Field Notes on Music Teaching & Learning

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)

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

It’s the middle of December, which means you’re probably caught up in the rush of holiday performances, concerts, and recitals, studio classes, parties, and general busyness as we wrap up the year. Your to-do list is long, but the days are short, and you’re doing your best to stay on top of it all.

But as busy as this time of year is, it can also be a time to pause and reflect. To embrace the quiet and stillness that comes with the first snowfall or sitting in the living room late at night or early in the morning by the light of the Christmas tree.

As a teacher, December is a time to acknowledge everything you’ve created and accomplished this year—everything you’ve learned and all the ways you’ve changed and grown and evolved as a musician and educator.

That’s what today’s episode is all about.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

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

The Gap and the Gain (Benjamin Hardy & Dan Sullivan)

Join the Musician & Co. Book Club

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

Through the Windowpane (Chee-Hwa Tan)

Ep. 077 - A New Approach to Teaching Group Classes

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (Carol Dweck)

Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You (Ali Abdaal)

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle (Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski)

Mindfulness for People with Voice Disorders - Body Scan (Catherine Brown)

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

I have a love/hate relationship with studio classes.

I love the idea of them, and I love being able to offer them to my students. But I’ve never found a structure or approach that works. 

At the school where I teach, I’m limited to a classroom with a single piano, which means students have to take turns or do activities that don’t involve an instrument.

In addition, having a group of 6-8 students in a room together for 45-60 minutes (again, with one instrument) was challenging. It’s difficult to keep everyone engaged and focused, give directions, facilitate meaningful learning activities, and assess each student individually.

As an introverted teacher, it can feel a little chaotic and overwhelming.

This year, I was committed to figuring this out. I decided to offer more classes than last year, limit the number of students in each group, and plan more level-specific musicianship activities.

Today, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at one of my studio classes from this month and as always, a few things I’m experimenting with this year.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

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

Teaching Piano in Groups (Christopher Fisher)

Frances Clark Library for Piano Students

The Music Tree, Part 1

Lyric Preludes in Romantic Style (William Gillock)

Chord Inversion Worksheet (Chrissy Ricker)

Preludes in Patterns (Kevin Olson)

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

It’s my second full week of teaching. I know some of you have been back to school and lessons for a month now, but I’m still getting my bearings, adjusting to a new schedule, organizing studio classes, and setting my intentions for the year.

This is not a formal practice, but it’s something I sort of subconsciously do to mark the beginning of the new teaching year. I ask myself a few questions:

- “What do I want this year to look like?”
- “What do I want my students to experience?”
- “What do I want to prioritize or focus on?”
- “What do I value in the music teaching and learning process that I want to lean into?”

Do you do this, too?

If you’re on my email list, I shared in last week’s newsletter three things I’m bringing with me into the new year drawn from this practice. Today, I’m sharing a few more—7 things to carry into the new teaching year—and I hope this inspires you on your teaching journey.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

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

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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 for K-12 Piano Teachers

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

I don’t know about you, but this summer is going by very quickly. I know some of you may be going back to school this week or preparing to go back in a few weeks; here in New York, we still have a little summer left, as we don’t start back until after Labor Day.

But regardless, it’s quick.

At the beginning of the summer, I made a list of 5 things I wanted to work on outside of teaching. In this episode, I’ll share what was on that list, how it’s going so far, and what I’m spending time on this month.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

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

Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words

“Stella the Steinway’s 100th Birthday” (Piano Magazine)

Debussy’s Deux Arabesques

Bach’s French Suite VI in E Major

Debussy: A Painter in Sound (Stephen Walsh)

Ep. 064 - How I Plan a Year of Student Repertoire

20 Books to Read in 2024 (2024 Book List)

Movement That Fits: Dalcroze Eurhythmics and the Suzuki Method (Joy Yelin)

Move It!: Expressive Movements with Classical Music for All Ages (John Feierabend)

Piano Pantry Podcast, Ep. 104 - Streamline Your Group Classes

Inspired Piano Teaching (Marvin Blickenstaff)

The Piano Conference 2025

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

Last week, I taught a brand-new beginner her very first piano lesson.

Cora is 5 1/2 and is quite mature for her age. She is the youngest of three—her two older brothers also study with me. In fact, the oldest started with me when he was 5, a few weeks after Cora was born, so it’s kind of a full-circle moment.

I have a list of 12 things I like to get through in the first lesson. Twelve activities may sound like a lot for a 30-minute lesson, but at this age, we move pretty quickly.

