The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachers

Do some of your students seem to throw their hands in the air at the first whiff of struggle and difficulty? What they need is grittiness. They need the determination and self-belief to keep going when things get hard. 

I think of music student motivation as 5 masts which keep a structure standing tall. Nurture all 5 for highly motivated and engaged students.

If your goal is to foster a growth mindset in your piano students, then extrinsic motivation could be the best route to get there.

Incentives, awards and rewards are common practice in many piano studios. If you use them, you’re a raving fan. If you don’t, you’re staunchly opposed. 

Whichever side of this debate you fall on, let’s stop and think about each type of external motivator.

I think it’s fair to say that we all learnt a lot in 2020. Some of the biggest lessons for me last year were about listening…and Zoom was my teacher.  🙃

Every student can improve their aural memory over time. But some students come to us with a particularly weak aural memory which can present a real challenge to us as teachers. The aural memory music games in this article are simple, but they might be just the solution you need right now.

Have you ever thought about creating a piano mashup with your students? It’s easier than you think and there are so many learning opportunities.

If you're on the hunt for a new ear training exercise for your piano students, this step-by-step activity is perfect for you.

In this article, we’ll get down to the brass tacks of why and how and music teachers of all stripes should use Curwen hand signs.

When teaching piano technique to adults, make it relevant to them and avoid sounding like a schoolteacher telling them off. Here's how.