06 Dec 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP270: Ten Wintery Pieces

PPP270: Ten Wintery Pieces

Podcast, Tenth Episode List, , , , , , , , , , , ,
Every tenth episode of the podcast, I offer you a list of ten somethings. On today's show, I present to you a list of Ten Wintery Pieces. Maybe your piano kid doesn't enjoy playing holiday music. Maybe your piano kid has been playing Christmas since October and your whole house is ready to hear something different. This list of ten pieces and songs has something for everyone at every skill level. Listen to the full episode here 1. "I Hate to Wear a Coat" by Wendy Stevens late elementary 2. "Winter Winds" - Chriss Ricker early intermediate Chrissy joined me…
Read More
25 Oct 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP264: Level Up Your Video Game Music with composer Chrissy Ricker

PPP264: Level Up Your Video Game Music with composer Chrissy Ricker

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , , , ,
Chrissy Ricker, NCTM, is a pianist, teacher, and composer from North Carolina. Chrissy holds a Master’s degree in piano performance and pedagogy and has been teaching piano for 23 years. Chrissy specializes in creating exciting original music and arrangements for pianists of all ages and skill levels. She has published over 30 collections of piano solo and duet music for students, and her piano music is featured regularly on the contest lists of teaching associations across the United States and Canada. A prolific arranger, Chrissy has also arranged hundreds of pop, classical, video game, and anime titles and is a…
Read More
04 Oct 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP261: Stacy Fahrion with Whimsically Macabre

PPP261: Stacy Fahrion with Whimsically Macabre

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , ,
Piano teacher and composer, Stacy Fahrion, didn't start composing until her adult years. Because she found her musical voice at a later age, she is intentional about making sure her students start composing as early as possible. Listen to the full episode here Stacy's Bio Stacy Fahrion is a Colorado-based composer, pianist, and piano teacher who loves encouraging everyone to compose. She holds a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa. Stacy writes in a style she calls “Whimsically Macabre.” Stacy’s poet-friend, Wayne A. Gilbert, describes her music best: “Offbeat quirky seriously beautifully funny mischievously…
Read More
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…
Read More
08 Feb 2021
By Shelly Davis
PPP227: Travis Lohmann Paints Musical Portraits

PPP227: Travis Lohmann Paints Musical Portraits

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , , , , , ,
Travis Lohmann is a composer and piano teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada. We first met Travis on the podcast when he chatted with Jeremy Duck and me about church modes in episode 207.You can listen to PPP207: Teacher Chat about Church Modes with Jeremy Duck and Travis Lohmann here.I invited him back today to share his personal piano story as well as his current composition project. Listen to the full episode here Here is a short video clip from my interview with Travis Lohmann Travis works out his compositions with old-fashioned pencil and paper. Each page in his music journal…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
16 Oct 2017
By Shelly Davis
PPP064: Jacki Alexander shares how important grandparents are in piano lessons

PPP064: Jacki Alexander shares how important grandparents are in piano lessons

Podcast, Teacher Interviews, , , , , ,
Shelly took this photo of a roadside river in Yellowstone National Park in the summer of 2017.Jacki Alexander is a piano teacher and composer from Indianapolis, Indiana. She has been teaching over thirteen years. Listen to the full episode here Tell us your personal piano story as well as how you chose piano teaching as a career.I began piano lessons at the age of four. My grandmother was my teacher. As well as teaching me, she taught a full studio of 40 students. At first, it was just “Grandma and me” in the living room. As my skills grew and…
Read More