Do you ever feel like you're living the same piano lesson week after week? Listen to today's show to learn some reasons why music is re-assigned at the lesson and how you can help your piano kid keep moving forward. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/356

24 hours each day, 7 days every week. We all have 168 hours each week. If we're not careful, those hours will get filled with other people's agendas. Now is the time to take inventory of your schedule and make time for the things that are important to you. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/355  

In the style of Mike Rowe’s podcast “The Way I Heard It” and Paul Harvey’s radio show “The Rest of the Story”, this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast brings you the backstory of a musician or song or a moment in music history. I use these musical mysteries to tell you something you might not know about someone or something that is somewhat familiar. In this case, I will tell you the story of a young author who never wrote the great American novel but still managed to go “Down in History”.  Find the original episode at www.PianoParentPodcast.com.266

In today's episode, author and international teacher of piano teachers, Tim Topham shares his approach to music learning in his new book, "No Book Beginners". Rather than stifling your piano kid's enthusiasm for piano by slowing down music-making with foreign terminology and symbols and expecting them to learn to read music before they expore the interesting sounds the piano can create, Tim's book offers a different approach. Get your piano kid creating music and exploring sounds right from the first lesson! Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/354.

Listen to today's episode to hear my suggestions for what you and your piano kid can do about your piano lesson when you've gone the whole week without spending time at your own piano. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/353

Welcome new Piano Parents! If you and your piano kid are new to the wonderful world of piano lessons, you may be wondering what kinds of things they will be learning during this first year. Today's episode gives you a few things to expect. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/352.

Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. All her current titles are based on her background in music education or her heritage. While she has taught a variety of grade levels, primary-level education is where her passion lies. It has long been a dream of hers to teach children through the magic of books and she hopes you love reading her works as much as she loved writing them. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/351

'Tis the season for all things orange, yellow, brown, and a little scary. Today's list offers ten things that are likely to scare your piano teacher. Some are silly and some are serious, but all are things you might encounter with your piano kid. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/350.

We do everything we can, as parents, to set our kids up for success at the piano. We pay for lessons, drive them to their lesson, provide them with an instrument to practice. What steps should we take to help our piano kids overcome failure? How can we make their piano journey "so simple, plain, or reliable as to leave no opportunity for error, misuse, or failure"? Find out in today's episode and learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/349.

Today's episode offers help for those piano kids who have a difficult time feeling the steady beat of music.  Some children can feel the beat but they aren't yet able to discern the downbeat, the start of a new measure. If a child has trouble feeling the steady pulse of music they listen to, they will have even more trouble trying to reproduce a steady beat in the music they play. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/348

Enjoy this delightful conversation with Kansas piano teacher, award-winning composer, and founder of My-Melodies Publishing, Brock Chart. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/347

200 episodes ago, I published my first musical mystery. I'm sharing it again today to prepare for the upcoming 200th anniversary of one of this composer's greatest hits! Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/346

As we gear up for a new school year and a new semester of piano lessons, this is a great time to declutter your piano or keyboard. Let's do it together! You can clean off your piano while you listen to this episode! Check the show notes for links to all the resources mentioned in this episode at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/345. Watch the companion video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/lmLpRthqxE8.  

Back in March, I interviewed Ashlee Young (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/324). When the official interview was over, I asked Ashlee if I could ask her one more question. "Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a 'Do Over'?" So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be helpful to listeners. The reality is that most of my guests are parents just like you. They are in the trenches with busy schedules, trying to keep up with practice routines, dealing with tired and cranky kids, moody teenagers, and doing the best they can. I hope you enjoy this quick look behind the curtain to hear real stories from Ashlee and me. You can find links and other resources for this episode at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/344.

Back in February, I interviewed Thomas Grayston (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/321). When the official interview was over, I asked Thomas if I could ask him one more question. “Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a ‘Do Over’?” So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be helpful to listeners. The reality is that most of my guests are parents just like you. They are in the trenches with busy schedules, trying to keep up with practice routines, dealing with tired and cranky kids, moody teenagers, and doing the best they can. I hope you enjoy this quick look behind the curtain to hear real stories from Thomas and me. You can find links and other resources for this episode at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/343.

Back in October, I interviewed Fernanda Nieto (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/314). When the official interview was over, I asked Fernanda if I could ask her one more question. “Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a ‘Do Over’?” So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be helpful to listeners. The reality is that most of my guests are parents just like you. They are in the trenches with busy schedules, trying to keep up with practice routines, dealing with tired and cranky kids, moody teenagers, and doing the best they can. I hope you enjoy this quick look behind the curtain to hear real stories from Fernanda and me. You can find links and other resources for this episode at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/342.

Back in August, I interviewed Stephen Hughes (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/304). When the official interview was over, I asked Stephen if I could ask him one more question. “Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a ‘Do Over’?” So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be helpful to listeners. The reality is that most of my guests are parents just like you. They are in the trenches with busy schedules, trying to keep up with practice routines, dealing with tired and cranky kids, moody teenagers, and doing the best they can. I hope you enjoy this quick look behind the curtain to hear real stories from Stephen and me. You can find links and other resources for this episode at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/341.

Every June, our Texas Music Teachers Association hosts a conference. It is one of the highlights of my year because I gain so much from attending. Our state conference brings in top-notch presenters to share new teaching strategies, new music, and other professional development opportunities. There are also many activities for students and their parents. On today's show, I am bringing the conference experience to you with ten takeaways for piano parents. You can learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/340

Back in September, I interviewed Cher Kretz (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/309). When the official interview was over, I asked Cher if I could ask her one more question. "Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a 'Do Over'?" So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be helpful to listeners. The reality is that most of my guests are parents just like you. They are in the trenches with busy schedules, trying to keep up with practice routines, dealing with tired and cranky kids, moody teenagers, and doing the best they can. I hope you enjoy this quick look behind the curtain to hear real stories from Cher and me. You can find links and other resources for this episode at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/339.  

Each year at our Texas Music Teachers Conference, we host our version of the well-known TEDtalks. We call them TEXtalks. I was honored to have been invited to be included in this year's presentation, "Amazing Doesn't Have to Be Hard." Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/338.

One of the best ways to help a child learn to play an instrument is to get them singing familiar tunes. When your piano kid is able to sing a song, playing it on an instrument is exponentially more successful. On today's show, we meet with an author who understands this fact very well. Emily Norris has written a new book of piano sheet music to help young children begin learning to sing and play familiar songs on the piano and she is here to tell us all about it. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/337

Hot off the presses.... I just released my first book on Amazon and I'll tell you all about it in today's episode. Sum·mer ˈsəmər/ noun the warmest season of the year, in the northern hemisphere from June to August and in the southern hemisphere from December to February. the time of year when many piano students backslide with their hard earned piano skills.   Sur·viv·al sərˈvīvəl/ noun the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances. how piano parents feel when struggling to prevent the aforementioned backsliding.   Kit kit/ noun a set of articles or equipment needed for a specific purpose. this book:  a source of rescue and ideas to help aforementioned piano parent when struggling to help aforementioned backsliding piano kid. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/335

Keeping in line with last week's episode about summer reading, this week we get to hear from Chrissy Ricker who has developed summer piano review challenge calendars. Listen as Chrissy shares some of the highlights from her summer activity calendars and how they can help keep your piano kid musical engaged this summer. Learn more and find links to all the resources Chrissy mentions at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/334.

