The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Susan Staples Bell, our featured TopMusicSheets composer of the month. Susan is a dynamic composer and instructor whose engaging sheet music and educational resources have made waves in the piano teaching community. With over 30 years of diverse musical experience, Susan brings a unique blend of creativity and pedagogy to her compositions, aiming to draw students in with fun and captivating music while delivering deeper learning experiences than they might expect. Join us as we explore Susan’s journey, her innovative approach to composition, and the inspiration behind her latest works, including her new themed collection, "Keys to the Wild West." And stay tuned for a special discount code and insights that will spark creativity in your own musical journey.

Tim welcomes Susan to the show and expresses excitement about having her as the TopMusicSheets composer for the month.

Susan shared about her background and her lifelong dream of composing and teaching.

Her diverse teaching and musical experiences, including being a band director.

Her improvisational approach in her compositions.

The importance of being curious and creative in music.

Her transition to self-publishing.

How she leveraged social media to connect with music teachers and students globally.

The process of selecting pieces for her TopMusicSheets collection.

Susan's approach to encouraging creativity in students through curiosity, improvisation, and personalized compositions.

Advice for budding composers, encouraging continuous learning and seeking mentorship.

Guest Links Mentioned

Susan Staples Bell Music Website

Susan Staples Bell YouTube 

Susan Staples Bell (old) Facebook Page

Susan Staples Bell (new) Facebook Page

Susan Staples Mast Bell SheetMusicPlus

Links Mentioned

Learn more about TopMusicSheets here.

Head to Susan's website and use the coupon code TOPMUSIC upon checkout to get a 20% off discount (minimum spend $30).

Today’s Guest

Susan Staples Bell is equal part composer and instructor, with her main focus being on creating exciting Sheet music and educational resources for Piano teachers and their students. She loves to draw students in with some fun music, then intrigue them, when they discover there’s really lots more learning here than meets the eye! Susan has served the Music community for over 30 years in various positions: Church musician (Organist, Accompanist, Praise Band Pianist, and Choir & Hand Bell Director), Middle School Band Director, and Piano Instructor: for the last decade, her Studio has been in the San Antonio, TX area. Each of these positions have given her unique experiences that shape the music she writes.

Today's Sponsor

Alfred Music, the leader in music education for over 100 years, produces educational, reference, pop, and performance materials for teachers, students, professionals, and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument, style, and difficulty level. Alfred Music is located in Colorado, with offices around the world, including Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Since 1922, Alfred Music has been dedicated to helping people learn, teach, and play music. Alfred Music currently has over 150,000 active titles and represents a wide range of well-known publications —from methods like Alfred’s Basic Guitar, Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Premier Piano Course, Sound Innovations, and Suzuki, to artists like Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, to brands like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, and Billboard.

In addition to its own titles, Alfred Music distributes products from over 150 companies, including Advance Music, Belwin, Edition Peters, The FJH Music Company Inc., Faber Music, Jamey Aebersold Jazz, and LudwigMasters Publications. Alfred Music is now also paired with MakeMusic, which is part of Peaksware Holdings, LLC portfolio of companies, to transform how music is composed, published, taught, learned, and performed by bringing together the leaders in educational music publishing and music technology.

Visit their website at https://www.alfred.com/.

Exclusive Discount for Podcast Listeners

Exclusively for TopCast listeners, go to alfred.com/podcast and use code TopMusic at checkout to save 30% on these titles and everything else on alfred.com.

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Leave us a voice message

If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

Today, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Garreth Brooke, the brilliant mind behind PianoCreativity.com. Garreth, a British/German musician and piano teacher based in Frankfurt, Germany, brings a unique perspective to music education, blending traditional techniques with innovative, creativity-driven approaches. We explored the concept of "Repertoire Remixing," the importance of integrating creativity into lessons, and how historical practices of improvisation by composers like Bach and Beethoven can inspire modern teaching methods. We also delved into Garreth’s journey from the UK to Germany, his thoughts on modernizing music exams, and his passion for using music as a tool for personal expression. Whether you're a music educator or simply passionate about the art of teaching, Garreth's insights are sure to inspire and invigorate your approach.

Garreth shared a brief overview of his background and the reason why he moved to Germany.

Life, music education and his teaching setup in Germany.

His transition to blogging and creative teaching.

He opens up about how his mother's mental health struggles during his teenage years that deeply affected him.

