17 Feb 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP180: Ten Ways to Flip the Script with Kate Webb

PPP180: Ten Ways to Flip the Script with Kate Webb

Podcast, Tenth Episode List, , , , , ,
Welcome Kate Webb from Kate's Keys Piano Studio! I've been following Kate on Instagram for a while and her posts are always beautifully designed and inspirational for piano students as well as their parents.Lately, Kate has been sharing some posts that have a way of flipping the script on home practice and motivation at the piano so I invited her to share some of her tips with us today. Listen to the full episode here Listen to previous tenth episodes here. 10 Ways to Flip the Script Instead of thinking, "I made so many mistakes", think, "I'm still learning".Instead of thinking,…
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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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03 Feb 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP178: Mom2Mom Family Mystery Movie Night

PPP178: Mom2Mom Family Mystery Movie Night

Mom to Mom, Podcast, , , ,
Today's episode is more about parenting and less about piano. Since parenting is better when you and your child have a closer relationship and share things together, I think this episode still fits in with my goal of helping you make the most of piano lessons. We've reinstated something fun in our family that I thought you might enjoy too. That is Family Mystery Movie Night. Listen to the full episode here The "mystery" isn't necessarily the genre of the movie, though it could be if that's something your family enjoys. The mystery is exactly what the feature presentation will…
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27 Jan 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP177: Teacher Chat – Hanon Exercises

PPP177: Teacher Chat – Hanon Exercises

Podcast, Teacher Chat, , , , , ,
In today's teacher chat, Antonio Gandia, Benjamin Steinhardt and I discuss Hanon exercises and other technical aspects of learning to play the piano.Listen to additional teacher chats here. Antonio GandiaAntonio is a multi-instrument teacher in New Jersey. With a background in guitar and bass, along with piano, he offers a wide perspective of technique to his students. Benjamin SteinhardtBenjamin comes to our chat from Connecticut. After working through his own piano injury as a younger student, he works to teach his students the most efficient way to use their bodies when playing the piano. Listen to the full chat here…
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20 Jan 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP176: Musical Mystery Opus 1, No. 4, Chris’ Sister

PPP176: Musical Mystery Opus 1, No. 4, Chris’ Sister

Music HIstory, Musical Mystery, Podcast, , , , , , ,
In the style of Mike Rowe’s “The Way I Heard It” and Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story” this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast brings you a Musical Mystery; the lesser known story of someone or something you’ve likely heard about all your life. Listen to the full episode here I have long said that younger siblings have a huge advantage when they hear their older siblings practice piano. They hear songs before they try to read them or play them. They learn that you have to make a few mistakes before you can master a piece. Because of this, music…
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13 Jan 2020
By Shelly Davis
PPP175: Student Case Study: Ray, one-year anniversary

PPP175: Student Case Study: Ray, one-year anniversary

Podcast, , , , , , ,
About a year ago, in episode 135, I introduced you to Ray (not his real name), a brand new student in my studio. Since then, in each episode ending in 5, I've given you an update on how Ray is progressing in his lessons and the things I'm learning as I work with him. In today's episode, we continue the journey as I share some of Ray's goals for the upcoming semester. Listen to the full episode here Making a lateral shift to keep him playing but not necessarily advancing in the method books. As I expected, Ray has rapidly…
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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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16 Dec 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP173: Highlights from 2019

PPP173: Highlights from 2019

Mom to Mom, Podcast, , , , , , , , , , ,
Our gift to you - highlights from some of the most downloaded episodes of 2019. We've taken some of the most interesting points from the top episodes and put them all in one place with links to the episodes if you want to dig deeper. Listen to the full episode here PPP133: What's Really Going on When Your Piano Kid Says, "This is too hard!" 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…
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09 Dec 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP172: Scale Degree Names

PPP172: Scale Degree Names

Music Theory, Podcast, , , , , , , , ,
When students learn to play scales, they may associate them with the letters of that scale: CDEFGABC or DEF#GABC#D. Rather than limiting ourselves to a set of letters, pianists need to think in terms of location or functionality of the notes of the scale. They might do that by numbers, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. They might do that by using solfege, a series of syllables to help associate the sounds of the notes of the scale: do re mi fa sol la ti do. You may be familiar with "Do a deer, a female deer..." which…
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02 Dec 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP171: Listen to your children with Piano Parent, Ashley Smith

PPP171: Listen to your children with Piano Parent, Ashley Smith

Parent Interviews, Podcast, , , ,
There are many things I enjoy about producing this podcast. I like pushing my comfort zone - a little. I enjoy researching topics and facts to make sure I'm giving you correct information.My absolute favorite thing about producing this podcast is getting to meet so many wonderful people.I was so glad to receive this email from Ashley Smith."Hello Mrs. Shelly, I am a piano parent and an avid listener of your podcasts!  I have two daughters, Piper age 3 (future pianist) and Madison age 7 (my current pianist and violinist).  They are both informative and entertaining. In a recent podcast, you mentioned that…
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25 Nov 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP170: TLC for Your Piano in Winter

