piano teacher primer

Sparked by last week's episode on teaching expression and musicality, we need a "how-to!"

Specifically how to teach balancing melody and accompaniment.

Challenging to do!

I give you what I say, what I do, what I've learned, and encourage teachers to celebrate each small victory along the path to musical piano playing!

Keep listening for my Black Friday Deal on the next Piano Teacher Primer Live Zoom Group!

Only a few spots left for Q & A with Angela Toone.

After over 25 years teaching, pedagogy classes from the University and beyond, and I've been training piano teachers for 5 years strong, I got ideas!

?how to make the lesson fun when the student hasn't practiced?

?I've never heard a podcast about this particular challenge?

? I've tried your suggestions and it's just not working?

Sign up for a half hour for only $10 over $40 value

Click here to see availability

or go to angelatoone.com

Teaching students to play expressively is more than dynamics. It is about enhancing the indications, and going beyond the notes to imagine and feel the mood of each passage. From musical markings to magical moments—learn how to guide students of various levels in expressing emotions, storytelling, and painting vivid musical pictures.

Questions about anything you've heard on the podcast? You're always welcome to DM me on instagram, but talking in person works so much better!

Only for November: Q and A sessions with Angela Toone, 30 min, only 10 bucks ($40 dollar value) Click here to see available times or go to angelatoone.com

Keep following along for a Black Friday Deal Too!

When should we accelerate our piano students forward, and when is it better to adjust and take a different approach?

To challenge or not to challenge?

In this episode, we explore the delicate balance between pushing students forward or decelerating that motion a bit. It's an art, not a science—

🔑 Key takeaways:

This episode offers strategies to keep progress steady without overwhelming them. Tune in to find out how to strike balance in your teaching!

Link to the Q and A sessions coming soon!

angelatoone.com

Why step out of your comfort zone as a piano teacher?

"Toone in" and get ready to be inspired by new possibilities! Let’s make our teaching more fun, creative, and engaging—both for us and our students. Let the good times roll!

episodes referenced:

episode 58 Pro Tips with Jessica Allen

episode 55 classical music: how to start

interested in the next Piano Teacher Primer LIVE Zoom Group? click here for the interest list

Or a 20 min Q and A? details to come

angelatoone.com

Have you ever had a student from another piano teacher that seems to have some gaps in their musical education? Maybe they can play well, but learning a new piece takes forever? Or they have a good knowledge of the note values, but they don't play in rhythm? It can be tricky to figure out how to navigate these situations, but it's also exciting that you can help them fill in those gaps giving them a more complete musical experience!

Listen in for practical tips on how to prevent, prepare for, and handle situations with transfer students.

And before you forget, click here for the Piano Teacher Primer LIVE group course on Zoom, it starts next week! This is a personalized program based on the questions and concerns of the participants like what do to after the first lessons, more exact lesson plans, games at-the-ready, and celebrations with other piano teachers new or needing inspiration. Only 6 spots available so sign up now before it fills up. Would love to see you there!

angelatoone.com

That’s right A to G and all the keys in-between!

What's harder sharps or flats?

What keys are the hardest for you the teacher to play in?

Which ones are hardest for your students?

Let's vote on Instagram or spotify poll!

We’ll dive into teaching sharps and flats initially, accidentals, and moving into key signature strategies for success!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

⁠dozen a day at ease in many keys⁠

Puck by Grieg Op. 71 No. 3

books by Robert Pace

Before you forget: click on this link if you might be interested in a 4-week Zoom Group for personalized help getting your studio started, or specific questions I can help you with hands-on! I'll send a zoom link for an info call on Thursday, September 5th. I am only taking 6 people, so keep that in mind.

Piano Teacher Primer LIVE

angelatoone.com/ 

As we wrap up the last of the summer encore episodes, I HAD to include this one because rhythm is the essential life blood of all music, and is often not taught effectively.

I explore 3 ways of counting rhythm -all of which I use with different students and in different situations

1. traditional "one-and-two-and..."

2. "TA and titi"

3. fruit names!

Don't worry it's all explained, and I'd love to hear how you help YOUR students with rhythm! Find me on Instagram @angelatoone_

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I go into a lot more detail with how-tos, games, and visuals in the Piano Teacher Primer online course

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OR for more specific help, or if you are already currently teaching, I will be hosting another Piano Teacher Primer LIVE Zoom group starting September 12th! Spots are already being spoken for, so fill out this quick no-obligation form if you are at all interested. link

angelatoone.com

This episode got a re-record and an upgrade to explain how I help piano students fix notes in a positive way, and in a way that positively fixes that note more permanently in these common scenarios:

1. They realize It’s not right and fix it themselves immediately

2. They can hear something is wrong, but they can’t tell which note exactly

3. They know where the right note is, they just accidentally played a different one

4. They don’t realize the note is wrong. Either their ear says it sounds fine, or they mis-memorized…or both. They think it’s right, but it’s not.

That last one is the hardest to fix I think, but I’ll tell you exactly what I do in the lesson, and by extension how to practice at home more effectively.

How would you handle these situations?

Speaking of note-reading, also check out episode 75 [encore] about landmarks and intervals

Thought about teaching piano but don’t know where to start?

Start with my tutorial “how I teach a first piano lesson” it’s totally free click here

Coming right up, another Piano Teacher Primer LIVE 4-week Zoom group to start or upgrade your own piano studio with specific, live help from me. No pressure click here for the interest list and more information.

angelatoone.com

I think this episode deserves a place in the top ten, so I am showcasing it as an encore episode. I describe the best way I have found to teach note-reading to piano students, and best of all, it works with whichever piano teaching method you use, propelling students forward in these 3 ways:

1. Remembering which clef is which,

2. Learning all their notes quicker allowing them to learn more and more music (and have more fun of course!)

3. Helping them become better sightreaders overall, useful wherever music takes them in their life!

Free download of my visual for teaching Treble Clef and Bass Clef click here or DM me on instagram @angelatoone_

Interval rhyme sayings and games and more inside the piano teacher primer online course a self-guided, walk-through, just-the-basics, no-overwhelm online course of videos and printables to get your own studio off the ground.

If you are currently teaching, or would like some more personalized help starting your piano teaching studio, fill out the interest list for the next piano teacher primer LIVE it's a small group of 6 people, 4 weekly classes on Zoom, it expands and updates the concepts in the online course, and you can get specific questions answered... LIVE!

angelatoone.com/ 

I get questions from piano teachers:

"Thanks for your first lesson video, I love it...what do I do next?"

This episode answers that question!

How to recognize the white note letter names without having to start at A all the time (takes forever!)

Plus I play games with little erasers to remind students which white notes are which!

I learned many of these ideas from my piano teacher in High School, she mentored me to get started teaching.

For a visual see my instagram page @angelatoone_

While you're there, check out the highlight bubble "how to teach"

Click here for more information on the piano teacher primer LIVE 4-week group starting up again in September

angelatoone.com