The role of creativity in historical music education and the influence of historical practices.

Importance of integrating creativity into music teaching and how it enhances students' understanding and enjoyment of music.

Garreth introduced the concept of "Repertoire Remixing."

Benefits of creativity in lessons, which include enhancing students' musical imagination.

Tim introduced his concept of "Integrated Music Teaching."*

Garreth talked about "Creative Introductions," activities he shares on his blog.

He highlighted the importance of teaching skills like interpreting lead sheets.

The value of ensemble playing for piano students, which helps them learn how to interact musically with others.

Links Mentioned

Garreth Brooke's Website

PianoCreativity.com Website

PianoCreativity.com Facebook Page

Garreth Brooke's Instagram: @pianocreativity_

Connect with Garret at [email protected]

Today’s Guest

Garreth Brooke is a British/German musician. He studied Music at St Edmund Hall in the University of Oxford where he acquired an MA, received the AMTB performance diploma from the Music Teacher’s Board, and holds teaching qualifications from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Garreth has released music with 1631 Recordings, THESIS, Moderna, Blue Spiral, Nordic Euphony, and Bigo & Twigetti, and his music has been streamed millions of times. He has performed live all over Europe and his sheet music has been published by Editions Musica Ferrum and Breitkopf & Härtel. His has written guest posts on PianoDao, music reviews for A Closer Listen, and his article about suicide prevention and mental health was published on Huffington Post UK. He teaches piano lessons in English in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Today's Sponsor

Alfred Music, the leader in music education for over 100 years, produces educational, reference, pop, and performance materials for teachers, students, professionals, and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument, style, and difficulty level. Alfred Music is located in Colorado, with offices around the world, including Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Since 1922, Alfred Music has been dedicated to helping people learn, teach, and play music. Alfred Music currently has over 150,000 active titles and represents a wide range of well-known publications —from methods like Alfred’s Basic Guitar, Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Premier Piano Course, Sound Innovations, and Suzuki, to artists like Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, to brands like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, and Billboard.

In addition to its own titles, Alfred Music distributes products from over 150 companies, including Advance Music, Belwin, Edition Peters, The FJH Music Company Inc., Faber Music, Jamey Aebersold Jazz, and LudwigMasters Publications. Alfred Music is now also paired with MakeMusic, which is part of Peaksware Holdings, LLC portfolio of companies, to transform how music is composed, published, taught, learned, and performed by bringing together the leaders in educational music publishing and music technology.

Visit their website at https://www.alfred.com/.

Exclusive Discount for Podcast Listeners

Exclusively for TopCast listeners, go to alfred.com/podcast and use code TopMusic at checkout to save 30% on these titles and everything else on alfred.com.

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Leave us a voice message

If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

Today, we're having a chat with Justin Levitt, a composer whose music beautifully blends emotion and craftsmanship. We dive into his journey from being a self-taught musician to collaborating with world-class artists like the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and composing for the Diablo Ballet. We explore his passion for self-publishing, his creative process behind his piano compositions, and his recent collaboration with TopMusicSheets. Justin also offers invaluable advice for aspiring composers and teachers, emphasizing the importance of creativity, consistency, and the support of a strong musical community. Whether you're a seasoned musician or just beginning to explore music, his story offers inspiration and practical advice for anyone passionate about composition.

Just shared a brief overview of his background and his composing work.

Some of his notable collaborations, including the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and Alan Silvestri, a well-known film composer.

How he met Silvestri and how their friendship developed, leading to Silvestri's mentorship.

His musical journey, musical influences and mentors.

Importance of family support and solid music friends who encourage and help along the way.

His journey into self-publishing, which began unexpectedly after winning a composition contest.

Justin's insights on self-publishing and the importance of quality.

His TopMusicSheets Collection, showcasing a variety of styles and difficulty level and offering a broad representation of his work.

Advice and encouragement for aspiring composers.

Justin reflects positively on his experience working with the TopMusic team, praising the team's warmth and professionalism.

He encourages other composers to seize similar opportunities, expressing excitement about sharing his music with a wider audience.

