Episode 15: Are Adult Students Your Untapped Opportunity? - with Dr. Pamela Pike

Most piano teachers spend their careers focused on children. But here's a number that might surprise you:

In the US, around 77% of potential piano students are adults; adults who are curious, motivated, emotionally connected to music, and looking for exactly what you offer.

Dr. Pamela Pike is one of the world's leading researchers and educators in adult piano pedagogy. She's editor-in-chief of Piano Magazine, co-editor of the Journal of Piano Research, and has spent her career studying how adults learn - and what piano teachers need to know to teach them brilliantly.

Paul sat down with Pamela at the Australasian Piano Pedagogy Conference in Adelaide - and this conversation is full of practical, immediately usable ideas for any teacher who already works with adult students, or who has been wondering whether adult group piano might be the next exciting chapter for their studio.

In this episode, you'll discover:

About Dr. Pamela Pike

Dr. Pamela Pike is a researcher, educator, and editor-in-chief of Piano Magazine. She is co-editor of the Journal of Piano Research and one of the world's leading voices in adult piano pedagogy. Her work bridges research and practice in a way that is immediately useful for studio piano teachers.

🔗 Journal of Piano Research - free to read at journalofpianoResearch.org
🔗 Piano Magazine

Resources

🎁 Free Download - The Real Secret to Keeping Piano Students Engaged
👉 Download free here → https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/lm-keeping-students-engaged-guide

🎹 Join The Studio
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Mark Matthews is a composer, educator, and self-described musical engineer, and he has an unmissable approach to learning the blues; you’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out.  

In this episode, Mark meets me online from his current location at the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, and from here he shares the history and origins of blues. 

He then goes on to share the three-part recipe behind every blues scale, so you'll never be intimidated by it again.

Mark's Easy Blues Method has been developed across four grade levels - each one building on the last - and the results speak for themselves. In this episode, I even have a go on the piano, so watch me in action! 

In this episode, you'll discover:

About Mark Matthews

Mark Matthews is an Australian composer, educator, and civil engineer whose compositions have been helping piano teachers introduce blues to students of all ages and levels for decades. His work bridges the gap between classical training and contemporary musicianship in a way that is practical, joyful, and immediately usable in your studio.

Resources

🎹 Join Mark, Gillian, and Paul for the Beginner Blues  Masterclass inside The Studio

👉 Join The Studio here → $49/month, cancel anytime 

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When you hear the word ‘improvisation’, if you picture one of these smoky dens where these really cool jazz dudes sit in an almost meditative state, playing and improvising with their mates whilst being completely immersed and at one with the music? They have these crazy cool riffs at their finger tips and you think how on earth can you do that? How on earth could I ever teach that? I can't even do it myself!

For most we just weren’t taught improvisation. It wasn’t part of how we learned piano. So the whole improvising piece seems a mystery and belongs to a select few. 

But here's the thing: that gap in our own learning doesn't have to become a gap in our students' experience. If we keep waiting until we feel "qualified" to explore improvisation, we end up passing on the same limitation to the next generation of pianists. And that's a cycle worth breaking

In this episode, Paul and I tackle one of the most requested topics from piano teachers worldwide. We show you exactly how to get a complete beginner creating their own music from the very first lesson

We walk you through a beautifully simple approach that gives you the confidence to introduce improvisation right away, whether you've ever improvised yourself or not.

And as a bonus, we share a video of Paul doing this exact activity with a real adult student in his very first lesson — so you can see it in action before you try it yourself.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why So Many Teachers Avoid Improvisation (t's not your fault)
What Paul's Master's Research Revealed
Why Improvisation Belongs in Lesson One
The Copy Me Game: a simple activity that works with any age or level
How to Use Backing Tracks to Support You
The Science Behind Why Improvisation Matters 

Resources:
Get the free activity on the Piano Teaching Success website via The Studio. 

