TopMusic Piano Podcast

By Tim TophamBusiness Education Music

TopMusic Piano Podcast episodes

October 16136: Creating Products with Claire Rehmke of Musically Minted
Turning a creative idea into a real product takes far more than a great design. In this episode, we're chatting with Claire Rehmke, founder of Musically Minted, a small business creating fun, musically accurate products for music teachers. We go behind the scenes of designing, manufacturing, and launching products, from her early lessons learned to her current best sellers. Claire also shares practical advice for teachers who want to create their own physical or digital products.
Claire shared how virtual teaching in 2020 sparked Musically Minted.
How a sticker-only start grew into apparel and accessories.
She left classroom teaching in 2023 to go full time.
Why Pantone colors matter when ordering manufactured products.
The challenge of long sample timelines and 100-piece minimums.
Some products, like sublimated items and pressed apparel, are made in-house.
Best sellers include the birthday sticker roll and musical moment notepad.
This year's holiday launch features Nutcracker and winter wonderland themes.
Her digital shop offers worksheets, classroom decor, and rhythm resources.
She learned Procreate entirely from TikTok tutorials.
The importance of staying organized as a business grows.
A teacher's story about feeling seen captures her mission.
Why a brand-new product can take about a year to develop.
The value of planning every detail of a physical product first.
Links Mentioned
Claire's Website:www.musicallyminted.com
Instagram:@musicallyminted
Today’s Guest
Claire Rehmke is a music educator, artist, and founder of Musically Minted, a small business creating fun, musically accurate products for music teachers. She started Musically Minted in 2020 while virtually teaching elementary music from her apartment in Washington State, after realizing she couldn’t find the cute, music-teacher-specific products she wanted to wear and use herself.
Before taking Musically Minted full time in 2023, Claire taught K–6 general music, multiple elementary choirs, and a 4th grade marimba ensemble. She studied Music Education at Pacific Lutheran University, earned her master’s in Music Education from Kent State University, and completed all three levels of Orff Certification through Portland Orff.
Today, Claire still hand-draws every Musically Minted design and runs the business from her home alongside her husband, Daniel, and a small team made up largely of fellow music educators. Giving back to the music education community is a big part of her mission, whether that’s supporting music education organizations, helping teachers access professional development, or purchasing supplies from classroom wish lists. Above all, Claire wants music teachers to feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music
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 Fridays weekly.
TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
29 min
October 09135: Method Book Reviews with Phoenix Vera
The right method book can shape a student's entire first year at the piano. Today, I'm chatting with Phoenix Vera, known as The Tattooed Piano Teacher on YouTube. We compare popular beginner methods, from Piano Adventures and Piano Safari to Piano Pronto and Wonder Keys. Phoenix also shares how she chooses books for new students and a creative way to bring beginner technique to life.
Phoenix shared why she mixes method books instead of following one series.
Why Piano Adventures remains a balanced, moderately paced framework.
The value of choosing a go-to book for each beginner age group.
She tries a different method each lesson before settling on a final set.
How Alfred's Premier moves faster than Piano Adventures with a classical lean.
Why she prefers Alfred's Premier over the older Alfred Basic series.
She described Piano Safari's rote pieces and pattern-based reading.
The importance of teacher training when adopting Piano Safari.
How Piano Pronto teaches through familiar tunes, best for ages 10 and up.
WunderKeys hooks kids with comics but needs theory and technique supplements.
Why she favors mixing books over all-in-one methods.
The approach behind Chord First, which pairs lead sheets with traditional pedagogy.
Chord First began as a simple printable and grew into three books.
The value of teaching technique through imagery, like a left-hand cello.
She outlined which older beginner method fits which type of student.

Links Mentioned
Find out more about the Spotlight Session here.
The Tattooed Piano Teacher YouTube Channel
The Tattooed Piano Teacher Shop
Piano Skill Set Method Books
Facebook page:Phoenix Vera (The Tattooed Piano Teacher)
Instagram page:@thetattooedpianoteacher

Today’s Guest
Phoenix Vera is a pianist, composer, and piano teacher with more than 20 years of experience teaching students of all ages and levels. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and has run her own private piano studio for over a decade, developing creative approaches to theory, composition, and beginning piano instruction. Known as The Tattooed Piano Teacher on YouTube, Phoenix shares teaching ideas, piano method book reviews, and creative resources for piano teachers. She also composes original piano music and is the author of the Piano Skill Set series, which teaches skills through fun activities, and Chord First, a lead-sheet-based method for teens and adults.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

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 Fridays weekly.
TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
36 min
October 02134: The Painted Pianos with Elizabeth Zajac
A single bad memory from a recital can shape how a student feels about performing for years. Today, I'm chatting with Elizabeth Zajac, a Utah piano teacher known for her elaborate recital themes and hand-painted pianos. We talk about the recital that changed her whole approach, how she restores and repairs the old pianos she paints, and the creative touches that make her recitals memorable for the right reasons. Elizabeth also shares how she helps hesitant students ease back into performing at their own pace.
Elizabeth shared how a post-COVID recital changed her whole approach to performances.
How her painted piano idea started small, with solid colors, before going rainbow.
The rainbow recital had students dress in color for rainbow-themed pieces.
Why she buys cheap, used pianos from Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
She keeps the paint job a surprise from the piano's original owner.
The value of swapping damaged ivory keys for new plastic tops.
Why she lets each recital piano settle on-site for a few days first.
The importance of offering low-pressure mini recitals for hesitant students.
The value of asking fun interview questions, printed in the program, for each performer.
Elizabeth encouraged teachers to keep recitals fun and pressure-free.
Links Mentioned
Elizabeth's Instagram page:@summit.music.co
Find out more about the Spotlight Session here.
Today’s Guest
Elizabeth Zajac is an Utah piano teacher and the director of Summit Music Company. She studied piano and orchestral directing at BYU-Idaho and has spent the past 15 years teaching music both privately and with bands and orchestras throughout Utah. She currently serves as President-Elect of the Timpanogos chapter of the Utah Music Teachers Association and is passionate about creating positive, memorable performance opportunities for her students. Her studio is especially known for its elaborate recital themes and painted pianos. Elizabeth is also a wife and mother of six children, ages 10 to 2, and shares her creative studio projects and painted pianos on Instagram at @summit.music.co.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music
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 Fridays weekly.
TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
31 min
September 25133: Simply Music at Dancing Keys with Giana Nguyen
The way we're taught to learn music shapes how freely we play it for the rest of our lives. In this episode, I'm chatting with Giana Nguyen, owner of Dancing Keys Music Studio in Irvine, about how she went from a classically trained, page-dependent pianist to a devoted teacher of the playing-based Simply Music method. We talk about her own skepticism turning into 13 years of belief in the program, how she structures group lessons, and her approach to practice and memory retention. Giana also shares advice that applies to any piano teacher, whether or not Simply Music is part of their studio.
Giana shared how she and Rachel first met at a TopMusic Local meetup.
How a chance radio performance led her to discover Simply Music.
She described being skeptical of the playing-based method at first.
Why Simply Music delays sheet reading in favor of hands-on, immersive learning.
Founder Neal Moore created the method while teaching a blind student.
Simply Music now reaches over 700 instructors across 126 countries.
Giana described teaching in weekly "streams," covering reading, improv, and composition.
The value of Simply Music's training program for teachers at every level.
How her Practice Lab concept was built around same-day memory retention.
Why she reminds students that practice makes progress, not perfection.
She explained intervallic reading, which teaches note relationships over individual letters.
Giana encouraged teachers to explore playing-based methods without fully committing.
The importance of giving yourself grace as a teacher, on good days and bad.
Exclusive Offer to Podcast Listeners
Neil Moore of Simply Music is offering teachers a free copy of two of his books:Music on Mars, and Music and The Art of Playing-Based Education. Feel free to send Neil an email directly, [email protected], and he will immediately reply with links for you to download both books.
Links Mentioned
TopCast 477: Lowering the Bar, Widening the Door: Playing-Based Teaching with Neil Moore
Giana's website: Dancing Keys Music Studio
Giana's Facebook page:Dancing Keys Music Studio
Giana's Instagram page:@dancingkeysmusicstudio
Simply Music Website
Today’s Guest
Born in Vietnam and raised in Orange County, California, Giana Nguyen is a professional musician and member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Since 2011, Giana has released 16 studio recordings of original songs and covers including her latest single “Magic.” She has performed in various venues as a solo acoustic artist or in collaboration with other musicians, and has sung the national anthem for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Anaheim Ducks. Giana is the owner of Dancing Keys Music Studio in Irvine, California, where she is an advanced Simply Music piano instructor. With over 25 years of experience as an instructor and being a lifelong musician, Giana strives to nurture creative musical expression in all of her students.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music
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 Fridays weekly.
TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
45 min
September 18132: Piano Ninjas, Dog Music, Memberships, and More with Lisa Spector
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs in a career come from the moments we never planned for. Today, I'm chatting with Lisa Spector, a Juilliard-trained pianist whose career has taken her from concert stages to composing calming music for anxious dogs to building a global membership for adult pianists. We talk about her journey from over-practicer to practice strategist, the hand injury that changed how she thinks about music, and what she's learned about building a membership from scratch. Lisa also shares some surprisingly simple tips for helping nervous students perform with more confidence.
Lisa shared how her mother's piano playing first drew her to the keys.
How Earl Wild's minimal-movement technique shaped her practice tricks.
Lisa admitted spending years as a classic over-practicer at Juilliard.
Why most practice struggles come from undoing bad habits, not building new ones.
She described the Piano Ninja Tricks system, running from mindset to technique.
How her Quick Reflex Motion technique trains direct movement instead of wide arcs.
How a 2017 hand injury led doctors to tell her she'd never play again.
Lisa shared how left-hand-only music reshaped her view of where music comes from.
How a calming puppy at her music school launched her dog music company.
Why steady, slow, predictable music calms dogs' nervous systems.
Lisa noted that over 70% of dogs experience some form of anxiety.
The importance of finding your teaching niche before building a membership.
She recommended a "messy" launch to start a membership before content exists.
Links Mentioned
Lisa's website:lisaspector.com
Lisa's Instagram page:@lisaspectorpiano
Lisa's YouTube channel:www.youtube.com/@LisaSpector
Lisa's free resources for podcast listeners here:lisaspector.com/topmusic
Today’s Guest
Lisa Spector is a Juilliard alum who once performed two concerts for 18,000 people each in China, where she also had (and needed) a bodyguard. In 2017, an accident shattered her right hand. Multiple surgeries followed. When she was told by a medical professional that she'd never play piano again, she started learning music for left hand only. It changed how she thinks about music. Turns out it doesn't come from the hands. It comes from the heart. Today she performs concerts with one and two hands.
In 2021, Lisa founded the Piano Ninja Tricksters Club, a global membership where she helps advanced adult pianists learn twice as much in half the time. She's spoken at Juilliard's Entrepreneurship Symposium, delivered the keynote at Stanford's Women in Entrepreneurship Summit and presented on music memberships at the 2025 Music Teachers National Association Virtual Conference. She's also the first classical pianist to top the Billboard Classical charts... with music written for anxious dogs.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music
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 Fridays weekly.
TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
51 min
September 11131: Applying Bartel’s Taxonomy to Piano Lessons with Christina Liu
Every student is motivated by something different, and figuring out what makes each one tick can transform how they engage with lessons. Today, I'm chatting with Dr. Christina Liu, Associate Professor of Music at Bethel College, about Bartle's Taxonomy, a framework for player personality types she discovered through her love of gamification. We talk about the four types Bartle identified, how Christina uses them to quietly tailor her teaching, and the personal stories that shaped her own piano journey. She also shares how these ideas carry into training the next generation of piano teachers.
Christina teaches piano, theory, aural skills, and pedagogy at Bethel College.
How her research into gamification led her to Bartle's Taxonomy.
She noted rising student anxiety since the pandemic around getting things right.
Why she started using board games in class to build community with students.
How Richard Bartle developed the taxonomy from a late-1980s survey of his players.
The taxonomy sorts players into achievers, explorers, socializers, and killers.
Christina described achievers as driven by points, levels, and visible success.
She explained how explorers are motivated by narrative and self-discovery.
Socializers, she noted, use games mainly to build relationships.
Killers, though rare, want to dominate and outshine other players.
She shared how she gamified her own piano learning around competitions.
Christina avoids formal quizzes, worried students will cling to a fixed label.
Her own teacher connected with her through jazz before classical repertoire.
A Debussy piece sparked her own "explorer" phase as a student.
She teaches future piano teachers about personality frameworks like the Enneagram.
Links Mentioned
Christina's LinkedIn Page:www.linkedin.com/in/ctinaliu
Today’s Guest
Dr. Christina Liu,, is Associate Professor of Music and Music Department Chair at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. She teaches music theory and aural skills, history, piano, and pedagogy, and is an active presenter, adjudicator, and advocate for music education. A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, she currently serves as President of the Kansas State Music Teachers Association. A passionate educator, Dr. Liu is also active as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and chamber musician throughout the U.S. and internationally.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music
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 Fridays weekly.
TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
35 min
September 04130: Creative Composition Ideas with Emily Dehut
Creativity doesn't have to be complicated to make a real difference in how students connect with music. In this episode, I'm chatting with Emily Dehut, a piano teacher from Howe, Texas who built her studio from scratch to 40 students in under a year. We talk about her favorite creative teaching tools, from an animal-themed system for learning keyboard letters to her own songwriting resources and DIY rhythm blocks. Emily also shares how she keeps generating fresh ideas and why she believes creativity keeps students motivated to practice.