Summertime is a great time to take a much-deserved break! It's also a great time to catch up on reading or, at least maintain your reading capabilities. The same tactics that help new readers to read library books will also work for piano kids learning to read new music. Find some helpful tips for reading both kinds of literature on today's show. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/333

Making the jump from accidentals which mark each note that needs to be altered to key signatures placed at the beginning of each staff can be difficult for some students. Learn how you can help your piano kid level up on today's show. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/332

In today's show, Ken Thompson shares valuable insight into piano technique.  "Technique is a tool that serves performance. If you use the tool in performance, you are able to be free musically, to express yourself, and to send a musical message to your audience. In order for that to happen, the tool needs to be reliable." Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/331

Keep this list handy for any time your piano kid participates in a studio recital or piano event. These are wonderful things you can do to make this important day as stress-free and calm for your piano kid as possible. Get your free Checklist download and find other tenth episodes at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/330

I am amazed at the things students collect in their music bags. I've seen everything from books and music that was completed long ago to old theory tests and worksheets to candy wrappers from my prize box. Once I even found a banana that was well past its expiration! So many odd items creep into my own music bag. Exactly why do I have three types of breath mints, two lip balms, and seven hair ties?!? On today's show, let's clean out our music bags together. See the companion video at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/329

Sometimes, no matter how much you want your piano kids to enjoy their lessons and learn to make music, they just don't get it. Sometimes, even if you've done everything right, they still end up quitting. That's the topic of today's show. Learn more at www.pianoparentpodcast.com/328

I started to call this chat "Hobbyist vs Serious Musicians" but realized that's not a fair description. Some would say I'm a hobbyist at podcasting - because I make ZERO money doing it - but I still take it very seriously. That's why I made the change to "Hobbyist vs Career Musicians" - some of our piano kids are doing lessons for a season, without the intention of pursuing music in college or as a profession while others have different long-term plans. Your goals have a big impact on the teacher you select and how that teacher will go about teaching you to play the piano. Please visit www.pianoparentpodcast.com/327 to learn more.

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “Where words fail, music speaks”- a quote by Hans Christian Andersen. Today’s musical mystery will tell you the story of an occasion where words could have gotten you fired so music was the only way to communicate. Hear the full story in today's Musical Mystery Opus 4, No. 2 "Turn out the lights, the party's over!" Visit www.pianoparentpodcast.com/326 for more information about this mystery as well as a link to other Musical Mysteries.

This is a busy time of the year. To avoid schedule conflicts and the urge to do all the things, parents need to be proactive, set priorities and make difficult decisions for their piano kids. Listen to today's show to learn how. Check www.pianoparentpodcast.com/325 for more information.

Ashlee Young is a piano teacher with a passion to help musicians plan more effective and efficient practice sessions. In today's interview, she shares how you can move from reading individual notes to more lengthy phrases in the same way we progress in reading letters, words, and sentences. Visit www.PianoParentPodcast.com/324 for more information.

March 29 is the 88th day of the year - PIANO DAY!! To celebrate one of our favorite days of the year, we are going to do a fun Piano Day Project where we will encrypt a secret name in our special, one-of-a-kind melody. Learn how in today's show! Get your free Alpha-Numeric Code maker at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/323.

Once upon a time, I read or heard a story about the grand staff. I share it with my students and today I'll share it with you.

We first met Thomas Grayston, the genius developer behind the popular note identification app, Note Rush, back in 2017. (You can listen to that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/065) Today, he is back to share some exciting updates to the app including new themes, customized decks of notes, and helpful hints while playing the app. Find links and other resources at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/321.  

Every episode that ends with a 0 includes a list of ten somethings. Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, this list gives you 10 things piano parents love about piano lessons. What else would you add to the list?   www.PianoParentPodcast.com/320

I really enjoyed talking with Winston Hall last week. One of the things he said really struck me and I've been thinking about it ever since. He said, "Reading music is the most analytical way to make music." and that wasn't how his brain was wired. My brain actually feels safer and more confident with the music, in fact, I feel frozen if I don't have music in front of me; I don't know what to play! Listen to this and more reflections at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/319  

Winston Hall is a self-proclaimed "below-average piano student" who was able to overcome obstacles that might have stopped most people - the inability to read music, his own self-doubt, and debilitating stage fright. Winston is now one of the most popular entertainers in the Northwest Louisiana area. This is an episode that you will bookmark and listen to again and again and share with your piano parent friends. Visit the show notes at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/318.

If you're waiting to start piano lessons, this is the episode for you! Potential students reach out to me for lessons but I often don't have a space available. Many times, they opt to wait for my short-term summer session and start the process of waiting for piano lessons to begin. In today's show, I'll share three things that piano parents can do to make good use of this interim time: think about your goals, build anticipation, and start a regular practice habit - NOW. Visit the full show notes at www.pianoparentpodcast.com/317

In last week's episode I quoted Art L. Williams Jr. “Remember, before you can be great, you’ve got to be good. Before you can be good, you’ve got to be bad. But before you can even be bad, you’ve got to try.”   Today, let's focus on the trying aspect of learning to play the piano.

My list of 22 for 2022 turned out to be a list of things I failed to do. When I look back on it, I don't celebrate the things I was able to finish, I just feel defeated by the areas where I missed the mark. Rather than aiming for perfection, I think it is good for our children to see us make mistakes and move on, gracefully. Our mistakes shouldn't devastate us and our kids need to learn to give themselves the same kind of mercy. In this P3 episode, we talk more about helping our piano kids to allow for mistakes in their piano practice.

Do you ever wonder what inspires composers and songwriters to create the music they do? Would you be surprised to learn that some of our favorite Christmas tunes were written in the heat of the summer? On today’s podcast, I’ll share some of the interesting things I discovered about some of the songs we enjoy throughout the holiday season. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/072 Merry Christmas!!

Listen to the inspiring story behind one of the most iconic pieces of musical literature, Handel's "Messiah". I have to admit that I was not a fan of this oratorio until I learned the difficulties Handel faced before he came to write the music. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/122. Thanks for listening and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

After dealing with everything we have over the last two years, our brains have gotten really good at facing problems and anxiety - maybe too good. We might have accidentally trained our brains to be hyperresponsive to uncomfortable circumstances. On today's show, Dr. Fernanda Nieto shares some wonderful ways to help our brains and our bodies to relax and breathe.

Inspired by a quote from Agatha Christie, this episode reminds us all to enjoy the journey and allow ourselves to be a little ridiculous.

Everything your piano kid has to do with music: reading music, finding the correct piano keys, eventually building scales and chords, and putting chords together in a sequence, all of that stems from understanding the basic seven notes of the music alphabet.

So much of the time, we focus on dealing with anxiety and performance jitters with the assumption that everyone has them. It was so refreshing to have this conversation with someone who actually enjoys facing challenges and learning how to overcome obstacles. Kelley Yuan is a software developer by day but she is also a pianist and enjoys a very interesting and challenging hobby: rock climbing. Listen to her inspiring outlook on life and how she views challenges with interest and curiosity.

My studio was recently gifted with a Baldwin Hamilton baby grand piano and I am thrilled! Going through this new experience taught me a few things that I think you might enjoy learning as well.

Returning to the show from her previous appearance in PPP209, author, and counselor, Cher Kretz is back to share more helpful insight for parents. On today's show you will hear about her latest book release, "30 Days to Higher Hopes" and her GPS Life System. www.pianoparentpodcast.com/309

Why would a world-class athlete, someone who is at the top of their physical abilities, need a coach? Find out on today's show. www.pianoparentpodcast.com/308

On today's show, we will share how to disrupt and reprogram the negative cycle of communication with your piano kid.

I am excited to share the next Musical Mystery with you! The story is still in the works. Please check back soon. In the meantime, follow this link to download the Podbean Podcast Player and listen to previous Piano Parent Podcast episodes.

On today's show, Stephen Hughes returns to share specific things budding jazz pianists can do to prepare to play piano in their school or church band. You can listen to the first part of our discussion at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/304.

Stephen Hughes, shares practical tips and strategies for that moment when your high school band director recruits you to play keyboard in the school jazz band. In part 1, we'll talk about being proactive, focusing on chords, and listening to Jazz Classics.

This summer, I’m doing a special series called, “What would you do?” We’re taking a little break from the longer format episodes to focus on individual scenarios you might face as you and your piano kid navigate this musical journey. Just as your child can only learn independence through experience, this summer series will give you ideas about how to handle potential obstacles in your piano studies.