PPP170: TLC for Your Piano in Winter

Podcast, Tenth Episode List, ,
Winter is just around the corner. With colder temperatures comes less humidity and more concentrated germs. Today's list offers ten tips for caring for yourself as well as your piano this time of year. Listen to the full episode here Listen to more tenth episode lists here. Ten Tips for caring for yourself and your piano during the winter season Keep your hands clean - THE number one way to prevent the spread of germs is to wash your hands, often.Keep the tissues handy - clean piano keys after each use, especially if your piano is shared by multiple players.…
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18 Nov 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP169: Our Children Believe What We Tell Them

PPP169: Our Children Believe What We Tell Them

Mom to Mom, Podcast, , , , ,
Today's episode was inspired by a quote I read in a book by or about Garry Marshall. I even took a picture of the quote but, of course, can't find the picture. It was a picture of his grandfather waving outside an apartment window. Garry said, "My grandfather told me I was funny and I believed him." Listen to the full episode here If you're familiar with Garry Marshall, you may be as big a fan as I am. If you've not familiar with Garry Marshall, he directed several TV sitcoms in the 1970's. The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Mork…
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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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04 Nov 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP167: Our Kids Will Lie to Us

PPP167: Our Kids Will Lie to Us

Mom to Mom, Podcast, ,
I don't mean that title to sound as harsh as it does but I couldn't think of another way to say it. As a matter of self-preservation I believe we are all capable of lying or only telling enough of the truth to make things easier on ourselves. Our children and teens are no different. In fact, they haven't had the opportunity to learn from this mistake so they are likely to try it even more often and with more confidence. Listen to the full episode here I don't know many people, especially young people, who really latch on to…
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28 Oct 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP166: Musical Mystery Opus 1, No. 3 “A Simple Little Song”

PPP166: Musical Mystery Opus 1, No. 3 “A Simple Little Song”

Music HIstory, Musical Mystery, Podcast, , , , , , , , ,
In the style of Mike Rowe’s “The Way I Heard It” and Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story” this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast brings you the backstory of a simple little song that keeps finding its way to the top of international charts and in the hearts of multiple generations. Listen to the full episode here This story is about a simple love song, but not the typical kind of love that you might be imaging. It doesn’t tell the story of romantic love that was doomed to fail, nor does it carry any of the harsh feelings that often accompany…
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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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14 Oct 2019
By Shelly Davis

PPP164: PIANOVEMBER 2019

Podcast, Practice Challenge
This is the fifth year of the PIANOVEMBER Practice Challenge! As I was thinking about what to share in this episode, I was thinking about practice and how we can motivate our children and students to put in the time and discipline to practice. There is a quote often attributed to Julie Andrews (who celebrated her 84th birthday on October 1st) "Don't practice until you get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong." Listen to the full episode here As I was researching that quote, I stumbled upon a book called, "Psychology for Musicians" written by Percy C.…
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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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30 Sep 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP162: Enharmonics – the There, Their, They’re of Music Notation

PPP162: Enharmonics – the There, Their, They’re of Music Notation

Music Theory, Podcast, , ,
https://www.pianoparentpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/162-enharmonics-the-there-their-theyre-of-music-notation.mp4We're going to have a little fun today and when we're done you can amaze your piano kid with your wealth of musical knowledge! Think of the word sale/sail. What comes to mind? Did you think of a special sale at your favorite store? Tyler just recently opened a Mardel Christian books and education supplies store.  I was very excited to get a coupon postcard in the mail. Maybe you didn't think about a sale like a retail store. Maybe your mind went to the ocean where you could enjoy a beautiful day on a peaceful sailboat. Without proper context, and without being…
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23 Sep 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP161: Marin Marka with FableNotes

PPP161: Marin Marka with FableNotes

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , , , , ,
Piano teacher, Marin Marka, MS, OTR/L is a board certified pediatric occupational therapist with over a decade of experience as a music teacher. She’s been adapting piano lessons to include children with disabilities for 7 years and has a passion for making music accessible for all. Marin has sung professionally on a nationally televised special on ABC and video game trailers with the New York Film Chorale. She was also able to achieve 9 consecutive gold ratings in piano performance at the annual Schubert Club YMF competition. She graduated summa cum laude with a BA in child study and human…
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16 Sep 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP160: Ten Reasons We Love and Need Our Dads

PPP160: Ten Reasons We Love and Need Our Dads

Podcast, Tenth Episode List, , , , ,
It isn't Father's Day in America (though September 1 was Father's Day in Australia, so happy belated Father's Day to all my Australian friends!) but I don't want to wait until next June to talk about how valuable dads are to piano kids. Plus, my father's birthday is September 20 so my mind is geared this direction at the moment. I've told you before that I remember starting piano lessons because my dad convinced me that he'd love for me to learn to play a certain song for him. After that, my mother was the main one taking me to lessons…
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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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26 Aug 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP157: Teacher Chat – Perfect Pitch with Brianne Lundberg and Cheryl Reeder

PPP157: Teacher Chat – Perfect Pitch with Brianne Lundberg and Cheryl Reeder

Podcast, Teacher Chat, , ,
In our sixth teacher chat, Brianne Lundberg, Cheryl Reeder, and I discuss perfect pitch with all its advantages and fun challenges. Listen to additional teacher chats here. Listen to the full episode here Brianne Lundberg Brianne Lundberg chats with us from California. Click her photo to visit her studio website, Musical Bri. Scroll down below to the connect section for a link to her sheet music website, Music and Theory. Cheryl Reeder Cheryl Reeder chats with us from Colorado. Cheryl enjoys using her perfect pitch to accompany choirs and help them sound their best. Click her photo to visit her…
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19 Aug 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP156: Musical Mystery Opus 1, No. 2 “What Frank Saw”

