Friday Finds #278

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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.

Natalie Weber has already written a helpful blog post on making her transition to Dorico.

Last year, it was Tonara, and now Finale. It makes me wonder… what will be the big shocker at the start of the 2025 school year?

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10+ Exciting Google AI Music Experiments for Music Teachers (Katrina Proctor | Midnight Music)

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My Go-To Plan for First Piano Lessons (Ashley Danyew)

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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.

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The New National Music Standards (Eric Bluestine | The Ways Children Learn Music)

I agree with what Eric has to say. The updates are disappointing overall.

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People Are Just Finding Out About the Major Difference Between PYREX and pyrex (We Had No Idea!) (Kiersten Hickman | the Kitchn)

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Podcast Episode: The Science of Motivating Your Kids (And Any Young Adult) (The Art of Manliness)

From the description:

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.

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Piano Practice Assignment Sheet Roundup (Colourful Keys)

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10 Safety Protocols for the Independent Music Teacher (Jennifer Foxx | Music Educator Resources)

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6 Genius Organizing Tools for Music Teachers (Pianosaurus Rex)

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.

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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:

Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken (What’s Gabby Cooking)

Sliced on top of grilled burgers (Food 52)

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Bulletproof Solutions for Make-Up Lessons (Rebekah Maxner)

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How to curate your own life (Yen Lin Kong | TEDx)

“Art is all around us, and all it takes is an open mind and an observant and appreciative eye to connect the dots.”