Studio Members

Here's a direct link to this improvisation activity. The teaching example video, track & the teaching guide which includes some of the melodic phrases Paul used are all there waiting for you inside The Studio, inside the Music Skills Builder module. Simply log in and ➤ Access goodies instantly

If you’re not a member yet and would like access to more activities and all the resources that go with them you can join The Studio here. It's only $49/mth. Join The Studio Not a Studio Member? We have a simple accompaniment that you can play as you work with your student. Having an underlying beat and harmonic structure is the foundation to making this activity successful. 

➤ Download for free here

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We have a small favour to ask. If this episode was helpful, please click subscribe and like on your favourite platform so our podcast can reach more teachers just like you. It helps more teachers find this work and feel supported.

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🎉 Want More Done-For-You Whole Body Learning Resources?

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Looking for something engaging, fun, and packed with real musicianship skills to bring into your studio? 

This episode is a little different - and so much fun! 

Paul recently ran this traditional Japanese clapping game with a group of teachers at Top Music Live in Sydney, and the room had an absolute ball. In this episode, we walk you through the activity, unpack the pedagogy behind it, and then we show you the video of Paul leading the teachers so you can try it for yourself. 

You’re going to love it! 

It's called Omochio Tsukimasho - and the version Paul shares has been beautifully modernized for today's students.

This is one of those activities that works for every age group, every level, and every setting. 

Whether you're running a group class, a summer camp, an end-of-term lesson, or you just want to inject some energy and connection into your teaching week - this one delivers every time.

And the best part? It doesn't matter if anyone makes a mistake.

In this episode, you'll discover:

What to watch for in the video:

Before you watch, here are a few things to look out for:

Paul doesn't start with the music. He gets everyone feeling the beat first - and then teaches the words a little at a time, with the beat already underneath. 

Watch how he moves his body to place the beat and the whole room follows without even realizing they're learning.

Once the beat and words are locked in, he layers in the second part. That's where the fun really begins.

And notice how nobody stops when they make a mistake. They laugh, catch the beat, and keep going. That is such a freeing experience for students - and such a powerful way to build foundational music skills.

Resources

🎁 Free Download — Omochio Tsukimasho Movement Guide 

Everything you need to bring this activity into your studio. 

If you’re a PTS Studio member, simply log in and ➤ Access goodies instantly 

New to Piano Teaching Success? ➤ Registration and download

🎵 Want the backing track Paul used? 

It's available inside The Studio — our program for private piano teachers. 

👉 Try The Studio here →

🎧 Haven't listened to Episode 5 yet? 

This episode is a good one to revisit - all about using music to learn music, and it pairs beautifully with this activity. 

👉 Listen to Episode 5 here →

Support the Podcast 

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would: 

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It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported.

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“Because we have keys [on a piano] we can press, it’s so tempting to turn the keys into a data entry exercise, and to think if we get the data wrong, the calculations will come out wrong. You could play all the wrong notes with the right rhythm, and it’s music.”

What if the way we've been teaching piano is actually getting in the way of real musicianship?

That's just one of the ideas Elissa Milne drops in this conversation, and it's one you won't stop thinking about.

Elissa and I sat down together at Top Music Live in Sydney, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat listening to this conversation as we explore the big picture and grand philosophies behind music making.

It’s funny, thought-provoking, and game-changing. Elissa is one of Australia's most beloved and internationally recognised composers, the mind behind Little Peppers, Pepperbox Jazz, and pieces that piano teachers and students around the world have been playing for decades.

If you've ever wondered how to build musicians who are truly expressive, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll discover:

(00:00) Why Elissa started writing educational music

(05:00) The compositional philosophy behind her pieces

(10:00) Why she doesn't use her students as "crash test dummies"

(16:00) The Shakespeare analogy that reframes everything about performance

(22:00) Questioning why we become vessels for dead composers’ art

(28:00) A case for mucking around with music

(34:00) The harmonic hologram: a fascinating concept from contemporary music your students will love

(40:00) Why BTS, Taylor Swift, and the supermarket soundtrack matter in the piano studio

(46:00) The two pieces that deserve to be in every exam syllabus

🎁 Free Download: The Real Secret to Keeping Piano Students Engaged

Get strategies to keep your students motivated, progressing, and loving their lessons.

