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It started with an aspiration: “I want to get back into regular practicing,” I said to Steve one day. “But without a performance commitment, it’s hard to justify the time. What’s the point?” “There doesn’t need to be a point,” he said simply. “Do it for you. I think you’d enjoy it.” In that moment, I gave myself permission to start: A recommitment, a new routine, an artistic practice. But what would I play? Almost immediately, I thought of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier. I played a few of the preludes and fugues from Book 1 in high school and maybe the beginning of college, but there were many I’d never learned. Some of the fugues were intimidating as I flipped through my score (the Willard Palmer edition)—certainly not something I could sit down and sight-read my way through. I decided to challenge myself to learn one prelude and fugue each month, in order. I also decided to record them at the end of the month; not to post or share, necessarily, but as a way of documenting the project. I’m sharing all this because I think it’s important to talk about the process of learning and to make it more visible. That’s what this podcast is all about—sharing field notes, reflections, and observations about the questions I’m asking, things I’m learning, teaching strategies I’m trying, and things I’m curious about. Consider this episode my field notes on my year-long Bach experiment. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 (J.S. Bach) A Quick Warm-Up Routine for Piano Teachers and Accompanists Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World (Anne-Laure Le Cunff) The Art of Practicing (Madeline Bruser) Learn Faster, Perform Better (Molly Gebrian) Essay: Holding On and Letting Go (Fugue No. 4) Essay: When Two Things Are True At Once (Prelude No. 8) Bach’s Musical Universe: The Composer and His Work (Christoph Wolff) If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? In this quick 25-min. call, you’ll get focused answers, creative ideas, and personalized advice for one teaching or business topic of your choice. Bring your questions for an ask-me-anything style session, and let’s brainstorm strategies together. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching, running your studio, or managing your music career? In this 60-min call, you’ll get personalized advice, creative ideas, and step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics of your choice. This session gives you the space to talk through your goals, ask questions, and get expert guidance. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses for music educators.

Earlier this year, I reread Cal Newport's Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout for the Musician & Co. Book Club. One of the things I really enjoy about Cal's books is how well-researched they are. The three principles he outlines in this book are informed and enriched by writings, studies, and historical insights. Cal addresses two main questions in this book: 1) How do we accomplish meaningful work without burnout? and 2) Can we take a slow approach to productivity? I’ve spent some time thinking about what this looks like in self-employment, but recently, I’ve been thinking about what this looks like in my studio. How can I apply the principles of slow productivity to my teaching practice? In this episode, I’ll share five ways I’m adapting Cal’s framework to my studio, from evaluating my time and capacity to repertoire selection and lesson planning to practicing expectations. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Slow Productivity (Cal Newport) Join the Musician & Co. Book Club (it’s free!) A Review of “Slow Productivity” by Cal Newport (Musician & Co.) Ep. 064 - How I Plan a Year of Student Repertoire Learn Faster, Perform Better (Molly Gebrian) How to Learn Faster and Perform Better: A Review of Molly Gebrian’s Book (Musician & Co.) Ep. 047 - An Inside Look at My Lesson-Planning Process If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? In this quick 25-min. call, you’ll get focused answers, creative ideas, and personalized advice for one teaching or business topic of your choice. Bring your questions for an ask-me-anything style session, and let’s brainstorm strategies together. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching, running your studio, or managing your music career? In this 60-min call, you’ll get personalized advice, creative ideas, and step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics of your choice. This session gives you the space to talk through your goals, ask questions, and get expert guidance. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses for music educators.

