I’ve always kept a small handheld vacuum in my studio to be able to sweep little things quickly (especially eraser junk off the music rack!). Our old Shark, though, got re-assigned to our camper since it had a beater blade on it we can use to sweep the rug.
I tried going without one but really missed it, so I finally went on the hunt.
What was I especially interested in?
Small and lightweight
Easy to clean
A stand it could be stored on
Minimal attachments – only really useful ones
Replacement filter so after I wash one, I can replace it while the other one dries.
Under $50
Here’s the one I went with. It charges on USB and has a little brush attachment that’s useful for gently cleaning around a keyboard or the tuning pins of the grand piano. There’s a tiny little brush intended to help you clean the mini filter, but I used it to brush junk from around the tuning pins so I could sweep better. Right now, it’s on sale for 40% off at a nice $29 price point!
2
Speaking of cleaning the piano, these Guardsman Dusting Cloths (tack-cloths) are great for dusting the piano case.
3
I have always liked keeping track of the repertoire students study for various reasons, but mostly because it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come and all students have done. I recently updated my repertoire tracking sheet and am even happier with the results than before. Sometimes, small changes make a big difference!
I would be remiss if I didn’t start this week’s Friday Finds with the most recent news shocking our community: The End of Finale.
While Finale was a leader in the industry for decades, I can understand the reasoning behind the decision. Several years ago, after doing a monthly subscription with Noteflight for years, I was considering whether I wanted to continue with Noteflight or move to Dorico or Finale. Between the latter two options, I would have chosen Dorico. My needs were minimal, however, so when Noteflight opened an option for a lifetime license, I jumped on board.
We are big-time into the whole “Chili Crisp” phase that’s been around the internet in recent months. So much so that I went searching for ideas on what to do with it besides just Chili Crisp Fried Eggs and came across this Miso-Parmesan Pasta with Chili Crisp. We liked it! There are a couple of ingredients you might have to track down, but if you enjoy the crisp and a little heat, you’ll like this.
If you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or manager who lives, loves, and works with tweens, teens, and 20s-somethings, you know that young people sometimes act in seemingly head-scratching ways, that you don’t always feel like you’re being listened to, and that it can be frustrating to try to guide them in acting towards positive ends.
The source of these challenges is often chalked up to the underdeveloped brains and hormones that tweens through young twenty-somethings possess. But my guest would say that what’s more to blame is the ineffective way mentors often approach young adults.
P.S. One that she mentions is Notion! Organize Your Life With Notion, a 2-day workshop hosted by myself and Joy Morin, will be held September 20-21. Get more details here.
11
We have new neighbors next door that are building a small organic farm business. I’m in heaven! Every Friday or Saturday, I pop over there and grab a half dozen in-season veggies and other goodies like homemade wheat sourdough bread, local honey, and high-quality pork products.
I recently snatched a bunch of golden beets. We don’t eat them a lot, but definitely enjoy them. Here’s two of my go-to ways to use them:
After roasting them wrapped individually in foil in the oven for 30-45 minutes (depending on the size) and then cooling, I pull off the skin. Then chop large diced in salads or thick slice on top of burgers.
You don’t have to have recipes for either of those but here are a couple if that’s what you like:
58. That’s the number of items I have saved up to share with you in Friday Finds! I hate to be cliche but this summer has been crazy! I keep thinking I’m going to sit down and write one (which usually takes a 75 minute work block), but it just kept getting bumped. *sigh*
On the positive side, I always have lots of great things to share with you, and the more I have saved, the choosier I become. So, you really DO get the best of what I think is worth your time.
I hope you’ve had a great summer thus far – enjoy what’s left!
Even though I love cooking, I don’t watch many cooking shows or competitions. I did, however, enjoy this chef competition series on Netflix where they were competing for the position of head chef of the Five-Star Langham Hotel in London
5
Do something special for yourself this summer and get a color consult! I’ve wanted to do one for years and am so glad I finally spent the money! I was very happy with my experience with Created Colorful. Use THIS link or the discount code AMYCHAPLIN to get $20 OFF all products, including consults, gifts, and the Love Your Closet Audio Course! (I am an affiliate, but it doesn’t cost you extra!)
6
In a recent Friday Finds, I shared some resources on women composers one of my teacher friends discovered while attending the 2024 MTNA Conference in Atalanta (Thanks, Shelley!). After seeing those, another teacher friend reached out with another suggestion. Thanks, Garreth!