PPP156: Musical Mystery Opus 1, No. 2 “What Frank Saw”

Music HIstory, Musical Mystery, Podcast, , , , ,
In the style of Mike Rowe's "The Way I Heard It" and Paul Harvey's "The Rest of the Story" this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast brings you the backstory of one of America's most well-known songs. Listen to the full episode here Resources for this Musical Mystery Songs Sung Red, White, and Blue by Ace Collins Sampler of American Songs by Maymie Krythe Details of the battle at Fort McHenry Lt. Col. Armistead's account of the battle See the Fort McHenry flag https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiVryYnzmdI Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below Ask…
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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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05 Aug 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP154: Don’t say, “I can’t.” Say, “I’ll try.” with Dr. Ruth Pitts

PPP154: Don’t say, “I can’t.” Say, “I’ll try.” with Dr. Ruth Pitts

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , ,
Ruth Pitts is currently the president of Waco Music Teachers Association. She has a B.M.Ed degree from Baylor University, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She has just recently retired from McLennan Community College in Waco, where she taught music theory, music literature and piano for over 40 years. She still has a studio of over 30 piano students, and she counts it a joy and a blessing to be able to share her love of music with students every day. Dr. Pitts has served in all of the offices of Texas Music Teachers Association…
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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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22 Jul 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP152: Repeat Signs Repeat Signs

PPP152: Repeat Signs Repeat Signs

Music Theory, Podcast, , , , , , , , ,
Repeat signs are common "road map" tools in music. Being able to repeat a section is much more user friendly than having pages and pages of music to read.Today, we're talking about three levels of repeat signs. Listen to the full episode here Basic Repeat Sign The first repeat sign students tend to be taught is the repeat sign at the end of a piece. This indicates to play the entire piece again. Sometimes there is a second repeat sign - a mirror image of the one at the end - that indicates to only go back to play that section…
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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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08 Jul 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP150: Ten Screenless Summer Activities

PPP150: Ten Screenless Summer Activities

Podcast, Tenth Episode List, , , ,
The last three Piano Parent episodes have focused on the value of limiting screen time and increasing physical activity. If you haven't listened to them already, be sure to catch them after you finish this episode. They will inform the thought process behind the list of ten we have for you this week. PPP147: Teacher Chat - Screen Time PPP148: Developmental Fitness with Vicki Conway, part 1 PPP149: Developmental Fitness with Vicki Conway, part 2 Click here to find previous tenth episode lists. Listen to the full episode here 1. Picnic in the park or your own backyard Maybe you…
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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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17 Jun 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP147: Teacher Chat – Screen Time

PPP147: Teacher Chat – Screen Time

Podcast, Teacher Chat, , , , ,
In our wonderful age of technology, entertainment and information are at the tips of our fingers 24/7. Technology can be a powerful education tool but too much technology can have harmful effects on our children's developing brains. That is the topic of today's chat with Judy Wilkins and Dawn Ivers. Listen to additional teacher chats here. Listen to the full episode here Judy Wilkins Judy Wilkins, NCTM, featured in Episode 144, is a dear friend of mine and a passionate proponent of all things that would build up a child's well-being, including the limitation of screen time. Dawn Ivers Dawn…
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10 Jun 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP146: Musical Mystery Opus 1, No. 1 “Wishful Thinking”

PPP146: Musical Mystery Opus 1, No. 1 “Wishful Thinking”

Music HIstory, Musical Mystery, Podcast, , , ,
If you are a regular listener to podcasts, chances are you have heard the popular “The Way I Heard It” written and produced by Mike Rowe. You may remember Mike Rowe as the host of the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” program. In his podcast, “The Way I Heard It”, Mike weaves a story, dropping hints about a seemingly obscure event only to reveal, at last, that he is telling the backstory of a well known person or event. His show is similar to Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story” if you listened to radio in the 1970’s.Please listen to…
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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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27 May 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP144: Learn how important parents are to their child’s success with Judy Wilkins

PPP144: Learn how important parents are to their child’s success with Judy Wilkins

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , , , , , , ,
When I first started podcasting in 2016 I was nervous to ask my own piano teacher friends to come on the show. I'm not sure if I was embarrassed or intimidated. Actually, I didn't want to impose on our friendship to ask them for such a favor. Now that I have a few episodes under my belt and feel more confident, I want to share with all of you the wonderful teachers from my own community who have been such encouragement to me personally and professionally.It is my joy to introduce to you my good friend and piano teacher colleague, Judy…
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20 May 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP143: Mr. Rogers’ Code for I Love You

PPP143: Mr. Rogers’ Code for I Love You

Music HIstory, Podcast, , , , , , , ,
Do you and your piano kid share code words? Words or a phrase that has a secret meaning between the two of you? My daughter, Tracy and I will do the ASL sign for I Love You when we see each other in a crowded space. Our family also has different references or words that recall inside jokes that would be meaningless to anyone else, one of which is "Furniture Lacks Appliances" (you'll have to ask my son Justin about that!). When I saw the “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” documentary last year I learned about a special number code…
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13 May 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP142: Intervals – Going beyond EGBDF

