Piano student motivation: How 'Vacation Lessons' work for summer and for kids who struggle
With a long term commitment like piano lessons, sometimes your students need a break. Without a break from lessons altogether, Vacation Lessons offer a break from practicing. Curious as to how this would work? There are tons of things you can do to engage your students and keep them coming back. … continue reading →
Piano Recital Time: 8 Tips to help your Beginner students play their very best
A student's first piano recital is a very special event. Learn tips on how to prepare your beginners to play duets, to carry themselves on stage like a pro and how to create a program that is beginner-friendly (you may never put beginners first again). It's all here! … continue reading →
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Part III: Mozart, a French folk song and beyond [Printables]
Mozart and Ah! vous dirai-je, maman (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)! This is the making of a folk song and then how a composer redefined it. In Part III we trace the transformation from the earlier madrigal, La Mantovana, to the French Ah! vous dirai-je, maman. But when Mozart wrote his Theme and Variations, did he only base them on the French folk song? Evidence in his music shows otherwise. … continue reading →
RCM Piano 2022 Celebration Series, 6th Edition
To celebrate the new RCM 2022 Piano Syllabus and series, The Royal Conservatory of Music is planning a livestream launch event on April 27th, 2022. Teachers may qualify for FREE books! In this blog post is a link to register and a free printable of repertoire. Read about the new series, the composers and the goals of the editors and the president. … continue reading →
Piano Studio business claims: Home expenses, work expenses and industry codes, oh my!
When you file your income tax, are you claiming everything you can? Reduce the amount of tax you owe and keep more of the money you earn. Find out about claiming home expenses, work expenses, industry codes and more! … continue reading →
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Part II: La Mantovana branches into the major key [Printables]
Not only did trained musicians love the original Twinkle music (called La Mantovana), but so did folk musicians. As the music spread across Europe in the 18th Century, it transformed and changed in several fascinating ways. In this post we explore versions that kept features of the original tune but changed from the original minor to major. … continue reading →
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Part I: The ultimate guide to this tune in our culture [Printables]
How much do you think you know about Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star? Maybe you have a good ear and have figured out that other children's songs share the same tune, like Baa, Baa Black Sheep, the Alphabet Song and perhaps even a German children's song about ducks not as well known in the English-speaking world. … continue reading →
Save time on lesson plans! 6 quick tricks to take piano lessons from Blah into TA-DA!
Piano lessons feeling blah lately? Learn quick tricks on how to create fun, effective "UN-planned" lessons that are flexible and student-centred. Your piano lessons will go from Blah to TA-DA! … continue reading →
Yoga for pianists: Ignite your mind-body connection for optimal posture and practice
Here is a curated suite of yoga practices for pianists and advanced piano students. Prepare the upper body, arms, wrists and mind to heighten your piano practice and make it more effective. There are suggestions for accommodating injuries. This blog post is designed for personal use by pianists and as a resource for teachers of advanced piano to share. … continue reading →
Rebekah Maxner 