This summer, I’m doing a special series called, “What would you do?” We’re taking a little break from the longer format episodes to focus on individual scenarios you might face as you and your piano kid navigate this musical journey. Just as you put appointments on your calendar to avoid double booking, this summer series will give you ideas about how to handle potential obstacles in your piano studies.

This summer, I’m doing a special series called, “What would you do?” We’re taking a little break from the longer format episodes to focus on individual scenarios you might face as you and your piano kid navigate this musical journey. Just like you wouldn't skip a dentist appointment if your child forgot to brush their teeth, this summer series will give you ideas about how to handle potential obstacles in your piano studies.

Happy Anniversary!! The podcast is celebrating its sixth year and the milestone of 300 episodes! If you are a new listener, this episode is the perfect place to start. On today's show, I am highlighting ten of the different types of episodes you can expect to hear. Check the show notes for links to specific recommendations in each category.

This summer, I’m doing a special series called, “What would you do?” We’re taking a little break from the longer format episodes to focus on individual scenarios you might face as you and your piano kid navigate this musical journey. Just as your child puts their backpack by the door the night before school and you have your car keys in a bowl on a table in the entry hallway, this summer series will give you ideas about how to handle potential obstacles in your piano studies.

This summer, I’m doing a special series called, “What would you do?” We’re taking a little break from the longer format episodes to focus on individual scenarios you might face as you and your piano kid navigate this musical journey. Just as you have drilled your phone number and address in your kid’s memory and you have ICE contact information on your cell phone, this summer series will give you ideas about how to handle potential obstacles in your piano studies.

This summer, I’m doing a special series called, “What would you do?” We’re taking a little break from the longer format episodes to focus on individual scenarios you might face as you and your piano kid navigate this musical journey. Just as your child has a set bedtime and you set the bathroom clock ahead 5 minutes to avoid being late, this summer series will give you ideas about how to handle potential obstacles in your piano studies.

This summer, I’m doing a special series called, “What would you do?” We’re taking a little break from the longer format episodes to focus on individual scenarios you might face as you and your piano kid navigate this musical journey. Just as your child practices fire drills at school and you have a backup plan in case it rains on the day of their birthday party, this summer series will give you ideas about how to handle potential obstacles in your piano studies.

My teaching method of getting SMART with your music is a nice middle ground between being fully committed to the written score and trying to create music from scratch. In this episode, you will hear how other piano kids are getting SMART with their music.  

A few days ago my friend and fellow piano teacher, Kristin Yost, posted a document from her music school. She called the document "Journey to Musical Mastery" and in it, she offers parents a basic guideline of expectations for each phase of learning to make music. With Kristin's permission, I am sharing the document with you today.

"...some of the most basic things are the most important to master, but most of us won't do it because it seems too simple." Vanessa Lau

The Circle of Fifths is a valuable tool for musicians. If you aren't familiar with it; however, it can look very overwhelming. On today's show, I will share three basic ways you can use the Circle of Fifths.

I am loving the word commencement this year. The graduation ceremony may mark the end of a season - a finish line, but commencement marks the beginning of a new and exciting adventure.

With the end of another school year just around the corner, you may be thinking of a way to let your teacher know how much you appreciate the knowledge and relationship they share with your piano kid. On today's show, you will hear what kinds of gifts piano teachers enjoy receiving.

Henry Ford said it best, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way, you're right." Learn why mindset is so much more important than strategy on today's show.

Listening is just as important as reading or touching the piano keys. Episode 288 of the Piano Parent Podcast gives you hands-on (or should I say ears-on) experience of actively listening to music.

Are you planning to continue piano lessons over the summer? Is your teacher planning to take a break for the summer? Today's episode includes three different perspectives on summer piano lessons. Give it a listen as you decide what is best for your piano kid.

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase before – one hit wonder. A band produces a song that is so popular you would think it’s just one of many hits they must have had. As it turns out, that song was their one and only hit. They became a one hit wonder. Today, I’ll tell you the story of another one hit wonder. I promise you’ve heard of the hit, now you get to learn about the artist.

Today, I will share three snapshots of students who have started lessons within the last year. Each student has her own unique strengths and weaknesses. While I am the same teacher for all of them, the way they receive and process information is vastly different. I am enjoying learning from all of them.

March 29 is the 88th day of the year. Happy Piano Day!! I have a few ideas of how you can celebrate this special occasion with your piano kid. Find out on today's episode.

Sometimes in the spring, I start getting a feeling of overwhelm and wish I didn't have all the responsibilities that I have. Do you feel that way? Do you ever get Spring Fever? I wonder if your piano kid feels the same way. Let's talk about Spring Fever and how to overcome it on today's show...

You may have heard about perfect pitch and learned that if you don't have it, there is a small likelihood that you will develop it at this stage in your life. Fortunately, you can develop your relative pitch at any time. The sooner you can help your piano kid hone their skill of listening and hearing relative pitch, the better. Learn how in this week's episode.

Stephen Hughes, NCTM is a professional pianist, online piano teaching specialist, and music technology trainer. His online teaching studio, Virtual Piano Studio, is a growing community of students & music teachers of all ages and skill levels, who take private instruction via Live Online Lessons. He teaches students in the U.S., China, UK, & Australia.  Stephen was teaching online long before it became a necessity in 2020. Today, he shares how parents can help their piano kids set up their home practice space for optimal online piano lessons.

Sometimes it's hard to notice improvements in your piano kid's skill and musicality. Today's episode gives you ten small things to look for to know your child is growing as a musician. Look for these signs to reassure yourself of the investment you're making for your child. Use them as a source of encouragement for them.

Recently, my husband and I took his parents to a concert. Though I was glad to spend time with them, I was not looking forward to seeing another Elvis Presley impersonator. What I experienced at the concert was something completely unexpected so I thought I'd share it with you on today's show.

I heard a new term the other day, "Learned Helplessness". According to Psychology Today, "Learned helplessness occurs when an individual continuously faces a negative, uncontrollable situation and stops trying to change their circumstances, even when they have the ability to do so. For example, a smoker may repeatedly try and fail to quit. He may grow frustrated and come to believe that nothing he does will help, and therefore he stops trying altogether. The perception that one cannot control the situation essentially elicits a passive response to the harm that is occurring."

In the style of Mike Rowe’s podcast “The Way I Heard It” and Paul Harvey’s radio show “The Rest of the Story”, this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast brings you the backstory of a musician or song or a moment in music history. I use these musical mysteries to tell you something you might not know about someone or something that is somewhat familiar; in this case, we will learn how one young musician convinced his older and wiser teacher to try something new by singing something old.

Cameron Dennis is an amazing fusion of music and technology. While continuing to pursue graduate degrees in performance and music theory he is combining his musical knowledge with his skills in technology to create wonderful online resources for music students of any skill level. On today's show, Cameron shares his new Ear Trainer. This resource is extremely valuable to help piano kids learn to identify and notate the sounds they hear.

With such a push these days for popular music, it is refreshing to hear someone who is just as passionate about our historic musical heritage as Janna Williamson. Janna Williamson, NCTM, is a pianist, educator, and collaborator. Janna enjoys high retention in her independent piano studio in the suburbs of Chicago as well as the rewards of students who have gone on to enjoy a lifetime of music. 

RAMI BAR-NIV (RAHmee BarNEEV) is one of Israel's most acclaimed and sought-after pianists. He travels extensively and has become an international citizen, concertizing all over the world. Rami has performed on every continent with the exception of Antarctica (I suppose we'll excuse you from that one).   In addition to concertizing and lecturing, Rami also composes and has written two books. On today's show, Rami will share insights from his first book, The Art of Piano Fingering.

Merry Christmas! In this BONUS episode of the Piano Parent Podcast, you will hear my reading of Luke 2:1-20. I will also share some personal thoughts on that passage and this special time of year.

Whether you are great at setting goals or stay up well past midnight on January 1 making New Year's Resolutions, it's a good idea to make plans and have things to aim for.

In early 2020 when the pandemic first happened, Anna Fagan and her husband used the opportunity to fulfill a marriage-long dream; RVing around the country. Listen to today's show to hear how Anna has taken travel teaching to a whole new level.