PPP142: Intervals – Going beyond EGBDF

Music Theory, , , , ,
Today let’s talk about intervals. As with any musical topic, we could make this discussion very in depth and complicated. It seems like there is a never ending well of information we can learn with music theory. Today we are going to stay with the basic foundation of intervals; things your second or third year student will be learning. Hey! I just used some intervallic terms when I described the students. I mentioned second or third year students and this offers a reference point for the knowledge of those students. Intervals in music do the same thing; they offer a…
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06 May 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP141: Learn to Keep it Positive with Beth Horton

PPP141: Learn to Keep it Positive with Beth Horton

Teacher Interviews, ,
I first met Beth Horton in the exhibit hall at the Texas Music Teachers Convention one summer. We were instant friends. I think anyone who meets Beth feels that way because she has a knack for helping you drop the awkward formalities that occur when you first get acquainted with someone. I had to visit with her to learn more about her teaching style and learn how she interacts with her students. Listen to the full episode here Tell us your piano story Beth's older sister started lessons when she was in first grade. Beth wanted to take lessons, too…
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29 Apr 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP140: Ten Things You Need to Know about Performance Butterflies

PPP140: Ten Things You Need to Know about Performance Butterflies

Podcast, Tenth Episode List, , , ,
Every ten episodes, I present to you some sort of list. This is our 14th tenth episode. If you’d like to listen to other lists click here. Today I am aiming my comments toward the piano kids so I really encourage parents to listen to this one with them. If you are a teacher listening, consider making this required homework for all your students preparing for upcoming recitals. Share this episode with a friend. Stick around until the end where I will tell you about a free practice tracker you can use to help your piano kids get lots of repetitions…
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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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15 Apr 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP138: Dear Mom, Hang in There!

PPP138: Dear Mom, Hang in There!

Mom to Mom
In case you didn’t know, this podcast is called the Piano Parent Podcast. Most episodes deal with common obstacles or struggles students face when learning to play the piano. Today, I’d like to spend our time together by focusing on just you, parents. Specifically, today I want to encourage you to stand firm and do not give in. Listen to the full episode here Click here to download this episode. Click here to download this episode. Remember the goal is to train your child Since my youngest is 16 and my parenting skills are a little dated, I decided to…
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08 Apr 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP137: Teacher Chat – Fingernails and Hand Hygiene

PPP137: Teacher Chat – Fingernails and Hand Hygiene

Podcast, Teacher Chat, , , , , , , , ,
In our fourth teacher chat, Beth Horton and I discuss hand hygiene and fingernails.Listen to additional teacher chats here. Listen to the full episode here Beth HortonBeth is a teacher in Lubbock, Texas who teaches in a multi-teacher studio, travels to students' homes, and offers online piano lessons. Beth will be featured in the next teacher interview coming out May 6, Episode 141. What do you expect as far as hand hygiene from your students? Beth - In a word, CLEAN. As for length, hold your hand up and look at your palm, if you see you fingernail over the…
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01 Apr 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP136: No Foolin’! This performer had fans screaming and swooning in the aisle and it’s probably not who you think.

PPP136: No Foolin’! This performer had fans screaming and swooning in the aisle and it’s probably not who you think.

Music HIstory, Musical Mystery, Podcast, , , ,
Happy April Fool’s Day! You’re no fool though because you are listening to this wonderful podcast! :) I did try to fool you with the title of this episode. Do you have a guess? What if I told you his fans pulled and clawed at each other trying to be the first to grab something he had touched: a glass or a handkerchief or even a cigar? Are you thinking of Elvis Presley maybe? or Queen with the recent revival of their music (I had a third grader ask me if I’d heard of Bohemian Rhapsody yesterday!) Think of Beatlemania…
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25 Mar 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP135: Student Case Study: Ray

PPP135: Student Case Study: Ray

Podcast
Today I am introducing a new feature on the podcast, a student case study. In January I started a brand new student. He didn’t transfer in from another teacher or another town. He is shiny, brand new! Starting a brand new student comes with a lot of responsibility. Not only do I want to set him up for success with his technique and musical understanding, but I also want to build a good report with him and build his confidence and self-esteem. Listen to the full episode here First a little background: I first met Ray’s family when I taught…
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18 Mar 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP134: A Truly Inspiring Interview with Teacher, Leah Drake

PPP134: A Truly Inspiring Interview with Teacher, Leah Drake

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , , , ,
Click here to download this episode. I e-met Leah online when her studio participated in the PIANOVEMBER Practice Challenge. She runs a vibrant studio, that is actually called Vibrant Valley Music Studio. She is active in her own pursuit of learning to teach her students. In fact, we were just able to book this interview before Leah heads to the MTNA Convention in Spokane, WA. I love the name of her studio, Vibrant Valley Music Studio and I especially love her teaching philosophy, "Nurturing tomorrow's musicians through creativity, inspiration, and community." Listen to the full episode here Resources Mentioned in…
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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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04 Mar 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP132: How to Build Chords and Inversions

PPP132: How to Build Chords and Inversions

Music Theory, Podcast, , , , , , ,
In Episode 130 I gave you a list of ten songs that are perfect for playing along with YouTube videos (I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from that episode! Thanks for letting me know it was helpful for you). It occurred to me while recording that episode that I haven’t really talked about building chords and their inversions on the podcast. Build by counting piano keys Many piano kids may be familiar with chords that are grouped by their shape. Major Chords with all white keys: C, F, G. Chords with a black key in the middle: D, E, A.…
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25 Feb 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP131: Let Music Be Your Diary with Raphaelita Justice

