Dear Piano Teacher,
OK, OK, I’m a total copycat! I admit it. This is not an original idea. Last year, Leila Viss wrote a post called 40 Trendsetting Piano Teaching Resources that she compiled along with her friend Marie Lee (which included Friday Finds B.T.W. 🙂 and I absolutely loved it.
So, I started making a list of items that impacted me this past year and the list just started flowing. As the list evolved, it started to include not just specific events, items, and products that impacted me, or that I “discovered,” but items and happenings that I would consider “big news” in piano teacher world.
In alphabetical order…
In Piano Teacher News
Big changes at The Francis Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy
There’s lots going on at The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy! Not only did they hire a new Full-Time Executive Director in October 2017 (Dr. Jennifer Snow), but in December 2017 they appointed Ryan Greene as the new Director of NCKP (National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy).
Carol Matz’s inter@ctive Piano Method
Composer Carol Matz wrote and published a new method that has online interactive materials.
After attending NCKP this summer and seeing all the wonderful teaching demonstrations, Irish piano teacher Nicola Canton began posting short clips of her own teaching on her blog Colourfulkeys.ie.
Joy Morin’s Piano Teacher Retreat “Retreat at Piano Manor”
Joy came up with a great concept for a 3-day retreat for piano teachers and put it into practice this year. A group of teachers from all over the country came together in a relaxed environment to discuss method books, and their history, and to learn from each other.
New MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Website
MTNA Launched their new and much-improved website! We all know how badly it was needed, and I’m so happy about the changes I’ve seen. One of the biggest things is the ability to have teacher profiles on the website.
This new podcast is for anyone interested in becoming more musical. They cover topics like playing by ear, improvising, writing music, singing in tune, performing and jamming, and much more.
MLT seems to be gaining more and more interest in PT World this past year.
There’s a brand new Facebook group called “Edwin E Gordon and Music Learning Theory for Piano Teachers.” Which was established with the hopes of it being a place for piano teachers who are interested in learning more about MLT to get their feet wet.
GIA Publications has also now made available a free PDF of Dr. Gordon’s booklet Quick and Easy Introductions. This is the perfect place to start for anyone interested in learning more about Music Learning Theory.
Piano Safari launched several new products this year (at least, I’m 95% sure they were all this year). The Animal Adventures book and the new Pattern Pieces books are great ways to utilize the Piano Safari Animal Technique exercises and rote pieces along your favorite method. They also launched their new Theory books.
San Antonio-based piano teacher and artist Susan Hong, after sharing many of her wonderful musical mandalas in Facebook groups, launched her own website.
Tim Topham Creative Music Education
Australian piano teacher Tim Topham has gone all-in this year. No longer teaching at Xavier College, he is now focused on developing his Top Music Pro (formerly the Inner Circle) Membership Site for piano teachers, his newly-branded Creative Piano Teaching Podcast, and now his new app.
In My Own Little Corner of P.T. World
I’ve had these ensembles in my files for years but have never utilized them as I should. This year, we’ve been sightreading at least one piece in these 4-part ensembles during every group class, and they’ve been a fun addition. I’m lucky enough to have a keyboard lab, so these ensembles help me put the lab even more to use!
Iwako Hedgehog Japanese erasers, 6-piece
I think I saw this first from Nicola Canton over at Colourfulkeys.ie but I can’t say for sure. All I know is that the kids go absolutely crazy for them. I bought three packs at once – two so I could use them for a whole octave and one to add to my prize box.
Low Key Card Game. This is a really fun game for practicing key signatures. It, along with the Rockin’ Rhythm Ensembles, was one of my few new resources purchased this year. The TCW Games are always winners. My students specifically commented on how much they liked this game.
Readings and Writing Music Notation Book 1.
This book is part of the Music Moves for Piano series that is based 100% on the Music Learning Theory (MLT) approach. As I began to incorporate the concept of rhythmic rhythms and notation in my studio more and more, I found this book to be a great activity for my late elementary – intermediate students who did not have this approach from the start. Many of my older students have commented that they like doing this workbook that includes pattern listening and recognition during their lab. It’s been a learning curve, but it’s worthwhile.
Rockin’ Rhythms Ensembles. These 4-part rhythm ensembles are a fun way group activity. Practice each rhythm individually as a group, then put them together for a fun, collaborative ensemble.
Ukulele for Music Teachers e-book
MLT-focused music educator Robin Giebelhausen has written a free e-book called Ukulele for Music Teachers. It was an essential element to the success of my Ukulele class this past year.
My Own Little Corner of iPad World
This was the year of the iPad for me. We’ve had an iPad for a long time, but it was an old one, so we didn’t utilize it like crazy. I decked my set-up out this year completely, and it’s amazing. I’ll admit, I don’t go too crazy on apps. The one app I recommended is because it was the newest app for me that I’ve put into the most use during music lab time this past year.
Since I don’t have a laptop, the larger size has been really nice. I would buy it again.
Apple Smart Keyboard
Slim, easy to use, multiple propping positions, and self-charging from directly off the iPad. Super convenient.
A nicety, of course, with its price tag, but I have to say that it will spoil you! Huge difference from using a stylus.
For Score and the AirTurn PEDPro.
I know they’ve been around for a while, but it wasn’t until this past year that I really started using the combination of app and Bluetooth pedal a lot more. It’s a match made in heaven and a setup that will turn heads. Even in 2017, the concept is still fresh to many. I still get a lot of curious onlookers.
I’ve been using Sproutbeat a lot more extensively as part of my lab time this past year. Mostly for my younger students, the thing I love about it is that they can complete a LOT of worksheets for the same concept. The more they do, the more it sinks in. The kids enjoy using it.
In My Own Little World
Baby Bliss porcelain ceramic hair dryer
The sturdiest hairdryer ever. This baby is gonna last me for years to come. I love the weight and balance of it in my hands.
Birchbox
This monthly beauty box has been a fun, useful, and convenient way to try new products. I hate shopping for beauty products because you could easily spend $20-$40 on a bottle of something that you end up not liking or that makes you break out. This box, at $10/month, sends you 5 samples. I have found several products I love that I would never have tried alone. It was a great Christmas gift for my teenage nieces as well – they loved it!
Essentrics / Classical Stretch Online Video Streaming
This Canadian-based program is featured on PBS. A fellow piano teacher told me about it, and I love not only the exercise videos but their whole philosophy of the body, how we move, and how to care for it.
Fekkai Apple cider shampoo
This stuff is ‘the bomb. Yum. It smells amazing and makes my head tingle just enough to feel the build-up saying bye-bye practically.
You can find the Pixi line at Target, which is where I first came across it. The toner, used after face wash nightly, helps my skin feel completely refreshed. Even after a good cleaning, it helps clean my skin even deeper and leaves it feeling brighter.
My current favorite podcast and one of my best finds of the year. It makes it even better because it’s less than 20 minutes per show.
OK, I know it premiered in September of 2016, but we just discovered it this year, and it’s the best show I’ve seen in a while. It’s a beautiful story of a family brilliantly interweaved between generations. Touching, clean, funny, and engaging.
What had the biggest impact on you this past year?
