The Spring semester can be busy. With extra performances, we end up focusing more on performance skills—starting and finishing well, lifting hands back to our laps, how to practice performing at home, bowing, and memorization strategies.

But as you know, there’s so much more that happens in a music lesson—so much more that we’re teaching and cultivating in our students. It’s not just about performance or mastery or checking things off. It’s about developing musicianship—developing musicians—and helping them develop the skills and creativity and confidence they need to continue making music throughout their lives.

I made some notes about this in my teaching journal at the end of last year. As I was preparing for the first week of lessons last week, I recognized six things I’ve been focusing on and prioritizing in lessons recently that I want to make sure to carry into this new year.

I hope this inspires you to reflect on what you’re prioritizing in lessons and to plan your lessons and classes with intention.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Ep. 068 - How to Plan a Musical Informance

Ep. 069 - A Musical Informance to Celebrate the Solar Eclipse

Ep. 071 - 3 Things I Learned From Hosting a Musical Informance

Musical Informance Planning Guide: A Resource for Studio Teachers

Piano Safari piano curriculum

Hand Position at the Piano: 5 Foundations of Piano Technique, Part 1 (Kate Boyd)

The Thumb in Piano Technique (Kate Boyd)

How to Use Notability for Assignment Sheets in Your Studio

Piano Safari, Repertoire Book 2

The Perfect Wrong Note: Learning to Trust Your Musical Self (William Westney)

Ep. 60 - How Do We Approach Mistakes in Music Teaching & Learning?

Insights from William Westney’s “The Perfect Wrong Note” (Musician & Co. Book Club)

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