“There’s also a wonderful compilation of women composers from Karen Marshall called Herstory; it’s a real joy! It’s progressively organized, like Melanie Spanswick’s series, but what I particularly like is that each composer is introduced in a really warm way. It’s also a very high-quality book. It’s worth checking out!”
7
If you’re fascinated by how the brain works, then you’ll definitely want to check out this two-part podcast episode with Gregory Chase on Keys to Music Learning. He shares some absolutely fascinating information on neuroscience and how we can use it to structure our lesson time, the impact of hormones, and more.
8
One thing I think it’s important for all piano teachers to own is some kind of foot prop for students’ feet so they can sit at the proper height and position at the piano. I keep a variety, and simple platforms work just fine, but it’s really nice to have an actual pedal extender so even younger students can enjoy using the pedal while sitting at a proper height. I have two different ones. This one is the one I would recommend first because it’s half the price of the other and very comprable in quality. CPS Pedal Extender
9
I’ve been making food plans for this week’s digital organization retreat in my home. Between catering both my own retreat and Joy Morin’s over the past few years, I have a few favorites that work well for these events. Food plans for every event always vary a bit depending on the dietary needs of attendees, but one thing that I make every-single-time is this delicious Herbal Iced Tea from Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten).
10
My husband and I have really been enjoying Vitamin String Quartet on Spotify. They give a classical spin on pop tunes. If you’re one to play music while you work, this might be a fun option!
If you’re still looking for a professional development event to attend this summer, consider the Music Teacher Turboboost Nicola Cantan is hosting in July. My friend Christina Whitlock and I were both invited to share as part of this event—Christina on Saturday and me on Sunday—along with lots of other great sessions put on by Nicola and her team. Hope to see you there!
A couple of months ago, I checked out a game from the library to play with my BBBS lunch buddy, Eliza, called Point Salad. It was so much fun! My mom and I even played it together one evening and she loved it too. If you like the game Sushi Go, I think you’ll like this.
I shared my own Trader Joe’s shopping list here on the blog a few years ago if you want to see some of my favorites – many of which are still the same!
Of Lindsay’s list, I’m in agreement that these six are absolute must-haves:
Earlier this year, I splurged on something I’ve wanted to do for a long time: get a color consult. My wardrobe has been in need of attention for a few years now, and I wanted to approach it with a better process.
I hope to blog about this in more detail someday, but until then, if you’re interested, use THIS linkor the discount code AMYCHAPLIN to get $20 OFF all products from Created Colorful, including consults, gifts, and the Love Your Closet Audio Course! (I am an affiliate, but purchasing through my link doesn’t cost you any extra.)
It is so sad to hear of Susan Paradis’s passing. Susan was a gem in the early world of online content for piano teachers.
2
In early May, a new ruling by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will go into effect, putting a cap on late credit card fees.
3
I’ve gone back and forth on keeping energy/snack bars in the house and haven’t had any in a while. In preparation for last month’s ‘MTNA conference, though, I grabbed some and found a couple of new favorites!
Welcome to a special edition of Friday Finds! I thought it would be fun to follow the 2024 Music Teacher National Conference in Atlanta with a list of announcements, favorite new products, and special features. (Thanks to all the teacher friends who sent me items to add to the list! You know who you are! 🙂
Let me know in the comments which item(s) you are most excited about!
Effective July 1, 2024, Brian Shepard has been named MTNA’s new CEO. Shepard began his career at MTNA in 2003 as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations. In 2008, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer.
There will be a free webinar on Tuesday, April 23, @ 1:00 pm EDT for those who want to “get an overview of the exam requirements, explore fun ways to prepare, and learn how to get started.
“Friends at Last: Tuneful Rote Pieces for the Beginning Pianist is a collection of ten rote pieces woven into a story about what it means to be a friend. This format is perfect for a recital performance with a narrator telling the story and a group of beginning pianists performing the pieces. It is also provides supplemental repertoire for Piano Safari Friends and Repertoire Book 1.”
This a delightfully light and flavorful egg salad recipe for you to try this week. I love the swap of avocado and cottage cheese for what would traditionally be mayonnaise, and the small amount of corn and dried tomatoes gave it a nice twist!
My husband and I, though, have to eat our egg salad on some good sturdy wheat crackers. The lettuce bed doesn’t bring joy to our palette. 🙂
