The Piano Pantry Podcast

Welcome to the Piano Pantry Podcast, where together, we live life as independent music teachers. In this space, we will talk about all things teacher-life-related, from organizing our studios to getting dinner on the table and all that comes between. You’ll get loads of easily actionable tips on organizing and managing your studio while balancing life and home.


The Piano Pantry Podcast is available on these podcast streaming networks:
Apple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicGoogle PodcastsOvercastiHeart RadioCastboxPocket CastsRadio Public

New episodes drop weekly on Tuesday mornings. You can also listen right here if you like!

140 - Using Google Classroom for Assignments & Studio Communiation with Elizabeth Davis-Everhart
139 - ICYMI: A Huge Music Video Collection
138 - Presenting Advice for the Newbie and Novice Alike
137 - Survival Tips for the Busy Musician with Kyunghoon Kim and Elizabeth Yao 
136 - How Valerie Merrel is Using Notion to Manage Her Studio

135 - How Stephanie Thompson is Using Notion to Manage Her Studio
134 - How Jill Gilbert is Using Notion to Manage Her Studio
133 - ICYMI: An Assignment Sheet Superstore
132 - Life After Tonara: A Teacher Talk Follow-Up
131 - Lessons on Learning From 365 Days of Duolingo

130 - Freezer Meal Prep with Michelle Kallod
129 - A Process for Onboarding New Students
128 - Using 3-Ring Binders for Student Materials
127 - 4 Things for the 4th
126 - ICYMI: Piano Safari Stuffed Animal Shopping Guide

125 - RETREAT Teacher Talk with Michelle, Jeanine, Trudi, Mary, Becky, & Krysta
124 - Clean Up Your Contacts
123 - Spotify Playlists: 5 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do
122 - Your Annual Website Update
121 - Purging Your "Idea" Clutter

120 - A New Teacher's Journey with Gretchen Steffen
119 - Tap & Grow: Free Community-Based Marketing
118 - Recital Programming Considerations
117 - Embracing Micro and Macro Adjustments in Your Studio
116 - The Case for Your No Makeup Policy

115 - An Alternative to Student "Evaluations"
114 - ICYMI: Free Student "Award" Programs from MTNA
113 - Taking Time Off: The Tradeoff
112 - Ponderings on Piano Teacher "Friends"
111 - Conferencing Small and Large

110 - Peter Mack on Teaching, Life, and MTNA 2024
109 - Joy & Amy: Ways We Used Notion This Week
108 - 9 Useful Canva Features
107 - March Minute Madness
106 - My 2024 Valentines

105 - Evernote vs. Notion
104 - Streamline Your Group Classes
103 - Technical Pattern Progressions
102 - Freezer (Meal) Prep
101 - ReThink, ReAdjust, ReNew

100 - Piano Teacher World: 2022-2023 in Recap
099 - Holiday Wishes (AI-style)
098 - ForScore (pt 2): Need-to-Know Features
097 - ForScore (pt 1): Organizing Digital Scores and Setlists
096 - Manage Your Waiting List

095 - Teacher Talk with Wendy Stevens
094 - Amy's Favorite Things
093 - Rebekah Maxner: How to Help Students Who Are Not Reaching Their Full Potential
092 - Shake Up Your Holiday Performances
091 - Equip Your Students for Holiday "Singalongs"

090 - Teacher Talk with Sally Eppert
089 - The Curious Piano Teachers on Asking the Right Questions
088 - Top 10 Halloween Resources
087 - 9 Items I Regret Not Buying Sooner
086 - On Assignments and Lesson Planning

085 - Tonara Transitions: A Special Teacher Talk
084 - Student Gift-Giving
083 - Olivia Ellis & Davis Dorrough: Getting Started with Lead Sheets
082 - 12 Easy Ways to Save Money on Sheet Music
081 - What's for Lunch?

