythm. Some kids just don't have rhythm experience in their bodies, which leads to difficulty in counting and playing.
3) technique. Playing the piano with proper technique is a foreign feeling.
4) listening. Some students have difficulty hearing and discriminating pitches, rhythms, timbre, or form
New Preschool Piano Book Coming Soon!
In a previous post - I shared how I went from playing on a toy piano, to becoming a piano teacher.
My heart is for the kids that are young, have special needs, or just need to fill in the gaps. Most books go too quickly for young kids, and they are not suited for them. I want a book that will meet kids where they are at!
I am writing and beta testing a method book that will be NOTHING like anything you have seen. Yet, the format will be such that you can pick it up, and without much trouble at all, just open it and TEACH. And, it won't be expensive. And, it won't be hidden behind a paywall or subscription service. Your hard-earned money is just that; I feel the same about my dollars.
It all started with a little red toy piano.
I was three years old. I received a red toy piano for my birthday.
I can't describe how fascinated I was with this little instrument. It was as if this toy was calling to me.
I really wanted a teacher. Of course, being a child in the 1960s (oops - now you can guess how old I really am!) meant that no one would take on a child that young.
On top of that, my dad was in the military - and overseas in the Vietnam War. Not a good time. My parents were not particularly musical. They were very PRACTICAL. Being in the military meant moving around. Pianos were big and heavy at that time.
5 Piano Teachers You Need to Know!
Explore Music - an activity book for kids
Spring Fever - what is it and do you have it?
After Easter - THEN WHAT?
It's a holiday let-down, that's what! I refuse to stop the fun. But let's get real: in the US - we are heading towards the end of the school term. BURNOUT is all around us. What to do? Going back to my childhood, grown-ups always talked about kids getting "Spring Fever". It's not a real illness. It's a term that describes that feeling of burnout, being antsy, and really wanting a break. I captured this feeling for my students with the MODERN song, "Spring Fever" - which features an ultra-cool backing track. Can you believe my students ask for this song, year after year? Because it's written in two levels, I can accomodate that request a few times. Here's the low-down on Spring Fever:
Easter Fun - Kids are Jumpy, Antsy, and Hyper!
I don't usually write about spring flowers, Easter bunnies, or mild topics when it comes to kids.
I like to write about what kids are thinking about - like CANDY and having FUN!
St. Patrick’s Day - a Pinch of Fun!
What are kids thinking about on St. Patrick's Day?
I remember what I was thinking about as a kid. Not getting pinched! Here's how it worked when I was a kid: People wear green. If the color green is VISIBLE, other people can't pinch you. Even if it's tiny, but can be seen, you should be safe.
Of course, if you either forget or refuse to wear green, you are fair game. However, if someone isn't paying close enough attention, and they pinch you even if you DO have on green - well, you can retaliate. Most of the pinching is mild, but sometimes - it can be brutal!
Summer Camps for Music Studios!
Summer camps are amazing fun for both in-person and online studios! The best thing - once you have the lesson plans, you can use them over and over in many ways! Here are some ways I have used summer camps:
1). traditional - groups of kids at my house for 3, 4, or 5 days in a row. Usually my limit is 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Hats off to those of you who do longer camps!
2) online - same thing - but on Zoom. Small groups of kids log on for successive camp sessions. In one case - I did an hour and a half session in the morning, had a break for lunch, and came back for 30-45 minutes in the afternoon. That actually worked well. In all of my online camps, students had an "at-home kit" that contained lots of goodies they could manipulate and work with during the camp!
3)one-offs. This was a great way to promote my studio in the community. I held small mini-camps for one morning at my house or a local park. Great publicity and community building!
Boom Cards Extravaganza!
I am really late to the Boom Card party. It’s not that they didn’t look cool to me. And it’s not that I didn’t see the instructional value.
TBH - Boom Cards felt like “technology overload”. And I am usually cool with technology. But, I have my limit.
However - I’ve been following Kelly Bordeaux, and I really respect her creative take on Boom Cards. She also gives a great deal of help to teachers. Here’s a video
Solo Piano or Group Piano?
Do you teach privately, groups, or both? It's thrilling to see kids working together towards a goal. Find the easiest piano ensembles at www.pianomusicforkids.com. Simplify your piano teaching!
Saving a Sea Turtle Through Piano Practice!
How one piano teacher and her piano students used piano practice to adopt an animal at the zoo.