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Piano Teachers: Are Piano Exams Good Or Bad?

by Tim Topham

Piano exams can be a controversial topic. Some teachers see exams as the best way to teach, whereas others want to stay clear of the 'exam express'. Join us as we outline 5 pros and 5 cons of piano exams.

01/30/2023 Read more

3 Mistakes Studio Owners Make When Setting Goals

by Tracy Selle

Going after goals isn’t easy, but hey – you can definitely increase your odds of getting there faster. Stop doing these three things and you’ll bust out your goals in no time! TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Stop Focusing on Results When Setting Goals1.2 What Do I Do Instead Then?2. Stop Dreaming About Your Goals3. Stop ... 3 Mistakes Studio Owners Make When Setting Goals

01/23/2023 Read more

How To Carry Out A Business Assessment On Your Studio

by Tara Wright

If you’re feeling like your studio has fallen into a bit of a rut, or you feel that *something* just isn’t working, I suggest you carry out a business assessment. Taking a step back and assessing what’s worked and what hasn’t worked, why some things have been better than others, can help you make that ... How To Carry Out A Business Assessment On Your Studio

01/16/2023 Read more

Is ‘Work-Life’ Balance an Achievable Goal?

by Karen Gibson

Work-Life balance to some of us is a myth. Surely it’s not possible to have a balance between our working lives and our personal lives? If you’ve got it sorted, we admire you. If you’re always striving for different ways to ‘balance’ your life, keep reading!  TABLE OF CONTENTS:  Should We Really Be Striving or ... Is ‘Work-Life’ Balance an Achievable Goal?

01/02/2023 Read more

The 3-Step Process for Integrated Music Teaching

by Tim Topham

Continuing on from our recent posts introducing Integrated Music Teaching, and out-lining how you can teach an Integrated Music Lesson, we wanted to discuss the 3-step process in more detail.  Table of Contents:1. What Is The 3-Step Process for Integrated Music Teaching?2. A Quick Note About Metaphors    2.1 Also Just To Say…3. STEP 1 ... The 3-Step Process for Integrated Music Teaching

12/15/2022 Read more

Guitar Chords for Beginners

by Michael Gumley

The process of learning guitar chords for beginners can be tricky. They’re so eager to play their first song but learning the necessary chords can be a stumbling block. We’re here to help you: If you’d like more tips and resources to help you run a fulfilling and stress-free studio, join TopMusicGuitar today. Table Of ... Guitar Chords for Beginners

12/05/2022 Read more
 

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How to Organise Your Studio (and Your Life)

by Karen Gibson

If you are like most piano teachers, you have multiple projects you are managing in addition to teaching. You might need to plan summer camps, recitals, and/or group lessons. Managing schedules and music are also part of the mix. And then there are home life obligations. These things are just the tip of the iceberg, ... How to Organise Your Studio (and Your Life)

11/28/2022 Read more

How to Streamline Your Music Lesson Planning (And Reclaim Your Own Time!)

by Rosemarie Penner

It might seem like lesson planning is just the domain of school teachers, but this isn’t the case. Music lesson planning is just as important in the music studio. So, how do you find a balance between the creativity of teaching an instrument and the structure of a well-designed program for each student? If we ... How to Streamline Your Music Lesson Planning (And Reclaim Your Own Time!)

11/25/2022 Read more

How to Teach an Integrated Music Lesson

by Tim Topham

Integrated music lessons can help you provide a more connected and immersive experience for your music students. We want to help you understand what and integrated music lesson is and how you can teach one yourself.  Last week, we announced the launch of our Integrated Music Teaching model which focuses on making connections between the ... How to Teach an Integrated Music Lesson

11/14/2022 Read more

TopMusic Announces Partnership with VMTA

by Emily Laney

TopMusic announces partnership with VMTA for professional development opportunities

11/04/2022 Read more

Introduction to Integrated Music Teaching

by Tim Topham

This is the first post in a 4-part series on Integrated Music Teaching.Check out part two here, and part three here.  Check out the podcasts:3 Pillars of Integrated Music Teaching 3 Steps to Teaching an Integrated Music LessonIntegrated Music Teaching in Action Introduction About 10 years ago, I realised that there was something very different about ... Introduction to Integrated Music Teaching

10/24/2022 Read more

How to Teach Guitar Online

by Michael Gumley

There are many reasons why a guitar teacher might make the decision to start teaching live online guitar lessons, from in-person lessons not always being possible, to simply wanting to keep up with the changing world. No matter your reason for wanting to teach guitar online, you will also be faced with other daunting decisions, ... How to Teach Guitar Online

10/15/2022 Read more