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What if the “wiggles” are actually your student’s brain doing its best work? Elizabeth opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD at age three and the unexpected way piano became her first tool for focus, self-regulation, and joy. From caffeinated laps at a recital hall to discovering that busy hands can calm a busy mind, this story threads personal insight into practical strategies any teacher can use.

The episode leans into creative problem solving. Through it all runs one idea: teach the student in front of you, not the stereotype. When we design for a busy mind and busy body, we uncover a musician who thrives on challenge and learns fast.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a teacher friend, and leave a quick rating and review on Apple Podcasts—it helps others find these conversations and supports more inclusive, effective music teaching!

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What does autism really look like in the piano studio? Autism Spectrum Disorder exists on a continuum as varied as the individuals who experience it. We explore why nonverbal doesn't mean unable to understand, why avoiding eye contact doesn't signal disinterest in social connection, and why differences in neurological processing aren't deficits but simply different pathways to learning. 

This episode dismantles common misconceptions that limit our expectations and teaching approaches. Through real-life examples and touching student stories, you'll gain practical insights into creating more inclusive and effective piano lessons.

Links

Interested in learning more about the best approaches for teaching neurodivergent learners? Take advantage of the 50% sale on Adaptive Piano Pedagogy 101! Use code FLASH50 at checkout.

Check out Dr. Scott Price's book, Autism and Piano Study

Blog posts on Autism Spectrum Disorder + piano teaching

Need some fidget toys for your neurodivergent students? Here are Elizabeth's favorites! {affiliate link}

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Find the full transcript here of this episode and all past episodes!

📚 Join the waitlist for the next Piano Teachers Book Club Session!

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You can find all of Elizabeth's favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)
Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:
[email protected]

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In this eye-opening conversation, host Elizabeth Davis-Everhart welcomes piano teacher Tara Mock, who brings 30 years of teaching experience alongside her perspective as a parent of neurodivergent children. Together, they challenge the common misconceptions of neurodiversity that limit both teachers and students in the music studio.

From the myth that autistic students can't be social to assumptions about coordination challenges and behavioral issues, this conversation peels away layers of misunderstanding to reveal the unique gifts neurodivergent students bring to music education.

Ready to see your students—all your students—in a new light? This episode is your invitation to teaching with greater understanding, flexibility, and joy.

Links:

--> Use code FLASH50 at checkout to get Elizabeth's Adaptive Piano Pedagogy 101 course for 50% this week. Click here to apply the discount at checkout!

Resources from Tara on Neurodiversity:
Learn more about Tara
Dr. Scott Price's book on Autism and Piano Study

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Find the full transcript here of this episode and all past episodes!

📚 Join the waitlist for the next Piano Teachers Book Club Session!

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Let's stay in touch!
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You can find all of Elizabeth's favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)
Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:
[email protected]

Send us a text

Welcome to the first episode in our groundbreaking new series about gifted and neurodivergent learners at the piano: Deconstructing Misconceptions of Gifted and Neurodivergent Learners! Have you ever caught yourself making a snap judgment about a student, only to later discover how wrong you were?

This episode challenges the assumption that difference equals deficit, and encourages teachers to "Jump into the Chute" with their students. (More on jumping into the chute on this week's new blog post!) Throughout this series, we'll hear from experts who will help us reframe our understanding of neurodivergent students as the capable, intelligent, and deeply musical individuals they are. There's also a new "Tiny Teaching Tip" at the end of the episode, so don't miss out on that.

-->Have you encountered misconceptions about teaching neurodivergent students? Send them my way in a message to Creative Piano Pedagogy on social media or via email to [email protected] so I can include them in an upcoming episode! 

Support the show

Find the full transcript here of this episode and all past episodes!

📚 Join the waitlist for the next Piano Teachers Book Club Session!

Subscribe to Elizabeth's email list here so you won’t miss future courses, freebies, teacher events and more.

Let's stay in touch!
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You can find all of Elizabeth's favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)
Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:
[email protected]

Send us a text

The hardest truth about teaching neurodivergent students is the unpredictability. You never know which "version" of your student will arrive each week—focused and ready for challenges, anxious but willing, or struggling with concepts they mastered weeks ago. This variability isn't a failure of teaching or learning; it's simply the reality of neurodivergent brains.

Contrary to misconception, adaptive teaching isn't the easy way out. It demands deeper pedagogical knowledge, thorough preparation, and keen observation skills. But its heart remains beautifully simple: know your student, know your pedagogy, and teach to the individual in front of you.

Ready to connect with other teachers on this journey? Join our free, private Facebook community for creative piano teachers by clicking this link! We're a supportive space for questions, brainstorming, and sharing experiences about teaching neurodivergent learners.

Want to be in on future Teacher Chats? Join the list here to get notified!

Links from today's episode:
My favorite musical coloring pages
Check out the Bubble Timer Blogpost
My favorite Comfort Fidget Tools/Toys

Note: The music puzzle mentioned in the episode is no longer available, but here is a similar set of velcro music puzzles Elizabeth often uses in lessons from Etsy

*As an Amazon Affiliate, I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you!) if you purchase through the Amazon links, which helps support the podcast and ongoing projects and research.

Support the show

Find the full transcript here of this episode and all past episodes!

📚 Join the waitlist for the next Piano Teachers Book Club Session!

Subscribe to Elizabeth's email list here so you won’t miss future courses, freebies, teacher events and more.

