One of the most popular posts on my blog is one from August of 2009 when I wrote about throwing out the practice log, just as I was starting a new term. Four years later, I wrote an update. I was sold on not requiring students to keep a log of the amount of time […]
No Practice Log Requirement Since 2009 Read More »
We piano teachers hold some negative feelings about things people say about piano lessons. One is when parents refer to lessons as “practice,” like soccer practice. At soccer practice, tennis practice, basketball practice, a lot of the time is spent in drills to reinforce movements and techniques. With piano lessons, since we meet only once
In my very small hometown, our local newspaper celebrated student achievements, even small ones, by publishing lots and lots of photos. Nice older folks in my community would clip those photos and articles and mail them to the students with congratulatory notes. These days, we do the same thing with social media and “likes.” This
Smart Sharing: Posting Student Media for Motivation and Marketing Read More »
Photo by Woodley Wonderworks via Wiki Commons I’ll bet that most piano teachers can relate to this: I wish I had a nickel for every parent who has said to me in an interview, “I’m not going to MAKE him/her practice.” After 20 years of experience, I’ve come to see this as a tip-off that,
Should Parents Make Their Child Practice? Read More »
Graphic by Marco Buonvino Labor Day seems like an appropriate time to take on a subject that creates additional labor for piano teachers: make-up lessons. There’s a wide continuum of policies among piano teachers about making up missed lessons. On one end is the teacher who will bend over backwards to make parents happy, even
Piano Parent Tip: Know and Respect Your Teacher’s Make-Up Policy Read More »
Photo by Sadie Hernandez Back-to-school time is when I focus on organization. I’ve got my household notebook for the year set up (I’ll be posting about that soon at my other blog), and my daughter’s activities all scheduled. I’m hoping that with some advanced planning, we’ll have time to do everything on the calendar! I’ve
Piano Parent Tip: Scheduling Practice Time Read More »
One of the most common topics on piano teacher forums or when piano teachers chat is “How do I get my parents to pay on time?” Piano teachers lament the late payments because they depend on their teaching income to be able to pay their own bills on time. Imagine if your monthly paycheck came
Piano Parent Tip: Pay Your Teacher On Time Read More »
Photo by J.A.Holland Over the years, I’ve taught students whose manners ranged from impeccable to the ones who constantly interrupt conversations, speak to me in sullen monosyllables, and one memorable student who, while I was having a conversation with her mother, decided to go upstairs and explore my closet. I’ve had siblings who were waiting
Piano Parent Tip: Manners Matter Read More »
Photo by kobiz7 The while we keep a man waiting, he reflects on our shortcomings. ~French proverb When I was a little girl, our church held an evening fellowship (translation from church lingo = party) that was sort of like a roast for families. My family received an “award.” I wish I had a picture
Piano Parent Tip: Punctuality Read More »
Photo by Earls37a Whenever I’m in a group of piano teachers, this subject always comes up: over-scheduled students. I do sympathize with my parents. As a parent myself, I’m not immune to the subtle peer pressure involved when my fellow moms mention an activity their child is involved in that mine isn’t. Am I failing
Piano Parent Tip: Time Management Read More »