Every tenth episode of the Piano Parent Podcast offers you a list of ten somethings. On today's show, I present to you a list of Ten Wintery Pieces.

A textbook definition of sight-reading would be the ability to read a piece of sheet music on the spot and to be able to play it as you're reading it. Another aspect of sight-reading is the ability to use your eyes to track the music on the page while your hands find the notes without having to look at them. On today's show, Christopher Oill talks about sight-reading - it's value and how to improve this skill.

In today's special Thanksgiving episode, piano teachers share stories of gratitude for the families in their studio.

In the style of Mike Rowe’s podcast “The Way I Heard It” and Paul Harvey’s radio show “The Rest of the Story”, this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast brings you the backstory of a musician or song or a moment in music history. I use these musical mysteries to tell you something you might not know about someone or something that is somewhat familiar.   In this case, I will tell you the story of a young author who never wrote the great American novel but still managed to go "Down in History". Here is his story:

Christopher Oill is a concert pianist, composer, and teacher, who leads performance and pedagogy into the future, perfecting “what is” and experimenting with “what could be.” Through his teaching business, the Oill Piano Universe, he helps open up the minds of creative musicians around the world, and he gives them the tools to succeed in their own niche way.

Chrissy Ricker, NCTM, is a pianist, teacher, and composer from North Carolina. Chrissy holds a Master’s degree in piano performance and pedagogy and has been teaching piano for 23 years. Chrissy specializes in creating exciting original music and arrangements for pianists of all ages and skill levels. She has published over 30 collections of piano solo and duet music for students, and her piano music is featured regularly on the contest lists of teaching associations across the United States and Canada. A prolific arranger, Chrissy has also arranged hundreds of pop, classical, video game, and anime titles and is a Signature Artist for the digital music retailer Musicnotes. You can learn more about Chrissy at her website, chrissyricker.com.  

Many thanks to fellow piano teacher, Christina, who submitted this topic suggestion. "... about how parents often mistake chattiness as being “off-topic” and “wasting time” when it’s actually mega-important bonding time for teacher/student relationships."

Your secret mission, should you choose to accept it, is to Make Grandma Cry…in a good way by performing a meaningful song for them at the next family gathering.

What a delightful teacher and composer is Stacy Fahrion! I love her outlook on life and how she embraces her unique self. I especially love how she encourages her students and those of us listening to her interview to own our unique selves as well.

Listen to PPP260 to learn TEN SOUND EFFECTS YOU CAN CREATE ON THE PIANO.

Continuing the Music Maker series which started with intervals (ppp239), then expanded to scales (PPP249), we are now talking about adding harmony to our melodies. Check out the show notes and get your free music maker worksheet at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/259

Click here to download this episode. Introductory remarks Listen to the full episode here 1. Why Butterflies? Adrenaline is one way your body works to protect you in a dangerous situation. Part of that protection includes making your heart and lungs work faster and stronger, making your muscles stronger, and helping you think more clearly to you can make quick decisions. The problem is, your brain wants to protect you and kick these things into action if you’re in real danger, say being chased by a bear, or not in real danger, say waiting to play your recital piece. Another group of muscles your brain puts on red alert is your stomach muscles. Since the early 1900s, that constriction of the stomach muscles has been called “butterflies in your stomach”. Maybe 'butterflies' sounds more gentle and calming that hummingbirds or ocean waves. 2. You Care The presence of butterflies shows that you care about this performance and that’s a very good sign. Because you care, you want to do your best. When you have the feelings and symptoms I’m describing on today’s show, don’t let them cause your more stress, recognize that your brain and your body are responding to the situation. 3. Heart Racing When your brain is in protection mode, it will cause your heart to beat faster to quickly get blood to all the places your body needs (like your legs if you’re running from that bear!) That’s a weird feeling but it’s normally not anything to worry about. You would feel the same way if you were in line to ride a roller coaster. That exhilaration can help you enjoy this experience even more. When you feel your heart beating faster, take a deep breath and remind your brain that you are not in danger, you are simply going to play the piano. 4. Shaky Hands They are ready for action! Remember I just told you your heart is beating faster to get the blood to all the places your body needs. This is to help you when you run. The problem is, if you’re sitting in a chair in a performance hall and not running, your muscles, with all their freshly oxygenated blood need to do something! Shaking helps get rid of the extra energy. You’re okay. In fact, you are perfectly normal! When you feel your hands shaking, take a deep breath and remind your brain that you are not in danger, you are simply going to play the piano. 5. Sweaty Palms Once again, this symptom should assure you that your brain and body are in normal working order and are ready to protect you if you ever find yourself in a dangerous situation (I hope you never have to put it to the test!) Sweaty palms - actually sweaty anywhere - when you are nervous is a way your body can control its temperature. The moisture in your hands would also come in “handy” if you needed to tackle that bear or climb a tree to escape. Since you don’t need extra moisture on your hands when playing the piano, keep a tissue or a handkerchief close by to dry them off before you play. 6. Quick Thinking Just like your heart is working extra hard to help you protect yourself from that bear, your brain is also in hyperwarp speed. Once again, this is great news if you really are in danger; your brain is thinking quickly and clearly to help you find solutions and get out of danger. If you’re sitting at the piano playing your recital piece, however, you may not realize just how fast you’re going.  7. Breathe Deeply Now that you know some of the things that happen when you’re nervous about a situation, I hope you can feel more confident. Your brain and body are doing exactly what God designed them to do - protect you! Since you know to look for these, they will not take you by surprise and they will not cause you even more stress or nervousness. When you feel any of these symptoms, butterflies in your stomach, heart racing, shaky hands, sweaty palms, remind yourself and your brain that you are not in any danger. Remind yourself to take deep breaths and think about the beautiful music you are going to share with the audience. 8. Hook-Ups Remember I told you that your brain doesn’t know when your body is in real danger or if you’re just nervous about performing in your recital? This is called the “fight or flight” response; your body is preparing to fight that bear or run away from it really fast. One way to trick your brain and help it calm down is called “Hook Ups”. No, I didn’t say hiccups!. This is tool developed by BrainGym.com By crossing your arms and ankles and intertwining your fingers, your brain is too busy keeping your balance to worry about being scared or nervous; fighting or flighting. Watch this demonstration to see how to do hook-ups. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URs23JGgknU 9. Performance Rush When it’s all over, you may have feelings of excitement and you may be ready to go again, like that roller coaster ride. You may feel tired, now that your heart has returned to normal speed, you may just want a nap. Since your stomach muscles have calmed down, you may feel hungry - this is a good time to suggest a celebratory trip to the ice cream parlor with your family! 10. Plan Ahead Preparation brings peace.  I’ve told you that you have to remind your brain that you are not in danger. I’m not joking, I think you should whisper to yourself, “I am not in danger. I’ve been practicing my piece and I know I am prepared to play great music for my friends and family. Now, if you haven’t been practicing, you might rather face that bear than go up to the piano! I don’t want that to be the case for my students so for the last few weeks, we’ve been working toward the goal of playing their recital piece 100 times. After they have played it 20 times, I record their performance. After another 20 we record again and compare the two. For more listening on recorded rehearsals and helping prepare for piano recitals, check out these episodes:  028: Learn How to Prepare Your Child for Piano Exams 128: Keep a Video Journal of Your Child's Musical Journey Get your own Practice Tracker 100 To help my students prepare for their upcoming spring recital, we've been working to practice their recital piece 100 times! If you'd like to join us, add your name and email address below and I will send the Practice Tracker directly to your inbox! Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player. 