Links Mentioned

Justin Levitt's Website

Find out more about TopMusicSheets here

Today’s Guest

Justin Levitt is an award-winning pianist and composer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Around the age of 15, Justin began to notice how deeply music resonated with him. It might have been his challenging childhood, the beauty of film scores, or friends at school who dabbled in composition, but one day, music became an integral part of his life. Those life-changing moments inspired him to learn to play the piano and start composing. Since then, Justin has composed hundreds of pieces and published ten volumes of piano solos. His achievements include winning seven MTAC state competition awards, performing at Carnegie Hall, composing for the Diablo Ballet in performances and short films, and receiving a gold Telly Award for best music on the film Spiritus. Justin's compositions are featured in the Australian Music Examination Board syllabus and published by FJH Music. Currently serving as Manager of Steinway Walnut Creek, he balances a full-time career with his passion for music. Justin finds profound joy and inspiration in his loving family, who are at the heart of his creative journey.

Today's Sponsor

Alfred Music, the leader in music education for over 100 years, produces educational, reference, pop, and performance materials for teachers, students, professionals, and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument, style, and difficulty level. Alfred Music is located in Colorado, with offices around the world, including Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Since 1922, Alfred Music has been dedicated to helping people learn, teach, and play music. Alfred Music currently has over 150,000 active titles and represents a wide range of well-known publications —from methods like Alfred’s Basic Guitar, Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Premier Piano Course, Sound Innovations, and Suzuki, to artists like Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, to brands like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, and Billboard.

In addition to its own titles, Alfred Music distributes products from over 150 companies, including Advance Music, Belwin, Edition Peters, The FJH Music Company Inc., Faber Music, Jamey Aebersold Jazz, and LudwigMasters Publications. Alfred Music is now also paired with MakeMusic, which is part of Peaksware Holdings, LLC portfolio of companies, to transform how music is composed, published, taught, learned, and performed by bringing together the leaders in educational music publishing and music technology.

Visit their website at https://www.alfred.com/.

Exclusive Discount for Podcast Listeners

Exclusively for TopCast listeners, go to alfred.com/podcast and use code TopMusic at checkout to save 30% on these titles and everything else on alfred.com.

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Leave us a voice message

If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

In this episode, we're diving into the inspiring journey of Kristina Arellano, a dedicated music educator, independent studio owner, church musician, accompanist, and composer. Her love for composing and arranging, particularly in music education, has driven her to develop a new piano curriculum for beginning students, set to release in 2025. She shares the challenges she faced in balancing the creation and marketing of her method book, and how the Music Teacher Startup Course provided essential guidance in transforming her vision into reality. She also discusses her triumphs and invaluable lessons learned along her entrepreneurial journey. Tune in to hear her insights and advice for fellow music teachers looking to bring their creative projects to life.

Kristina shared a brief overview of her background and her music studio in Wisconsin.

Her entrepreneurial journey and how she was inspired by her mother’s wedding shop.

Her method book creation, which focuses on a different approach to note reading and musicality.

What her piano curriculum entails, including her note reading approach.

Effectiveness and expansion of her method, including the potential to help other teachers facing similar challenges.

Importance of marketing and messaging, focusing on the unique aspects of her curriculum.

Kristina emphasizes her research into marketing strategies used by other independent composers.

She shared a personal and emotional story about a car accident in 2018, which led to a near-death experience.

How the Music Teacher Startup Course helped her understand the big picture of creating and marketing a product, including the steps and scope involved.

The value of understanding the market, validation, and marketing strategies.

Some challenges in business and marketing.

Advice for other teachers who wants to create their own product or business.

Kristina shared her appreciation for TopMusicPro Membership.

The current state and her future plans for her method book.

Guest Links Mentioned

Kristina Arellano Website

Kristina Arellano LinkedIn

Connect with Kristina at [email protected]

See sample pages of Kristina's method book at topmusic.co/kristina

Links Mentioned

Register for the 3 Secrets Workshop here

Find out more about the Music Teacher Startup Course here

Today’s Guest

Kristina Arellano is a music educator, independent studio owner, church musician, accompanist, and composer. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Church Music and a Master’s Degree in Ethnomusicology. She enjoys exploring music from all over the world and participates in contra and international folk dancing. She loves composing and arranging music, with a primary focus on music education and a passion for developing new curriculum. With an interest in sharing her compositions and music curriculum with the wider world, Kristina enrolled in the Music Teacher Startup course in 2019. Her current project is a novel piano curriculum for beginning students with an expected release date in 2025.

