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

13Sep 2021 by Shelly Davis

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 resources. She loves getting piano students learning through laughter, and exploring the diverse world of music making; through improvisation, composition and games. Nicola’s Vibrant Music Teaching Library is helping teachers all over the world to include more games and off-bench activities in their lessons so that their students giggle their way through music theory and make faster progress. Nicola also runs a popular blog, Colourful Keys, where she shares creative ideas and teaching strategies, and hosts regular training events for piano teachers.

A few essential elements for the perfect practice pie

The pie dish – this part (your practicing habit) holds everything else together!

Flour – quality flour makes for a better pie just like quality time makes for better practicing

Water – this is the listening habit

Butter – yummy flavor produces a positive mindset and pride in the effort

Salt – like goals, a little goes a long way

Heat – repetition, repetition, repetion

Pie fillings – whether it’s chocolate or banoffee, a good filling keeps things interesting, in pies and in practice

Connect with Nicola

Vibrant Music Teaching

Colourful Keys

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Purchase Nicola’s new book, “Practice Pie” through most online retailers.

Bookshop.org is a great online retailer which also supports local book sellers.

Purchase “Practice Pie” on bookshop.org here.

Fun fact: Requesting the book through your local library will still support Nicola and you get to read the book for free!

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