Teaching Music
By Lou Ann Pope, Tonara Creative Education Specialist One of my favorite radio shows is John Tesh’s Intelligence for Your Life. I have learned so many interesting tidbits, but the best piece of advice is “Don’t buy your children things; give them experiences.” So started the first of many trips with my three children. Instead […]
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By Marilyn Floyd Do you ever wonder why some students seem to have rhythm while others struggle? As teachers, it's easy to see who has a natural aptitude and who doesn't. Humans are born with certain talents, and these remain fairly stable throughout our lives. They have little to do with knowledge, experience, culture, or […]
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By Alison Chiang With online lessons now the norm, it is important to show parents that you are able to continue teaching their children over a virtual setting. That being said, students that are already rowdy during in-person lessons are likely a nightmare to teach online! Here are some tips to manage overactive kids in […]
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The world of music education is changing rapidly, and undergoing a massive digital transformation. Due to a paradigm shift and a pandemic, music educators have had to rethink how they teach music and how to engage their students from a distance. Tonara and Rock Out Loud share a common mission, to empower music teachers and […]
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By Beth Horton There’s a common meme popping up in teaching groups this year - showing Bart Simpson and his pal Milhouse entering a cave together with the caption “veteran teachers mentoring first-year teachers during pandemic teaching ” and it is very clear that neither really knows what is in store for them. This image […]
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There is no failure, only feedback. Giving and receiving constructive feedback is one of the most challenging aspects of teaching and learning. As a teacher, it is part of your job to guide your music students and help them improve in their musical practice. Within that guidance, you should be giving constructive feedback that helps […]
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No matter who you are, how old you or your students are, we all know that a little competition never hurt anyone. In fact, it can create a healthy environment that will help establish growth, empowerment, confidence, and enjoyment! As a teacher and musician, you know this first hand - so why not let your […]
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Missed lessons are an inevitable fact of a piano teacher’s life and a written private music lesson cancellation policy that you can give to your students and their parents is therefore essential if you want to run your piano teaching business effectively. It is for the student’s benefit that you have a solid private music […]
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“I refuse to be THAT old lady piano teacher.” You know who I’m talking about. Maybe you were her student a long time ago. As for me, I have been teaching piano since my sons were in diapers; I have uttered this statement from the very beginning. Sorry, Mrs. Sack. You were a fine teacher, […]
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Ever heard of first impressions? For music teachers meeting with a student for the first music lesson, it is particularly important to make a great first impression. If this is a trial lesson, even more so!! The job market for music teachers is tough, so once you’ve successfully scheduled the first music lesson, it is […]
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