Each year, about this time, music teachers around the world prepare their students for recital.  The question is WHY? I can’t speak for other teachers but I’ll use this post to explain why I think a formal spring recital is important along with more details about the way my studio recitals are conducted. Listen to the full episode here First, the WHY: I believe one of the best reasons for a recital is simply the enjoyment of music.  We often listen to music passively while driving in the car or working on other projects, so to set aside an hour to give our undivided attention to music is a gift, not only for the student, but also for each audience member. In addition to celebrating the beauty of music, a formal spring recital is just that – formal.  It provides an opportunity to reinforce all the manners parents want their children to learn and practice as civilized human beings. Sit still and be quiet while others are performing. Give your full attention to something outside yourself. Encourage the efforts of others. Applaud their efforts. Say ‘thank you’ with a bow when the audience compliments you with applause. Put away the cell phone for a while. The second 'why' is for the teacher. A spring recital is a major project for most studios and we teachers take it very seriously. We want to make sure our students are prepared to be showcased at the end of the year or school term. This is also an opportunity for parents to evaluate whether their child's teacher is able to provide the musical education they want for their child. The final ‘why’ is for the student.  Preparing for a recital increases their attention to detail.  They work harder to master their piece to be able to perform it as accurately and musically as possible. Students often experience butterflies in their stomach leading up to a public performance.  I believe this is healthy and that it’s good for them to learn how to deal with that feeling of being nervous in this smaller, supportive environment. They will find themselves in many similar situations as they grow up and I am happy to give them tools to not only manage their anxiety but to overcome it and use that heightened awareness to help them succeed. I'll be talking more about this topic in next week's show. When and where is the recital? Talk to your teacher to learn the logistical details of the event. My recitals are held on the first Monday and Tuesday of May. This used to be a great time because it was before final exams at school and it was ahead of the curve for many dance recitals and other end of term activities. The dance people have started having their recitals earlier now, too, so I may have to adjust my schedule in the coming years. It has become quite an obstacle in recent years to secure a location for my recital. The church I used for years suddenly gave away their beautiful grand piano in favor of a digital keyboard. (!) I'm not a piano snob by any means but I do think that a piano recital should be conducted on an acoustic piano. Next, I tried the local university. They have a lovely facility with a well-maintained Steinway grand. Unfortunately, their legal team has taken over many aspects of sharing the campus with the community which added tons of fees and legal documents. I just want a place for my kids to play! I'm telling you all this to give you a glimpse behind the scenes. Your teacher is not only preparing students to perform in the spring recital, but he or she is also working as an event coordinator as well. If you have access to an ideal recital location with a great piano for students to play, I'm sure your teacher would be delighted to hear about it. Who can come to the recital? Talk to your teacher. Some venues, like assisted living centers or smaller churches, have limited seating and parking. The church I've been able to use the last two years has a large auditorium so my students are able to invite all of their friends and family. The more people students have in their fan club, the more secure they will feel on the stage. What should my child wear to the recital? Please, parents and students, dress in your “Sunday Best”.  A formal recital deserves more formal, dressy attire. A word of caution, however, the wood floors of recital halls can be a little slippery.  Students should wear sensible shoes and they should practice once or twice wearing whatever they will wear at the recital. Higher heels or a suit coat could cause unnecessary restrictions of movement at the piano. How can I help my child be successful at the Spring Recital? Parents, you are your child’s biggest cheerleader. Tell them how much you enjoy hearing them play.  Tell them what your favorite part is in their recital piece. Skype or Facetime Grandma and Grandpa – they are excellent sources of encouragement! Create a mini home concert where your student dresses in their recital clothes and performs their piece, including a bow before and after they play. Record them performing their piece; the awareness of a recording simulates the same jitters as the actual recital. While the spring piano recital is, I’m sure, only one of many events your student has on their calendar, I hope you will agree that is an important one.  I’m looking forward to celebrating your student and their beautiful music at the upcoming recital! Further Listening on this topic PPP076: Helping Your Child Deal With Anxiety PPP090: 10 Positive Messages you give your child when you attend their piano events PPP112: Down in Front! (and other concert etiquette rules) Tune in next week for 10 Things you should know about performance butterflies. Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player. 

In case you didn’t know, this podcast is called the Piano Parent Podcast. Most episodes deal with common obstacles or struggles students face when learning to play the piano. Today, I’d like to spend our time together by focusing on just you, parents. Specifically, today I want to encourage you to stand firm and do not give in. Listen to the full episode here Click here to download this episode. Remember the goal is to train your child Since my youngest is 16 and my parenting skills are a little dated, I decided to check out what others say about modern parenting. This article by Robert Locke from LIfehack.org had some interesting things to say about this topic. He says it is a mistake to give in to have a quiet life. Many parents give in because they have to juggle credit card, shopping, trolley and a screaming child. The only problem about giving in and hoping for a quiet life is that the child has learned a new strategy. This will be used again and again. It works! I couldn’t agree more and I’ll talk a bit more about giving in in a bit but I have a few comments about his ‘fix’ for temptation in the grocery store. The best way to avoid grocery store meltdowns is to: Make sure that the child has had his snack before going shopping Yes and No - those temptations have nothing to do with hunger We see, we want - unless we have a good strategy in mind Avoid shopping with a child in tow Yes and No - Duane often says he’d rather go to the store without me because we end up spending more money. LOL I’d prefer that you include your child in the grocery shopping trip If they are learning to write, have them write a shopping list I love the little child sized carts! Use this opportunity to teach them….anything! Colors, sorting, price comparison, counting money Use delivery services as much as possible Solves the problem of grocery shopping but doesn’t teach our children any form of discipline. Lobby supermarkets to stop stocking checkouts with junk food This one irks me the most. It demands other people take responsibility to make things easier for me. NO! I need to take responsibility for myself and I must teach my children to make responsible choices. Make it stop! Our temptation when our child is being disagreeable - they are whining about playing a song they think is too hard - or having a full-on temper tantrum - they are crying and hiding under the piano bench to avoid the piano (This happened many years ago in a lesson. I held the young man’s hand and marched him out to his mother’s car. I told her his lesson was over for the day and that we would try again next week. I am proud to tell you that same young man has continued lessons with me all these years and will be graduating high school this year. He has continued to study piano his own way and has achieved unconventional success but he has learned to keep working and to respect my instruction. Hugh goal achieved!) Our temptation in those situations is to give in. Just make it stop! Like Robert Locke says in his article, that is teaching your child a strategy but it is not about coping or perseverance or discipline. Giving in only teaches them that crying and being loud works. Each time you give in, their will becomes stronger. The first time you do not give in, you may feel like they will never stop crying or they will never settle down. Once they learn that tactic is not going to be successful, they will not work so hard at their tantrum (an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.) the next time. Each time you stand your ground. You speak calmly to the child, assure them that you love them and they are safe but remind them that they must obey you. Their tantrum will become less powerful and last a shorter period of time. If it’s not working, they are smart and will try a different strategy. Set YOURSELF up for success Here are some suggestions for setting your piano kid and yourself up for success. Prepare your child for what is to come. We don’t like surprises or changes to our routine. Explain, in a way they will understand, that something different is going to happen. It doesn’t have to be a long involved lecture, just a quick, “We usually go to piano lessons on Wednesday but now we get to go on Monday.” Make sure the task is something that will have a positive impact on your child. Don’t push them into harder music or piano contests if they aren’t ready - technically or emotionally. Work with your teacher to find music and activities that will progressively help them move forward in the piano skills. Take responsibility for yourself and how you and your spouse wish to raise your child. If you know your child has had a rough week, text your teacher or speak to them privately. Give him or her a heads up about what’s been happening. They will most likely support you and encourage your piano kid. Like the mom at the top of the show. I heard her working with her son. I didn’t interfere but when his sister’s lesson was done, I gave the mom my best smile and told her to hang in there, that I was sending her strong mom vibes. Parents need encouragement too. The next lesson this week, everybody was back on track. Final Thoughts Parenting is not for the faint of heart. Our children don’t come with instruction manuals, we have to learn as we go. Sometimes we will give in too easily because we are tired and we just want some peace and quiet. I want you to know you are doing a good work and I support you and hope to encourage you. Hang in there! Piano Parent Summer Survival Kit FREE mini eBook This episode is brought to you by “The Piano Parent Summer Survival Kit”. The end of the school year and summer break is just around the corner. With the excitement of a change of pace comes the reality that your piano kid is going to have more free time on their hands. Rather than just telling them to go practice piano, I’ve created a free resource for you to use that has fun and creative ways to help them stay engaged with their music and playing the piano this summer. The Piano Parent Summer Survival Kit mini eBook offers a variety of activities to keep your piano momentum progressing forward. There are things your piano kid can do independently as well as suggestions for things your whole family can do together. Complete the form below to have your kit delivered right to your email inbox. Free summer resource Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and download your free mini ebook. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. First Name Email Address We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer. I'd like to receive the free email course. 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To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player. 