Emily shared how she grew her studio from zero to 40 students in one year through Facebook.
Why niche groups, like local homeschool and mom groups, were key to finding students.
She described being taught by six different piano teachers, each shaping her own teaching style.
How she started teaching in high school before choosing private lessons over classroom teaching.
How she uses Legos, figurines, and physical actions to reinforce letter names on the keyboard.
Her Animal Adventures songwriting activity has students build a story before turning it into a song.
How her Fill-in-the-Blank songwriting resource gives students a simple structure to compose from.
Emily created a Christian songwriting packet after teaching at a girls' Bible camp.
Why she developed Emotions Radio, a low-pressure composing game for shy or hesitant students.
Her coloring practice charts reward five days of practice with a small prize.
She advised new teachers to say yes to new ideas and try them within the week.
Links Mentioned
Emily's Instagram page:@emilyspianocorner
Emily's Facebook page:Emilys Piano Corner
Emily's Etsy page:@EmilyPianoCorner
Today’s Guest
Emily Dehut is a piano teacher from Howe, Texas who loves making music lessons creative, memorable, and fun. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from Florida College in 2025 and now teaches students of all ages through her private studio, Emily’s Piano Corner. She also enjoys creating printable worksheets and activities for piano teachers on Etsy, including colorful practice charts and creative songwriting prompts. She’s always excited to share fresh teaching ideas that help students connect with music in meaningful ways.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music
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 Fridays weekly.
TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
28 min
August 28129: Changing the Landscape of Piano Repertoire with Wynn-Anne Rossi
The landscape of piano repertoire looks nothing like it did 50 years ago, and Wynn-Anne Rossi helped shape that change. Today, I'm chatting with Wynn-Anne, an acclaimed composer with over 175 publications who has spent decades helping young musicians find their own creative voice. We talk about how she got her start composing as a toddler, how the industry has evolved since the 1980s, and how she brings composition into her own teaching. Wynn-Anne also shares her favorite resources for teachers who want to bring more composing into their studios.
How the piano pedagogy landscape shifted in the 1980s toward genres beyond classical training.
Wynn-Anne shared how her mom used the piano as an imaginative toy during her toddler years.
Why she believes non-traditional notation protects young composers' creativity.
The value of self-publishing and cooperatives for composers entering the field today.
How composing and teaching inform each other, even with her studio now down to 13 students.
Why writing for six-year-olds is as demanding as writing advanced repertoire.
The story behind Music by Me, her composition workbook series co-written with Kevin Olson.
How Creative Composition Toolbox uses simple, tool-based units to teach composing.
Why she keeps composition assignments to just three to five minutes of a lesson.
She emphasized encouraging quantity and momentum over chasing a perfect composition.
Wynn-Anne shared how inspiration can come from stories, scents, or favorite chords.
Links Mentioned
Wynn-Anne's website:www.rossi-music.com
Wynn-Anne's YouTube channel:www.youtube.com/@rossimusic212
Wynn-Anne's Facebook page:Wynn-Anne Rossi
Check out Wynn-Anne's products on Alfred
Today’s Guest
Wynn-Anne Rossi is an acclaimed American composer with vibrant educational outreach. She has a respect for all genres of music, and her diversity of experience and love of discovery reflect in her expressions as a composer and presenter. With over 175 publications, her compositions have been widely distributed online and in music stores. Wynn-Anne has a specialty for bringing the art of composition to young musicians. Her two comprehensive series which encourage young pianists to compose are Music by Me (FJH Music) and Creative Composition Toolbox (Alfred Music). For more information, visit www.rossi-music.com or Wynn-Anne Rossi Music on YouTube.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music
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 Fridays weekly.
TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
40 min
August 21128: Back-to-School Favorites with Natalie Weber
A good theme can turn an entire year of piano lessons into an adventure your students can't wait to come back to. Today I'm chatting with Natalie Weber, who has run her Kansas piano studio since 1998 and shares teaching ideas on MusicMattersBlog.com. We talk through her favorite back-to-school ideas, from practice incentive themes and rhythm activities to sight reading apps and recital games. Natalie shares a ton of practical, ready-to-borrow ideas for your own studio this year.
Natalie shared how she's taught piano in Kansas since 1998.
How MusicMattersBlog.com began in 2005 to house her teaching resources.
How she gathers student and parent input each summer to design her yearly theme.
