09 Mar 2026
By Shelly Davis
PPP 377: Three Memorization Strategies for Piano Kids

PPP 377: Three Memorization Strategies for Piano Kids

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
Spring recital season is right around the corner, and many piano families are starting to think about one important question: Should my child memorize their music? While memorization isn’t always required, it’s a valuable skill that helps students feel confident at the piano and ready to perform anytime—even if they forget their music at Grandma’s house! In this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast, Shelly shares three practical and fun strategies she uses in her studio to help students memorize music effectively. These techniques move beyond simple repetition and help kids understand their music more deeply. If your piano kid…
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06 Oct 2025
By Shelly Davis
PPP 367: I Don’t Know What to Practice!

PPP 367: I Don’t Know What to Practice!

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
Getting your kid to the piano to practice and them knowing what to practice are two very different things. On today's show, we'll explore a few strategies to help your piano kid know what to do when they sit at the piano. Plus, PIANOVEMBER is just around the corner! Listen to the full episode here Episode highlights 1. Building the HabitKids — especially beginners — may not naturally see the value of practicing daily.Try “age × 3” minutes as a guideline (e.g. a 5‑year‑old aims for ~15 minutes total).Practice sessions can be split across the day (morning, after school, etc.).It’s…
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22 Sep 2025
By Shelly Davis
PPP 366: Human Nature Delays

PPP 366: Human Nature Delays

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
Have you ever planned to practice piano right after a lesson, only to find “tomorrow” sneaking in? Or wanted to start a project for yourself but been stalled by the small stuff—or worse, the big stuff just never seems to begin? You’re not alone. In this post, I’ll unpack what “human nature delays” means, introduce the intention‑action gap, and share concrete strategies for you and your piano kid to move from "want to" to "did"—bit by bit, week by week. Listen to the full episode here Episode Highlights What Are “Human Nature Delays”? The feeling of being unqualified, not ready, or not…
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30 Jun 2025
By Shelly Davis
PPP 364: Why Playing Games with Your Piano Kid Matters More Than You May Think

PPP 364: Why Playing Games with Your Piano Kid Matters More Than You May Think

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
Screens are convenient, but they don’t build relationships. In this episode, we explore the overlooked value of playing physical games with your piano kid—games that boost memory, spark laughter, and strengthen your connection (without feeling like practice). Listen to the full episode here Listen Here In today's episode, we'll talk about: From childhood memories of napkin games in restaurants to hilarious family Scattergories moments (orangutan, anyone?), this episode will remind you that the smallest interactions—playing cards, rolling dice, laughing over a missed turn—are the very foundation of trust, communication, and lifelong connection. You'll learn: Why screens aren’t always the best…
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28 Oct 2024
By Shelly Davis
PPP361: Practice Only on Days that End in Y

PPP361: Practice Only on Days that End in Y

Podcast, Practice Challenge, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
"Practice only on days that end in Y." It's playful, it's catchy, and it makes you laugh at first. But when we dig deeper, this phrase offers a profound truth about growth, mastery, and commitment. It’s a reminder that the journey to excellence doesn’t happen just on the days we feel motivated, or only when things are convenient. It happens every day. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Join the FREE practice challenge at www.PIANOVEMBER.com. Get your PIANOVEMBER practice tracker here. Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an…
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29 Jan 2024
By Shelly Davis
PPP 356: The Groundhog Day of Piano Lessons

PPP 356: The Groundhog Day of Piano Lessons

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
Do you ever feel like you're living the same piano lesson week after week?Listen to today's show to learn some reasons why music is re-assigned at the lesson and how you can help your piano kid keep moving forward. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show History of Groundhog DayLessons from the Screenplay: Groundhog DayI Got You Babe music at SheetMusicDirect.com Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image isn't branded, please link back to this page and help us…
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16 Oct 2023
By Shelly Davis
PPP 353: What To Do When You Don’t Practice

PPP 353: What To Do When You Don’t Practice

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
Listen to today's episode to hear my suggestions for what you and your piano kid can do about your piano lesson when you've gone the whole week without spending time at your own piano. Listen to the full episode here Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image isn't branded, please link back to this page and help us spread the word about all the great resources at Piano Parent Podcast. Thank you! Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in…
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12 Jun 2023
By Shelly Davis
PPP 337: My First Piano Sheet Music with Author, Emily Norris

PPP 337: My First Piano Sheet Music with Author, Emily Norris

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews, , , ,
One of the best ways to help a child learn to play an instrument is to get them singing familiar tunes. When your piano kid is able to sing a song, playing it on an instrument is exponentially more successful.On today's show, we meet with an author who understands this fact very well. Emily Norris has written a new book of piano sheet music to help young children begin learning to sing and play familiar songs on the piano and she is here to tell us all about it. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show…
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22 May 2023
By Shelly Davis
PPP 334: Chrissy Ricker’s Summer Piano Review Challenge Calendars

PPP 334: Chrissy Ricker’s Summer Piano Review Challenge Calendars

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , ,
Keeping in line with last week's episode about summer reading, this week we get to hear from Chrissy Ricker who has developed summer piano review challenge calendars. Listen as Chrissy shares some of the highlights from her summer activity calendars and how they can help keep your piano kid musical engaged this summer. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Get Chrissy's Summer Review Challenge Calendars HERE.Check out Chrissy's website and blog and other resources at www.ChrissyRicker.com.Listen to Chrissy's first appearance on the podcast: PPP 264: Level Up Your Video Game Music with Composer Chrissy RickerThese…
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20 Feb 2023
By Shelly Davis
PPP 321: Note Rush, 2nd edition with App Developer, Thomas Grayston

PPP 321: Note Rush, 2nd edition with App Developer, Thomas Grayston

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
We first met Thomas Grayston, the genius developer behind the popular note identification app, Note Rush, back in 2017. (You can listen to that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/065)Today, he is back to share some exciting updates to the app including new themes, customized decks of notes, and helpful hints while playing the app. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Thomas Grayston's previous PPP interview: www.PianoParentPodcast.com/065Note Rush App website: https://www.noterushapp.com/Note Rush on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noterush Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image…
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16 Jan 2023
By Shelly Davis
PPP 316: Make Regular Practice Part of 2023

PPP 316: Make Regular Practice Part of 2023

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , ,
In last week's episode I quoted Art L. Williams Jr. “Remember, before you can be great, you’ve got to be good. Before you can be good, you’ve got to be bad. But before you can even be bad, you’ve got to try.”Today, let's focus on the trying aspect of learning to play the piano. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show James Clear's book, Atomic HabitsUse my 168 Hours chart to plot out your schedule and make an appointment with yourself and your piano. Complete the form below. Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your…
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17 Oct 2022
By Shelly Davis
PPP 313: It’s okay to have fun!