PPP131: Let Music Be Your Diary with Raphaelita Justice

Teacher Interviews
In this episode we learn ♫ How Raphaelita’s instructor, mentor, and lifelong friend discovered her when she was practicing at a local church one day.♫ How Raphealita’s upbringing and the influence of her mother helped her become an excellent student.♫ The difference between the casual piano parent who aims to broaden their child’s interests and knowledge versus the more stern piano parent who views piano study as a launching pad for additional opportunities for their piano kid in college and beyond.♫ How Raphaelita uses WhatsApp to help her students stay motivated and practicing throughout the week.Listen to the full episode…
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18 Feb 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP130: Ten Songs that are Perfect for a YouTube Play Along

PPP130: Ten Songs that are Perfect for a YouTube Play Along

Podcast, Technology, Tenth Episode List, , , , , , , , ,
The last few shows have mentioned playing chords or pop songs or getting creative at the piano in some way. Talking about it is great and your piano kid might really be interested in playing some pop tunes but getting started can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why I put together this list of 10 songs that are perfect to play along with a YouTube video and I have the videos embedded on the show notes for this episode. I chose these songs because most of them use only a few chords (most of them five chords or less) and…
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10 Feb 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP129: “Lord of the Chords” Game Developer, Jonathan Ng

PPP129: “Lord of the Chords” Game Developer, Jonathan Ng

Music Theory, Podcast, , ,
A few weeks ago I got an email from Sanette Brems, a piano mom in my studio. Listen to Sanette's parent interview with me on Episode 019. In her email, Sanette said, "I saw this and immediately thought of you!" The link in the email took me to the Kickstarter page for a new music theory game called, "Lord of the Chords". Their website declares that they are the "geekiest, punniest music theory game in the world".Lord of the Chords Kickstarter Page - click hereI love puns and really love games that help my students learn and use music theory so I…
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04 Feb 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP128: Keep a Video/Audio Journal of Your Child’s Musical Journey

PPP128: Keep a Video/Audio Journal of Your Child’s Musical Journey

Podcast, Technology, , , , ,
Click here to download this episode. In recent episodes, I've alluded to the idea of keeping a video or audio journal of your piano kid's musical progress. This is a way for them to see their growth as a musician. In today's show, we will talk in more detail about the advantage of keep a video journal as well as  the practical details like equipment and storage. Great Learning Tool The primary reason to video your child is for them to learn from the experience. When we are playing or reading music, our minds are so focused on that activity…
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28 Jan 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP127: Teacher Chat: Popular Music Styles with Stephen Hughes and Tony Parlapiano

PPP127: Teacher Chat: Popular Music Styles with Stephen Hughes and Tony Parlapiano

Music Theory, Podcast, Teacher Chat, , , , , , , ,
In our third teacher chat, Stephen Hughes and Tony Parlapiano and I discuss popular music styles and the value of incorporating reading and listening when it comes to playing the piano. Listen to additional teacher chats here. At one time, pop music was considered an add-on to traditional, classical piano lessons; something students might do on their own but not something useful to be included in the lesson. Times have changed and teachers are finally noticing the value of including popular music styles in their curriculum. They now see the value of teaching from chord charts and lead sheets or…
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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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07 Jan 2019
By Shelly Davis
PPP124: Going Beyond the Music Lesson with Abigail Peterson & Christine Goodner

PPP124: Going Beyond the Music Lesson with Abigail Peterson & Christine Goodner

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , , , , , , , ,
Abigail Peterson and Christine Goodner are violin teachers in Wisconsin and Oregon, respectively. Together, they host the "Beyond the Music Lesson" podcast.I really enjoyed hearing how things work in their violin studios and learning that their students have similar struggles to mine. I hope you will enjoy the conversation as well. In this week's episode you will learn: How Abbey and Christine got started in violin as players and teachers.Even violin students have to be reminded to practice.Parental involvement is so important to the success of the student. How to help your child “get started” with home practice.Good Attitude Practice…
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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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03 Dec 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP121: Helping Students Learn to Create Music for a Lifetime with Tim Topham

PPP121: Helping Students Learn to Create Music for a Lifetime with Tim Topham

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
It is always such a joy to visit with other piano teachers to learn how things are working in their studio.  It is a special delight to visit with someone from another part of our world. Today, I am excited to share my recent conversation with Austrailian piano teacher, Tim Topham. Tim has a real passion for helping students find "their" music and giving them tools to allow them to create music for a lifetime. If you are a piano teacher, already familiar with the amazing resources Tim shares in the piano teaching industry, I think you will get a…
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26 Nov 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP120: Ten Ways to Share Music During the Holidays

PPP120: Ten Ways to Share Music During the Holidays

Podcast, Tenth Episode List, , , , ,
THIS is the reason you signed your child up for piano lessons! Now is their opportunity to share their gift of music with others to bring them joy. Here are a few ideas for how you can share music during the holidays. 1. Play for a school event. At different times, my students have been able to play for talent shows, choir concerts, and prelude music before awards programs. 2. Play for a church event. Prelude music before a worship service. Offertory or piano solo during the service. Postlude music as people are exiting the church. Play for youth Sunday…
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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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12 Nov 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP118: Musical Anniversaries and Thanksgiving Tunes