In our fourth teacher chat, Beth Horton and I discuss hand hygiene and fingernails. Listen to additional teacher chats here. Listen to the full episode here Beth Horton Beth is a teacher in Lubbock, Texas who teaches in a multi-teacher studio, travels to students' homes, and offers online piano lessons. Beth will be featured in the next teacher interview coming out May 6, Episode 141. What do you expect as far as hand hygiene from your students? Beth - In a word, CLEAN. As for length, hold your hand up and look at your palm, if you see you fingernail over the back of your fingertip, your nails are too long. Shelly - "Biting your nails is gross," ~ Allison Thompson, the most popular girl in my fifth grade class. What problems can result from fingernails that are too long? Beth - Fingernails make a clacking sound on the piano keys. To avoid that sound, many students play with flat fingers. To play with flat fingers, their third knuckle will collapse, their wrist is arched, and there is so much tension in their playing. Students can't play as beautifully with this tension in their hands. Over time, that kind of stress and tension can cause more serious injury. Shelly - As a person who rarely paints her nails, I did paint them as an experiment for this chat. The awareness that I have polish on my nails has caused me to be more careful with how I use my hands. I don't want to scratch or chip my nails. While playing the piano, I am less focused on my music and more conscientious about my nails. When I removed the polish, I noticed that my fingernails were much dirtier underneath than they are when I don't have polish to cover the dirt up. It's prom season. What alternatives are there to long acrylic nails? Beth - If you choose to go the acrylic route, be sure to go back to the salon to have them professionally removed. Do not pick at your nails or pull them off yourself. Two alternatives to consider: Gel Manicure Dip Powder Manicure Shelly - Celebrate that special occasion! Enjoy prom or your cousin's wedding but also consider your piano responsibilities. Prom season is also recital season. You don't want to spend a load of money getting your nails done only to have them cause problems with your piano playing. One thing for parents to take away from this chat - Beth - Have a strategy before you go to the salon or after soccer practice. Shelly - You are sharing the piano keyboard with every other student who has seen your teacher this week. Keep your hands clean and ask your piano teacher to keep the piano keys clean. Consider piano playing when you are getting ready for those special occasions. Connect with Beth Sharing the Love of Music Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player. 

I e-met Leah online when her studio participated in the PIANOVEMBER Practice Challenge. She runs a vibrant studio, that is actually called Vibrant Valley Music Studio. She is active in her own pursuit of learning to teach her students. In fact, we were just able to book this interview before Leah heads to the MTNA Convention in Spokane, WA. I love the name of her studio, Vibrant Valley Music Studio and I especially love her teaching philosophy, "Nurturing tomorrow's musicians through creativity, inspiration, and community." Listen to the full episode here Resources Mentioned in this Episode Debra Perez “Way Cool Keyboarding” Bullfrog Jamboree by Mayron Cole Jennifer Eklund’s Piano Pronto FM Sheet Music Teacher video recommendation "Things and Wings" by Liz Story is one of the pieces that made Leah feel like an actual accomplished pianist. She still has this piece memorized and under her fingers to this day! Other LIz Story pieces at MusicNotes.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n8lpsiZkG8 Words of wisdom for parents of new piano students? Take the time to find the right teacher. It is worth all the time to interview many teachers. Don't just settle for the teacher who is most convenient. You are embarking on what could be along and life-changing journey. The relationship with your teacher is crucial to the success of that journey. If you don't find the right person, it could end very quickly. Connect with Leah Drake Leah's studio Facebook page Vibrant Valley Music Studio Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player.  Facebook Twitter Instagram

Doing new things can be challenging for all of us. Piano students are asked to do new things constantly. Once they master one concept, another is given to them without pause. Faced with something new, in this case a new musical concept to master or a new song to play, students have to exert a lot of conscious effort. They have to intentionally think about what they want their hands to do. That is hard work!  Piano kids will often resist and not even try because they don’t feel they will be successful. Rather than try and fail, they choose to give up. They feel like the music is too hard. Parents can help their kids look at music and their abilities differently. It’s not too hard; it’s too new. As students practice and put in multiple, slow repetitions, their hands and muscles “learn” how to do the movement and play the notes and rhythm patterns. The effort becomes less mental and more automatic. Automaticity definition: The condition of being automatic. The ability to do things without occupying the mind with the low level details required. (i.e. tying your shoes, driving a car [highway hypnosis], multiplication facts) Listen to the full episode here Isolate the Problem This is a lot of what takes place during the piano lesson Teachers know common problems with the songs they assign Teachers have a plan to help students overcome those problems Follow your teacher’s advice and plan If you’re working on something independently, make note of these things Passages where you make mistakes Places where you have to slow down a lot to process all the information Break it Down Focus on one specific task One hand at a time One measure or small group of notes Practice the maneuver before you go to the piano Clap rhythm pattern and count Get a “feel” for the rhythm first Apply that feel to the music as you play Captain Hook’s Rockin’ Party in Piano Adventures 2B Repeat, Repeat, Repeat Get to the piano Spending short amounts of time at the piano on multiple days is far better than spending a long period of time on one day. These past episodes offer more tips for regular practice Build Practice Habits Establishing Good Practice Habits Let’s Talk About Practice - This One’s for the Piano Kids Put in the reps Slow, intentional playing Not fast, mindless repetition Final thoughts When you first attempt something new you will rely heavily on the mental aspects and the physical elements will be sluggish (More brain/less body). The new concept is external. As you study and practice and put in lots of repetitions, the activity becomes more internal and you’re able to do the task with less thought and more ease of movement with the physical. (Less brain/more body). Eventually, and if you repeat the activity enough, it becomes automatic and you can perform the activity with like focused thought at all. Congratulations, you’ve achieved automaticity! Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player. 

In Episode 130 I gave you a list of ten songs that are perfect for playing along with YouTube videos (I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from that episode! Thanks for letting me know it was helpful for you).  It occurred to me while recording that episode that I haven’t really talked about building chords and their inversions on the podcast. Build by counting piano keys Many piano kids may be familiar with chords that are grouped by their shape. Major Chords with all white keys: C, F, G. Chords with a black key in the middle: D, E, A. Chords with black keys on the top and bottom and a white key in the middle: Db, Eb, Ab. But what about chords that don’t fit in those groups? You can find the notes you need by counting piano keys - all keys, black or white. For Major chords, start with any piano key. This becomes the ROOT of the chord. Today, let’s use B. From the ROOT, count up four piano keys (C, C#, D, D#) D# is the fourth piano key up from B. D# is the middle note of the chord. In terms of intervals, it is a third above B so we will call it the THIRD of the chord. From the ROOT, count up seven piano keys (C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#) F# is the seventh piano key up from B. F# is the top note of the chord. In terms of intervals, it is a fifth above B so we will call it the FIFTH of the chord. Since we counted up 4 piano keys to get to the D#, we could use a shortcut of only counting three more keys from D# to get to the F#. I counted from B to reinforce the fact that the chord tones get their identity from the ROOT. For minor chords we still select a ROOT and count up seven piano keys to find the FIFTH. The difference between a Major chord and a minor chord is the sound of the THIRD. The THIRD of the chord determines the type. From the ROOT, count up three piano keys (C, C#, D). D is three piano keys up from B so D is the THIRD or middle note in the B minor chord. Changing that one note from D# to plain D changes the whole mood of the chord. That sounds like me on certain days, one little thing can make my mood change from happy to sad. The good news is one little thing can change it right back, too! Build by using the scale I discussed building scales using the Circle of Fifths in Episode 013: Magic Wand, part 1 Build a Major scale using whole steps and half steps (Whole step is two piano keys, black or white, half step is moving to the next piano key) W  W  H  W  W  W  H   2   2   1   2   2   2   1 Once you have the correct scale degrees, you can start to build chords or triads by combining every other note of the scale. For example,  Why inversions? Inversions allow us to transition quickly between chords, and often using an inversion can add a different nuance to the chord. Sounds better to our ears. More cohesive and less choppy. The common tones between chords help our ears transition from one sound to the next. If you think of a choir, the voices don’t want to jump around, they want to find the closest chord tone to help their voice move up or down efficiently.   The snowman visual for inversions on this page is cute. Invert chords to play melody on the top, build the harmony underneath. When you play a tune by ear, start with the melody, add the bass as a foundation, then fill in harmonic chord tones to add richness to the arrangement. A fun bonus and a challenge On March 4, 1963, the Beach Boys released their second album, “Surfin’ USA.” The title song on the album is in the key of Eb Major and uses Eb, Bb, and Ab. The pattern goes like this: Bb |Bb | Eb | Eb |Bb |Bb | Eb | Eb | Ab |Ab | Eb | Eb |Bb |Ab | Eb | Eb | I challenge you to use the tools I’ve shared with you today to figure out which piano keys you need for each of these chords and find the most efficient way you can use those chords and their inversions to play this song.  Once you can play "Surfin' USA" on your own, try playing along with the Beach Boys on this YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDb303T-B1w Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player. 