PPP 313: It’s okay to have fun!

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
Inspired by a quote from Agatha Christie, this episode reminds us all to enjoy the journey and allow ourselves to be a little ridiculous. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Blooming Bluegrass FestivalHere's the page from my daily inspirational calendar with the quote from Agatha Christie. Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image isn't branded, please link back to this page and help us spread the word about all the great resources at Piano Parent Podcast. Thank you!…
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03 Oct 2022
By Shelly Davis
PPP311: Rock Climber, Kelley Yuan Talks About Facing Challenges

PPP311: Rock Climber, Kelley Yuan Talks About Facing Challenges

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
So much of the time, we focus on dealing with anxiety and performance jitters with the assumption that everyone has them. It was so refreshing to have this conversation with someone who actually enjoys facing challenges and learning how to overcome obstacles.Kelley Yuan is a software developer by day but she is also a pianist and enjoys a very interesting and challenging hobby: rock climbing.Listen to her inspiring outlook on life and how she views challenges with interest and curiosity. Listen to the full episode here See Kelley in action on the rocks Videos like this one made me cheer…
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12 Sep 2022
By Shelly Davis
PPP 308: Why do Olympic athletes need a coach?

PPP 308: Why do Olympic athletes need a coach?

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
Why would a world-class athlete, someone who is at the top of their physical abilities, need a coach? Find out on today's show. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Olympics.com coaches webpageFinding a good coach (a great document for piano parents)Qualities of a Great Sports Coach (a great document for piano teachers)From the PPP Archives:PPP110: Ten Ways to Genuinely Compliment Your Piano KidPPP 194: You're Awesome, But... Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image isn't branded, please link…
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30 May 2022
By Shelly Davis
PPP 293: Don’t Confuse Basic with Easy

PPP 293: Don’t Confuse Basic with Easy

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
"...some of the most basic things are the most important to master, but most of us won't do it because it seems too simple." Vanessa Lau Listen to the full episode here Piano Basics Communicate with your teacher. Learn their expectations.Set up a practice routine - then follow it!Learn to read the staff and read lots of music.Use your hands and fingers efficientlyListen as you play Resources mentioned in today's show This episode was inspired by @vanessalau's Instagram post.James Clear's article, "Lessons on Success and Deliberate Practice from Mozart, Picasso, and Kobe Bryant".Men's Health YouTube video of Patrick Mahomes' workout…
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16 May 2022
By Shelly Davis
PPP 291: Commencement: Congratulations, Graduates!

PPP 291: Commencement: Congratulations, Graduates!

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
I am loving the word commencement this year. The graduation ceremony may mark the end of a season - a finish line, but commencement marks the beginning of a new and exciting adventure. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show "Hold Fast Your Dreams" book by Carrie Boyko and Kimberly ColenBilly Joel gives the commencement address at his New York high schoolBilly Joel's commencement speech at Fairfield University Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image isn't branded, please link…
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02 May 2022
By Shelly Davis
PPP 289: Mindset is More Important Than Strategy

PPP 289: Mindset is More Important Than Strategy

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
Henry Ford said it best, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way, you're right."Learn why mindset is so much more important than strategy on today's show. Listen to the full episode here Mindset is More Important Than Strategy Preston Pugmire says in his wonderful TED Talk, "If information was all that is necessary, we'd all be millionaires with six-pack abs."He goes on to explain that mindset comes in three phases:It's possible... for someone elseDoes your piano kid feel like everyone else can play piano except them? If they don't believe they can do it, the strategy…
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25 Apr 2022
By Shelly Davis
PPP 288: The Advantage of Listening

PPP 288: The Advantage of Listening

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
Listening is just as important as reading or touching the piano keys.Today's show gives you a hands-on (or should I say ears-on) experience of actively listening to music. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Today's music samples were taken from HookSounds.com."I hope"  https://www.hooksounds.com/royalty-free-music/i-hope/2057180/"Drama Trailer" https://www.hooksounds.com/royalty-free-music/drama-trailer/2188939/"Dear Mama" https://www.hooksounds.com/royalty-free-music/dear-mama/2165682/"Born to Become" https://www.hooksounds.com/royalty-free-music/born-to-become/135345/ Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image isn't branded, please link back to this page and help us spread the word about all the great resources at Piano…
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28 Mar 2022
By Shelly Davis
PPP 284: Piano Day 2022

PPP 284: Piano Day 2022

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
March 29 is the 88th day of the year. Happy Piano Day!! I have a few ideas of how you can celebrate this special occasion with your piano kid. Find out on today's episode. Listen to the full episode here You might enjoy listening to these previous episodes dedicated to the PIANO!  (By the way, I would LOVE to invite you to join me as a guest on the show. CLICK THIS LINK to apply today!) Additional resources to help you celebrate Piano Day:  Piano Day website Piano Day playlist on Spotify Every day can be a holiday! Visit the…
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22 Nov 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP268: Christopher Oill shares the value of sight reading

PPP268: Christopher Oill shares the value of sight reading

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews, , , ,
A textbook definition of sight-reading would be the ability to read a piece of sheet music on the spot and to be able to play it as you're reading it. Another aspect of sight-reading is the ability to use your eyes to track the music on the page while your hands find the notes without having to look at them. On today's show, Christopher Oill talks about sight-reading - it's value and how to improve this skill. Listen to the full episode here What is a good definition of sight-reading? A textbook definition would be the ability to read a…
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11 Oct 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP262: Operation MGC (Make Grandma Cry….in a good way!) aka A fun practice project to close out 2021

