The Piano Pantry Podcast

In this episode, we are going to chat about one of my favorite business practices for piano teachers: Reflecting on your piano teaching business so you can determine the specific strategic goals you need to set for the coming quarter. This will help you run your piano studio with relevance, action, and efficiency so you can make decisions on how to operate your studio with your strategic goals in...

How to run a note-naming challenge in your studio. We’ll cover things like objectives, leveling, scheduling, rewards, frequently asked questions, and more. For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [ CLICK HERE ].

Anna Haugen began teaching piano lessons at the early age of 16 and has continued teaching for the past 28 years.  Anna is married and has four children.  She lives in St Paul, MN. This year, Anna took a sabbatical from teaching to travel the United States with her husband and two younger daughters for six months.  They have visited over 20 states.  Anna has loved the travel ex...

Attending conferences requires a large output of time and money. No wonder we often try to take in as much as possible to get the most bang for our buck. Unfortunately, what happens is we go home with lots of great intentions and ideas but struggle to implement all we may have wanted as we go back into the rhythms of daily life. In this episode, we talk about four strategies to help us absorb as m...

Four ways to motivate students with ASD and ADHD in music lessons. With a BM in Piano Pedagogy and 7 years of teaching experience, Abigail runs a private studio near Dallas, Texas. She specializes in preschool and neurodivergent students, using a play-based approach for classical piano lessons. In 2021, Abigail launched Whole Foundation Method: an online shop with fun and comprehensive tools for b...

Four ways studio teachers can develop and nurture friendships with other teachers. Through each avenue, I’ll also share the stories of how I met three of my piano teacher friends. (This is a replay of episode #013 How to Make Music Teacher Friends”.) For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [ CLICK HERE ].

10 ways we can turn a potentially frustrating lesson into a positive musical experience. For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [ CLICK HERE ].

Daniel Light is a pianist and piano teacher based in Louisville, Kentucky. He also enjoys composing and arranging and shares his music at daniel-light.com . Lots of piano teachers follow Daniel on Facebook to enjoy the posts he shares of funny things his students have said during lessons. Look for the hashtag #ThingsPianoStudentsSay. Daniel Light PIano Studio https://www.facebook.com/daniellightpi...

Ten tips to help you organize and streamline the process of tackling tax prep work. For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [ CLICK HERE ].

There is an email tool that exists inside every type of inbox that is incredibly useful yet somehow confusing to many. In this episode, Amy will clear things up so you can finally utilize this tool and make it part of your daily email workflow. For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [ CLICK HERE ].

Being organized is not a one-off activity. It’s about maintaining a mindset and desire to be intentional about finding systems that work well for you. More importantly, it’s about being willing to think again and regularly reconsider whether those systems are still serving you well. For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [ CLICK HERE ].

In true new-years fashion, we’re going to have a brief chat about taking time to look back and notice what all life has brought in the past year before looking forward to the year ahead. You’ll also get a sneak-peak into what you can look forward to here on the podcast in 2023! For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [ CLICK HERE ].

A special Teacher Talk episode for this final episode of the year! A has conversations with THREE of her piano teachers. Barb Grube is Amy’s first piano teacher. She has been teaching piano lessons in Fort Recovery, Ohio since 1984. She recently retired from her job playing organ in church after 50 years but continues to teach a small handful of piano students from her home. Kathryn Grile was Amy’...

Resist the urge to run out the door and into holiday break. Take the time to reset by clearing three spaces and do a little planning to create a smooth transition into the new year. View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

A look at little (or even big ways) we can improve the way we keep our recipes organized. I’ll walk you through some things to think about when considering a recipe management tool and will also share about my favorite recipe app. View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

Ten holiday-themed activities to use during your December group classes. View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

The one tune it seems like every single piano student wants to play in the Christmas season. Here’s how you can help them play it by ear. View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

Rebekah Maxner is a Canadian composer, piano teacher and blogger with an international following. Her piano solos are published by the Royal Conservatory, RCM, London College, LCM, and listed in the NFMC. Visit:  https://rebekah.maxner.ca View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

Giving updates to studio parents regarding their student is something we often avoid because it feels like it has to be a formal report. It doesn’t have to be that way! Sending updates is about the little things. Here’s one tool that can help simplify the process and make it more enjoyable. View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

Little irritations can add up. Whether it’s coming from a student, a studio family, a colleague, or a friend, allowing ourselves to build up mental frustrations for too long is unhealthy. Here’s one easy action step you can take to put humanity back into the situation. View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

A little life-share moment as Amy gives listeners an overview of her recent month-long European trip, including background planning, travel insights and reflections, piano books she took as gifts for friends, food experiences, a crazy story, and more. View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

Five things we can do (outside of time off or vacation) to help us feel grounded and reset. That is, an extra breath of fresh air when down, a boost of energy when worn out, or a shot of inspiration when creatively dry. This episode is a replay of #018 - Grounded: Mental and Emotional Resets   View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

Amy chats with teacher Valerie Merrell on their shared experience returning to grad school later in life. View the rest of the show notes, including any links mentioned,  HERE .

Dr. Kate Boyd, NCTM, is professor of piano at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, where she has served on the faculty for 18 years. Her YouTube channel, The Piano Prof , is a resource designed to be a library of instructional videos about piano-related topics, including piano technique, collegiate piano study, and musicianship. In addition to her teaching and performing career, Kate loves...

Show Notes Pianist Janna Williamson runs an independent studio in the suburbs of Chicago where she teaches pre-college students of all levels. She is a Content Creator for TopMusicPro and coaches teachers through her online consultation service and YouTube channel . Janna holds bachelors and masters degrees in piano performance and is an MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher of Music. View the rest of...