I started using Piano Safari in my studio five years ago. There are a lot of things I like about the curriculum and pedagogical approach, but one of my favorite resources is their correlated sight-reading cards. Piano Safari has three levels of sight-reading cards available, corresponding with the three levels of their method book series. Each pack includes 80-98 unique cards (depending on the level), divided into color-coded units for easy organization. Each card includes 1-2 sight-reading examples and a rhythmic-reading example. Level 1 starts with off-staff notation, moving to staff notation beginning on Treble G and Bass C. Exercises include unisons, 2nds, and 3rds. Level 2 introduces 4ths and 5ths, sharps and flats, and dotted quarter note rhythms. Level 3 includes exercises in C major, A minor, G major, E minor, F major, and D minor. Meters include 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, and 6/8, and rhythms include eighth rests and sixteenth notes. The cards can be used as a supplement with any standard reading method, with children or adults, in private or group settings. In this episode, I’ll share my 7-step teaching process for using these cards in lessons with elementary and early-intermediate students, and 24 creative ways to incorporate them into your teaching. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned Piano Safari Sight-Reading Cards, Level 1 Piano Safari Sight-Reading Cards, Level 2 Piano Safari Sight-Reading Cards, Level 3 Piano Safari Sight-Reading Card Pack (Levels 1-3) If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? In this quick 25-min. call, you’ll get focused answers, creative ideas, and personalized advice for one teaching or business topic of your choice. Bring your questions for an ask-me-anything style session, and let’s brainstorm strategies together. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching, running your studio, or managing your music career? In this 60-min call, you’ll get personalized advice, creative ideas, and step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics of your choice. This session gives you the space to talk through your goals, ask questions, and get expert guidance. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses for music educators.

Assessment is a process of measuring, evaluating, and documenting learning. Measuring a student’s progress in the studio provides an opportunity for reflection, evaluation, and deeper understanding as we consider with our students what they know and can explain or demonstrate. This informs our teaching, curriculum planning, and repertoire choices. In turn, it also helps students develop a diverse set of musicianship skills, including technique, performance, aural skills, sight-reading, and musical creativity. In this episode, we’ll talk about how to plan an assessment for your studio, including defining assessment criteria and choosing measurement tools, and how to use this data to motivate your students and inform your teaching. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned RCM Piano Syllabus If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? In this quick 25-min. call, you’ll get focused answers, creative ideas, and personalized advice for one teaching or business topic of your choice. Bring your questions for an ask-me-anything style session, and let’s brainstorm strategies together. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching, running your studio, or managing your music career? In this 60-min call, you’ll get personalized advice, creative ideas, and step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics of your choice. This session gives you the space to talk through your goals, ask questions, and get expert guidance. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses for music educators.

In a recent class with three intermediate students (8th-11th grade), we compared the music of Franz Schubert and Max Richter. Schubert was a prolific Austrian composer, writing at the end of the Classical period and the beginning of the Romantic period. During his brief life, he wrote over 1,500 works. He was known for his storytelling abilities: long, singing lines, dramatic mood swings, an improvisatory style that seems to wander at times, and emotional intensity. Max Richter is a contemporary German-born pianist and composer known for blending classical techniques with electronic, ambient, and minimalist styles. He names J.S. Bach as a key influence, and has championed the works of minimalists such as Arvo Pärt and John Cage. He drew inspiration from Schubert’s Winterreise when creating his 2010 album Infra. In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of this studio class, sharing the repertoire I introduced to my students, the discussion questions that guided our conversation, and a composition activity that students didn’t want to end. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: Some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Ep. 083 - Bernstein & Bill Evans: Inside My Recent Intermediate Studio Class Ep. 077 - A New Approach to Teaching Group Classes Schubert Piano Sonata No. 20 in A Major, D. 959: II. Andantino (Mitsuko Uchida) Richter “Andante” from In a Landscape (Max Richter) Schubert Impromptu No. 3 and Richter Infra 3 (Coversart) Songs Without Words(Felix Mendelssohn) Schubert Moments Musicaux No. 6 in A-flat Major (Alfred Brendel) Vladimir’s Blues (Max Richter) Max Richter Piano Works(Max Richter) If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? In this quick 25-min. call, you’ll get focused answers, creative ideas, and personalized advice for one teaching or business topic of your choice. Bring your questions for an ask-me-anything style session, and let’s brainstorm strategies together. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching, running your studio, or managing your music career? In this 60-min call, you’ll get personalized advice, creative ideas, and step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics of your choice. This session gives you the space to talk through your goals, ask questions, and get expert guidance. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses for music educators.