PPP262: Operation MGC (Make Grandma Cry….in a good way!) aka A fun practice project to close out 2021

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
Your secret mission, should you choose to accept it, is to Make Grandma Cry…in a good way by performing a meaningful song for them at the next family gathering. Find out how in today's episode. Listen to the full episode here Accept your mission by completing the form below. The FREE version of Operation MGC will be available through December 31. During that time, please download the top-secret dossier and help me improve the objectives.Let me know if your piano kid had any failed objectives. What was the problem? How can I help you complete your musical mission for your…
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13 Sep 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP258: Serve up a delicious “Practice Pie” with author Nicola Cantan

PPP258: Serve up a delicious “Practice Pie” with author Nicola Cantan

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews, , ,
A practice pie? Just like learning to bake a delicious pie takes a bit of trial and error, helping your piano kid with their home practice isn't an easy accomplishment.A pie is a perfect analogy because the basic, essential elements are the same yet there is so much variety with flavors and textures. Your home practice also needs a few essential ingredients but you will never get bored as your child grows as an individual and as a musician.  Listen to the full episode here Nicola Cantan is a piano teacher, author, blogger and creator of imaginative and engaging teaching…
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23 Aug 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP255: Piano Practice is Supposed to be Messy! – This one’s for the piano kids.

PPP255: Piano Practice is Supposed to be Messy! – This one’s for the piano kids.

Mom to Mom, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , , ,
Piano kids sometimes have the misconception or misunderstanding that practicing piano at home should sound perfect.Learning to play the piano, just like any other job, is going to have messy bits.Have you ever watched a painter or an artist at work?Have you ever helped your parents do yardwork?Have you ever baked cookies with your grandmother?Paintings, manicured landscapes, and chocolate chip cookies all start messy before they become beautiful. Listen to the full episode here Painter A painter adds texture and color to a blank canvas.When you practice, you are adding new skills and musical ideas to your brain and fingers.…
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16 Aug 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP 254: Practice is NOT the Same as Playing with Clinton Pratt

PPP 254: Practice is NOT the Same as Playing with Clinton Pratt

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews, , , , ,
Clinton Pratt (BM, MM, NCTM) has a Masters degree in Piano, training in Dalcroze Eurhythmics, over 20 years teaching experience, and was the 2016 Certified Teacher of the Year for his OhioMTA district.His successful private studio offers students a solid musical foundation, but with the added benefit of improvisation, ear training, rhythmic games, and multimedia recitals. He has served on local and OhioMTA boards, is on the editorial committee for American Music Teacher, and is a member of the College of Examiners for the Royal Conservatory of Music.Clinton has presented at local and state conferences, MTNA, and the National Conference…
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09 Aug 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP253: Three Myths About Piano Practice

PPP253: Three Myths About Piano Practice

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
As we gear up for a brand new school and a new year of piano lessons, I thought it would be a good idea to visit three common myths about piano practice. Listen to the full episode here Myth 1: Piano practice happens with the teacher "We won't be at piano practice today."Piano lessons are not like sports or dance or gymnastics or other group activities where practicing happens with the group.Your lesson time is like the game or the dance meet. It's the time to see how your practice has moved you forward. The teacher instructs and corrects during…
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02 Aug 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP252: Make a BIG DEAL of your piano kid’s playing, with Jennifer Eklund

PPP252: Make a BIG DEAL of your piano kid’s playing, with Jennifer Eklund

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews, , ,
Jennifer Eklund is the founder of Piano Pronto Publishing, Composer's Community, and FM Sheet Music. In today's episode, we dig into Jennifer's personal piano story and how inspirational her mother was for Jennifer's success as a pianist. We will learn about the struggles she faced to try to get her Piano Pronto method series into the hands of established publishing houses and how she determined to create her own publishing firm. Parents are invited to browse the Piano Pronto website to discover new music with their piano kids. The Sheet Music Wizard is a wonderful tool, not only for discovering…
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14 Jun 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP245: Tactile Toy, Tension Terminator, or Technique Tool?

PPP245: Tactile Toy, Tension Terminator, or Technique Tool?

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
I'm wondering if you've seen these new fidget gadgets. They are made of silicone and come in all kinds of shapes and colors. Fidget spinners, cubes, and now bubble poppers are a great tool for children who need a kinesthetic activity to keep their hands busy while they are learning or concentrating. If you'd like to be a sneaky parent, listen to today's show to learn the value of this toy/tool, and then surprise your piano kid with an unexpected treat. Listen to the full episode here Why parents love bubble poppers Here are just a few reasons parents are…
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26 Apr 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP238: Parkinson’s Law: Works expands so as to fill the time available for its completion

PPP238: Parkinson’s Law: Works expands so as to fill the time available for its completion

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , ,
I often say, "I get more done, the busier I am."Cyril Northcote Parkinson said the same thing, much more elegantly. Here is the first paragraph of an article he wrote in 1955. "IT is a commonplace observation that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion. Thus, an elderly lady of leisure can spend the entire day in writing and despatching a postcard to her niece at Bognor Regis. An hour will be spent in finding the postcard, another in hunting for spectacles, half-an-hour in a search for the address, an hour and a quarter in composition,…
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29 Mar 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP234: Are we having FUN yet?

PPP234: Are we having FUN yet?