Let's stay in touch!
On the website/blog
Follow on Facebook
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You can find all of Elizabeth's favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)
Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:
[email protected]

Send us a text

Ever had a student struggle with hand coordination and finger control despite their best efforts? You're not alone. This deep dive into the fascinating connection between neurodiversity and piano technique reveals why many students—particularly those with ADHD or autism—find fine motor skills (like piano technique) challenging.
Whether you teach neurodivergent students or simply want to expand your teaching toolkit, these strategies will enrich your studio approach and help every student thrive at the piano.

Links to teaching tools from this episode:
Pop-it Fidget Toy
Squishy Stress Balls
Play-Doh
Play-Doh Mat
Fly-Swats
Lap Drum

As an Amazon Affiliate, I may receive a small commission if you purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. This helps support the podcast and research blog!

Support the show

Find the full transcript here of this episode and all past episodes!

📚 Join the waitlist for the next Piano Teachers Book Club Session!

Subscribe to Elizabeth's email list here so you won’t miss future courses, freebies, teacher events and more.

Let's stay in touch!
On the website/blog
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You can find all of Elizabeth's favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)
Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:
[email protected]

Send us a text

Emotional struggles in piano lessons can transform a beautiful learning experience into a source of stress for both students and teachers. How do we handle those moments when a student becomes overwhelmed or has a meltdown at the keyboard? Drawing from nearly 20 years of teaching experience, this episode unpacks practical, compassionate approaches to these challenging situations.

Whether you're teaching neurotypical or neurodivergent students, these strategies build a foundation of trust and safety that allows genuine learning to flourish. After all, the greatest honor in teaching isn't just developing musical skills, but becoming that consistent, calming presence that students can depend on week after week.

Support the show

Find the full transcript here of this episode and all past episodes!

📚 Join the waitlist for the next Piano Teachers Book Club Session!

Subscribe to Elizabeth's email list here so you won’t miss future courses, freebies, teacher events and more.

Let's stay in touch!
On the website/blog
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You can find all of Elizabeth's favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)
Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:
[email protected]

Send us a text

Are you struggling to teach piano students who seem to bounce from one thought to another? Wondering how to keep young learners engaged or help your neurodivergent students thrive? This deep dive into teaching students with short attention spans might just transform your approach.

Ready to transform your teaching approach? Discover how to time your lesson pacing perfectly around your student's natural attention patterns, creating productive learning experiences where both teacher and student leave feeling accomplished. Your students with short attention spans aren't incapable of focus—they just need you to understand how they focus differently!

Support the show

Find the full transcript here of this episode and all past episodes!

📚 Join the waitlist for the next Piano Teachers Book Club Session!

Subscribe to Elizabeth's email list here so you won’t miss future courses, freebies, teacher events and more.

Let's stay in touch!
On the website/blog
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You can find all of Elizabeth's favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)
Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:
[email protected]

Send us a text

Struggling to connect with students who have speech and language difficulties? You're not alone. In this illuminating episode of the Creative Piano Pedagogy Podcast, Dr. Elizabeth Davis Everhart launches a summer series, "So, I Have This Student..." dedicated to creative, out-of-the-box solutions for students who don't fit traditional teaching approaches.

We dive deep into practical strategies for teaching music to students with speech and language challenges, exploring both sides of lesson communication. The podcast introduces differentiated instruction as a game-changer, and Dr. Everhart shares innovative ways to let students respond without speaking, from using the piano itself to communicate choices to implementing simple hand signals and written responses.

At the heart of these strategies lies a profound respect for student dignity and a commitment to making music lessons about music—not extended conversation. By creating comfortable spaces where students can be themselves, teachers unlock genuine learning potential. Have questions about creative teaching strategies? Reach out through Instagram @creativepianopedagogy or email [email protected] to be featured in upcoming summer series episodes.

Support the show

Find the full transcript here of this episode and all past episodes!

📚 Join the waitlist for the next Piano Teachers Book Club Session!

Subscribe to Elizabeth's email list here so you won’t miss future courses, freebies, teacher events and more.

Let's stay in touch!
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You can find all of Elizabeth's favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)
Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:
[email protected]

Send us a text

Summer brings a welcome change of pace for most piano teachers, but those of us teaching neurodivergent students face unique considerations that deserve thoughtful attention. While neurotypical students typically thrive with relaxed summer schedules, our students with disabilities often find comfort in routine and structure - making the summer transition more complex than simply switching to "fun mode."

The podcast explores this delicate balance, acknowledging that the mental preparation for teaching students with special needs remains significant even during summer months. This episode shares creative approaches to summer teaching, including composer studies focusing on movie scores (John Williams is a particular favorite!), activities that build on students' strengths, and techniques for giving students agency through carefully structured choices. We also explore alternative recital formats that accommodate diverse learners, like this year's successful "My Favorite Things" themed event that combined in-person and virtual performances with relaxed outdoor activities.

Click here to check out the fun and interactive games from Carnegie Hall Elizabeth shared about in this episode! (Animal or Instrument is a huge favorite!) 

Have a question about a particular teaching scenario for the new podcast series? Send it to [email protected] - your query might be featured in an upcoming episode! 

Support the show

Find the full transcript here of this episode and all past episodes!

📚 Join the waitlist for the next Piano Teachers Book Club Session!

Subscribe to Elizabeth's email list here so you won’t miss future courses, freebies, teacher events and more.

Let's stay in touch!
On the website/blog
Follow on Facebook
Follow on Instagram
Follow on YouTube

You can find all of Elizabeth's favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)
Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:
[email protected]