PPP118: Musical Anniversaries and Thanksgiving Tunes

Music HIstory, Podcast
On today’s show I thought I would share with you some of the things I’ve been doing with my students to commemorate a few anniversaries and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. U.S. Armed Forces Songs November 11, 2018, marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. With my 4th-grade classes at school, we took one song per week during October and learned a bit about the history of the song and how important music was for rallying the troops and even sending messages with bugle calls. Listen to U.S. Armed Forces Songs here. Disney Songs November 18 is…
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05 Nov 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP117: Teacher Chat: On Teaching Preschoolers with Mallory Byers and Dawn Ivers

PPP117: Teacher Chat: On Teaching Preschoolers with Mallory Byers and Dawn Ivers

Podcast, Teacher Chat, , , ,
In our second teacher chat, Mallory Byers and Dawn Ivers and I discuss preschool music with all its advantages and fun challenges.   Listen to additional teacher chats here. Mallory ByersMallory is a teacher in California who travels to her students' homes. About a third of her students are age six and under. She started lessons with her own father at the age of four. Dawn Ivers Dawn's first student was a three-year-old preschooler. She recently moved her home and studio to Kansas. In establishing her studio in her new hometown, she has branded herself as someone who teaches preschool lessons.…
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29 Oct 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP116: How to Change Major to Minor

PPP116: How to Change Major to Minor

Music Theory, Podcast, Practice Challenge, , , , ,
 Happy Halloween! No matter what you choose to do with this holiday, there is no denying that a lot of music we hear this time of year tends to have a more creepy, spooky spin on it and it seems like that’s what I enjoy talking about on the podcast. Last year I talked about how young children tend to respond to music in a minor key. Episode 066 was about the powerful effect music can have on our emotions.I also interviewed Marcia Vahl (like wall), president of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association, in episode 067. On the episode, Marcia…
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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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01 Oct 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP112: Down in Front! (and other concert etiquette rules)

PPP112: Down in Front! (and other concert etiquette rules)

Podcast, , , ,
Attending a live, stage performance is different from going to a movie or sporting event. One is casual with a come and go atmosphere, the other is more formal with certain rules you need to know and follow if you don’t want to embarrass your piano kid or yourself. Before the Concert Performance Preparation - make sure you are ready to present a nice gift to the audience. I tell my students the performance is not for them, it is a gift for the listeners. Sometimes this helps relieve some of their performance anxiety. If you are prepared and know…
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24 Sep 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP111: Start With What You Know For Sure, Andrea Miller

PPP111: Start With What You Know For Sure, Andrea Miller

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
I first met Andrea Miller on Instagram when I started following her page, Music Studio Startup. She was announcing the launch of her new podcast so I direct messaged her. Later, she called me, we met face to face when she presented a workshop at the Texas Music Teachers Association Convention last June, and now I consider her a friend. I am grateful to have her on the podcast. Tell us your piano story. We had a piano in the living room when I was growing up and I was a very determined and curious kid, so I tried to…
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17 Sep 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP110: Ten Ways to Genuinely Compliment Your Piano Kid

PPP110: Ten Ways to Genuinely Compliment Your Piano Kid

Podcast, Tenth Episode List
My kids know when I’m not really listening to them because I will nod and say, “That’s great!” in the wrong places. Sometimes my husband will add crazy made-up details to a story to see if I’m paying attention. We all know what it feels like to be ignored or, worse, to be complimented insincerely. Saying “That’s Great!” or “You’re Awesome” requires little effort on our part and doesn’t really give the confidence boost we think it does. Today I’d like to share with you some compliments I’ve received and that I try to share with my students. I hope…
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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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03 Sep 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP108: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

PPP108: Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Communication, Podcast
Sometimes, through social media, we only see the perfectly positive perception that others portray. On this podcast and on my social media channels, I hope to be honest and upfront with you.A piano family broke up with me last week. I can only speak from my point of view and I will do that in the kindest way possible because... I want to learn. I want to help you (piano teacher and piano parent) avoid common mistakes. I want to resume a relationship with this family if they choose to. Anything I say here I will be very careful to give them the respect…
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27 Aug 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP107: The First 24 Hours – Teacher Chat with Dawn Ivers and Becki Laurent

PPP107: The First 24 Hours – Teacher Chat with Dawn Ivers and Becki Laurent

Podcast, Teacher Chat, , , , , , , ,
PPP107: The First 24 Hours - Teacher chat with Dawn Ivers and Becki Laurent Today's episode brings you not one, but two teachers! Today, Becki Laurent, Dawn Ivers and I chat about the topic of practice and the value students receive when they practice within 24 hours of their piano lesson.Becki and Dawn are not strangers to the podcast. You can hear their previous episodes here:Becki LaurentEpisode 037: Teacher Interview with Becki LaurentEpisode 046: Our Favorite Music Education Apps with Becki LaurentDawn IversEpisode 061: The Importance of a Good Practice Environment with Piano Teacher, Dawn IversEpisode 080: Ten Books to…
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20 Aug 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP106: How to Develop Fluency in Music Reading

