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Young piano student enjoying playing the piano

Cultivating Motivated Students in the Piano Studio

How to motivate students—the age-old dilemma. It’s wonderful to have internally motivated students. They come to lessons prepared and enthusiastically soak up every morsel of teacher wisdom you can offer. But what about the other students? The ones with little to no weekly progress and an ambivalence that can make you want to stand on your head just to get their attention. Or what about a student who started strong but fell into a rut and now seems disinterested? How can we motivate our students to want to practice, study, and persevere in piano studies so they obtain a lifetime of enjoyment?

Show Multiple Camera Views Simultaneously with OBS During Online Piano Lessons

In a recent post, I showed you how to set up an overhead camera to enhance your online teaching setup by giving you the ability to show your students an overhead view of your piano keys. This week, I interviewed Ian Belloso to demonstrate how to show your students multiple camera views at once with free software called OBS. Read the brief summary, then watch our entire conversation and Ian’s demonstrations of OBS in the video.

How to Set Up an Overhead Camera for Online Piano Lessons

Teaching online piano lessons full-time has provided lots of opportunities for growth, especially in the area of trying new equipment! Here’s an easy way to set up your overhead camera so you can share a view of the piano keys with your students as you teach your online piano lessons.
Little girl composing a song during her piano lesson

5 Off-Bench Activities for Piano Lessons

It’s a well-known truth that children learn best through play, and we can take advantage of that bit of knowledge and use a variety of activities during piano lessons to keep things fresh, engaging, and most of all, fun! These activities can be used both in-person, and online with a few modifications, so they’re ideal for a variety of teaching situations. They’re also great for groups.
Little girl enjoying playing the piano

How to Teach Keyboard Geography to Beginning Piano Students

Teaching keyboard geography to young piano students is one of my favorite parts of teaching beginners! Showing them an easy way to remember the piano keys opens up a brand new world to them, and I’m happy to play a role in that learning process. Please enjoy this free piano pedagogy workshop on how I teach the piano keys to beginning piano students.
Piano student who doesn't want to practice

How to Help the Piano Student Who Doesn’t Practice

Do you teach students who don’t practice? In this article, we’ll define the student who doesn’t practice, list reasons why this piano student doesn’t practice, and discuss specific things we can do to help the student become an excellent and motivated practicer. There’s even a list of things you can start doing in your lessons today to motivate and encourage your students and help them learn how to practice!
Woman with aching neck

Prevent “Tech Neck” And Poor Posture In Piano Students And Teachers Tip 4: Lower Back

Piano teachers are complaining of back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain from spending hours each day teaching online piano lessons. We’re twisting at the waist, sitting partially turned towards the screen, and we’re exhibiting overall poor piano posture. Our students are developing round shoulders and a hunched back from time spent on devices. Learn how to address these issues in Part 4 of my interview with Dr. Stephanie Elkins, DPT.
Woman sitting on couch with laptop, aching neck

Prevent “Tech Neck” And Poor Posture In Piano Students And Teachers Tip 3: Chest Stretches

Piano teachers are complaining of back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain from spending hours each day teaching online piano lessons. We’re twisting at the waist, sitting partially turned towards the screen, and we’re exhibiting overall poor piano posture. Our students are developing round shoulders and a hunched back from time spent on devices. Learn how to address these issues in Part 3 of my interview with Dr. Stephanie Elkins, DPT.

Prevent “Tech Neck” And Poor Posture In Piano Students And Teachers Tip 2: Upper Back Exercises

Piano teachers are complaining of back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain from spending hours each day teaching online piano lessons. We’re twisting at the waist, sitting partially turned towards the screen, and we’re exhibiting overall poor piano posture. Our students are developing round shoulders and a hunched back from time spent on devices. Learn how to address these issues in Part Two of my interview with Dr. Stephanie Elkins, DPT.
Woman with aching neck sitting on couch with computer

Prevent “Tech Neck” and Poor Posture in Piano Students and Teachers Tip 1: Chin Tucks

Piano teachers are complaining of back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain from spending hours each day teaching online piano lessons. We’re twisting at the waist, sitting partially turned towards the screen, and we’re exhibiting overall poor piano posture. Our students are developing round shoulders and a hunched back from time spent on devices. Learn how to address these issues in Part One of my interview with Dr. Stephanie Elkins, DPT.
iPad and coffee on a desk with a plant

Eliminate Filler Words from Your Piano Teaching Vocabulary in 6 Easy Steps

We use them to verbalize our hesitations. We use them because we’re thinking, or we’re not sure what to say next. We use them as a way to let people know we’re still speaking. We use them because maybe we’re not feeling confident about what we want to say. What are they? Filler words. Learn how to eliminate them from your vocabulary and become a clearer and more succinct communicator and teacher.
How to teach Schubert's Waltz in B Minor

A Deep Dive into Schubert’s Waltz in B Minor

Teachers – what is your superpower? My piano teacher superpower seems to be teaching intermediate historical repertoire in a way that allows my students to play expressively. I love getting my students engaged with works by the great masters, including one of my all-time favorites, Franz Schubert, whose Waltz in B minor, D.145 / Op.18, No.6 will be discussed here.

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Favorite piano teaching resources at MelodyPayne.com

Hi! I’m Melody Payne, a pianist and piano teacher, educational resource author, a fun-loving wife to the most wonderful and talented hubby I could ask for, and a lifelong learner who loves to share. I want to make your life as a music teacher easier by writing and sharing helpful and relevant music teaching articles, and by creating educational resources with your very own students in mind. If you are a parent who wants to enroll your child in piano lessons, I’d love for us to get started building those skills that can give your child a lifetime of musical enjoyment!

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