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