Piano Parent Podcast: helping teachers, parents, and students get the most of their piano lessons. artwork

Piano Parent Podcast: helping teachers, parents, and students get the most of their piano lessons.

377 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 45 ratings

The Piano Parent Podcast is your one-stop shop for all things related to parenting a piano student. From practice tips to piano geography and musical terms, common studio policies to teacher and parent interviews, this is THE best resource to help you and your child make the most of piano lessons. Whether you are a knowledgeable musician or a complete novice, there is definitely something for you here.

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Episodes

Encore Presentation of PPP14: Mister Rogers' Code for I Love You

March 19, 2024 04:23 - 33 minutes - 34.4 MB

Mr. Fred Rogers was born on March 20, 1928. This encore presentation is in honor of his 96th birthday, with gratitude for his life, well lived. What an example and inspiration for us all! Learn more at www.PianoParentpodcast.com/143.  

PPP 357: Teacher chat with Becki Laurent and Clinton Pratt - Artful Dodgers

February 05, 2024 15:38 - 1 hour - 49.3 MB

What's your best deflection technique? Sometimes I'll answer a question with another question to avoid giving an uncomfortable answer. What's your piano kid's best deflection technique? Do they try to memorize all their music to avoid sight reading? Do they blame the metronome when they aren't able to play along with it? Learn some common "artful dodges" in today's teacher chat with Becki Laurent and Clinton Pratt. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/357

PPP 356: The Groundhog Day of Piano Lessons

January 29, 2024 14:34 - 25 minutes - 20.6 MB

Do you ever feel like you're living the same piano lesson week after week? Listen to today's show to learn some reasons why music is re-assigned at the lesson and how you can help your piano kid keep moving forward. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/356

PPP 355: Take Inventory of your 168 Hour Week

January 08, 2024 07:43 - 32 minutes - 25.7 MB

24 hours each day, 7 days every week. We all have 168 hours each week. If we're not careful, those hours will get filled with other people's agendas. Now is the time to take inventory of your schedule and make time for the things that are important to you. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/355  

Holiday Replay of PPP 266: "Down in History"

December 18, 2023 07:36 - 17 minutes - 18.6 MB

In the style of Mike Rowe’s podcast “The Way I Heard It” and Paul Harvey’s radio show “The Rest of the Story”, this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast brings you the backstory of a musician or song or a moment in music history. I use these musical mysteries to tell you something you might not know about someone or something that is somewhat familiar. In this case, I will tell you the story of a young author who never wrote the great American novel but still managed to go “Down in History”...

PPP 354: No Book Beginners with author, Tim Topham

November 06, 2023 16:47 - 48 minutes - 44.1 MB

In today's episode, author and international teacher of piano teachers, Tim Topham shares his approach to music learning in his new book, "No Book Beginners". Rather than stifling your piano kid's enthusiasm for piano by slowing down music-making with foreign terminology and symbols and expecting them to learn to read music before they expore the interesting sounds the piano can create, Tim's book offers a different approach. Get your piano kid creating music and exploring sounds right ...

PPP 353: What to do when you don't practice

October 16, 2023 12:56 - 27 minutes - 22.1 MB

Listen to today's episode to hear my suggestions for what you and your piano kid can do about your piano lesson when you've gone the whole week without spending time at your own piano. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/353

PPP 352: What to Expect in the First Year of Piano Lessons

October 02, 2023 07:26 - 31 minutes - 25.4 MB

Welcome new Piano Parents! If you and your piano kid are new to the wonderful world of piano lessons, you may be wondering what kinds of things they will be learning during this first year. Today's episode gives you a few things to expect. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/352.

PPP 351: The Value of Reading to Your Piano Kids with Author, Vicky Weber

September 18, 2023 05:20 - 42 minutes - 34 MB

Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. All her current titles are based on her background in music education or her heritage. While she has taught a variety of grade levels, primary-level education is where her passion lies. It has long been a dream of hers to teach children through the magic of books and she hopes you love reading her works as much as she loved writing them. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/351

PPP 350: 10 Ways to Scare Your Piano Teacher

September 11, 2023 12:26 - 23 minutes - 18.8 MB

'Tis the season for all things orange, yellow, brown, and a little scary. Today's list offers ten things that are likely to scare your piano teacher. Some are silly and some are serious, but all are things you might encounter with your piano kid. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/350.