PPP106: How to Develop Fluency in Music Reading

Music Theory, Podcast, ,
Today’s topic is specifically musical. The last several episodes have had to do with getting the new school year off to a strong start. We’ve talked about the non-musical benefits of studying piano, being careful not to overbook our child’s schedule, and last week was all about setting up routines. Today, let’s talk about the nuts and bolts of reading music.For a more detailed description of the staff and it’s history, listen to Episode 004. Listen to the full episode here Reading music is like reading any other language I’ve tried to learn Spanish here and there. I know a…
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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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06 Aug 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP104: Children Need Their Parents To Help Them Through Challenges with Tracy Selle

PPP104: Children Need Their Parents To Help Them Through Challenges with Tracy Selle

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , , , ,
PPP104: Tracy Selle Piano teacher, Tracy Selle, has been an independent piano teacher in North Texas for 16 years. Listen to the full episode here Tell Us Your Personal Piano Story Started playing in 3rd grade. Became the pianist of my church when I was 13th. Continued that job through high school. Graduated from VA Tech. I did study some music, but ended up focusing on science and became a TV Meteorologist. But still worked at a church pianist on the side. Once my son was born, I knew I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. That’s when I transitioned…
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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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16 Jul 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP101: Encouragement for Piano Parents with Cortney Toumayan

PPP101: Encouragement for Piano Parents with Cortney Toumayan

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
PPP101: Encouragement for Piano Parents with Cortney Toumayan Listen to the full episode here Cortney's personal piano story When Cortney was three years old, she discovered her love of music through a popular musical - "The Phantom of the Opera". As she listened to the music over and over, she eventually began to pick out the melody on the piano and her parents decided to try out piano lessons. Over the years, Cortney learned from four different music teachers. She began to seriously consider music as a career when she was 16. However, after being told that music wouldn't be…
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09 Jul 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP100: Ten Non-Musical Benefits of Studying Music

PPP100: Ten Non-Musical Benefits of Studying Music

Podcast, Tenth Episode List
Listen to the full episode here Today, the Piano Parent Podcast is celebrating it's 100th episode!The Piano Parent Podcast has been downloaded 28,821 times from people all around the world. Thank you for listening and thank you for sharing the podcast with you piano parent friends.While this is a podcast milestone, it is also our 10th "10 musical somethings" episode. So today, I would like to give you 10 non-musical benefits of studying music!Over the years I’ve spoken to lots of teachers; some would argue that music is worthwhile simply for the beauty of music. I don’t disagree with them.…
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02 Jul 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP099: How to know if your teacher is effective, and what to do it they’re not.

PPP099: How to know if your teacher is effective, and what to do it they’re not.

Communication, Podcast
On this day: July 2, 1956 Elvis Presley records "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel" Every piano teacher is as uniquely different as each child they teach. Teaching methods, learning styles, personalities and more all interact and impact the effectiveness of your piano teacher, your piano kid, and the lessons that they share.Today, I want to talk about a few ways you can determine if your piano teacher is the most effective for your piano kid. Listen to the full episode here Goal Setting as a Tool for Gauging Effectiveness Last week, we discussed "exit strategies". Now that you've had a…
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25 Jun 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP098: What is your Exit Strategy?

PPP098: What is your Exit Strategy?

Communication, Podcast
According to the dictionary, the term "Exit Strategy" has three definitions:A method or plan for extricating oneself from an undesirable situationA plan and timetable for withdrawal from a military engagementThe method by which an investor intends to cash out of an investment.Today, I would like for your to consider your "Exit Strategy" or plan for piano lessons?Once you start piano lessons, how long will they last? What will be the reason you decide to stop? If your child seems uninterested, how will you know it is time to quit? Career Strategy Considering what the end will look like determines the…
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18 Jun 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP097: A Jazzy Conversation with Wade Cottingham

PPP097: A Jazzy Conversation with Wade Cottingham

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , , , ,
PPP097: A Jazzy Conversation with Wade Cottingham Piano teacher, Wade Cottingham, owner of Lakewood Piano Lab near Dallas, Texas. According to his website, he uses his lab as "a place of discovery and growth". He is more than the typical piano teacher who interacts with their students in the traditional sense, Wade creates jam sessions where each student learns to use their musical voice. Listen to the full episode here Wade's personal piano story... While there was a baby grand piano in Wade's childhood home, his mother was reluctant to enroll him in lessons because of the negative experience she…
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11 Jun 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP096: On Birth Order & Piano lessons

PPP096: On Birth Order & Piano lessons

Communication, Podcast, , , , ,
The theory of birth order and the impact it has on our children is an interesting thing to consider. I believe it is something to consider regarding piano study as well. Two different points of view These are the two articles I refered to on the podcast:Parents.com article "How Birth Order Affects Your Child's Personality and Behavior"PsychologyToday.com article "Is Birth Order a Myth?"The idea of birth order is simply a theory, it is not a definitive statement of what to expect from your child depending on their placement in your family.More important than the order that your children are born…
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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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28 May 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP094: Music is Theraputic with Jeanine Wheeler

