PPP045: Piano Lessons are about so much more than piano with Corissa Caccitolo, parent
Corissa Caccitolo is the mom of three children, all of whom study piano in my own studio in Whitehouse, Texas. (more…)
PPP044: Learn about the influence of teachers with Corinna Neely
Episode Highlights: Corinna Neely is a piano teacher from Sarver, PA. (more…)
PPP043: What about the Summer?!
Why should you plan to continue lessons during the summer? (more…)
PPP042: Learn how piano can teach your children perseverance from piano mom, Beth Hughes
Beth Hughes is the mom of three children, two of whom, Ben and Hannah, study piano in my own studio in Whitehouse, Texas. (more…)
PPP041: Find out how piano teacher, Clinton Pratt, uses multimedia to help his students with creativity
Listen to the full episode here Episode Highlights: Clinton Pratt is a piano teacher from Cincinnati, Ohio. (more…)
PPP040: 10 YouTube Videos You Should Watch with Your Piano Kid
Music is for sharing! Here is my list of ten YouTube videos I think you and your piano kid would enjoy watching together. (more…)
PPP039: Get SMART with your Music…..Again
This is a continuation of the get SMART project with my piano students. You can listen to the first part here. The idea for recording this project came from a wonderful listener in Australia. (more…)
Episode 038: Parent Interview with Shanna Meads
Shanna Meads is the mom of five children, three of whom study piano in my own studio in Whitehouse, Texas. (more…)
Episode 037: Teacher Interview with Becki Laurent
Episode Highlights: Becki Laurent is a piano teacher from Lubbock, Texas. (more…)
Episode 036: Getting SMART With Your Music
The idea for this episode came from a listener in Australia. (more…)
Episode 035: Parent Interview with Karen Farrell
Karen Farrell is the mom of three sons and a daughter, three of whom currently study piano with Ms. Becki Laurent at The Music Studio in Lubbock, Texas. (more…)
Episode 034: Teacher Interview with Anne Robinson
Episode Highlights: Anne Robinson is a piano teacher from Madison, Wisconsin. (more…)
Episode 033: Magic Wand Part 3
Part Three of the three-part series 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 7 through Level 12 theory exam. Listen to the full episode here: (more…)
Episode 032: Parent Interview with Shelly’s Mom and Dad, Patricia and Jerry Truett
What a joy it was to talk to my own parents, Jerry and Patricia Truett, about my piano lessons growing up! Listen to the full episode here Episode Highlights On this week's episode, I get to interview my two most favorite piano parents in the whole world: my parents, Jerry and Patricia Truett. They were first introduced to the idea of piano lessons through a cardboard keyboard that was sent home from the Dallas Public School District. This was my very first piano lesson book. It was published by the Dallas Independent School District. Amazing! [caption id="attachment_506" align="alignnone" width="474"] Music lets ME be someone. What a lovely quote, then and now. How did you find a new piano teacher after you moved from the Dallas area? Mostly word of…
Episode 031: Teacher Interview with Bonnie Synhorst
Episode Highlights: Bonnie Synhorst is a piano teacher from Valrico, Florida. (more…)
Episode 030: 10 Steps to Sitting Properly at the Piano
Listen to the full episode Resources for sitting properly at the piano: (more…)
Episode 029: Steady Beat vs Rhythm
Listen to the full episode here Internalizing a steady beat can be a very challenging concept for beginning piano students. This episode will offer some ways parents can help their piano kid. (more…)
Episode 028: Learn How to Prepare Your Child for Piano Exams with Parent/Teacher Dr. Mario Ajero
Dr. Mario Ajero is internationally recognized as an authority in technology in piano pedagogy and music education. He has been invited as a presenter and performer at conferences such as the MTNA National Conference, the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference, and the Royal Conservatory Summer Summit. Dr. Ajero is Professor of Piano at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he serves as the Keyboard Area Coordinator, teaches applied piano, piano pedagogy, and group piano classes. (more…)
Episode 027: Teacher Interview with Marti Ahern
Episode Highlights: Marti Ahern is a piano teacher from Austin, Texas. (more…)
Episode 025: Parent Interview with Melissa Cornelison
Melissa Cornelison is the mom of two boys who have been studying piano since they were very young children. Her family recently moved and had to transfer to a new piano teacher. Learn about how they made a smooth transition for their boys in this episode. Listen to the full episode here How do you schedule practice at home? Treat home practice like homework, chores, or any other responsibility. Kyle, Melissa's older son, practices three hours each day. He hopes to make music part of his profession some day. While Kaden isn't as passionate about music as Kyle, he still practices piano 30-45 minutes daily. What struggles have your guys overcome through piano study? Kaden struggled with self confidence, especially with the shadow cast by his older brother's musical talent and…
Episode 024: Teacher Interview with Jennifer Foxx
Episode Highlights: Jennifer Foxx is a piano teacher from Arizona. (more…)
PPP023: Magic Wand Part 2 (A much better name than “Linear Circle of 5ths”)
Listen to the full episode here: 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 5 and Level 6 theory exam. (more…)
PPP022: Parent Interview with Gladys Casper
Gladys Casper is the mom of three daughters, two of whom studied with fellow East Texas teacher, Donna Calaway. Gladys recognizes music as a core subject for students and sought to find a compatible teacher for her girls. (more…)
Episode 021: Teacher Interview with Chrisanne Holm
Episode Highlights: Chrisanne Holm is a piano teacher from Albertville, Minnesota. (more…)
PPP020: 10 Reasons to Maintain a Piano Playlist
[caption id="attachment_1034" align="alignleft" width="410"] 10 Reasons to Maintain a Piano Playlist[/caption] Mentioned in this episode: Florida Stephen Foster State Park Musical Instrument Museum These are my ten reasons....today. What would you add to this list? Please comment below. Listen to the full episode here
PPP019: Parent Interview with Sanette Brems
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…)
Episode 018: Teacher Interview with Emily Quiles
[caption id="attachment_205" align="alignnone" width="960"] Emily Quiles, Teacher Interview[/caption] Episode Highlights: Emily Quiles is a piano teacher from Manhattan, Kansas. (more…)
Top 10 Most Popular Episodes
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!
Episode 017: Be Your Child’s Biggest Cheerleader
[caption id="attachment_210" align="alignnone" width="560"] Listen to the full episode here Episode Highlights: 45 Gratifying Facts about Thanksgiving A little more about Sarah Hale, the Mother of Thanksgiving Thanksgiving makes me think of food, family and football. Football makes me think of the Parent/Teacher/Student relationship (Episode 002) (more…)
PPP016: Parent Interview with Suzanne Tapley
[caption id="attachment_199" align="alignnone" width="554"] Suzanne Tapley, piano parent[/caption] Suzanne Tapley is a piano parent from my own studio in East Texas. Her daughter, Ashlynn, showed an interest in the arts as a young child. Suzanne gave her opportunities to experience the arts in many areas: art, ballet, band, piano, etc. (more…)
Episode 015: Teacher Interview with Hetty Jagersma
[caption id="attachment_173" align="alignnone" width="960"] Hetty Jagersma, independent teacher from Edmonton, Alberta[/caption] Episode Highlights: Hetty Jagersma is a piano teacher from the Edmonton, Alberta area. (more…)
PPP014: Realistic Goals of Piano Study
[caption id="attachment_180" align="alignnone" width="660"] If the majority of piano students do not become concert pianists, why are we training them as if they are?[/caption] Why do you have your child enrolled in piano lessons? (more…)
PPP013: Magic Wand Part 1 (a much better name than “Linear Circle of 5ths”)
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…
Episode 012: What About Makeup Lessons and Schedule Conflicts
[caption id="attachment_135" align="alignnone" width="800"] Piano lessons are a commitment. Piano parents need to manage their family schedule to avoid conflicts.[/caption] Episode Highlights: When you say "Yes" to something, you're saying "No" to something else. (more…)
Episode 011: Teacher Interview with Rondi Allen
[caption id="attachment_132" align="alignnone" width="960"] Teacher Interview with Rondi Allen from The Studio of Music in Highland Village, Texas[/caption] Episode Highlights: Rondi Allen is a piano teacher and studio owner of The Studio of Music in the Northwest Dallas/Ft. Worth area. (more…)
Episode 010: Ten Ways to Encourage a Love of Music
[caption id="attachment_128" align="alignnone" width="637"] 10 Ways to encourage a love of music[/caption] Welcome to the 10th episode of Piano Parent Podcast! Listen to the full episode here
Episode 008: How to Approach a New Piece of Music
Listen to the full episode here Every week or two, piano students are assigned a new piece of music to learn. This ongoing challenge of facing new music can be daunting so here are a few suggestions to help the process run more smoothly. (more…)
Episode 007: Should I Stay or Should I Go?
[caption id="attachment_137" align="alignnone" width="800"] Should a piano parent stay for the lesson or go?[/caption] (more…)
Episode 006: Progress is Not Always a Straight Line
[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.…
Episode 005: Acoustic Piano vs Digital Keyboard
Listen to the full episode here Episode Highlights: A piano or keyboard is a MUST HAVE for piano lessons. (Seriously, you'd be surprised how many parents don't take this into consideration) (more…)
PPP004: Understanding the Grand Staff
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…
Episode 002: Parent – Teacher Relationship
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…
Episode 003: Piano Geography (aka Do not, under any circumstances, buy those cheesy music alphabet stickers!)
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…)
Episode 000: Please allow me to introduce myself…
Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in this episode: Get SMART with your music (more…)