PPP 349: How to make your piano kid fail proof

September 05, 2023 03:27 - 21 minutes - 16.8 MB

We do everything we can, as parents, to set our kids up for success at the piano. We pay for lessons, drive them to their lesson, provide them with an instrument to practice. What steps should we take to help our piano kids overcome failure? How can we make their piano journey "so simple, plain, or reliable as to leave no opportunity for error, misuse, or failure"? Find out in today's episode and learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/349.

PPP 348: Find the '1' - Helping students feel the steady beat and find the downbeat in music

August 28, 2023 16:52 - 30 minutes - 24.1 MB

Today's episode offers help for those piano kids who have a difficult time feeling the steady beat of music.  Some children can feel the beat but they aren't yet able to discern the downbeat, the start of a new measure. If a child has trouble feeling the steady pulse of music they listen to, they will have even more trouble trying to reproduce a steady beat in the music they play. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/348

PPP 347: Brock Chart with My-Melodies Publishing (sometimes our trajectory changes with the flip of a coin)

August 21, 2023 06:30 - 56 minutes - 45.3 MB

Enjoy this delightful conversation with Kansas piano teacher, award-winning composer, and founder of My-Melodies Publishing, Brock Chart. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/347

PPP 346: ICYMI Replay of Musical Mystery Opus 1, No. 1 "Wishful Thinking"

August 14, 2023 06:18 - 21 minutes - 17.5 MB

200 episodes ago, I published my first musical mystery. I'm sharing it again today to prepare for the upcoming 200th anniversary of one of this composer's greatest hits! Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/346

PPP 345: Time to Clean Off Your Piano

August 07, 2023 10:17 - 21 minutes - 16.9 MB

As we gear up for a new school year and a new semester of piano lessons, this is a great time to declutter your piano or keyboard. Let's do it together! You can clean off your piano while you listen to this episode! Check the show notes for links to all the resources mentioned in this episode at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/345. Watch the companion video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/lmLpRthqxE8.  

PPP 344: "Make Space for Your Child's Experiences" A Parenting Do Over with Ashlee Young

July 31, 2023 11:07 - 16 minutes - 12.8 MB

Back in March, I interviewed Ashlee Young (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/324). When the official interview was over, I asked Ashlee if I could ask her one more question. "Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a 'Do Over'?" So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be helpful t...

PPP 343: "Navigating Different Perspectives" A Parenting Do Over with Thomas Grayston

July 24, 2023 11:04 - 14 minutes - 11.5 MB

Back in February, I interviewed Thomas Grayston (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/321). When the official interview was over, I asked Thomas if I could ask him one more question. “Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a ‘Do Over’?” So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be hel...

PPP 342: "Extend Compassion....to your children and to yourself" A Parenting Do Over with Dr. Fernanda Nieto

July 17, 2023 11:00 - 13 minutes - 10.5 MB

Back in October, I interviewed Fernanda Nieto (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/314). When the official interview was over, I asked Fernanda if I could ask her one more question. “Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a ‘Do Over’?” So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be hel...

PPP 341: "Avoid Misinterpretations" A Parenting Do Over with Stephen Hughes

July 10, 2023 10:50 - 11 minutes - 8.83 MB

Back in August, I interviewed Stephen Hughes (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/304). When the official interview was over, I asked Stephen if I could ask him one more question. “Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a ‘Do Over’?” So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be helpf...

PPP 340: Ten Takeaways for Piano Parents from My Recent TMTA Conference

July 03, 2023 10:49 - 36 minutes - 29.6 MB

Every June, our Texas Music Teachers Association hosts a conference. It is one of the highlights of my year because I gain so much from attending. Our state conference brings in top-notch presenters to share new teaching strategies, new music, and other professional development opportunities. There are also many activities for students and their parents. On today's show, I am bringing the conference experience to you with ten takeaways for piano parents. You can learn more at www.PianoPa...

PPP 339: "Before you leap..." A parenting do over with Cher Kretz

June 26, 2023 12:01 - 10 minutes - 8.41 MB

Back in September, I interviewed Cher Kretz (You can catch that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/309). When the official interview was over, I asked Cher if I could ask her one more question. "Is there a moment in your parenting that you can share where you would really like a 'Do Over'?" So often on social media and in my interviews with guests, we try to put our best foot forward. That is as it should be. We want to offer professional, succinct information that will be helpful t...

PPP 338: "Amazing Doesn't Have to be Hard" My TMTA Conference TEXtalk presentation

June 19, 2023 14:16 - 22 minutes - 18.3 MB

Each year at our Texas Music Teachers Conference, we host our version of the well-known TEDtalks. We call them TEXtalks. I was honored to have been invited to be included in this year's presentation, "Amazing Doesn't Have to Be Hard." Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/338.

PPP 337: My First Piano Sheet Music with Author, Emily Norris

June 12, 2023 06:07 - 38 minutes - 30.8 MB

One of the best ways to help a child learn to play an instrument is to get them singing familiar tunes. When your piano kid is able to sing a song, playing it on an instrument is exponentially more successful. On today's show, we meet with an author who understands this fact very well. Emily Norris has written a new book of piano sheet music to help young children begin learning to sing and play familiar songs on the piano and she is here to tell us all about it. Learn more at www.PianoPar...

PPP 335: Piano Parent Summer Survival Kit (My first book on Amazon!)

May 29, 2023 09:58 - 26 minutes - 21.6 MB

Hot off the presses.... I just released my first book on Amazon and I'll tell you all about it in today's episode. Sum·mer ˈsəmər/ noun the warmest season of the year, in the northern hemisphere from June to August and in the southern hemisphere from December to February. the time of year when many piano students backslide with their hard earned piano skills.   Sur·viv·al sərˈvīvəl/ noun the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or...

PPP 334: Chrissy Ricker shares her Summer Piano Review Challenge Calendars

May 22, 2023 07:02 - 32 minutes - 25.7 MB

Keeping in line with last week's episode about summer reading, this week we get to hear from Chrissy Ricker who has developed summer piano review challenge calendars. Listen as Chrissy shares some of the highlights from her summer activity calendars and how they can help keep your piano kid musical engaged this summer. Learn more and find links to all the resources Chrissy mentions at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/334.

PPP 333: Summer reading - books and music

May 15, 2023 06:58 - 30 minutes - 24.7 MB

Summertime is a great time to take a much-deserved break! It's also a great time to catch up on reading or, at least maintain your reading capabilities. The same tactics that help new readers to read library books will also work for piano kids learning to read new music. Find some helpful tips for reading both kinds of literature on today's show. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/333

PPP 332: Leveling up from accidentals to key signatures

May 08, 2023 06:53 - 35 minutes - 28.2 MB

Making the jump from accidentals which mark each note that needs to be altered to key signatures placed at the beginning of each staff can be difficult for some students. Learn how you can help your piano kid level up on today's show. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/332

PPP 331: Technique is a tool that serves performance, with Ken Thompson

May 01, 2023 06:00 - 1 hour - 53.2 MB

In today's show, Ken Thompson shares valuable insight into piano technique.  "Technique is a tool that serves performance. If you use the tool in performance, you are able to be free musically, to express yourself, and to send a musical message to your audience. In order for that to happen, the tool needs to be reliable." Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/331

PPP 330: Ten Things for the Day of the Recital

April 24, 2023 06:39 - 29 minutes - 23.8 MB

Keep this list handy for any time your piano kid participates in a studio recital or piano event. These are wonderful things you can do to make this important day as stress-free and calm for your piano kid as possible. Get your free Checklist download and find other tenth episodes at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/330

PPP 329: Spring Cleaning Our Music Bag

April 17, 2023 14:45 - 16 minutes - 13.3 MB

I am amazed at the things students collect in their music bags. I've seen everything from books and music that was completed long ago to old theory tests and worksheets to candy wrappers from my prize box. Once I even found a banana that was well past its expiration! So many odd items creep into my own music bag. Exactly why do I have three types of breath mints, two lip balms, and seven hair ties?!? On today's show, let's clean out our music bags together. See the companion video at w...