The importance of themes being age-inclusive, measurable, student-driven, and musical.
She shared how this year's theme takes students through every key via the circle of fifths.
How rewards stay music-focused, from sheet music to a recording studio tour.
She described choreographing rhythm cup routines to songs like "What Makes You Beautiful."
She shared Composer Trading, a Pit-inspired game where students collect composer card sets.
How listening worksheets guide both peer performances and at-home practice.
She described her Piano Expeditions camps, each centered on one composer's major work.
How one student used that feedback to chase 100% on every piece.
The value of branching into new keys with resources like Juan Cabeza's Piano Notebook.
Why she's adding Latin duets ahead of a guest ensemble visit from Paraguay.
She described building audience interaction into recitals through trivia and code-cracking games.
Links Mentioned
Natalie's website:musicmattersblog.com
Natalie's Facebook page:Natalie Wickham Weber
Today’s Guest
Natalie Weber, has operated a piano studio in Kansas since 1998. She teaches all ages in private and group lessons and runs the popular MusicMattersBlog.com, which is devoted to inspiring creativity in music education. When she’s not teaching, Natalie loves spending time with her family, including her two granddaughters!
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music
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 Fridays weekly.
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TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
41 min
August 14127: How to Include Composition in Lessons with Amy Ferguson
Composing isn't just for the musically gifted few, it's a skill every piano student can build with the right guidance. Today, I'm chatting with Amy Ferguson, a piano teacher of over 30 years who calls herself a lifelong composer. She shares her own creative process, why she believes composing belongs in every studio, and practical activities you can try with students at any level. Amy also offers a free printable to help students write their very first piece.
Amy shared how she won a Kawai piano through Pianist Magazine's composer competition.
She described herself as a lifelong composer, tracing it back to a childhood tape recorder.
Her compositional style favors patterns, simple notation, and a big sound.
She emphasized storytelling as key to helping students connect emotionally with music.
She named Danny Elfman's Nightmare Before Christmas score as a major influence.
Amy outlined three reasons composing matters: theory, ownership, and true artistry.
She noted that composing confidence carries over into students' other repertoire.
She shared an activity where students traded favorite-things cards and composed for each other.
Some holiday prompts, like Halloween for minor keys and Mother's/Father's Day gifts.
Amy walked through her free "Big Question" printable for a student's first notated piece.
She highlighted her Escape Series, teaching navigation terms like repeat signs and codas.
Amy encouraged teachers to keep composing open-ended and rule-free.
Links Mentioned
Amy's website: https:www.amyfergusonstudio.com
Amy's YouTube channel:www.youtube.com/@AmyFergusonStudioMusic
Amy's Facebook page:Amy Ferguson Studio
Find out more about Four Chord Composing Course here.
Today's Guest
With enthusiasm and endless passion for music, Amy Ferguson has spent her lifetime sharing and creating music on the piano. She received her first piano as a Christmas gift from her parents when she was 1 year old and as a young child she loved to record herself making up songs into a little tape recorder. She’s been happily composing music ever since!
Amy studied piano under the direction of Mrs. Elaine Beckstrand and Dr. Yu-Jane Yang. In college she studied Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy, and Secondary Music Education. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with high honors from Weber State University. She has had over 30 years of piano teaching experience and is an active member of the Utah Music Teachers Association, Music Teachers National Association, and National Federation of Music Clubs.
Amy is an experienced accompanist, composer, and arranger, and enjoys sharing these skills with others. She composes and arranges piano repertoire for her students and has recently had the opportunity to write school spirit songs for several new local public schools. Her compositions have received both state and national recognition. November was the state-winning entry in the 2022 UMTA Composition Competition, and Relámpago won the 2026 Pianist Magazine National Composition Competition. Purchasing digital studio licenses of her music is now available at her online shop AmyFergusonStudio.Com.
As a teacher, Amy has the special ability to customize lessons and musical experiences to each unique individual, guiding her students to be successful at not only playing the piano, but developing a love and enjoyment of the piano. Amy is married to her high school sweetheart, who is an incredible jazz pianist, and together they are parents to four amazing kids. Amy also enjoys gardening, raising chickens, outdoor walks, sewing, homemaking, botanical gardens, studying the gospel, yoga, embroidery, national parks, and listening to classical music loudly in the car.
About Rachel Ehring
Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music
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 Fridays weekly.
TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial
Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.
TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
47 min

About TopMusic Piano Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The TopMusic Piano Podcast is a weekly show that provides piano teachers with inspiration and ideas for teaching piano in a way that engages and motivates students. Your host, Dr. Rachel Ehring, is a…