Today's Sponsor

Alfred Music, the leader in music education for over 100 years, produces educational, reference, pop, and performance materials for teachers, students, professionals, and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument, style, and difficulty level. Alfred Music is located in Colorado, with offices around the world, including Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Since 1922, Alfred Music has been dedicated to helping people learn, teach, and play music. Alfred Music currently has over 150,000 active titles and represents a wide range of well-known publications —from methods like Alfred’s Basic Guitar, Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Premier Piano Course, Sound Innovations, and Suzuki, to artists like Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, to brands like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, and Billboard.

In addition to its own titles, Alfred Music distributes products from over 150 companies, including Advance Music, Belwin, Edition Peters, The FJH Music Company Inc., Faber Music, Jamey Aebersold Jazz, and LudwigMasters Publications. Alfred Music is now also paired with MakeMusic, which is part of Peaksware Holdings, LLC portfolio of companies, to transform how music is composed, published, taught, learned, and performed by bringing together the leaders in educational music publishing and music technology.

Visit their website at https://www.alfred.com/.

Exclusive Discount for Podcast Listeners

Exclusively for TopCast listeners, go to alfred.com/podcast and use code TopMusic at checkout to save 30% on these titles and everything else on alfred.com.

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Leave us a voice message

If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

In this episode, we're chatting with one of our TopMusicGames creator, Matt Murphy. Matt shares his unique approach to teaching music through gamification, making lessons more interactive and fun. We dive into his TopMusicGames collection, designed to encourage improvisation and keep students captivated. He discusses the importance of adapting these games to suit individual student needs and moods, ensuring that learning remains accessible and enjoyable. He also emphasizes the value of keeping lessons dynamic, especially for younger students or those with learning difficulties, and highlight the flexibility and creativity these games offer to teachers. Whether you're looking to make your lessons more engaging or seeking new ways to inspire your students, this episode is packed with practical tips and insights.

Tim introduces Matt Murphy, highlighting his contribution to the TopMusicGames collection.

Matt shared about his games collection, emphasizing its focus on gamifying traditional music teaching techniques to make learning more engaging.

What the collection includes, such as games like the animal game, which encourages improvisation and keeps young students engaged.

Matt shared a brief overview of his background and teaching experience.

How his games collection is designed to be adaptable, allowing teachers to tailor games to their students' needs and moods.

Tim praises the collection for being accessible and easy to integrate into lessons without requiring physical materials.

Matt emphasizes the importance of keeping lessons fun and engaging, especially for younger students or those with learning difficulties.

The flexibility and creativity the games offer, encouraging teachers to experiment and make the games their own.

How incorporating games into repertoire deepens students' understanding of music.

Why teaching chords and patterns is crucial as they are foundational to music.

Matt emphasizes rhythm and pattern-based learning, especially for drummers.

Some simple exercises that can help students discover new sounds.

Links Mentioned

Matt Murphy YouTube Channel

Click here to learn more about TopMusicGames

Register for the 3 Secrets Workshop here

Today’s Guest

Matt Murphy grew up playing music. He taught his first lesson at 14, went to music school, and has decades of experience and multiple awards as a performer and educator. he actually hated piano growing up. As an ADHD and mildly dyslexic child, lessons from a very traditional teacher (book first, book only) didn't help . So he switched to drums, but kept a piano nearby.

After majoring in jazz drumset at music school, he realised there was so much more to piano than just "All Cows Eat Grass," and became determined to never be that "wrist-slapping" teacher for his young students. His lessons are infused with video game mechanics, child-psychology, Dungeons and Dragons-style storytelling, multi-instrumental composition, dumb jokes, and knowing that we're not just teachers, we're mentors.

Today's Sponsor

Alfred Music, the leader in music education for over 100 years, produces educational, reference, pop, and performance materials for teachers, students, professionals, and hobbyists spanning every musical instrument, style, and difficulty level. Alfred Music is located in Colorado, with offices around the world, including Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Since 1922, Alfred Music has been dedicated to helping people learn, teach, and play music. Alfred Music currently has over 150,000 active titles and represents a wide range of well-known publications —from methods like Alfred’s Basic Guitar, Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Premier Piano Course, Sound Innovations, and Suzuki, to artists like Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, and The Rolling Stones, to brands like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, and Billboard.

In addition to its own titles, Alfred Music distributes products from over 150 companies, including Advance Music, Belwin, Edition Peters, The FJH Music Company Inc., Faber Music, Jamey Aebersold Jazz, and LudwigMasters Publications. Alfred Music is now also paired with MakeMusic, which is part of Peaksware Holdings, LLC portfolio of companies, to transform how music is composed, published, taught, learned, and performed by bringing together the leaders in educational music publishing and music technology.

