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Welcome to the blog at Melody Payne – Music for a Lifetime!

From piano teaching tips to games and activities for piano lessons, sheet music, and much more, we have something just for you! 

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Fail proof Ways to Teach 2 Octave Piano Scales and Chords

13 Fail-Proof Ways to Teach 2 Octave Piano Scales and Chords

The Superstar Scales Technique Book 4 is the perfect resource for teaching 2 octave piano scales and chords, plus arpeggios! Book 4 can be used for beginners, but it is a particularly useful resource for late beginners and beyond, since they need to learn how to recognize the notes within scale passages in their scores.
3 Interactive Dinosaur Music Activities for Piano Lessons

3 Interactive Dinosaur Music Activities for Piano Lessons

The Dinosaur Color by Music Symbols Boom Cards Bundle is a resource that’s sure to make online piano lessons more engaging for young beginner students. These dinosaur music activities for piano lessons can be used with young students with no previous lesson experience, including in group classes for students ages 4-6.
4 Great Reasons to Use Fall Music Math Rhythm Worksheets

4 Great Reasons to Use Fall Music Math Rhythm Worksheets

Looking for an innovative way to teach rhythm this fall? Here are four great reasons why you should use these cute and adorable, yet very educational music math worksheets to spice up your fall piano lesson activities and engage your new and returning beginners!
5 Ways to Use Your Music Classroom Decor Bundle

5 Ways to Use Your Music Classroom Décor Bundle in 2023

Looking for fresh ideas to brighten up your music classroom or private studio this teaching year? This incredible bundle of 1250+ pages has everything you need to decorate your classroom, from posters, to bulletin boards, to flashcards, to games — it’s all here. The vibrant, watercolor theme looks professional and special; your students and parents will appreciate your effort!

4 Ways to Use Growth Mindset Coloring Pages in Your Piano Studio

Using the Growth Mindset Coloring Posters can help foster a culture of excellence within your studio. Whether it’s a studio-wide challenge or for individual students who need encouragment, or for studio decor or creative piano binder cover ideas, this is a versatile resource that can be used within your piano studio!
7 Creative Activities for First Piano lessons

7 Creative Activities for First Piano Lessons

Are you looking for engaging and creative activities for first piano lessons that will wow your young beginners? In this blog post, I’ll be highlighting seven fabulous resources that are perfect to use during a beginner’s first few piano lessons, and sharing various ways to use these fun, yet essential resources and as a result, retain students longer!
4 Perfect Summer Piano Lesson Resources

4 Perfect Summer Piano Lesson Resources

Having specific summer piano lesson resources that can be used studio-wide, for every single student, regardless of level, makes planning so easy! Choosing a game such as the “Ledger Line Music Spelling Game” – a game that you might be too busy to play during the school year – gets students excited about summer piano lessons because it’s something fresh and fun (and beneficial).
Using Games to Teach Piano Students How to Improvise

Using Games to Teach Piano Students How to Improvise

Improvisation is a valuable skill for piano students to develop because it can enhance their creativity, musicianship, and confidence. By using games to teach piano students to improvise, you can help your students build their improvisation skills gradually, with a focus on having fun!
7 Unique Ways to Rock Your First Month of Piano Lessons

7 Unique Ways to Rock Your First Month of Piano Lessons with Activities Students Love

Want to rock your first month of teaching very young beginner piano students and ensure that they keep coming back for more lessons? This exciting, creative, very affordable bundle of 14 resources will save you time and money. Your students will love the games and activities, and you’ll love the positive results!
10 Ways to Use Sight-Reading Games in Piano Lessons blog post

10 Ways to Use Sight-Reading Games in Piano Lessons

The Feed the Music Monster Piano Sight-Reading Games Bundle can be used for sight-reading games in piano lessons, plus ear-training, solfege singing, online lessons, and group classes, with students of all ages. In this article you’ll find tips for adapting the sight-reading cards for group classes and online lessons. There are even ideas on how the cards can be used for simple ensemble activities in group piano classes.
5 ways to use music coloring pages for first piano lessons

5 Ways to Use Music Coloring Pages for First Piano Lessons

Calling all unicorns and dinosaurs enthusiasts! Here are some free or very low-cost music colouring worksheets designed to help young beginner piano students review finger numbers, piano keys, basic music symbols, and notes of the middle C position. Read on to discover five ways to use these adorable colouring pages today!
114-Page Space Themed Music Worksheets Bundle

Stellar 114-Page Space Themed Music Worksheets Bundle

Teaching music literacy within the confines of 30-minute weekly lessons is challenging. It would seem that a student could ‘just’ learn to read music by practicing their assigned songs at home, yet it doesn’t quite work that way. This 114-page Space Themed Music Worksheets Bundle for piano lessons and music class has been an absolute hit within my studio! It has been a much-needed solution for my beginner through late beginner students who need extra reinforcement.

Welcome!

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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