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation,
Should piano lessons and home piano practice be fun? Is it better to have a serious piano lesson? What do you do to keep practice from becoming boring? Listen to the full episode here What do you think about this definition of fun? Here is a different take on FUN If you would like a better definition of fun when it comes to piano lessons, you might try to make them.... Fulfilling If you have a task to do, it can be fulfilling simply because you enjoy the result of the work. I don't like sweeping the floors but I…
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22 Mar 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP233: Time to Practice

PPP233: Time to Practice

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
No matter how you look at it, spending time at the piano on the days between lessons is vital. So many students tell me they didn't have time to practice. I will admit that schedules are very busy these days but part of a parent's responsibility, and a sure way to get a good return on your investment, is to MAKE time to practice. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Grab your 168-hour chart hereLearn more about Michael Hyatt's "Your Best Year Ever" course here Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your…
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15 Mar 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP232: Practice Tempo vs Performance Tempo

PPP232: Practice Tempo vs Performance Tempo

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
During my interview last week with Note Quest app developer, Grace Lee, we briefly mentioned the value of slowing the tempo when practicing sight reading. I decided to spend a little more time on that topic today. Listen to the full episode here Resources mentioned in today's show Download Note Quest (this is an affiliate link)Listen to my interview with Grace Lee.Learn more about getting SMART with your music. Social Sharables Click an image to share directly to your pinterest account. Download an image to share in your social circles. If the image isn't branded, please link back to this…
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22 Feb 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP229: Let’s Celebrate Piano Day!

PPP229: Let’s Celebrate Piano Day!

Podcast, Practice Challenge, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
I love arbitrary holidays. I have a calendar on my studio wall created by Sandra Boynton called Every Day's a Fabulous Holiday. Because of that calendar, we've recently celebrated Static Electricity Day (Jan 9), Learn Your Name in Morse Code Day (Jan 11), Kazoo Day (Jan 28), Ice Cream for Breakfast Day (Feb. 6).You may have seen that January 21st of this year was the 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century. Nothing special happened on that day for me, this year or any year as far as I can recall but now it's kind of special…
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25 Jan 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP225: “2021” with Songwriter and Piano Kid, Violet Rivers (and company)

PPP225: “2021” with Songwriter and Piano Kid, Violet Rivers (and company)

Parent Interviews, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews, , , , , ,
Violet Rivers put a smile on my face with her delightful song and her charming interview. I love that she is learning to work through difficulties and challenging times with creativity and songwriting.Music truly can soothe the soul - and bring a giggle.In this episode, we hear from Violet along with her parents, Mark and Kristen Rivers, and her piano teacher, Gere Fennelly. Violet's dog, Walter, even makes a brief appearance! Listen to the full episode here Piano Parent Takeaways: "You can do anything for 10 minutes." Just get to the piano for 10 minutes. Your piano kid will likely…
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18 Jan 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP224: The Practicing Pro, Christy Hodder

PPP224: The Practicing Pro, Christy Hodder

Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews, , , ,
Christy Hodder is a violin teacher and director of the Scotia Suzuki School of Music. She is on a mission to "help parents have effective, positive, and FUN practicing in their homes". Listen to the full episode here Tell us your music story. Christy's mother is the hero of her music story. Her mom joined the RCA record club and receive a new album every month. Christy remembers hearing amazing music in her home from a very early age. She attended an orchestra concert with her family and fell in love with the violin and knew that she wanted to…
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17 Aug 2020
By Shelly Davis
Encore Presentation PPP025: Piano Parent Interview with Melissa Cornelison

Encore Presentation PPP025: Piano Parent Interview with Melissa Cornelison

Mom to Mom, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , ,
This is an encore presentation of episode 025, an interview with piano parent, 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…
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29 Jun 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP199: “I Played It Better At Home!” aka The Observer Effect

PPP199: “I Played It Better At Home!” aka The Observer Effect

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
I can't tell you how many times I said those very words to my piano teachers! Even as an adult I would occasionally say, "Seriously, I played it better at home!" The interesting phenomenon of having your actions affected when you know you are being watched is called the Observer Effect. I first learned the name for this when I read Mike Rowe's book, "The Way I Heard It." I'm not affiliated with Mike Rowe or his book or his podcast but am a huge fan! Listen to the full episode here The Observer Effect, as explained through physics I…
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25 May 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP194: You’re Awesome, But…

PPP194: You’re Awesome, But…

Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
Read that title again and make sure you don't miss the punctuation! This is not a podcast about our posterior, today's show highlights a philosophy in which we can engage with our piano kids in a positive and constructive way. I recently subscribed to a podcast, Positive University Podcast, by Jon Gordon. My husband suggested an interview on the podcast with Buzz Williams, the Texas A&M Basketball Coach. That interview was awesome so I subscribed to the podcast and have heard many other motivational talks. In today's episode of the Piano Parent Podcast, I am sharing my perspective on Jon…
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20 May 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP193: This is a Good Time to Reevaluate Your Home Practice Environment

PPP193: This is a Good Time to Reevaluate Your Home Practice Environment

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , , ,
The global shift to online piano lessons has shown piano teachers what's really going on at home. We see the instrument your piano kid is using for practice and we see how they are sitting at the piano. This is a great time for you to take a closer look at your piano or keyboard and notice how your piano kid is sitting at the piano when they practice.  Listen to this week's show for tips and suggestions that will not only help your piano kid but will give you bonus points with your piano teacher as well. We've also got some…
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23 Mar 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP185: Student Case Study, Chapter 6 aka “A New Reality”

PPP185: Student Case Study, Chapter 6 aka “A New Reality”

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , , ,
Good morning, Piano Parents.Is your mind still reeling from everything that has happened over the last few days?Some of you have been dealing with COVID-19 for much longer. My prayers are with you. While I want to be informed and educated, I already tired of hearing about the Coronavirus so I've gone back and forth about what to talk to you about today. Listen to the full episode here Should I bury my head in the sand and offer you a topic that doesn't even acknowledge what's happening in the world? Should we discuss how everyone is coping with the sudden…
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02 Mar 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP182: Playing Major Scales with One Hand

PPP182: Playing Major Scales with One Hand

Music Theory, Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
Identifying and playing major scales is a "major" part of playing the piano (pun intended). I tend to teach my students about Major Scales when I introduce the Linear Circle of Fifths. I call it a Magic Wand because of all the information it provides students in one easy to remember tool. You can listen to my teaching method of the Magic Wand in a three-part series starting with episode 013 Listen to the full episode here Another tool teachers use to teach Major scales is a formula using whole steps and half steps. A half step is moving from…
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10 Feb 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP179: Nurture vs Organic