What does it look like to be a musician who is also an inventor—someone whose curiosity about how things work shapes the way he approaches his instrument? Pianist Josef Hofmann spent his entire career exploring that, and his story is worth knowing. This year marks the 150th anniversary of Hofmann's birth. He was a Polish-American pianist, born in 1876, and considered by many—including Sergei Rachmaninoff—to be the greatest pianist of the 20th century. And yet, despite his many musical achievements, including a fifty-year performing career, 100 compositions, commercial recordings, a signature tone, and enviable technical precision, he doesn't have the same name recognition as his contemporaries. What do we know about him? What set him apart? And what can we learn from him as musicians and teachers today, over a century later? In this episode, I’m sharing some of my research into Hofmann’s life, career, and contributions to our field. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: Some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Piano Playing, with Piano Questions Answered (Josef Hofmann) Originals (Adam Grant) Learn Faster, Perform Better (Molly Gebrian) Ep. 089 - The Science of Practicing: What I’m Learning From Molly Gebrian’s Book Josef Hofmann (Mahler Foundation) Josef Hofmann, the Pianist Inventor (Piano Street) Josef Hofmann (Steinway & Sons) Twice The Genius: The Music & Inventions of Józef Hofmann (Culture.pl) Hofmann plays Berceuse (Chopin), 1938 Hofmann plays Waldstein Sonata (Beethoven), 1938 If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? In this quick 25-min. call, you’ll get focused answers, creative ideas, and personalized advice for one teaching or business topic of your choice. Bring your questions for an ask-me-anything style session, and let’s brainstorm strategies together. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching, running your studio, or managing your music career? In this 60-min call, you’ll get personalized advice, creative ideas, and step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics of your choice. This session gives you the space to talk through your goals, ask questions, and get expert guidance. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses for music educators.

March in my studio means one thing: informance season. We spend 10 to 12 weeks getting ready—learning and analyzing music, practicing demonstrations, preparing to talk to the audience. And this year, I knew from the start that the theme was going to require a little more planning than usual. If you’re new around here, I define a musical informance as an informal, informational performance that integrates education and experience. It’s an opportunity for students to share what and how they’re learning and invite parents and audience members into the music-making process. I started hosting informances in my studio in 2024, so this is our third year. Today, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at our theme for this year, repertoire selections, and how we’re preparing for informances in the studio. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Ep. 068 - How to Plan a Musical Informance Ep. 069 - A Musical Informance to Celebrate the Solar Eclipse Ep. 071 - 3 Things I Learned from Hosting a Musical Informance Ep. 081 - Celebrating Women in Music: An Inside Look at Our Studio Informances Essential Piano Technique, Level 2 (Penelope Roskell) Piano Adventures, Level 3A (Faber) Sakura - Secondo Part (arr. Faber) Duet Music by Ann Buys Musical Informance Planning Guide If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings

At the end of January, we lost a wonderful musician, teacher, and pedagogue, Marvin Blickenstaff. You’ve probably heard me talk about Marvin on the podcast before—he had a profound impact on my teaching. With a career spanning over six decades, Marvin dedicated himself to serving piano students and teachers worldwide. He valued deep emotional expression at the keyboard and a human connection through the music. He once said, “The only reason that music exists is to express who we are and how we feel.” Today, I’m sharing some of the most important things I learned from Marvin and how they show up in my teaching and practice. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! The New School for Music Study Inspired Piano Teaching (Marvin Blickenstaff) Ep. 041 - Focus On the Music Ep. 074 - What a First Piano Lesson Looks Like (Here’s My Lesson Plan) Ep. 076 - 7 Things to Carry Into the New School Year Ep. 079 - From Technique to Musical Identity: Six Things I’m Focusing on in Lessons Ep. 084 - Recital Recap & Year-End Reflection Learn Faster, Perform Better (Molly Gebrian) Ep. 089 - The Science of Practicing: What I’m Learning from Molly Gebrian’s Book A Quick Warm-Up Routine for Piano Accompanists If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings

February is Black History Month—a time to honor and celebrate the contributions of African Americans. As a music teacher, this prompts me to pause and evaluate what I’m teaching, but also why. I ask questions like: How much diversity is present in my students’ method books and repertoire? Which pieces should we skip due to their complicated history? How can I make more thoughtful, informed choices about the music I put in front of my students—choices that are pedagogically sound and historically responsible? This year, I want to focus more on the existing repertoire and the creators behind it. In this episode, I’m going to introduce you to seven Black composers of elementary and intermediate piano repertoire. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Ep. 045 - The Blues Composition Project “This Is What Diversity Sounds Like” by Linda Holzer (Piano Magazine) RCM Celebration Series Preparatory A Piano Repertoire A Collection of Florence Price’s Teaching Music, Vol. 2 3 Sketches for Little Pianists (Florence Price) RCM Celebration Series Level 7 Piano Repertoire Expanding the Repertoire: Music of Black Composers, Levels 1 and 2 (compiled & edited by Dr. Leah Claiborne) Arise & Shine: Piano Music by Black Composers for Kids 2022 RCM Piano Syllabus Five Animal Sketches (William Grant Still) Portraits in Jazz (Valerie Capers) Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora, Vol. 1 (compiled & edited by William Chapman Nyaho) RCM Celebration Series Level 6 Piano Repertoire RCM Celebration Series Level 6 Piano Etudes If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings

It’s my last week of teaching for the year, and I've been reflecting on the supplemental books that have been most successful with my elementary and early intermediate students this year. The new year can be a great time to start fresh: with new repertoire, new technical routines, or new creative challenges for our students. As we prepare for the Spring semester and look forward to lessons resuming in January, I want to share nine collections I’ve been using with my students this year. Some are etudes based on specific technical patterns, others are solo repertoire books. Most of these are available through Piano Safari, though they can be used alongside any method book. For reference, my elementary and early intermediate students are in Piano Safari Levels 1-3 and range from 2nd-7th grade. If you're looking to refresh your teaching materials for January or add some variety to your studio library, I hope you'll find a few gems here that spark your interest. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Miniatures (Juan Cabeza) Piano Safari Level 3 Through the Windowpane (Chee-Hwa Tan) A Child’s Garden of Verses (Chee-Hwa Tan) Diversions, Books 1 and 2 (Juan Cabeza) Free download: 12 Variations on Diversion 12 (Juan Cabeza) Friends at Last (Amy Glennon) Here Comes Treble (Amy Glennon) Audio recordings Piano Safari Level 1 The Kitchen Suite, Op. 26 (Charles Stier) 21 Amazingly Easy Pieces (Barbara Arens) If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings

One of the things I love about teaching is that we can draw on many disciplines to make our work better—art, psychology, learning theories, and even neuroscience. Recently, I’ve been reading about what brain research can tell us about practicing and how we learn, and it’s fascinating. Welcome back to our 2-part series on practicing. In part 1, we talked about the art of practicing. I shared what I’m learning from Madeline Bruser’s book, The Art of Practicing, and how I’m carrying these concepts and strategies into my practice sessions and studio. In this episode, part 2, we’ll explore Molly Gebrian’s book, Learn Faster, Perform Better. This book is all about the neuroscience of practicing: how we learn, process, and retain information. If you’ve been reading along with us in the Musician & Co. Book Club, you likely have some insights of your own, but I wanted to share what stood out to me and how it’s impacting my practicing and my teaching. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music From the Heart (Madeline Bruser) Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing (Molly Gebrian) Join the Musician & Co. Book Club (it’s free!) Sign up for the Lunch & Learn: Practicing Workshop on 11/10 (it’s free!) Well-Tempered Clavier, Volume 1 (J.S. Bach) Ep. 038 - The Secrets of Interleaved Practice: What We Can Learn From Cognitive Science If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings

This fall, I read two books about practicing: The first is Madeline Bruser’s, The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart. The second is Molly Gebrian’s 2024 release, Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing. Art and science. Because practicing requires both. This is part 1 of a 2-part series about practicing and what I’m learning and applying from both books. In this episode, part 1, we’ll talk about the art of practicing. I’ll share what I’m learning from Madeline Bruser’s book and how I’m carrying these concepts and strategies into my practice sessions and studio. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music From the Heart (Madeline Bruser) Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing (Molly Gebrian) Join the Musician & Co. Book Club (it’s free!) Well-Tempered Clavier, Volume 1 (J.S. Bach) The Perfect Wrong Note: Learning to Trust Your Musical Self (William Westney) Ep. 060 - How Do We Approach Mistakes in Music Teaching & Learning? If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts. Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings.