Visit their website at https://www.alfred.com/.

Exclusive Discount for Podcast Listeners

Exclusively for TopCast listeners, go to alfred.com/podcast and use code TopMusic at checkout to save 30% on these titles and everything else on alfred.com.

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Leave us a voice message

If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

In this episode, we're chatting with Alicia Glaser, the owner and instructor at Glaser Music Studio in Grand Island, NE. With 15 years of music education experience and an extensive background in the Orff methodology, Alicia shares her journey of navigating legal challenges with her local council over her home-based music studio. From facing neighborhood complaints to ultimately securing a change in city zoning laws, Alicia's story is a testament to perseverance and community support. Join us as she offers invaluable insights for piano teachers on how to handle legal obstacles, the importance of understanding local regulations, and the power of maintaining a positive outlook through it all.

Alicia shared a brief summary of her music studio and her background.

She shared about acquiring a commercial space, expanding her teaching capacity.

How she faced a legal challenge regarding traffic complaints in her neighborhood related to her home music studio.

How she addressed the legal issue and adjusted lesson times to reduce traffic.

Her efforts to change the city code that she discovered was an outdated code, allowing four students for cultural arts but only one for music.

The outcome of Alicia's efforts, highlighting the importance of in-home businesses and the benefits of group education.

The strong support that she received from parents and the community.

Alicia's handling and legal process and costs.

How she worked closely with the zoning commission director.

How her teaching looked like during the legal process.

Her advice and tips to other teachers on how to be a responsible business owner.

Alicia shares some TopMusicPro membership benefits, from resources on business management, composition, and community.

Guest Links Mentioned

Alicia Glaser Website

Alicia Glaser Facebook Page

Alicia Glaser Instagram Page

Glaser Music Studio Private Group

Links Mentioned

Article: Mom faces the music, leads to change after discovering home piano lessons may be illegal 

Link to Alicia's First Letter

Link to Alicia's Second Letter

Today’s Guest

Alicia Glaser is the owner and Instructor at Glaser Music Studio located in Grand Island, NE (USA). She lives with husband of 15 years Brian, their 9 year old daughter Alaina, and energetic dog Grace. She and her husband love spending their weekends attending gymnastics meets and softball tournaments for Alaina. Alicia has been teaching music education for 15 years. 13 of those were spent in the K-8 General Music classroom setting as well as private lessons. For the last 2 she has been solely teaching in her private studio. Alicia has obtained Level 1, 2, and 3 Orff Certifications and adapted her Orff training to fit the needs of her group piano, ukulele, guitar, musical theater, and preK music classes.

Alicia prides herself on providing children with a well-rounded, modern, creative experience of music that’s in-line with their goals and related to the music they love. Her goal is to ensure that the next generation of students continue to create music and love their instrument for the rest of their lives.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

Leave us a voice message

If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

In this episode, we explore the innovative Meridee Winters Music Method through the insights of Kate Capps, a key figure in its development and implementation. Kate shares her journey from discovering music at five years old to studying at Berklee College of Music and eventually joining Meridee Winters' Philadelphia school in 2007. Over the past 17 years, Kate has become Meridee's right-hand person, contributing to the creation and evolution of the method’s groundbreaking books and materials. Kate discusses the method's chord and pattern-based approach, its focus on creativity and playfulness, and how it engages students, especially teenagers. Kate also reveals exciting upcoming projects and supplemental materials designed to further enrich the music learning experience. Join us to explore how Meridee Winters Music is transforming music education by fostering creativity and connection.

Kate shared a brief overview of her background and her journey working with Meridee Winters.

She shared how she came about working for Meridee Winters School of Music.

She shared about Meridee's background as a lifelong musician and elementary classroom teacher disheartened by the lack of creativity in traditional education.

Meridee's career path, including owning karate schools and working in recording studios before teaching adult musicians to accompany themselves.

How Meridee developed a method to teach chords and patterns, integrating her education background and creativity.

The importance of teaching music as a creative art and language art.

The balance of incorporating reading music into the method while maintaining creativity.

Kate shared about Meridee's books, Chord Crash Course and Chord Quest.

Tim highlights the need for beginner methods for teenagers that make music fun and relatable.

The importance of connecting with teenage students to keep them engaged in music.