PPP179: Nurture vs Organic

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, ,
There are lots of discussions about the Nature vs Nurture comparison. The question comes up often when we consider an adult's choices or actions. Were they just born this way? Were they influenced by their parents, teachers, or classmates? I think that is an interesting topic but it is a much broader scope than what we will cover on today's show. Listen to the full episode here Today, I want to focus specifically on your piano kid's musical journey. Is it happening organically - just go with the flow or are you nurturing it and being intentional to help it…
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06 Jan 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP174: Nicole Douglas shares how we play piano with our brain

PPP174: Nicole Douglas shares how we play piano with our brain

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews,
It is my joy to bring Nicole Douglas back to the podcast for another insightful interview. We first met Nicole in episode 085. In that interview, Nicole briefly shared some of her research on underlying issues that our piano kids might be dealing with. Today she is back to tells us more. Some people say we play the piano with our hands. Some people say we play with our arms. If you go deeper still, you will see that we play the piano with our brain. So it’s in our best interest to create an environment that works with the…
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11 Nov 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP168: You Cannot Learn to Play Piano in 30 Minutes Per Week

PPP168: You Cannot Learn to Play Piano in 30 Minutes Per Week

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
I was reminded recently that parents need to be reminded to encourage their children to practice at home. I have the privilege of teaching music part-time at a charter school near me and my third graders are starting to play recorder. The kids and I meet only one day each week and that is only for 30 minutes. I told the students, "You cannot learn to play recorder in only 30 minutes per week. If you don't practice at home, you will be confused in class and will quickly fall behind." The same thing is true for piano students. They cannot…
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21 Oct 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP165: Student Case Study, Ray, Chapter 4

PPP165: Student Case Study, Ray, Chapter 4

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , , , ,
In these episodes  which end with five (155, 145, 135) we are following the journey of a typical student as he learns to read music and play the piano. This student, I'm calling him Ray, began lessons with me in January of 2019. His older brothers studied with me a few years ago and I am delighted to be working with him.When we last shared Ray's story, he had just begun learning the pieces in the Piano Adventures Method book 2A. Listen to the full episode here Lesson 10 Ray has been eager to get to the Level 2B book,…
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07 Oct 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP163: Learning from a guy who loves learning

PPP163: Learning from a guy who loves learning

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
My son Austin and I had breakfast together this morning.He showed me a YouTube channel he's been watching.Austin likes to learn things: basic handiwork, woodworking, auto repair, juggling, yodeling, mountain biking...He's not afraid to learn something new.No surprise that he was watching a channel that is all about a guy who learns to do things. Mike Boyd documents the process and challenges he goes through to learn a new skill. Learn to stack dice video - Uploaded September 14, 2017 and viewed almost 9 million times. The challenge posed to Mike by a fan of his on Twitter is called Dice Stacking and…
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09 Sep 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP159: Practicing Integrity

PPP159: Practicing Integrity

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , ,
At the end of last week's show, I mentioned an article by Michael Jensen, professor at Harvard Business School, titled "Integrity: Without it Nothing Works."  I thought it was a great topic for a complete show in itself so here we are. You might hear people say that studying piano teaches children so much more than music. You've probably heard me say that. One of my tenth episodes talked about the non-musical benefits of studying the piano. In PPP100 I listed things like listening, problem solving, and coordination. All great things. Today, let's talk about another valuable non-musical concept: INTEGRITY. What does integrity…
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02 Sep 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP158: How to Actually Make Progress with Playing the Piano

PPP158: How to Actually Make Progress with Playing the Piano

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
As a producer of a podcast, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I am also an avid listener of podcasts. While listening to Pat Flynn's "Smart Passive Income Podcast" recently, I discovered an interview that adapts extremely well to our piano kids. Listen to the full episode here Pat's interview with James Wedmore In the Smart Passive Income Podcast's episode number 376, Pat Flynn interviewed James Wedmore. I don't know anything about James beyond what he and Pat talked about in their conversation but that alone was enough for me to want to share some insights I gained…
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12 Aug 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP155: Happy 3rd Birthday and Student Case Study Chapter 3

PPP155: Happy 3rd Birthday and Student Case Study Chapter 3

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
Happy 3rd Birthday!! The Piano Parent Podcast is now 3 years old!! Our first episode aired August 2016 - Episode 000. I listened to that first episode again and it's not as bad as I was afraid it would be but I can definitely tell my editing skills have gotten much better. I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't gotten started three years ago. The title graphic for this show is a picture of me when I was about three years old. Sometimes we think three years is such a long time but when I look at…
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29 Jul 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP153: What is “perfect” anyway!?

PPP153: What is “perfect” anyway!?

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
I love getting mail from you guys! Recently, I received an email from a listener asking how to help her young daughter who is starting to show signs of perfectionism. What a great question! I'm not a counselor or trained at all in the underlying issues that can cause perfectionism but I can offer you my observations from students I've worked with. I often say that I learn as much from my students as they learn from me. Today I will share a few examples. What is "perfect" anyway? Merriam-Webster - "being entirely without fault or defect". In my mind, that's…
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17 Jul 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP151: DONE is better than perfect, right?!

PPP151: DONE is better than perfect, right?!

