music education
blog posts

Teach music confidently without the stress

5 Ways To Help Your Students Feel Performance Ready

by Georgina Wilson

Performances can be scary. Can you remember how you felt as a music student walking onto a stage for the first time? Do you remember your hands shaking as you played your first note? As teachers we can help our students feel less nervous about performing, and boost their confidence, whether they're playing in a recital, a competition, or an exam.

03/06/2023 Read more

4 Tips for Teaching Piano Beginner Technique

by Tim Topham

Teaching beginner piano students technique can be hard, but our four tips will help put you in good stead.

02/22/2023 Read more

313: Replay – Jacob Collier Talks Music and Education

by Tim Topham

Today’s episode is another special and favourite episode from the archives with the 4-time Grammy award-winning young music legend from London, Jacob Collier. Hailing from North London and playing seven different instruments, including distinctive vocals, Jacob’s sense of harmony and tonality is evident in his signature style. He records all of his albums from his ... 313: Replay – Jacob Collier Talks Music and Education

01/20/2023 Read more

What I’ve learnt from asking more questions in music lessons

by Tim Topham

Since the start of this year, I made a commitment to ask more questions in my teaching. And not just questions for the sake of them, but effective questions that challenge students to think. Questions that are suited to each student and give them more ownership of the lesson and their playing. As a great side benefit, ... What I’ve learnt from asking more questions in music lessons

09/05/2022 Read more

FREE TopMusic Webinar Bonuses

by Sarah Buckley

03/28/2022 Read more

TC263: Building Trust and Connection with All Our Students with Gloria Tham-Haines

by Tim Topham

Music brings out our student’s creativity and expressive potential. But when students experience frustration or trauma or stress, we often encounter different responses. What is the role that music teachers play in this situation? How do we make ourselves aware of our actions? Stress and trauma can affect our students, which then affects us, too. ... TC263: Building Trust and Connection with All Our Students with Gloria Tham-Haines

10/15/2021 Read more
 

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TC260: How to Make Exams a Positive Experience with the Music Teacher’s Board

by Tim Topham

We all know the dread that can come with exams. Today, guests Mark and Nav from Music Teachers Board in the UK explain a potential way to make exams positive and a more pleasant experience for students. Mark and Nav break down the options that come with exams through MTB using technology, examiner training, and ... TC260: How to Make Exams a Positive Experience with the Music Teacher’s Board

09/24/2021 Read more

TC259: Developing innovative music teaching with Noteflight & John Mlynczak

by Tim Topham

In this episode, we are going to talk about one of my favorite online music notation softwares, Noteflight, with John Mylnczak. We’re going to unpack the Noteflight and SoundCheck softwares – its benefits, features, and how it can you can use it in your own studio. If you are looking for a music notation app ... TC259: Developing innovative music teaching with Noteflight & John Mlynczak

09/17/2021 Read more

TC256: Part Three: 7 Key Areas of Geometric Playing with Michael Gumley

by Tim Topham

Learn about the common guitar teacher mistakes, why most guitar teachers and guitar methods get things wrong, gamification ideas for guitars, important mindset shifts for guitar teachers and music teachers, and so much more. In the final episode of our three-part podcast series with our TopMusicPro Guitar head, Michael Gumley, we talk specifically about guitar ... TC256: Part Three: 7 Key Areas of Geometric Playing with Michael Gumley

08/27/2021 Read more

TC255: Part Two: Teaching Guitar with the 80/20 Pareto Principle with Michael Gumley

by Tim Topham

This episode is part two of a three-part podcast series with our TopMusicPro Guitar head, Michael Gumley. Michael has shared tons of wisdom in this episode on teaching students, setting goals, getting engagement, managing money and so much more. In fact, our conversation had so much goodness that I had to listen to it a ... TC255: Part Two: Teaching Guitar with the 80/20 Pareto Principle with Michael Gumley

08/20/2021 Read more

TC253: What it’s like to run an online only studio with Jaime Gibson

by Tim Topham

Transitioning to an online-only studio has been a challenge for most teachers but my guest, Jaime Gibson, took this challenge to a whole new level by opening up his online studio to international students. Gibson Online Music School, formed in 2020, currently has students in six countries and across most states of Australia. His teaching ... TC253: What it’s like to run an online only studio with Jaime Gibson

08/06/2021 Read more

TC252: Saving Hours of Your Time Through Newzik with Paul Leverger

by Tim Topham

Do you use your computer, laptop, tablet or phone to access your sheet music for practice, performance or teaching? If you do or are considering doing so, this episode is definitely for you.  Paul Leverger of Newzik will give us an in-depth overview of the app they’ve created and how it can help you as ... TC252: Saving Hours of Your Time Through Newzik with Paul Leverger

07/30/2021 Read more