PPP094: Music is Theraputic with Jeanine Wheeler

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Jeanine Wheeler is a piano teacher and music therapist serving the Lubbock, Texas and Abilene, Texas communities. Jeanine's Musical Journey Jeanine comes from a very musical family. Her father plays bassoon, her mother learned cello, her older sister studied violin. Naturally, Jeanine wanted to play an instrument too. Her parents didn't enroll her in lessons immediately but Jeanine was persistent and begged for lessons for over a year. They finally allowed piano lessons to begin then Jeanine was nine years old. Growing up in Michigan, close to Michigan State University, the first college in the country to offer a music…
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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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15 May 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP092: Post-Recital Reflections

PPP092: Post-Recital Reflections

Podcast
This episode was recorded the day after my 2018 Spring Recitals. My Spring Recitals are held the first Monday and Tuesday of May each year. Now that recitals are done, I've declared this day, "International Post-Recital Lazy Day" and you are welcome that I at least changed out of my pajamas to record this week's show! :) You would think after 28 years of annual spring recitals, I would have this down and wouldn't have any issues or problems. No matter how many times I've done recitals, there is always some new variable and this year was no different. The…
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07 May 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP091: Learn about musical career possibilities with Piano Teacher, Lisa Donovan Lukas

PPP091: Learn about musical career possibilities with Piano Teacher, Lisa Donovan Lukas

Podcast, Teacher Interviews
Lisa Donovan Lukas has been a teacher in the Los Angeles area for 15 years. Tell us your personal piano story as well as how you chose piano teaching as a career. I started formal piano lessons when I was about 5 ½, almost 6 years old, and studied classical music with the same teacher until I graduated from high school.  His name was Ed Willumsen and he was an excellent pianist and teacher, and he was also a composer and played popular, contemporary music as well as classical repertoire. As I advanced through classical repertoire, he would also have…
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30 Apr 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP090: 10 Positive Messages You Give Your Child When You Attend Their Piano Events

PPP090: 10 Positive Messages You Give Your Child When You Attend Their Piano Events

Podcast, Tenth Episode List
Every tenth episode is a list of ten music-y things Previous lists of ten music-y things include 10 things to watch for when you sit at the piano, 10 books to read with your piano kid, and 10 ways to encourage a love of music. To see the full list of tenth episodes, click here. Every year private piano teachers host piano recitals My studio recital is the cherry on top of the previous school year. I use it to recognize all the accomplishments my students have achieved throughout the year. To learn more of what I value in annual spring…
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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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16 Apr 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP088: This One is Dedicated to the Piano, of course!

PPP088: This One is Dedicated to the Piano, of course!

Podcast, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
How could Episode 88 be about anything other than the instrument that brings us together every week? The piano! Listen to the full episode here Resources on the history of the piano: We first told you about a book explaining the history of the piano in Episode 080: Ten Books to Read with Your Piano Kid "The Music of Life: Bartolomeo Cristofori & the Invention of the Piano" by Elizabeth Rusch. The Metropolitan Museum: The Pianos of Bartolomeo Cristofori Resources on the design of the modern piano: Steinway & Sons About Page "Every STEINWAY & SONS grand and upright is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and a consummate work…
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09 Apr 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP087: Practice Until You’ve Practiced

PPP087: Practice Until You’ve Practiced

Podcast
A Wise Puritan Proverb A few weeks ago my pastor shared a quote from John Bunyan, the author of The Pilgrim's Progress. "You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed." Over time that quote has been condensed to "Pray until you have prayed." How do you know if you've prayed enough? Pray until you have prayed. With the idea of piano practice - How do you know if you've practiced enough? Practice until you've practiced. Practice until there is marked improvement. One quick side note: Episode 87??…
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02 Apr 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP086: Character Building through Piano Lessons with Piano Parent, Alma Spencer

PPP086: Character Building through Piano Lessons with Piano Parent, Alma Spencer

Parent Interviews, Podcast
Piano is about so much more than piano Sebastian has been a student in my studio for many, many years.  I have learned many things from him. When I first met him, he was a very busy first grader; it was all I could do to keep him engaged in his piano lessons. Now, he is a very busy junior in high school. These days, his busy-ness is more about serving others and helping various organizations in his school and community. Sebastian is becoming a wonderful young man, full of character. You can thank and congratulate his mom, Alma, for…
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25 Mar 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP085: Looking at the Big Picture with Piano Teacher, Nicole Douglas

PPP085: Looking at the Big Picture with Piano Teacher, Nicole Douglas

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, ,
PPP085: Looking at the Big Picture with Piano Teacher, Nicole Douglas Piano teacher, Nicole Douglas, has learned how to look past the symptoms of children not wanting to practice or try new music. She looks deeper and searches for the underlying causes, which may surprise most people. Resources mentioned in this episode Coursera Piano Teacher Institute with Joy Morin National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy (NCKP) Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Episode 042 with Piano Parent, Beth Hughes Piano Pronto Series with Jennifer Eklund NinGenius Nicole recommends listening to the 3rd Movement of Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSulR9Fymg…
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12 Mar 2018
By Shelly Davis
PPP083: Learn how piano parent, Erica Hyland, incorporates the whole family in piano lessons

PPP083: Learn how piano parent, Erica Hyland, incorporates the whole family in piano lessons

Parent Interviews, Podcast, , , , , , , , , ,
Piano parent, Erica Hyland, is the mom of Emily, an 11-year-old student in my studio. Emily began piano lessons in first grade and continues to learn to express herself and gain more confidence at the piano with every lesson. (more…)
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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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