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
Sometimes, all you can do is all you can do. This episode almost didn't happen. Life is like that sometimes. Listen to the full episode here Links to summer episodes for parents PPP100: Ten Non-Musical Benefits of Studying Music PPP105: The Blessing of Routine Links to Teacher Interviews Usually, an episode ending in 1, 4, or 7 is a teacher interview. I wasn't able to follow the pattern with PPP151 but here are past interviews with teachers. The special thing about all these teachers is that I was able to visit with them recently at the Texas Music Teachers Convention.…
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01 Jul 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP149: Developmental Fitness with Vicki Conway, part 2: Literacy Skills

PPP149: Developmental Fitness with Vicki Conway, part 2: Literacy Skills

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , , , , ,
DEVELOPMENTAL FITNESS is the development of the neural network which physical movement provides to the brain. Vicki Conway is serious about play. In today's interview, part two of a two-part interview, she shares how important physical activity is for our children's, and our own, brain development. In last week's interview, Vicki talked about Survival Skills; those things the brain will default to when under stress. Unless our body is able to use those skills efficiently, our brain will not be able to access information stored in other areas. Today, Vicki shares Literacy Skills with us. Literacy Skills have to do…
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24 Jun 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP148: Developmental Fitness with Vicki Conway, part 1: Survival Skills

PPP148: Developmental Fitness with Vicki Conway, part 1: Survival Skills

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , , , , , ,
DEVELOPMENTAL FITNESS is the development of the neural network which physical movement provides to the brain. Vicki Conway is serious about play. In today's interview, part one of a two-part interview, she shares how important physical activity is for our children's, and our own, brain development. Listen to the full episode here Vicki Conway is a senior lecturer at the University of Texas at Tyler. She actively performs in concerts, plays the organ for her church, and maintains a private piano studio as well. Together with her husband, Brett, Vicki founded Conway Music, Movement and Math through which they offer…
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03 Jun 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP145: Student Case Study, Ray – Chapter 2

PPP145: Student Case Study, Ray – Chapter 2

Practicing and Motivation,
I first told you about "Ray" a couple of months ago in Episode 135. In that episode, we learned three important lessons: 1. Don't burn bridges, 2. There is nothing wrong with easy, and 3. There is too much music out there to be stuck playing something you don't enjoy. Today I thought you might be interested in hearing how things are progressing for him. Listen to the full episode here Spring Semester We've gotten more comfortable with each other. One day he was a little too silly but I redirected him and made a note to see if this would become…
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22 Apr 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP139: Spring Piano Recital – WHY?!

PPP139: Spring Piano Recital – WHY?!

Practicing and Motivation, , ,
Click here to download this episode. Each year, about this time, music teachers around the world prepare their students for recital.  The question is WHY? I can’t speak for other teachers but I’ll use this post to explain why I think a formal spring recital is important along with more details about the way my studio recitals are conducted. Listen to the full episode here First, the WHY: I believe one of the best reasons for a recital is simply the enjoyment of music.  We often listen to music passively while driving in the car or working on other projects,…
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11 Mar 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP133: What’s really going on when your piano kid says, “This is too hard!”

PPP133: What’s really going on when your piano kid says, “This is too hard!”

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , ,
Doing new things can be challenging for all of us. Piano students are asked to do new things constantly. Once they master one concept, another is given to them without pause. Faced with something new, in this case a new musical concept to master or a new song to play, students have to exert a lot of conscious effort. They have to intentionally think about what they want their hands to do. That is hard work! Piano kids will often resist and not even try because they don’t feel they will be successful. Rather than try and fail, they choose…
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21 Jan 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP126: Build Practice Habits

PPP126: Build Practice Habits

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
Over the break I purchased James Clear’s new book, “Atomic Habits”. I’ve been “reading” it in audio format which has been nice. I had to drive to Dallas for a meeting and had James Clear teaching me his wonderful habit lessons the entire trip. Some of the things he talked about in the book caused me to think of you guys and how we can help our piano kids have more successful practice sessions at home. This may be a little corny but I’ve mapped it out using performance lingo. Today we’ll talk about Setting the Stage, Knowing Your Cue,…
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14 Jan 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP125: A Negative Review and the Best Compliment I Could Hope For

PPP125: A Negative Review and the Best Compliment I Could Hope For

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation,
 I’ve been trying to psych myself up for the new year. Trying to think of helpful topics to share after our two week break. I had the beginning of some ideas (new year’s resolutions and how they apply to piano practice, encouragement for parents getting back into a routine, etc) but I didn't get very far with them. I will see about developing these topics for a future episode but I accidentally got the inspiration for this week’s topic when I looked at one of the reviews on my iTunes account. “I’ve been teaching 15 years and have seen a…
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17 Dec 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP123: This is Your Brain on Music – book review

PPP123: This is Your Brain on Music – book review

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
On this week's show, Dawn Ivers and I discuss Dr. Daniel J. Levitin's book, This is Your Brain on Music. Music activates the oldest and newest parts of our brain together The old brain and new brain work together when playing an instrument. (pg 57)Listening to music activates brain regions in a particular order. (pg 191)You may have heard that music is good for the brain, and it’s true. The research shows that both playing & listening to music create more & stronger neural pathways between different brain regions. Melodic Memory is a combination of both abstract and specific. We…
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10 Dec 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP122: Handel’s “Messiah” the IMDB(ish) Story

PPP122: Handel’s “Messiah” the IMDB(ish) Story

Musical Mystery, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
George Frideric Handel was born in Germany in 1685 to Georg and Dorothea Handel. His father was a surgeon-barber who didn’t want Handel to study music. He wanted him to study law. Handel’s mother helped him smuggle a clavichord into the attic so he could practice in secret. Finally, his father was persuaded by a duke to enroll Handle in formal music training. He did begin the University of Halle, Germany studying law, out of respect for his father, but eventually devoted himself entirely to music. Handel moved to London in 1712, was paid a salary by Queen Anne and…
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19 Nov 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP119: Buckle Up, Baste, and Breathe

PPP119: Buckle Up, Baste, and Breathe

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving. Along with that will come the tidal wave of Christmas shopping and events. As we approach the holiday season, it’s a good time to pause and make a battle plan for the craziness that is bound to happen with our schedules. This episode won’t give you any new revelations for balancing everything, I don’t have a magic formula for adding hours to your day or days to your week. It will simply be a reminder to both of us to cut ourselves some slack. We both know these sages of wisdom but we forget…
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22 Oct 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP115: PIANOVEMBER Practice Challenge 2018