Kate shares about some upcoming projects of Meridee Winters Music.

The concept of integrated music teaching, which helps students understand and find connections in music.

Links Mentioned

Meridee Winters Website

Meridee Winters Instagram Page

Meridee Winters Facebook Page

Email Kate at [email protected]

Today’s Guest

Kate discovered music at five years old, after inheriting a piano from a neighbor's basement. Recognizing her immediate love for the instrument, her parents signed her up for lessons and Kate’s career as a musician was born. Songwriting quickly became a passion, and led Kate to Berklee College of Music, where she studied songwriting, voice and piano, and graduated magna cum laude. In 2007, Kate began working with Meridee Winters in as a teacher for her Philadelphia school, where she taught piano, voice and songwriting and fell in love with Meridee’s creative approach to teaching music. Over the past 17 years working with Meridee, Kate’s role has evolved into Meridee’s “right hand person” and editor for her trailblazing books and materials, while still remaining actively involved with the school’s teachers, curriculum and events.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

Leave us a voice message

If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

 

In today's exciting episode, we welcome back Paul Myatt, a successful Australian businessman and renowned educator. As a founding Director of the Forte School of Music, Paul has spearheaded an innovative and thriving music education network that reaches over 4,000 students across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. Known for his passion for lifelong music-making and the positive impacts of music education, Paul shares his insights on teaching and pedagogy and the importance of holistic, student-centered approaches to learning. Join us as we delve into engaging teaching strategies, the significance of whole body learning, and how to inspire the next generation of musicians.

Tim highlights Paul's roles in various episodes, including discussions on group lessons, expert roundups, and the "No Book Beginners" approach.

Importance of a holistic and student-centered approach to teaching, integrating music skills and reading.

Paul discusses Generation Alpha's reduced attention spans due to mobile technology.

Relevance of whole body learning, which includes movement, singing, and listening to music.

Cognitive neuroscience research supporting attention, engagement, error detection, and consolidation in learning.

Importance of consolidating material in lessons and ensuring students practice effectively.

Role of music in memory and learning, citing examples of its effectiveness in various contexts.

Influence of instructional methodologies like Orff, Kodály, Suzuki, and their relevance to whole body learning.

How whole body learning adapts these methodologies specifically for piano lessons.

Whole body learning in practice, demonstrating how it engages students through movement and music.

Some benefits of whole body learning.

Interactive learning environment, including active listening, singing, chanting & playing instruments.

Upcoming Whole Body Learning Teaching Beginner's course details, course pricing and benefits.

Whole Body Learning Teaching Beginner's Course

Register here and use US20POD upon checkout to get $20 off US price

Guest Links Mentioned

Piano Teaching Success

Forte School of Music

Links Mentioned

Whole Body Learning: A Fun and Effective Way to Teach Music

TTTV033: How Group Lessons Can Transform Your Studio with Paul Myatt & Gillian Erskine

IMT323: A Done-For-You Group Teaching Curriculum with Paul Myatt and Gillian Erskine

TMG #041: A Whole Body Learning Approach to Guitar Lessons with Paul Myatt

Transform Your Piano Teaching with Tim Topham and Paul Myatt [Live Event]

Today’s Guest

Successful Australian businessman, Paul Myatt, is also well known for his ability to teach and educate all levels and abilities in a diverse range of skills from music to swimming. Paul is a founding Director of Forte School of Music, an unique and highly successful music education network with over 4,000 students in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Paul’s greatest passion is encouraging life-long music making through music education and the positive effect this has on people’s lives.

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Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Fridays weekly.

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If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

 

Join us in today's episode as we sit down with Brock Chart, our TopMusicSheets composer of the month. Brock is an accomplished composer, studio owner, and the founder of My-Melodies Publishing in Kansas. Renowned for his versatility across genres such as jazz, pop, educational piano literature, and film music, Brock has made significant contributions to the music world. He was named the 2022 Composer of the Year by the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs and had 15 original compositions selected for the 2024-2028 NFMC Bulletin. Since establishing My-Melodies Publishing, he has released six well-received educational books. Tune in to hear Brock share his journey, insights into the composing process, and valuable advice for aspiring composers.

Tim praises Brock's music for its accessibility and engaging nature, noting the inclusion of QR codes that provide access to various tracks and tutorial videos.

Tim highlights the monthly availability of sheet music collections from composers worldwide.