👉 Download free here →

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would:

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The children sitting in front of you right now have brains that work entirely differently to the way they did just a few years ago. They’re living in a world where information is accessible at all times. 

In this podcast episode, Anita Collins says this will require us, as humans, to evolve. She talks about how we can work with devices and addiction withdrawal and other experiences kids need in their lives that balance the digital world they’re living in. 

This is why music is so important for kids right now. 

Listening to this episode will help you understand where kids are at and where learning experiences are going. 

If you’ve been worried about AI or digital apps taking over the music world, this episode will help you stay open minded to evolve and use tech in a way that supports our lives. 

Dr. Anita Collins is one of the world's leading researchers in brain development and music learning. She's the author of The Music Advantage, the creator of Bigger Better Brains, and she has spent years translating complex neuroscience into language that teachers, parents, and policymakers can actually use.

This conversation goes deep into what's actually happening in the brains of this generation of students, why it matters, and why music learning is uniquely placed to give children the very thing their devices are taking away.

This one will change how you see your work.

In this episode, you'll discover:

About Dr. Anita Collins

Dr. Anita Collins is an internationally recognised researcher, educator, and writer in the field of brain development and music learning. She is the author of The Music Advantage and the creator of the Bigger Better Brains programme. Her TED talks and research have reached educators and parents around the world.

Anita’s Program: biggerbetterbrains.com

Anita’s Book: The Music Advantage 

Anita’s TED Talk: The Benefits of Music Education 

Resources

🎁 Free Download — The Real Secret to Keeping Piano Students Engaged Practical strategies to keep your students motivated, progressing, and loving their lessons. 👉 Download free here → https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/lm-keeping-students-engaged-guide

Support the Podcast 

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would: 

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It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported.

Enjoy on your favourite platform

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"I'd love to teach groups, but my studio's not big enough." If you've ever said or thought your space wouldn’t work for groups, this episode is for you.

In reality, you probably don't need a bigger space. You just need to see what's actually possible.

In this episode, we take you inside the real teaching spaces of Group Piano University graduates from around the world — from home studios and church halls to school classrooms, community music centres, and small commercial spaces.

Real- life GPU grads join us in this conversation!

And what they show you is surprising and impressive. 

(01:36) Why space doesn’t have to keep you stuck

(02:30) Why starting small (3-4 students) completely changes your income in the long-run

(05:18) Actual school classrooms. See how Vanessa, Melody, and Margie have made this work beautifully

(09:46) Church halls & the unexpected benefits you wouldn't think of

(11:28) Small commercial spaces — for teachers with bigger dreams (Lorraine in Malta, Sarah in Sydney, Kate in California)

(14:23) Home studios — how four grads have transformed their own spaces

If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes.

🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)

 Get the free video training here →

👉 Watch it here.

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would:

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It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported.

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What does it actually look like to transition from a full private lesson schedule to a group piano studio, in real life, in under a year?

In this episode, I sat down with Caelyn, a young piano teacher from Wisconsin, who completed Group Piano University just nine months ago and has already transformed her studio, and her lifestyle, in ways she never knew were possible. 

And now? She’s actually wondering what to do with her freed up time. 

I hope you love this episode as this inspiring GPU grad walks us through step by step how she went from a maxed out schedule, to a thriving group piano studio. 

She also reveals how she’s expanding even further to build the music school she's always envisioned.

This is a real, honest, inspiring, and funny conversation about what's possible. I hope you love it! 

Gillian x

(00:00) Why Caelyn decided she didn't want a studio full of private lessons, and what she did about it

(04:20) How she went from 50 private students to 70 students (50 in groups) in under a year

(08:10) How she launched her first group of six students and why that first mum brought four friends along

(13:45) The surprising reason groups work better for Caelyn 

(18:30) The mindset challenges of introducing groups

(22:00) What she noticed musically about her group students 

(27:15) Her exciting plans for the next stage of growth 

(31:00) Her advice for any teachers interested in starting groups 

If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes.

🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)

 Get the free video training here →

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would: 

⭐ Subscribe 

⭐ Rate 

⭐ Leave a quick review

It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported.

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Inside The Studio, you'll find: a huge library of lesson-ready resources, including essential backing tracks practical Whole Body Learning strategies monthly masterclasses (live + replay) downloadable handouts up-to-the-minute teaching insights a supportive, nurturing community of piano teachers around the world

👉 Discover The Studio

When thinking about group piano, many teachers get stuck on one big question:
“How do I teach pieces to multiple students at the same time?”

Because in private lessons, we naturally adapt to each individual student. But in a group setting, that approach simply doesn’t work.

So what’s the solution?

In this episode, we show you the exact model we’ve used successfully for over 30 years to teach pieces in group piano classes — in a way that works for every learner in the room.

You’ll discover how combining multi-sensory learning and lesson structure allows students to learn faster, feel more confident, and succeed when they get to the piano.

We also take you inside real group classes so you can actually see how this works in action.

(02:26) Snippet of a Piece called Snowstorm for Early-Intermediate Students
(02:50) How to Teach Pieces to Several Students at the Same Time
(03:40) The Pedagogy Behind Teaching Groups
(04:10) Snippet of a Piece called Creepy Colin, Pre-Learning Activity
(06:30) Auditory, Visual, and Kinaesthetic Learning Explained
(10:30) Why Singing Matters
(11:26) The Role of the Teacher so Group Lessons are Seamless

If you’ve ever thought, “I just don’t see how to teach pieces in a group…” this episode will give you a clear, practical pathway forward.

If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes.

🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)

 Get the free video training here →

Watch/listen on your favourite platform:
Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts

If you enjoyed this episode, we’d be so grateful if you would:

⭐ Subscribe
⭐ Rate
⭐ Leave a quick review

It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported.

 When thinking about starting groups many teachers get caught up in the “How will I do this?” question but what they should really be asking themselves is

What is important to me musically and professionally? 

In other words, what do you want for your students and yourself from adding groups to your teaching?

And that’s where the principle of “Beginning with the end in mind” made famous by Stephen Covey in his book “Habits of Highly Effective People” comes into play.

Adding groups to your studio can be one of the most powerful ways to teach music but choosing the right format, one that gives both you and your students what you want is key.

In this episode we share how our single level curriculum has enabled us to keep students long term in groups sharing footage of a group of teens who started in groups at 4 or 5 and how they are best of friends - still learning in groups.

Enjoy a peek into our world with real-life examples of groups in action. 

See the lasting friendships, performance skills, and strong musical skills students can achieve almost effortlessly in groups.

(00:00) How thinking about your ultimate goals or learning outcomes is the best place to start
(01:30) Our now teenage students share what they love about groups
(03:30) Our Ultimate Goals - give students musical like skills
(05:20) How the soft outcomes of learning with others -  peer motivation and long-term friendships
(09:10) Differences between private & group lessons
(10:40) The staggering differences between novice and expert group piano teachers
(15:10) Live group lesson in action - watch how the lesson flows

If you’ve ever wondered how teachers run group piano lessons that are structured, musical, and engaging — without chaos, this episode will open your eyes to what’s possible.

If you enjoyed this episode, we’d be so grateful if you would:

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⭐ Rate
⭐ Leave a quick review

It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported.

Or Listen|Watch on Your Favourite Platform

Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts

If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes.

🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)

 Get the free video training here →