PPP115: PIANOVEMBER Practice Challenge 2018

Podcast, Practice Challenge, Practicing and Motivation, ,
Many of you participated in our last Practice Challenge, Fall Into Music back in September. In fact, some of you are using the challenge for the remainder of the fall season. It’s been a lot of fun seeing your piano kid’s pictures on Instagram. Now that November is just around the corner, it’s time to start our next practice challenge. What do you get when you combine piano with November? PIANOVEMBER! Here’s how it works. Students, you will tally one point for every piece you play, every time you play it. You can play review pieces, old pieces, new pieces,…
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15 Oct 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP114: Find Your Musical Voice with author Lisa Donovan Lukas

PPP114: Find Your Musical Voice with author Lisa Donovan Lukas

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews, , , , ,
It is a delight to welcome Lisa Donovan Lukas back to the podcast. You can catch her previous interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/091.During that interview Lisa mentioned her book, "The Young Musician's Guide to Songwriting: How to Create Music & Lyrics" and today we get to dig into the details of her book even more. Who is this book designed for? Tweens and teens. Students of this age a making big leaps in their emotional development. They are discovering who they are. They have social challenges at school.Music is a creative and safe way for them to work through emotions: joy, love, relationships,…
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08 Oct 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP113: The Legacy of Van Cliburn, presented by Annette Morgan

PPP113: The Legacy of Van Cliburn, presented by Annette Morgan

Music HIstory, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Today's guest, Annette Morgan, is a former student of Rildia Bee O'Bryan Cliburn. In today's interview, Mrs. Morgan shares her experiences in Mrs. Cliburn's studio as well as the story of Van Cliburn's rise to fame after he won the first Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, in 1958. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Ann Saslav, a well-respected pianist herself, who was the catalyst for Annette Morgan's presentation to East Texas Music Teachers Association and for today's interview. Ann Saslav interview with Tyler Morning Telegraph Ann Saslav obituary Mrs. Cliburn, piano teacher Rildia Bee O'Bryan was born October 14,…
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10 Sep 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP109: Practical Tips for Practicing WITH Your Young Piano Kid

PPP109: Practical Tips for Practicing WITH Your Young Piano Kid

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
This week’s show is my answer to a recent question from a piano parent. Beth writes, “What is the best way to help a kindergarten student practice?” Thank you for the great question, Beth!Kindergarten is a wonderful time for students be begin learning to play piano. They are excellent learners, eager to soak up any information we give them. This is a great blessing and a great responsibility for parents.Young children have not yet learned responsibility and discipline or time management and self control. Unless you are actively involved in their home practice, they will not make progress and both of you…
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13 Aug 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP105: The Blessing of Routine

PPP105: The Blessing of Routine

Practicing and Motivation, , , ,
The Blessing of Routine We all know what a routine is. We follow a routine, whether good or bad, every day. Get up at a certain time, get ready for work or school, the route we drive to get to those locations. The Miracle Morning and The FlyLady are two well-known websites geared to help establish good routines. Have you used these? Listen to the full episode here Summer - a blessing and a curse I love the free time with a loose schedule, staying up too late, sleeping in. However, the reality of summer is that I get less…
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30 Jul 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP103: Manipulation VS Inspiration

PPP103: Manipulation VS Inspiration

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
Listen to the full episode here Definitions Manipulation -     handle or control (a tool, mechanism, etc.), typically in a skillful manner.       control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously. Causing the child to believe that he or she will only be loved by complying with the parent’s wishes Causing the child to feel excessive guilt for failing to live up to the parent’s expectations/demands What does this look like with piano lessons or practice? Shouting at your child to practice or punishing them for not practicing Coaxing them to practice with false praise…
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23 Jul 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP102: Is Squirrel Syndrome Driving You Nutz!?

PPP102: Is Squirrel Syndrome Driving You Nutz!?

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
Can you believe that it's already the middle of July?  As we get ready to head back to school and all the opportunities that are offered, I'd like to talk about squirrel syndrome or being too easily distracted. In terms of parenting, I think of Squirrel Syndrome as being compelled to sign our children up for every extra-curricular activity we are aware of. My fear, instead of giving them the opportunity to be successful at any activity, we are causing them, and ourselves, to be pressured and stressed out and stretched too thin. Listen to the full episode here Parents…
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04 Jun 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP095: Repetition – Remapping Your Brain

PPP095: Repetition – Remapping Your Brain

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , ,
Image source Disclaimer: I am not a neurologist or a brain expert. (My family can testify!) These are simply my observations about what I've read concerning the way our brain makes neural connections and how that applies to piano lessons for our children. Repetition is a very valuable part of learning. This is true for anything you learn and it is especially true for our piano kids learning to play the piano and learning new music. Is once enough? Many students think they are successful if they can make it through to the end of their piece....ONCE! When I was…
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21 May 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP093: What Should You Practice Between Sessions?

PPP093: What Should You Practice Between Sessions?

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
I love taking a break from the routine. Crossing the finish line of one thing and catching a breather before I start the next thing. Even as I type this, I've had a bit of a break from my routine over the weekend.  My older children left for their summer jobs at Pine Cove Camp in the City and Allaso Ranch and my husband was out of town on business. This left my youngest daughter, Tracy, and me to enjoy a girls weekend together.  We were able to focus on our relationship in a different way that we can when…
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22 Apr 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP089: Making Music Together

PPP089: Making Music Together

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , ,
Here is the link to the Facebook live stream from the 2018 Helen Elbert Chamber Music Festival hosted by East Texas Music Teachers Association. The bulk of piano study is isolating for piano students. They practice alone and take their lessons alone.  Finding opportunities to collaborate with other musicians can be a big benefit to piano students. A few ways you can collaborate with other musicians: Boomwhackers Duets with other piano players (siblings should proceed with caution LOL) Piano ensemble Playing with other instrumentalists: piano/violin, piano/flute, piano/guitar, piano Even playing the same piano piece with another student takes a great…
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26 Feb 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP081: March Photo Challenge

