Who is Your Best Student? This question can change a child’s life. Too often we respond by asking “Who has won the most competitions?” Or “Who plays the most difficult music?” This method is both wrong and damaging. In truth, sometimes what makes a student his or her best is not […]
A lot of you have been asking WHEN you can get the re-release of my book “Music Studio Success” – my method for starting a highly successful teaching business. Well that time has arrived! Music Studio Success is now available on Kindle at a very cheap introductory rate. And judging by the readers so far, the […]
One fascinating thing that comes to the fore after lots of teaching-especially concerning adult students- is that some people possess a personality that is optimally suited for learning. This isn’t a matter of intelligence, which is overrated anyway, but rather a collection of personality attributes and habits. In fact, barring […]
The most obvious benefit of metronome work is, of course, that it emphasizes accurate counting and a regular beat. And more, there is truly something unique about that consistent, even aggravating, click that lends itself so well to woodshedding – it is our musical bread and butter. But another aspect […]
In every task, the subconscious and conscious mind have specific roles to play, and a confusion of these roles can lead to less-than-optimal results. In ideal piano playing–where there is effortless flow– the simplest way I can state it is this: the subconscious mind sends information up, the conscious mind […]
A teacher once told me that the reason we repeat ourselves so much is the hope that someday our students will listen. Perhaps this isn’t the most creative teaching technique, but anyone who has been teaching for a long time can identify with the sentiment. Why do we teachers feel […]
“What do I do when my child doesn’t want to practice? ” Piano teachers hear this question a lot. I think it implies a more fundamental question: What is the nature of a child’s wants and desires? The answer to this question can lead to two different parenting approaches: One […]
Playing a musical instrument is a complex task. Almost anyone could practice on a daily basis. But without guidance, there’s a good chance this practice won’t be beneficial in the long run. When a child learns to walk, for instance, he gets immediate feedback as to whether he’s doing something […]
Why am I such a mean teacher? One of my favorite things to do is have my students transpose small pieces and exercises into different keys. This is usually met with a fair amount of resistance. But, I insist, it is one of the BEST ways of really understanding the […]
“You do feel emotion don’t you?” I once asked in exasperation. I couldn’t stand one more soulless note. Especially not in late Beethoven. “No.” She replied. This student did not last long. We are human — there are thoughts, feelings, and deeply felt life experiences. We carry this into art. […]