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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

Turning off Autopilot in Piano Practice

by Tim Topham

Thanks for watching my YouTube video about helping students turn off Autopilot when they are practising their scales: Here are well over 20 ideas to keep your teaching (and your students’ practice) fresh. This FREE download has 3 pages of fresh ideas that you can grab and print out today. Keep it on your piano ... Turning off Autopilot in Piano Practice

04/22/2019 Read more

Everything You Need to Know about the New AMEB Series 18 Piano Syllabus

by Tim Topham

How does the new syllabus differ from the old one?

12/11/2018 Read more

A Creative Take on the New ABRSM Piano Syllabus

by Rebecca Singerman-Knight

Let's take a creative look at the new ABRSM piano syllabus.

07/09/2018 Read more

How to Make Piano Sight-Reading a Fun Activity

by Roberta Wolff

Sometimes our students might find sight-reading a boring and tedious activity. It doesn't have to be that way. Expert guest writer Roberta Wolff tells us how to get our students to 'lock into sight-reading'.

06/05/2018 Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Piano Exam Syllabuses: Which One Is Best for Your Students?

by Sean Wales

Piano Exam Syllabuses There is an abundance of piano exam syllabuses out there. It can be confusing and overwhelming when choosing which exam your students should sit. The language is hard to understand and it’s difficult to get your head around all of the various requirements, especially when you have multiple students sitting different exams. ... The Ultimate Guide to Piano Exam Syllabuses: Which One Is Best for Your Students?

04/26/2017 Read more
 

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Teach Principles First [Chat with Paul Harris Part 3]

by Sean Wales

Wrapping up our mini-chat series with Tim Topham and expert UK educationalist Paul Harris is today’s video all about teaching piano principles first.  In the previous two videos, Tim and Paul have chatted about the best ways to motivate your students and how to keep your piano lessons relevant. In case you missed them, click on ... Teach Principles First [Chat with Paul Harris Part 3]

04/08/2017 Read more

Teaching Classical Piano by Teaching Pop Piano

by Rebecca Langley

I’m really happy to have Rebecca Langley write for the blog this week. Rebecca’s article about making connections in music goes right to the core of what effective piano pedagogy is all about and the timing couldn’t be better: my podcast with Paul Harris (Mr. Making Connections in Music Himself!) goes live this Sunday and picks-up exactly the ... Teaching Classical Piano by Teaching Pop Piano

07/23/2015 Read more

Quick Video: Making Scales Fun with DecideNow!

by Tim Topham

Spin the wheel! I’ve recently been having fun with my students using a nifty little app called DecideNow. I posted about it a while ago on my Facebook page, but thought a quick little 2-minute video might be the best way to explain how I actually use it in my studio. Have fun with it and let me ... Quick Video: Making Scales Fun with DecideNow!

06/12/2014 Read more

Boost Your Piano Scale Practice | Flashcardlet App

by Tim Topham

One of the trickiest things about getting to the upper levels of any graded exam system is the huge number of scales and arpeggios that students have to recall instantly from memory. Remembering the starting notes and correct fingerings for each hand of the 3rd inversions of dominant 7th arpeggios is rarely easy, especially when ... Boost Your Piano Scale Practice | Flashcardlet App

06/08/2012 Read more

Julie Haskell answers questions on AMEB exams

by Tim Topham

A couple of weeks ago, the VMTA ran a one-day piano teachers’ conference at Piano Time in South Melbourne. I always try to get along to these events as it’s great to network with other teachers and the presenters and learn new tricks and techniques to improve my teaching practice. The most interesting session for ... Julie Haskell answers questions on AMEB exams

03/09/2012 Read more

General knowledge/analysis help for your students – Ross Hamilton

by Tim Topham

Have you ever been teaching a piece of music for a student to present at an exam, only to realise a few week’s out that you are not 100% sure of the piece’s analysis/general knowledge requirements? I have, and given the importance that is placed on a student’s understanding of the ‘general knowledge’ surrounding the ... General knowledge/analysis help for your students – Ross Hamilton

01/25/2012 Read more