PPP081: March Photo Challenge

Podcast, Practice Challenge, Practicing and Motivation,
March Photo Challenge - but first, an introduction Being a podcaster, I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you that I enjoy listening to lots of podcasts. Lately, I've been bingeing on James Clear. Although James is not a podcaster, (he's a blogger and you can find him at JamesClear.com AFTER you finish listening to my podcast!) he is invited to guest on many podcasts, especially those about productivity, habits, fitness, and entrepreneuring. One podcast I listened to the other day focused on one of James' blog articles, "The Difference Between Professionals and Amateurs." You can read the whole…
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12 Feb 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP079: Hear Music, Play Music, Read Music

PPP079: Hear Music, Play Music, Read Music

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , ,
Hear Music, Play Music, Read Music I was reading this article on Psychology Today about whether music is a universal language or not. Here is the checklist I found at the National Institute of Health. You can compare your young child's development with the typical progression of skills. Music is a language in the sense that it helps convey emotions by changing pitch, rhythm, and tempo.  Like any language, it can be learned by hearing and experiencing before it is read or written. Piano lessons often get this progression backward. We, teachers, tend to gravitate toward reading music, using books. Here…
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22 Jan 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP076: Helping Your Child Deal with Anxiety

PPP076: Helping Your Child Deal with Anxiety

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , ,
How can you help your child when they are dealing with anxiety, particularly performance anxiety? Part of the learning experience for musicians is performing before an audience. We might sign our piano kid up for a piano recital, playing for grandparents, a piano audition or festival, a talent show at school or even playing for church. Anytime there is a performance opportunity, it stands to reason that your child will be a little anxious. Listen to the full episode here In fact, public speaking or performing is one of the top fears for most adults. You can read more about this…
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15 Jan 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP075: Piano Doodling can be more beneficial than you might think

PPP075: Piano Doodling can be more beneficial than you might think

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , ,
Listen to the full episode here Giving your child freedom to doodle at the piano is more beneficial than you might think The next time you hear your piano kid creating and improvising on the piano keys consider giving them more time to do that before you redirect them back to their assigned pieces. Creativity & Discovery Learning to read a piece of music begins externally. Creating sounds on the piano begins internally. Stumble upon familiar melodies and play pieces by ear - melodies at first and then harmonies to go along with the melody. Create your own fun and you'll…
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08 Jan 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP074: Music Makes Beautiful Children

PPP074: Music Makes Beautiful Children

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
Welcome back and Happy New Year 2018! This is the time of year when we evaluate our lives and see where there is room for improvement. It is also a great time to set goals or set a new determination to reach goals we've already set. Listen to the full episode here My goal for my children as they grow and mature and become independent adults is for them to be happy, healthy, and contributing members of society. Learning to play the piano and make music was a big factor in achieving that goal. (more…)
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13 Nov 2017
By Shelly Davis
PPP068: When it Comes to Piano Practicing, the Best Defense is a Good Offense

PPP068: When it Comes to Piano Practicing, the Best Defense is a Good Offense

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
Newsflash: Parenting is hard Piano Parenting doesn't make things easier. When it comes to piano practicing, a good piano parent is prepared when their piano kid puts up an argument. The next time your piano kid tries to get out of piano practice, give these offensive maneuvers a try. State the Facts Because you've listened to past episodes, you know that it's best to schedule piano practice ahead of time. When practice time rolls around, simply tell your piano kid, "It's time to practice." There is no need for argument, no need to negotiate. Expect them to push back and try…
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23 Oct 2017
By Shelly Davis
PPP065: A Chat with Note Rush App Developer, Thomas Grayston

PPP065: A Chat with Note Rush App Developer, Thomas Grayston

Music Theory, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Technology, , , , , , , , ,
Thomas Grayston is a software developer from Tasmania, Australia. He has produced an excellent app to help piano students learn to associate notes on the staff with specific keys on the piano. Tell us a bit about your background. Are you a musician or a teacher? Thomas plays piano and was a music director for church. His wife, Kylie, teaches piano and Thomas helps in her studio from time to time. (more…)
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09 Oct 2017
By Shelly Davis
PPP063: PIANOVEMBER Practice Challenge

PPP063: PIANOVEMBER Practice Challenge

Podcast, Practice Challenge, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , ,
#3020 September Practice Challenge Recap Before I jump into our next piano practice challenge, I wanted to share the ups and downs of the September Practice Challenge. Ups: There was a lot of positive feedback from parents and teachers alike. I received wonderful videos and photos of students working toward their practice goals. 27% of my own students met the challenge with success! I even met the challenge myself!! (I wouldn't have if I hadn't taken time to plan my practices and put them on my schedule.) Downs: Several of my students not only missed the goal of 20 days practice,…
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31 Jul 2017
By Shelly Davis

PPP053: How to Choose Supplemental Music for Your Piano Kid

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation
If you do a search on Google for "Why to read piano sheet music" you will find lots of blog posts and websites telling you how to read music but not why reading lots of music is so important. On today's show, I will share my opinion of why reading music is so important for your child's musical development, what to look for when choosing supplemental music, and where to shop online for piano music. Listen to the full episode here Why reading sheet music is so important Build fluency - The more music your child encounters, the more opportunities they have to practice…
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12 Jun 2017
By Shelly Davis
PPP046: Our Favorite Music Education Apps with Becki Laurent

PPP046: Our Favorite Music Education Apps with Becki Laurent

Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Technology, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Welcome back, Becki Laurent! We first spoke to Becki in her teacher interview on Episode 037. Today Becki and I are discussing our favorite apps for helping kids learn to play piano. Apps help teachers and students isolate a specific skill for improvement in understanding and performance. (more…)
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06 Mar 2017
By Shelly Davis

Episode 032: Parent Interview with Shelly’s Mom and Dad, Patricia and Jerry Truett

Parent Interviews, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , ,
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!  Music lets ME be…
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06 Feb 2017
By Shelly Davis

Episode 028: Learn How to Prepare Your Child for Piano Exams with Parent/Teacher Dr. Mario Ajero

Parent Interviews, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, Teacher Interviews, , , , ,
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…)
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16 Jan 2017
By Shelly Davis

Episode 025: Parent Interview with Melissa Cornelison

Parent Interviews, Podcast, Practicing and Motivation, , , , , , ,
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…
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05 Dec 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…)
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