PPP 328: This mom did everything right and they still quit

April 10, 2023 06:42 - 24 minutes - 19.6 MB

Sometimes, no matter how much you want your piano kids to enjoy their lessons and learn to make music, they just don't get it. Sometimes, even if you've done everything right, they still end up quitting. That's the topic of today's show. Learn more at www.pianoparentpodcast.com/328

PPP 327: Teacher Chat: Hobbyist vs Career Musicians with Joellyn Andrews and Janna Williamson

April 03, 2023 13:47 - 46 minutes - 37.6 MB

I started to call this chat "Hobbyist vs Serious Musicians" but realized that's not a fair description. Some would say I'm a hobbyist at podcasting - because I make ZERO money doing it - but I still take it very seriously. That's why I made the change to "Hobbyist vs Career Musicians" - some of our piano kids are doing lessons for a season, without the intention of pursuing music in college or as a profession while others have different long-term plans. Your goals have a big impact on the ...

PPP 326: Musical Mystery Opus 4, No. 2 "Turn out the lights, the party's over!"

March 27, 2023 13:32 - 24 minutes - 19.5 MB

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “Where words fail, music speaks”- a quote by Hans Christian Andersen. Today’s musical mystery will tell you the story of an occasion where words could have gotten you fired so music was the only way to communicate. Hear the full story in today's Musical Mystery Opus 4, No. 2 "Turn out the lights, the party's over!" Visit www.pianoparentpodcast.com/326 for more information about this mystery as well as a link to other Musical Mysteries.

PPP 325: "We need to leave early from the recital."

March 20, 2023 06:41 - 24 minutes - 19.8 MB

This is a busy time of the year. To avoid schedule conflicts and the urge to do all the things, parents need to be proactive, set priorities and make difficult decisions for their piano kids. Listen to today's show to learn how. Check www.pianoparentpodcast.com/325 for more information.

PPP 324: Work Smarter, Not Harder with Ashlee Young

March 13, 2023 06:34 - 40 minutes - 32.2 MB

Ashlee Young is a piano teacher with a passion to help musicians plan more effective and efficient practice sessions. In today's interview, she shares how you can move from reading individual notes to more lengthy phrases in the same way we progress in reading letters, words, and sentences. Visit www.PianoParentPodcast.com/324 for more information.

PPP 323: Piano Day Project and Music Cryptography

March 06, 2023 08:34 - 30 minutes - 24.4 MB

March 29 is the 88th day of the year - PIANO DAY!! To celebrate one of our favorite days of the year, we are going to do a fun Piano Day Project where we will encrypt a secret name in our special, one-of-a-kind melody. Learn how in today's show! Get your free Alpha-Numeric Code maker at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/323.

PPP 322: The Grand Staff and a Ta11 Tale

February 27, 2023 10:52 - 24 minutes - 19.8 MB

Once upon a time, I read or heard a story about the grand staff. I share it with my students and today I'll share it with you.

PPP 321: Note Rush, 2nd edition with App Developer, Thomas Grayston

February 20, 2023 07:52 - 42 minutes - 33.7 MB

We first met Thomas Grayston, the genius developer behind the popular note identification app, Note Rush, back in 2017. (You can listen to that interview at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/065) Today, he is back to share some exciting updates to the app including new themes, customized decks of notes, and helpful hints while playing the app. Find links and other resources at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/321.  

PPP 320: Ten Things Piano Parents Love About Piano Lessons

February 13, 2023 07:00 - 18 minutes - 15 MB

Every episode that ends with a 0 includes a list of ten somethings. Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, this list gives you 10 things piano parents love about piano lessons. What else would you add to the list?   www.PianoParentPodcast.com/320

PPP 319: Reflections on last week's episode

February 06, 2023 07:36 - 21 minutes - 17.2 MB

I really enjoyed talking with Winston Hall last week. One of the things he said really struck me and I've been thinking about it ever since. He said, "Reading music is the most analytical way to make music." and that wasn't how his brain was wired. My brain actually feels safer and more confident with the music, in fact, I feel frozen if I don't have music in front of me; I don't know what to play! Listen to this and more reflections at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/319  

PPP 318: "Wrong Note Right: The Story of an Accidental Piano Man" with Winston Hall

January 30, 2023 08:19 - 50 minutes - 40.7 MB

Winston Hall is a self-proclaimed "below-average piano student" who was able to overcome obstacles that might have stopped most people - the inability to read music, his own self-doubt, and debilitating stage fright. Winston is now one of the most popular entertainers in the Northwest Louisiana area. This is an episode that you will bookmark and listen to again and again and share with your piano parent friends. Visit the show notes at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/318.