It was about this time last year when I got a panicked email from a parent: “Jack broke his left wrist this week. What does this mean for piano? He’s in a cast.” Has this ever happened to you? Some parents may assume that lessons need to be paused during this time. I mean, they can’t play with only one hand… or can they? The answer is yes, and there’s more and more one-handed repertoire available. With a broken foot, we can focus on repertoire that doesn’t use the pedal, or they can learn to pedal with their left foot for a few weeks. But more importantly, what I want to convey to parents (and students) is that playing is only one facet of musicianship. There are so many other things we do in lessons, so many other skills we’re working to develop. It reminds me of something Frances Clark once said, “Teach the student first, the music second, and the piano third.” Today, I’m sharing a list of nine lesson activities you can do with a broken arm. Some of these are specific to piano, but some are relevant no matter what instrument you teach. I hope the next time you find yourself in a situation like this, you’ll have just what you need to continue learning and making music together. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Sight-Reading and Rhythm Every Day (Helen Marlais) Rhythm Keeper, Vol. 1 (Samantha Steitz & Steve Aho) Ep. 059 - 7 Ways to Practice Rhythm Ep. 026 - My Favorite Aural Skills Games + Activities Ep. 085 - Everyone Can Improvise Ep. 083 - Bernstein and Bill Evans If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings

Learning to play the piano isn’t just about learning repertoire pieces. It’s about developing a set of keyboard skills that lets you make music anywhere, with anyone, in any style. Technique, performance, and sight-reading are part of it, but so are harmonization, transposition, chord knowledge, and voice-leading. It’s more than the ability to perform what’s on the page; it’s understanding how the music is made. In this episode, I’ll share why keyboard skills matter for students of all ages and a few strategies I’m using in my studio to build them into lessons from the very first year of study. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! RCM Piano Syllabus Piano Safari Repertoire Book 1 Diversions (Juan Cabeza) Piano Safari Friends Piano Safari Sight-Reading Cards Sight-Reading and Rhythm Every Day (Helen Marlais) Rhythm Keeper, Vol. 1 (Samantha Steitz & Steve Aho) Ep. 085 - Everyone Can Improvise Through the Windowpane (Chee-Hwa Tan) A Child’s Garden of Verses (Chee-Hwa Tan) Free download: 12 Variations on Diversion 12 (Juan Cabeza) Create First! Duet (Forrest Kinney) Free download: 27 Easy Chord Progressions (Tim Topham) If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings

When I was in grad school, I took an elective class on Improvisation. I remember shuffling into the 3rd-floor classroom that first day, pulling a blue chair into the semicircle like everyone else, unfolding the desk and preparing to take notes. Everyone was quiet. There was a palpable uncertainty among the group—all classical musicians by training. When had we ever been asked to improvise? No one wanted to be put on the spot. We started by talking about where to start with improvisation. “Improvisation is something we can all do,” our professor, Dr. Christopher Azzara began. “We’re born improvisers.” The challenge sometimes is trusting that creative process. Trusting that we have something interesting and musical to say. Improvisation is a skill like anything else; it can be learned and developed. Of course, there’s safety in writing it down, but learning the fundamentals of improvising and giving yourself time to experiment and practice this can be really fulfilling, especially in teaching. Today, I’m sharing a few simple ways to build improvisation into your teaching practice in meaningful ways, even if it’s new to you. You’ll learn what improvisation is and how to get started, how to find inspiration and musical ideas, and activities to do with your students in lessons. I’ll also share a few examples and recordings from my studio recently. For show notes + a full transcript, click here. Resources Mentioned *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support! Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation, Book 1 (Azzara & Grunow) A Systematic Introduction to Improvisation on the Pianoforte (Czerny) Piano Safari Repertoire Book 1 Ep. 066 - A Winter Improvisation Prompt for Elementary Piano Students Piano Safari Repertoire Book 2 Lyric Preludes in Romantic Style (William Gillock) “Chromatic Monochrome” in Moving Pictures (Naoko Ikeda) Ep. 021 - How to Use Praise With Intention Ep. 036 - Let’s Talk About Improvising If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >> Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together: 1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come. 2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics. 3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings