Today’s episode is one big exhale for every piano teacher who is carrying a lot right now.

Teaching does not happen in a vacuum. It happens inside the real life we are living, with all its surprises, interruptions, emotions, and responsibilities. And if you have ever tried to teach through a full life season, today’s conversation is for you.

I recently went to a teacher Christmas brunch, and it was such a reminder that even the most grounded teachers are juggling real things behind the scenes. Leaking ceilings, overwhelmed moms, recital prep, teenagers, holiday pressure. And on that same day, I was dealing with a migraine so intense I could barely function. My family stepped in and did everything for recital night, and it reminded me how much we expect ourselves to carry alone.

This episode is not really about December. It is about the truth that matters in every season of studio life. Piano teachers are human. Independent music teachers are human. And your real life does not disqualify you from being a good teacher. It shapes the way you show up with depth and compassion.

Inside this episode you will hear:
• What “teaching while human” really looks like• The emotional load piano teachers carry behind the scenes• How real life and teaching life collide• Why overwhelm does not mean you are failing• Encouragement for teachers navigating burnout, stress, or busy seasons• One gentle reflection question you can take into any month of the year

This episode is perfect for:Piano teachers, independent music teachers, studio owners, group piano teachers, new teachers finding their footing, seasoned teachers needing encouragement, and anyone feeling stretched between teaching and real life.

Join the Scrappy Circle, Find the December Piano Party Pack, and join the Winter Workshop all at www.scrappypianoteacher.com

This Scrappy Snippet is a fast December piano resource roundup filled with easy lesson ideas for the busiest month of the year.

Perfect for group piano teachers, private teachers, and anyone who needs low prep Christmas activities that work for many ages.

In this episode I share● Christmas by Ear for aural work● Nutcracker Rhythm Cup Explorations● Lead sheet Christmas arrangements for teens● Quick December piano games● Composer study ideas● A December performance challenge● And three ways to find more teacher community this month

Full blog with every link mentioned
scrappypianoteacher.com/scrappynotes/decemberresources

Featured links
December Piano Party Packscrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/december-piano-party-pack

Free Scrappy Circle Teacher Meet Uppianokats.kit.com/decemberscrappycircle

Winter Workshop for Teacherspianokats.kit.com/winterworkshop

New episodes drop weekly. Thanks for listening.

Teaching follows a rhythm and some months feel heavier than others. In this episode I talk about the seasons of a teaching year, why certain months can feel overwhelming, and how the science behind decision fatigue and burnout explains the stress independent teachers carry. You will hear simple shifts that help you move through the hard seasons with more clarity, more energy, and less mental load.

I also share a few ideas for simplifying December lessons and preparing for spring so you can protect your energy instead of running on empty. Understanding these patterns helps you stop blaming yourself and start supporting yourself with routines that work.

If you want ready to use ideas for December, the December Piano Party Pack is available on my site. The Winter Workshop opens soon and will guide you through building systems that support your teaching life all year long.

You deserve a studio that fits your life. You deserve to feel steady in every season.

Grab the December Piano Party Pack www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/december-piano-party-pack

Visit the website for more Black Friday Deals www.scrappypianoteacher.com

Subscribe for all updates! https://pianokats.kit.com/scrappy

This Scrappy Snippet is a five minute studio policy reset for music teachers who want a smoother second half of the teaching year. This is not about rewriting your entire policy or sending long emails to parents. Instead, I guide you through a simple self audit so you can see what is working, what feels fuzzy, and where your boundaries have started to slide.

We talk about clarity, communication, exceptions, morale, and the importance of leading your studio with confidence. Think of it like wiping down the counters in your studio grocery store so everything feels calmer and more grounded again.

If you missed my Scrappy Snippet called Dont Be the Grumpy Grocery Store, go listen to that next. These two pair together if you are ready for a smoother, clearer, more confident studio season.

For more resources for piano teachers and music teachers, visit www.scrappypianoteacher.com.

Need help with your policy? I got you with this policy workbook -> www.scrappypianoteacher.com/resources/p/calendar-policy-scrappy-session-toolkit-replay-workbook-templates

Partner lessons, also called buddy lessons, have become one of my favorite formats in the studio.

In this episode, I’m sharing exactly how I teach and structure them, what a 45 minute format looks like, and how I decide which students to pair together. I’ll walk through how partner lessons help with scheduling, practice motivation, and even teacher burnout.

If you’ve ever wondered how to find a balance between group and private piano lessons, or how to bring collaboration into your studio without doubling your hours, this episode will help you get started. You’ll hear how I plan lessons in ten minute segments, how I build in flexibility for different personalities and skill levels, and how partner lessons can support overscheduled students while keeping your teaching flow simple and steady.

Whether you call them partner piano lessons, buddy lessons, or duet lessons, these strategies will help you save time, improve studio organization, and create more connection in your teaching week.

Have questions or want to connect? Reach out and subscribe at [email protected]

Check out Boom Cards for your studio at boomlearning.com

Ever feel like your piano studio has turned into a grumpy grocery store?

In this Scrappy Snippet, I’m talking about what grocery store customer service can teach us about piano teacher leadership, studio systems, and creating a positive studio mindset.Our energy matters. How we show up in lessons affects everything: student morale, parent communication, and even how sustainable our teaching week feels. This one’s for every independent music teacher who’s ever walked into a lesson burned out, unorganized, or on autopilot.Let’s be real. Studio wellness doesn’t come from another planner or policy. It comes from how we manage our time, systems, and boundaries as teachers. So if you’ve ever wondered how to keep your piano studio running smoothly without turning into the grumpy grocery store, this one’s for you.Listen to more episodes of The Scrappy Piano Teacher Podcast wherever you stream.Visit the website for more resources and subscribe at www.scrappypianoteacher.com

In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher, I’m diving into one of the biggest challenges for independent teachers: how to actually be seen and found in a crowded world of lessons, listings, and local studios.

Using data from the 2024 MTNA Member Survey, we’ll look at what real teachers are doing for visibility and why word of mouth alone isn’t enough anymore. You’ll learn what’s working right now and get simple, no-fluff ways to make your studio stand out without feeling salesy.

We’ll talk about:● Why visibility isn’t vanity and what that really means for teachers● Easy ways to boost your online presence and attract new students● How a free Google Business profile can help parents find your studio● Setting small visibility goals to keep your studio growing● The value of MTNA membership and how their data can guide smarter studio decisions

Because marketing isn’t about bragging. It’s about helping the right families find you.

Tune in for a mix of encouragement, real talk, and actionable studio strategy. And stay tuned for a quick mention of my upcoming Burnout Armor workshop that will help teachers protect their time and energy before spring hits.

Check out the MTNA 2024 Survey Here - www.mtna.org/MTNA/Business_Resources/General/2024_Member_Survey.aspx

Subscribe for Updates - www.scrappypianoteacher.com

60 Day MyMusicStaff Affiliate Link - www.mymusicstaff.com/scrappypianoteacher

Scrappy Snippet: Performance Prep for Piano Recitalswith guest Dr. Molly Gebrian

It’s recital season and if your students are anything like mine, they need a little extra help turning their practice mode into performance mode.

In this Scrappy Snippet, I chat with Dr. Molly Gebrian about how to prepare students for performance, not just practice.

We talk about practical ways to help piano students stay calm, confident, and ready for the stage, from testing “performance readiness” and planning backward from recital dates to fun distraction games and mental practice for younger players.

Whether you teach piano, violin, or any other instrument, you’ll walk away with ideas you can use this week to make recital prep smoother and more effective.

Mentioned in this episode:● Learn Faster, Perform Better by Dr. Molly Gebrian● Performance testing checklist ideas for older students● Mental practice and memorization tips● Distraction game ideas for younger students

If you missed last week’s episode with Molly on how the brain learns music, listen to that first it pairs perfectly with this one.

Have you ever had a student come to a piano lesson saying they practiced all week, but it sounds exactly the same as it did before? Or they look at you with that frustrated face and say, “I swear it sounded better at home”? In this episode, we’re talking about why that happens and what’s really going on inside the brain when students practice music.

My guest today is Dr. Molly Gebrian, a professional violist and cognitive neuroscientist who teaches at the New England Conservatory. She’s the author of Learn Faster, Perform Better, a book that connects the science of learning and memory with music practice and performance. Molly shares what the research says about how the brain actually learns, why breaks and rest time matter more than we think, and how we can use brain-based strategies to help piano students make real progress between lessons.

We talk about what effective piano practice really looks like, how to teach students to practice smarter instead of longer, and how small changes in how we structure lessons can make a big difference. This conversation is full of practical takeaways that you can start using right away in your studio.

If you want to understand the neuroscience behind music learning and piano practice, this episode will completely change how you think about progress.

Grab your autumn beverage and listen in.

And don’t miss next week’s short bonus episode where Molly and I talk about how to prepare students for holiday recitals using these same ideas on brain-based learning and memory.

Buy the Book: Learn Faster, Perform Better (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/4qpdjL1

Molly's Website - www.mollygebrian.com

Join the FREE Lunch and Learn Book Discussion on Learn Better, Perform Faster by registering HERE

Can We Really Control Piano Practice?

Reflections from My Studio Workshop

In this episode of The Scrappy Piano Teacher, I share reflections from the OhioMTA state conference and walk you through a practice workshop I held in my studio. Together we will think about how practice strategies, student engagement, and teaching philosophy connect to real life for our students.

We all know piano practice is one of the hardest parts of piano teaching. In this episode you will hear how I approached practice routines with my students, how I explained the difference between practicing playing and performing, and why creating a practice workshop can help students build confidence. This is encouragement for teachers who want practical piano practice tips that actually make sense in the lesson.

Here are some of the takeaways from this episode

● Piano practice is the number one challenge for many teachers

● Encouragement and perspective matter more than guilt

● Leadership in piano teaching means guiding students in how to practice

● A practice workshop can support both students and parents

● Self care strategies for teachers help prevent burnout and keep us strong for our students

This episode is for any teacher looking for ways to help students build realistic practice habits at home. It is about teaching students what to practice, how to practice ,and how to connect piano practicing to their daily lives.

For more resources visit scrappypianoteacher.com and subscribe for access to my full practice workshop lesson plan, and check out the abacus blog post mentioned at composecreate.com/get-rid-of-mindless-practice/