05Dec 2016 by Shelly Davis

PPP019: Parent Interview with Sanette Brems

Parent Interviews, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
  Sanette Brems is the mom of six daughters, five of whom I get to work with every week. The Brems family realized the importance of piano study as a basic, foundation instrument. Kids need a hobby, something to do that gets them excited, and piano is something they could do year-round. They invested in a quality piano their girls could practice on rather than trying to arrange practice at a friend's house. (more…)
Read More
28Nov 2016 by Shelly Davis
Top 10 Most Popular Episodes

Top 10 Most Popular Episodes

Podcast
Wow!  What an amazing response you all have given me with this new venture!  As a 'thank you' for listening to any of my podcast episodes, I'd like to send you a compilation list of the TEN most popular episodes to date. Simply complete the form below and I'll send the list straight to your inbox, completely free! I really appreciate your support and encouragement!
Read More
24Oct 2016 by Shelly Davis
PPP013: Magic Wand Part 1 (a much better name than “Linear Circle of 5ths”)

PPP013: Magic Wand Part 1 (a much better name than “Linear Circle of 5ths”)

Music Theory, Podcast
AKA "Linear Circle of 5ths" (Magic Wand is a much cooler name, don't you think?) My students take the annual theory exam offered by Texas Music Teachers Association. The information I describe in this podcast coincides with the concepts students need to know for the Level 3 and Level 4 theory exam. One of the primary concepts students need to know for this test, and musicians need to be familiar with in general, is key signatures.  Listen to the full episode here: It all starts with a goofy sentence about a Fat Cat: Fat Cats Go Down Alleys Eating Bacon Third Graders taking the TMTA theory test only need to know the first three letters: F, C, G. Students can remember: "F uses the Flat" meaning the F major scale uses a black…
Read More
26Sep 2016 by Shelly Davis

Episode 009: Let Your Child Watch You Learn Something New

Communication, Practicing and Motivation
[caption id="attachment_124" align="alignnone" width="960"] Students sometimes feel even their practice should be perfect. They need to be encouraged to keep trying and work through mistakes.[/caption] Kids are often surprised to learn that their parents don't know something...until they become teenagers, and then they don't think their parents know anything.  (more…)
Read More
05Sep 2016 by Shelly Davis

Episode 006: Progress is Not Always a Straight Line

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
[caption id="attachment_96" align="alignnone" width="652"] Listen to the full episode here Episode Highlights: Sometimes it seems like no progress is being made in lessons. Keep an audio record of your child's piano playing to compare musical maturity Let them listen: to critique their own performance and to realize how they have improved over the course of time Intermingle easier pieces Students face a new challenging piece as soon as they complete the current one.  This can be frustrating. Allow students to play an easier piece before jumping to the next challenge if they are feeling pressured or frustrated. In my studio, students are assigned a "for sure" piece and a "bonus" piece. This gives them a second piece of equal difficulty to the assigned piece they may choose to study or not.…
Read More
22Aug 2016 by Shelly Davis

PPP004: Understanding the Grand Staff

Music Theory, Podcast
Links mentioned in this episode: Purchase Roth's Book: Do Re Mi: If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido D'Arezzo Grand Staff Information Sheet from Susan Paradis Listen to the full episode here Episode Highlights: Historically, until Guido d'Arezzo devised a form of written notation, music was passed orally from generation to generation. If a song was forgotten, it was lost forever. Today, part of a student's piano lesson is teaching them to read music notation. Music is a type of language and piano students truly learn to READ music.  Every music symbol has meaning that must decoded to create beautiful music. Piano students in particular learn to read multiple notes on multiple staves. This makes piano an excellent beginning instrument because piano students are able to transition to band, orchestra, and choir…
Read More
15Aug 2016 by Shelly Davis

Episode 002: Parent – Teacher Relationship

Communication, Podcast
Listen to the full episode here Episode Highlights: Communication Read your teacher's studio policy.  Make sure you adhere to the terms of the policy. Find out the best way your teacher receives communication.  Text? Email? Telephone? Respect your teacher's office hours. Your child's teacher has the gift of 30-60 minutes of dedicated time with them.  Be sure you have hired a teacher who will speak positive encouragement to you son or daughter during that personal time. Listen to your teacher when they recommend additional vision, hearing, or learning tests for the benefit of your child.  They are able to observe their students more closely then even classroom teachers and might pick up on potential problems that can be addressed early. NEVER discuss problems in front of your child!  Don't let…
Read More
15Aug 2016 by Shelly Davis

Episode 003: Piano Geography (aka Do not, under any circumstances, buy those cheesy music alphabet stickers!)

Music Theory, Podcast
Listen to the full episode here DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, BUY THOSE CHEESY MUSIC ALPHABET STICKERS!! You, as a Piano Parent Podcast listener, are too smart to fall for that retail trap! Helping your child learn the names of the piano keys is too easy and too essential for their piano proficiency to depend on stickers or any other external aid. (more…)
Read More
25Jul 2016 by Shelly Davis
Podcast Launch

Podcast Launch

Communication
[caption id="attachment_8" align="alignleft" width="335"] Making the most of piano lessons.[/caption] In less than one month, this one-of-a-kind podcast will launch! Mark your calendar for August 15, 2016 for the launch of a brand new podcast dedicated to parents of piano students; the Piano Parent Podcast. If you do a Google search for piano podcasts, you will find many to choose from that are directed at piano teachers.  Every issue from proper technique to the latest music apps to standard teaching repertoire is addressed in order to equip piano teachers with knowledge so they can provide the best musical education for their students. While these issues are important and necessary, what about the parents of piano students?   (more…)
Read More