080 - Teacher Talk: Schedule "Highlights"
079 - NCKP 2023 Wrap-Up with Janna, Kate, and Christina
078 - Fall Scheduling: Don't Be Afraid!
077 - 7 Useful Chrome Extensions
076 - 5 Productivity Hacks for your Digital Workspace

075 - Teacher Talk with  Florence, Laurie, Shelley & Laurel
074 - What I'm Rethinking
073 - Chrissy Ricker: Adventures in Travel Teaching
072 - Teacher Talk: LouAnn Knight, Jennifer Kurtz, & Gabrielle Tee
071 - The Great Purge (Part 3): College Notebooks & Prof. Magazines

070 - Teacher Talk with Jason Sifford
069 - The Great Purge (Part 2): Sheet Music
068 - The Great Purge (Part 1): Games and Resources
067 - Year-End Meetings Made Easy (Replay)
066 - Samantha Coates: How to Not Give Makeup Lessons

065 - Teacher Talk with Ashley Danyew
064 - Eight YouTube Channels Piano Teachers Should Follow
063 - Amy Talks "Favorite Digital Tools" With Carly Walton
062 - Melody Payne: Improve Your Piano Teaching Business in 4 Steps
061 - A Note-Naming Challenge for Your Students

060 - Teacher Talk with Anna Haugen (6 months traveling the US)
059 - Get More From Your Conference Experience
058 - Abigail Proffitt: Motivating Students with ASD and ADHD
057 - How to Avoid Isolation as An Independent Music Teacher (Replay)
056 - What to Do When Your Students Don't Practice

055 - Teacher Talk with Daniel Light
054 - Tackling Tax Prep
053 - An Email Tip You Didn't Know You Needed
052 - Think Again: A Mindset for Getting (and Staying) Organized
051 - Take Notice: Your Year in Review (and some exciting updates)

050 - Teacher Talk with My Piano Teachers
049 - Reset Your Studio Before the Holidays
048 - Upgrade Your Recipe Management System
047 - Holiday Activities for Your December Group Classes
046 - How to Teach Jingle Bells by Ear

045 - Teacher Talk with Rebekah Maxner
044 - Student Updates Simplified: It's the Little Things!
043 - To Stew or Not to Stew, That is the Question
042 - Life Share: A European Trip Recap
041 - Mental and Emotional Resets (replay)

040 - Teacher Talk: Valerie Merrell (Heading to Grad School Later in Life)
039 - Kate Boyd: Preparing Students for College Auditions
038 - Janna Williamson: Ingredients for Effective Intermediate Teaching
037 - Sara Campbell: Market Your Studio Like a Pro
036 - Natalie Weber: 7 Teaching Inspirations from My Third Grade Teacher

035 - Teacher Talk with Anna Fagan on the RV Teaching Life
034 - How to Teach Students to Play Happy Birthday By Ear
033 - Utilizing Student Binders
032 - What Your Refrigerator and Stacks of Music Have in Common
031 - Easing into the First Lesson

030 - Teacher Talk with Laura Harding, Emily Susko, and Laurie Bender
029 - Simplify Your Studio Communication
028 - Flexible Studio Calendars
027 - Apps I Use Daily
026 - Summertime Favorites

025 - Teacher Talk with Abby Maser and Nicole Douglas
024 - Rabbit-Hole Syndrome
023 - A Little Desktop Dive
022 - Lessons from a Long Waiting List
021 - A Simple, Effective, and Magical Element for Student Evaluations

020 - Teacher Talk: Jonathan Roberts (RCM & Music Lights the Way)
019 - Spring Cleaning: It's Time
018 - Grounded: Mental and Emotional Resets
017 - Recital Program Formats: Pros, Cons, Ideas, and Resources
016 - Recital Planning Made Easy

015 - Teacher Talk with Joy, Janna, and Christina
014 - From Knife Sales to Piano Teacher: Three Life Lessons
013 - How to Make Music Teacher Friends
012 - Share Your Stuff, I'll Go First
011 - Practice What You Preach... Literally

010 - Teacher Talk with Karen Thickstun, MTNA President (2021-2023)
009 - An "In-Between" Moment
008 - Preparing Yourself As An Adjudicator
007 - Using Your Photo App for Task Management
006 - Tasks: They're not all created equal

005 - Teacher Talk with Ben Kapilow
004 - Dinner Hour Meets Teaching Hour
003 - Group Class Scheduling Experiences and Ideas
002 - Managing Your Podcast Consumption
001 - Organizing Student Materials