Brock shares his composing journey, starting with a high school jazz combo piece and progressing to writing for various ensembles, including big bands and jazz groups.

Importance of playing with others and joining ensembles to enhance musical experience and foster social connections.

Encouraging creativity in students and the impact of teachers suggesting new opportunities and ambitious projects.

Challenges and learning experiences of writing for different instruments and ensembles.

Brock shares his experience of self-publishing after a rejection from a big publisher and learning the process by asking for advice.

Importance of social media, conferences, and learning from established composers for effective marketing.

The value of attending conferences for networking and exposure, despite the costs.

Brock recommends digital routes like Kindle Direct Publishing for low-cost, professional-looking publications.

His influences, including Dennis Alexander and Catherine Rollin, and the impact of listening to student feedback on his compositions.

He encourages aspiring composers to try their pieces with students and consider digital publishing options.

Brock expresses his positive experience working with Tim's team and learning from the process.

Guest Links Mentioned

Brock Chart Website

Brock Chart Facebook Page

Brock Chart Instagram Page

Links Mentioned

Find out more about TopMusicSheets here

Subscribe to TopMusic YouTube channel

TopMusicSheets Volume 51 (Brock Chart) Playthrough video

Today’s Guest

 

 

Brock Chart is a composer, studio owner, and founder of My-Melodies Publishing in Kansas. He composes in a variety of genres and mediums including jazz, pop, educational piano literature, and film music. He was the 2022 Composer of the Year by the Kansas Federation of Music Clubs, and had 15 original compositions selected for the 2024-2028 NFMC Bulletin.

Brock has been awarded two Student Music Awards in DownBeat magazine for composition in both large-ensemble and small-group writing. In 2019, he composed an original score for the Museum of Modern Art’s short film How to See, which was listed in the British Film Institute’s list of the “Best Video Essays of 2019.” Since founding My-Melodies Publishing, Brock has composed and published six books in his educational series: Five-Finger Jazz, Five-Finger Pop and Five-Finger Rock. The books received great reviews from pedagogues in publications like American Music Teacher Magazine and Piano Magazine.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

Leave us a voice message

If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Amy Chaplin, a distinguished pianist, teacher, speaker, blogger, and podcaster, who is passionate about studio business, organization, and life. Amy combines these interests through her blog, PianoPantry.com, and The Piano Pantry Podcast, as well as running an independent piano studio in Northeast Indiana. An active member of the Music Teachers National Association, Amy has held various leadership roles and frequently speaks at events on studio business, marketing, and digital organization. Join us as we delve into Amy's expert insights on organizing both your music studio and your life, offering practical tips and strategies to streamline your workflow and enhance your teaching efficiency.

Amy shared a brief overview of her background and niche development.

She shares details about her recent retreats and digital coaching events.

Organization tips and methods for music teachers on printed sheet music and digital sheet music.

Tips on organizing digital games, emphasizing the importance of clear naming conventions.

Digital organization tips and how to maintain organized file structures.

Email management and how to utilize folders.

Thoughts on Dropbox vs. Google Drive.

Importance of backing up files to avoid data loss.

Some note-taking and organization apps.

Amy's transition from Evernote to Notion for better functionality and cost.

She shares some meal prep for busy music teachers.

Additional tips for Google Drive folders for better visual organization.

Guest Links Mentioned

Amy Chaplin's Website

The Piano Pantry Podcast

The Piano Pantry Retreat

Amy Chaplin's Digital Coaching

Amy Chaplin's Workshop: Organize Your Life With Notion

The Piano Pantry Podcast Episode 105 – Evernote Vs. Notion

Links Mentioned

Download the latest TopMusic Magazine here.

Today’s Guest

 

 

Amy Chaplin is a pianist, teacher, speaker, blogger, and podcaster. She loves talking about all things studio business, organization, and life-related. She combines all of these passions at PianoPantry.com and on The Piano Pantry Podcast. She runs an independent piano studio in Northeast Indiana. An active member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Amy has served in multiple leadership roles at the state and local levels, including President of the Indiana Music Teacher’s Association, VP of Membership, Website Editor, AIM Development, and is now serving as a trustee of the association. She frequently speaks at the local, state, and national levels on topics related to studio business, marketing, digital organization, and music learning theory applications.

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Thank you for tuning in!

Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you.

If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show.

Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly.

Leave us a voice message

If you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.