Click here to download this episode. In this episode we learn ♫ How Raphaelita’s instructor, mentor, and lifelong friend discovered her when she was practicing at a local church one day. ♫ How Raphealita’s upbringing and the influence of her mother helped her become an excellent student. ♫ The difference between the casual piano parent who aims to broaden their child’s interests and knowledge versus the more stern piano parent who views piano study as a launching pad for additional opportunities for their piano kid in college and beyond. ♫ How Raphaelita uses WhatsApp to help her students stay motivated and practicing throughout the week. One question I enjoy asking the teachers I interview is, "If you could spend time with any composer, who would you choose and why?" Without hesitation, Raphaelita gave me her answer. The person Raphaelita most admires and would love to spend time with is her instructor and mentor, Veda Zuponcic. Professor Zuponcic is the Founding Artistic Director of the Northern Lights Music Festival in Aurora, Minnesota. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAK2p-H6gG0 Connect with Raphaelita Justice For information about piano lessons in Raphaelita's Piano Academy go to Muse Piano Academy FaceBook Page  (Teachers may also contact Raphaelita for custom advertising videos.) Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player.  Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest

The last few shows have mentioned playing chords or pop songs or getting creative at the piano in some way. Talking about it is great and your piano kid might really be interested in playing some pop tunes but getting started can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why I put together this list of 10 songs that are perfect to play along with a YouTube video and I have the videos embedded on the show notes for this episode. I chose these songs because most of them use only a few chords (most of them five chords or less) and those chords occur in a repeating pattern throughout the entire song or through a large portion of the song. The basic formula for playing each chord is to have the right hand play the chord in root position (your piano teacher can share more about this) while the left hand plays the root note only. In most cases, students are holding the chord as a whole note until it's time to play the next chord. Often, after students begin to feel the rhythm pattern and the pulse of the music they choose to try a more complex rhythmic style. Today I’ll tell you the key the song is in and what chords you need to play to match the video. 1. Heart and Soul Heart and Soul by Hoagy Carmichael (Who also wrote “Georgia On My Mind”) and Frank Loesser (who wrote music and lyrics for Broadway musicals “Guys and Dolls” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”) This is one of the first chord songs I teach my students. Even though it is very old, it still connects with most kids in a way that folk songs and nursery rhymes don’t. Do kids learn Are You Sleeping or Shoo, Fly any more? Play C | Am | F | G in a loop the entire song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsIL07eOqOU 2. How Great is Our God How Great is Our God sung by Chris Tomlin I love teaching Heart and Soul and How Great Is Our God to students after they learn "Beach Party" in the Piano Adventures Lesson Book 2B. The video I've included here is long, almost seven minutes, so I don't have students play through the whole thing during their lesson. I love that the tempo is slow and starts with only Chris singing and playing the piano.  Sometimes students struggle to know when to change the chord if they aren't counting so I help them. Once the band joins in at 3:05, students have a much easier time feeling the pulse of the music. I love commenting to my students, "You didn't realize you were going to play in a concert with Chris Tomlin when you came to your lesson today!" Loop C | C | Am | Am | F | F | for the verse Loop C | C | Am | Am | F | G | for the chorus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pF11qnJ8rw 3. Count on Me Count on Me by Bruno Mars As with any popular music, parents should preview and filter what they allow their children to listen to. Much of Bruno Mars music is catchy and fun to listen to. Unfortunately, a lot of his lyrics are not appropriate for children.  This tune, Count on Me, is a nice exception. The lyrics are clean and wholesome and the chords are easy to follow. Loop C | Em | Am G | F for verse and chorus Play Dm | Em | F | G for the pre-chorus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMsvwwp6S7Q 4. The Lion Sleeps Tonight The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens The perfect song for students who have learned their I-IV-I-V7-I chord progressions. Too many students are taught that chord progression to tack onto the end of their scales but they haven't been taught the functionality of the chords. Reinforce those chords with The Lion Sleeps Tonight and watch your piano kid's face light up!  I've been using this song with my students who have just learned about intervals of a sixth. After they play "Boxcar Rumble" in their Piano Adventures Lesson Book 2B. Instead of playing the full chords, these students play the two outside notes: For F, they play a fifth from F to C. For Bb, they play a sixth from F to D. For C7, they play a sixth from C to E. Key of F Loop F | Bb | F | C7 | throughout the entire song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LBmUwi6mEo 5. Sweet Home Alabama Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd If you thought The Lion was easy, get ready for this….. This entire, iconic southern rock anthem is built with three chords in a perpetual loop! (Actually, this is a great lesson for our piano kids. How many years did Lynyrd Skynyrd tour? How many concerts did they do? How many thousands of times must they have played this song? Remind your piano kid of that the next time they grumble about having to practice their music for the tenth time. LOL) Loop D C | G D and C are half note chords and hold the G chord four beats like a whole note https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5BuYf8q4o 6. Revelation Song Revelation Song sung by Kari Jobe Fun Fact: Kari's father, Mark Jobe, was invited by my father to come preach a youth event at our church. He and his wife, Sandy, came for the week and brought their two young daughters, Kari and Kristen with them.  Kari couldn't have been more than four years old so if you ask her about it, she won't remember. I do remember, though; and I remember how kind and patient her mother was toward me to let me talk to her about my junior high social worries. Sweet memories but enough about me, let's get back to that list.... Since you know D, C, and G, let's add one more chord, A minor. This is another song that goes at a slow enough pace to keep from overwhelming students trying to navigate the piano keys. Loop D | Am | C | G for the entire song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-zk-E55dRk 7. Canon in D Pachelbel’s Canon in D There is a running joke among cellists that this tune is like staying after class to write sentences on the chalk board. (Click here to see what I mean) With apologies to all cellists out there, this repetition is the very reason I included this tune on our list. My students start out a little hesitant when they first try to play but gain confidence with each repetition. Very young students could practice piano geography simply by finding each piano key (not the full chord) in succession with the video. You probably already know that you can change the playback speed of YouTube videos. The good news is slowing the playback or speeding it up does not change the pitch or the key of the tune. Slowing the video down is a big help when students are first learning the piece.  Loop half note chords D  A | Bm F#m | G D | G A | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNbe34V1nog 8. Stand By Me Stand by Me by Ben E. King This is the one Tony Parlapiano taught one of his young students. We mentioned it in our chat in episode 127. I like the walking bass line in the introduction and continuing throughout the song. I think your piano kid will love the way they sound when they master this pattern! As I was searching out just the right video to share for each of these songs, I found a great YouTube channel, Chords For You. This channel appears to be hosted by a guitar player but chords are chords. A D major chord for guitar is the same D major chord for piano. Chords For You has tons of videos of all kinds of music. Each video has the lyrics with chord symbols, perfect for playing along. When your piano kid is finished with this list, they might enjoy exploring the Chords For You YouTube channel.  Loop A | A |F#m  | F#m |D |E |A | A for the entire song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8agdakp9dis 9. I'm Yours I’m Yours by Jason Mraz There is a C#/E# chord at the end of the second verse (1:42) and at the end. I just have my younger piano kids rest and get ready for the chorus. There is also an eight-measure vamp (2:09 - 2:34) where the chords change rather quickly and new inversions are added. I would simply count the eight measures and get ready to jump back in when the third verse starts. Loop B | F# | G#m | E for the most part https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwakD6GQwPo 10. Hotel California Hotel California by The Eagles My husband knows I love this chord progression. Any time he's playing guitar and walk past him, he stops whatever he was playing and starts the opening chords of Hotel California. (I love that guy!) This video is from the Eagles' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you ever find yourself in Cleveland, Ohio, take a few hours and visit. There is a sixteen measure introduction on this video. This is a great opportunity for piano kids to learn how to count multiple measures, something they don't do playing solo piano. As they are counting four beats per measure, simply change the first beat to the next measure number: count 1-2-3-4, 2-2-3-4-, 3-2-3-4, etc. Verse -play twice: Bm | F# | A | E | G | D | Em | F# Chorus : G | D | F# | Bm | G | D | Em | F# https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OhUzb9_uEY Thanks for listening! My students and I have had a lot of fun test driving these tunes for you. I hope you and your piano kid will enjoy them as well.  What songs do you enjoying playing along with on YouTube? Post a link in the comments below. To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player.  Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest

