Next Week is Off-week
(Monday, June 30 to Sunday, July 6, 2025)

We have off-days over the Independence Day (4th of July) holiday. This off period goes from Monday, June 30 to Sunday, July 6. No regular lessons during that week. We have our Summer recitals during that week (July 2 & 3). (There will also be no Forum in July since the off-week falls on the first week of the month.)

Have a wonderful Independence Day celebration!

Musical Ladder “Tests”

The Musical Ladder uses the term, “tests.” These are intended to be assessments of some sort to help make achievements on the Musical Ladder more meaningful. The Musical Ladder levels are based on longevity – how long a student has been continuously enrolled in lessons. (If a student withdraws and then returns later, they restart at the first rung of the ladder, because their continuous enrollment restarts.)

Studio Recitals July 2 & 3, 2025

Every teacher should encourage their students to participate in as many recitals as possible. Students should always be developing their repertoire of music that they can perform anytime, anywhere, for anyone. These are the pieces to help them select for their recital performances!

Musical Ladder Has Begun!

Please continue to deliver wristbands and certificates to your students this week! Please let us know as soon as possible if you are missing anything, or are unsure about any student.

Musical Ladder Begins Now!

The Musical Ladder KICKOFF BEGINS NOW!

What You Need To Do:

1. Find your collection of wristbands and certificates for your students. Your name will be on the cover sheet and the brown bag. These will be in the lesson room of your first lesson starting today. (Look in the teacher box and/or on the desk.)

2. Deliver the wristband and certificate to your students. Keep the remainder with you so you can deliver to your other students on the other days you teach. Try to deliver all wristbands and certificates this week!

Last week I wrote about the introductory music lesson process (The Basics). Here are some suggestions and requirements for teaching the introductory lesson itself. »

Teachers and Staff: Happy Saturday!
And… Happy Mother’s Day!

Reminder: this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, May 10-11) are off-days (school is closed for Mother’s Day weekend). No regular lessons. Also, Saturday is our first annual Destination Recital… we will be on a charter bus headed south for a day of music-making, music education, and fun!

Coming up: Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday & Sunday, May 10 & 11, are scheduled off-days (no regular lessons those two days). May 10 is our Destination Recital (see more »)

Welcome back from break! Lessons started up again today, and for me it felt refreshing and energizing. I have learned in my life that I am usually the most content, confident, and internally peaceful when I am teaching.

Coming up: Mother’s Day weekend, Saturday & Sunday, May 10 & 11, are scheduled off-days (no regular lessons those two days). May 10 is also our Destination Recital. See more!

Responding to Email Communications

Thank you to everyone who responds to emails! It really helps when you respond in some way to email and other communications, including acknowledging receipt, an understanding of the content, answering any questions, etc.

Some emails do not require a response, of course, and sometimes this is stated in the email, or it is self-evident. But if you suspect the sender might benefit from assurance that you received and understand the message, take a moment to respond and let us know! 

Teaching Strategies: Satisfaction, Joy, & Short-term Rewards

Another important thing we can do as teachers in music lessons to help students learn and develop musical skills is to help students experience satisfaction, joy, and short-term rewards in their learning and development.

Teaching Strategies: Relevance

Another important thing we can do as teachers in music lessons to help students learn and develop musical skills is to provide relevance to the learning.

When students struggle to learn, or to develop a skill, there are almost always several factors at play. As part of our studio philosophy, we assert that if a student is not learning or developing skills, here are the places we should look for answers …

Teaching Strategies: Meaningful Context to the Learning

Another important thing we can do as teachers in music lessons to help students learn and develop musical skills is to provide a meaningful context to the learning.

When students struggle to learn, or to develop a skill, there are almost always several factors at play. As part of our studio philosophy, we assert that if a student is not learning or developing skills, here are the places we should look for answers …

Teaching Strategies: Chunking the Learning and Practice

Another important thing we can do as teachers in music lessons to help students learn and develop musical skills is to chunk the learning and practice.

When students struggle to learn, or to develop a skill, there are almost always several factors at play. As part of our studio philosophy, we assert that if a student is not learning or developing skills, here are the places we should look for answers …

Teaching Strategies: Sequencing Instruction

Another important thing we can do as teachers in music lessons to help students learn and develop musical skills is to properly sequence instruction.

When students struggle to learn, or to develop a skill, there are almost always several factors at play. As part of our studio philosophy, we assert that if a student is not learning or developing skills, here are the places we should look for answers …

Teaching Strategies: Assessing Prior Knowledge

Another important thing we can do as teachers in music lessons to help students learn and develop musical skills is to adequately assess prior knowledge.

When students struggle to learn, or to develop a skill, there are almost always several factors at play. As part of our studio philosophy, we assert that if a student is not learning or developing skills, here are the places we should look for answers …

Teaching Strategies: Slowing Down

One of the most important things we can do as teachers in music lessons to help students learn and develop musical skills is to slow down.

When students struggle to learn, or to develop a skill, there are almost always several factors at play. As part of our music studio philosophy, we assert that if a music student is not learning or developing skills, here are the places we should look for answers …

Teaching Music Lessons (Part 3)

Continued from the last two weeks, here are some more ideas for guest student and guest teacher lessons, when you need to teach multiple instruments or an instrument you do not play. More ideas will be presented over time in the Teacher Resources folder.

Teaching Music Lessons (Part 2)

Continued from last week, here are some ideas for guest student and guest teacher lessons, when you need to teach multiple instruments or an instrument you do not play. More ideas will be presented next week in Teaching Music Lessons, Part 3, and over time in the Teacher Resources folder.

Teaching Music Lessons (Part 1)

We teach piano. We teach voice. We teach instruments. And we often specialize in these things. Yes!

But, we also teach music.