I’ve adjusted my first lesson plan through the years; if you dig into my blog archives, you’ll find my “go-to plan for first piano lessons” from way back in 2015. The lesson plan I’m sharing with you today looks a little different, though I was surprised and pleased that some elements are the same after all these years.

In this episode, you’ll get my 2024 go-to plan for first piano lessons including a few ideas from master teachers and teaching strategies I’ve developed through practice.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

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

My Go-To Plan for First Piano Lessons (2015 edition)

Inspired Piano Teaching (Marvin Blickenstaff)

Piano Safari Friends

Piano Safari Level 1

Rhythm Keeper, Vol. 1 (Musikal Husky)

Ep. 055 - Begin Again: The Case for Experimentation in Your Music Teaching

Ep. 059 - 7 Ways to Practice Rhythm

Ep. 067 - Six Things I’m Documenting in the Studio

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

The interview process for finding a music teacher goes both ways:

The teacher is interviewing the student and family to assess musical, physical, and emotional readiness; determine if the student (and parents) have the same goals for musical study; and evaluate whether or not they'd be a good fit in the studio. We talked about this in the last episode, Ep. 072 - The Case for Consultations in the Music Studio. So, go back and listen to that, if you missed it.

At the same time, the student (and often the parents) are interviewing the teacher to assess musical skills and qualifications, teaching style, method and curriculum choices, and extracurricular offerings.

The end of the school year and the summer months are a popular time to interview and onboard new students in your studio.

This episode is meant to provide some guidance for you, the teacher, in preparing for these interviews or consultations with prospective families. Think through these questions in advance and be prepared to discuss your qualifications, teaching approach, and expectations, along with any studio experiences or opportunities you provide.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

Please note: some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!

Ep. 072 - The Case for Consultations in the Music Studio

Piano Safari (Fisher & Hague)

Piano Adventures (Faber)

The Music Tree (Clark & Goss)

The Suzuki Method

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 for Piano Teachers

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

Years ago, I received an email from a piano teacher asking about initial consultations and interviews.

“What do you do? What questions do you ask? How long should it be? What materials do you give them?” These are great questions!

Here are some of the reasons I offer consultations to prospective families in my studio:

1. They give you an opportunity to meet prospective students (and their parents) face-to-face before either of you commit to lessons.

2. For students who are transferring from another teacher, it's important to see what music they're currently working on, assess what they know, and determine where you want to begin in your first lesson.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to structure a prospective student consultation (including what to have the student bring or prepare ahead of time), six questions to ask, how to plan your time together, and how to onboard new students and families after the consultation.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

My Go-To Plan for First Piano Lessons

Printable Rhythm Pattern Cards

Customizable Email Templates for Studio Teachers

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

Welcome to another episode of the Field Notes on Music Teaching & Learning podcast. Today’s episode is part 3 of a series I’ve been working on this spring all about how to plan and organize a musical informance.

I first mentioned the idea of a musical informance in Ep. 068. An informance is basically an informal performance or an informational performance where you share insight into the music and the learning process with the audience. In Ep. 068, I shared a few examples of musicians who exemplified this model of education and engagement in the past, talked about what separates an informance from a performance and how you could structure this in your studio, and shared how my students and I were preparing for this event.

In Ep. 069, I talked more specifically about the theme of our informances this spring—music to celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse happening here in Rochester. I shared my repertoire list, the questions I asked my students as they prepared, how I built in opportunities for student creativity and input, and how I organized the event with parents and families.

Today, I’m sharing how it all went including three things I learned, what went well, and what I would do differently next time.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

Ep. 068 - How to Plan a Musical Informance

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

Musical Informance Planning Guide: A Resource for Studio Teachers

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

The birds are chirping, the first Spring flowers are popping up in the front yard, and Rory, my dog, insists on laying in the middle of the daffodil bed whenever the sun is out.

These are my seasonal cues that it's time to start planning for our annual end-of-year studio recital.

As the title of this episode suggests, I usually spend 3-4 months planning all the details of this event, helping my students prepare, and communicating with parents and families so they know what to expect.

Last year, I wrote down my recital-planning checklist month by month so I could share it with you here on the podcast. So if you're on a similar schedule and starting to plan your year-end recital, here's an inside look at my process.

For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

Resources Mentioned

Customizable Email Templates for Studio Teachers (Musician & Co.)

How to Use Notability for Assignment Sheets in Your Studio

Piano Pantry, Ep. 016: Recital Planning Made Easy

Piano Pantry, Ep. 065: Teacher Talk with Ashley Danyew

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew