Music Education

Using Music Practice Plans

The bottom line is that it’s not how much time you practise on your instrument for, but how you manage your practice time, and how often. You can save a lot of time in the long run if you have a practice plan and goals, and if you have ideas on how to reach them.

Music Teacher Freebies

One of the wonderful things about the Internet is that I have been able to learn and use free music teaching resources developed by fellow music teachers all over the world. Now, it's my turn to start sharing some music teacher freebies.

Screen Cleaner Coolness at My Studio

I bought it because it looked small and cute. Then, I read the sign on the point-of-sale display at Staples. It stated that most cell phones are dirtier than a toilet seat in a public bathroom. Let that sink in a moment. Eww!

Sold! I picked up one AM Mist Screen Cleaning Block

Music Teaching Idea: Alternatives to Counting the Beats

This week, one of my beginners, a sweet introspective lad, was struggling with the timing on “Starry, Starry Night” from the Faber & Faber Piano Adventures series. His family is doing some travelling this summer and, he’s a bit of a history and geography buff, so we used country names to “count” the beats.

Music Practice Tip: All Musicians Should Sing the Music

This music practice tip is something I should get my students to do more regularly: sing the music. Too often, we get hung up on the mechanics of music, that is, the notes and the rhythm. Well, that’s all good and dandy, but we’re not robots. When we bring music to life, we are telling a story through sound and silence.