A few weeks ago I got an email from Sanette Brems, a piano mom in my studio. Listen to Sanette's parent interview with me on Episode 019. In her email, Sanette said, "I saw this and immediately thought of you!" The link in the email took me to the Kickstarter page for a new music theory game called, "Lord of the Chords". Their website declares that they are the "geekiest, punniest music theory game in the world". Lord of the Chords Kickstarter Page - click here I love puns and really love games that help my students learn and use music theory so I did a little research and was able to contact the developers of the game. Jonathan Ng, one member of the development team, responded to my email and we set up our interview within days and now I am pleased to share that interview with you! Listen to the full interview here A little of Jonathan's background Jonathan started violin when he was eight years old but never felt a strong connection to the violin. By ten, Jonathan wasn't really enjoying the violin but his wise mother made him stick with it! (Way to go, Mom!!) He took ABRSM exams from age 9-18, ultimately passing Grade 8. He did not enjoy the music theory aspect of the exams; his goal was just to pass the exam. He didn't see music theory as the wonderful tool and language that he now recognizes it to be. Jonathan also started learning guitar and began jazz guitar lessons. He says, "To really play jazz, you've got to know your music theory." Thanks to his jazz guitar teacher, Mr. Bay, Jonathan learned the rules of theory and how to use them to "play the game of music". Jonathan shared the things he learned about music improvisation with his friend Jun Yu because he wanted someone to jam with. Jun Yu, a pianist, advanced to ABRSM Grade 8 as well but had a similar experience with dry music theory. Once he understood the way he could use music theory to make music with his friend, Jun Yu and Jonathan set out to find a way to replicate this knowledge. How could they gamify music theory? Read more about Jonathan's musical journey as well as the evolution of Lord of the Chords in this article on Medium.com. Finally, another friend joined the Lord of the Chords team. Keith is an amazing illustrator and designer who had zero musical knowledge before working with Jonathan and Jun Yu. Through playing the game, Keith learned not only the rules of the game and how he could earn triads and steal his opponent's cards but he also learned elements of music theory. This actually gave him an advantage in being able to explain elements of the game to others because he didn't have the "curse of knowledge". Jonathan shows us how the game works. https://youtu.be/l6rzPBjI12o There are many ways to play The basic game comes with 150 note cards and action cards in a beautiful three-dimensional box along with accidental tokens. Students are limited only by their imagination in all the fun ways they can use the cards to play games. The more music theory they learn, the more they can adapt the game. Booster packs will be available to add even more challenges and aspects of the game. Support Lord of the Chords Kickstarter Campaign Thank you, Jonathan, for sharing your story with us today.  I am truly excited about your new game and look forward to supporting your Kickstarter. Piano Parent, if you would like to support Jonathan, Jun Yu, and Keith, check out their Kickstarter page at www.LordoftheChords.com. Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player. 

In recent episodes, I've alluded to the idea of keeping a video or audio journal of your piano kid's musical progress. This is a way for them to see their growth as a musician. In today's show, we will talk in more detail about the advantage of keep a video journal as well as  the practical details like equipment and storage. Great Learning Tool The primary reason to video your child is for them to learn from the experience. When we are playing or reading music, our minds are so focused on that activity that we can stop listening to the music we're making. Having a separate recording gives students a chance to hear themselves as the audience or judge will hear them.  In their imagination, they may have had a bigger contrast in dynamics or tempo or other musical elements but the reality of the recording tells them how accurate they really were. Sometimes, in their imagination, students think the whole performance was flawed. They focus on mistakes or missteps they made while playing and think the entire performance was terrible. Listening to the recording from a more objective perspective allows them to realize they performed very well, in spite of a stumble or two. Consistency Like all things, there is more value in keeping a video journal if you are consistent with your recording schedule. Set a reminder on your phone to make a recording every month of whatever music your piano kid is currently playing. You will come to treasure these videos as they show your child growing physically as they also become more skilled with their music. When preparing for a piano event, record their piece early so they can listen and critique their own playing. Record again in a week or two to let them see the progress they've made in a short time and notice more fine tuning that can be done. As the date of the event gets closer, make a recording of a mock audition or recital performance. When your piano kid knows they are being recorded, they feel similar emotions to the "real thing". They might experience a surge of adrenaline, sweaty palms, racing heartbeat. Put under this stress, their brain could become distracted and make careless mistakes in the music. It's better to do this in practice and learn how to deal with those jitters now than to experience them for the first time during the event. Equipment and Storage Really, there is no need for fancy equipment. Use what works and what is handy. Most of us have better quality cameras on our phones than whatever video cameras we used to video my wedding 30 years ago! There is also no need for editing, though, with your child’s consent, you might work on a video project to post socially. Apple's iMovie and Windows Movie Maker are fairly intuitive (especially for our kids these days) and there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube to help you learn how to edit and create nice looking videos with titles and closing credits, etc. As for storage, don’t just leave videos and audio clips on your phone. How many times has your phone died and you couldn’t recover the data? There are tons of journal apps to use but they could have the same potential problem. My top choices for longer-term storage are: YouTube private channel  iCloud storage -  OneDrive, Dropbox Old school DVD or flash drive or external hard drive. Share with your teacher I love to receive videos from my piano parents during the week. The video may be of an accomplishment made during practice that week or my student may have a question about part of their assignment. I'd much rather my students ask questions during the week than go a full week either not practicing or practicing the wrong way. When I receive videos of students playing at church or school or a family event, I get to share in the joy and success the student has made. Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask a question at pianoparentpodcast@gmail.com Share this show on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest To help out the show: leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews help other piano parents and teachers find the show. Subscribe on iTunes, Podbean, or your favorite podcast player. 

This is a continuation of the get SMART project with my piano students. You can listen to the first part here.  The idea for recording this project came from a wonderful listener in Australia. Sue writes: "As a suggestion for a podcast, I would like one on your SMART approach to a music piece in action. Showing how you can change a learnt piece to a different rhythm, style, etc."

The idea for this episode came from a listener in Australia.     Sue writes: “As a suggestion for a podcast, I would like one on your SMART approach to a music piece in action. Showing how you can change a learnt piece to a different rhythm, style, etc.”