PPP 317: Preparing to Start Piano Lessons

January 23, 2023 07:02 - 25 minutes - 20.5 MB

If you're waiting to start piano lessons, this is the episode for you! Potential students reach out to me for lessons but I often don't have a space available. Many times, they opt to wait for my short-term summer session and start the process of waiting for piano lessons to begin. In today's show, I'll share three things that piano parents can do to make good use of this interim time: think about your goals, build anticipation, and start a regular practice habit - NOW. Visit the full sh...

PPP 316: Make Regular Practice Part of 2023

January 16, 2023 08:18 - 30 minutes - 24.3 MB

In last week's episode I quoted Art L. Williams Jr. “Remember, before you can be great, you’ve got to be good. Before you can be good, you’ve got to be bad. But before you can even be bad, you’ve got to try.”   Today, let's focus on the trying aspect of learning to play the piano.

PPP 315: Allowing for Miskates, er, Mistakes

January 09, 2023 10:02 - 24 minutes - 20 MB

My list of 22 for 2022 turned out to be a list of things I failed to do. When I look back on it, I don't celebrate the things I was able to finish, I just feel defeated by the areas where I missed the mark. Rather than aiming for perfection, I think it is good for our children to see us make mistakes and move on, gracefully. Our mistakes shouldn't devastate us and our kids need to learn to give themselves the same kind of mercy. In this P3 episode, we talk more about helping our piano ki...

Holiday Replay of PPP072: These Popular Christmas Songs Were Written in the Heat of the Summer

December 19, 2022 15:35 - 33 minutes - 26.4 MB

Do you ever wonder what inspires composers and songwriters to create the music they do? Would you be surprised to learn that some of our favorite Christmas tunes were written in the heat of the summer? On today’s podcast, I’ll share some of the interesting things I discovered about some of the songs we enjoy throughout the holiday season. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/072 Merry Christmas!!

Holiday Replay of PPP122: Handel's Messiah - the IMDB(ish) Story

December 12, 2022 08:16 - 20 minutes - 16.4 MB

Listen to the inspiring story behind one of the most iconic pieces of musical literature, Handel's "Messiah". I have to admit that I was not a fan of this oratorio until I learned the difficulties Handel faced before he came to write the music. Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/122. Thanks for listening and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

PPP 314: Mindfulness and Breathing with Dr. Fernanda Nieto

October 24, 2022 08:33 - 51 minutes - 41 MB

After dealing with everything we have over the last two years, our brains have gotten really good at facing problems and anxiety - maybe too good. We might have accidentally trained our brains to be hyperresponsive to uncomfortable circumstances. On today's show, Dr. Fernanda Nieto shares some wonderful ways to help our brains and our bodies to relax and breathe.

PPP 313: It's okay to have fun!

October 17, 2022 21:31 - 14 minutes - 11.8 MB

Inspired by a quote from Agatha Christie, this episode reminds us all to enjoy the journey and allow ourselves to be a little ridiculous.

PPP 312: Music Alphabet - Counting by 1s, 3s, and 5s

October 10, 2022 19:40 - 23 minutes - 18.6 MB

Everything your piano kid has to do with music: reading music, finding the correct piano keys, eventually building scales and chords, and putting chords together in a sequence, all of that stems from understanding the basic seven notes of the music alphabet.

PPP311: Rock Climber, Kelley Yuan, talks about facing challenges

October 03, 2022 06:31 - 48 minutes - 38.7 MB

So much of the time, we focus on dealing with anxiety and performance jitters with the assumption that everyone has them. It was so refreshing to have this conversation with someone who actually enjoys facing challenges and learning how to overcome obstacles. Kelley Yuan is a software developer by day but she is also a pianist and enjoys a very interesting and challenging hobby: rock climbing. Listen to her inspiring outlook on life and how she views challenges with interest and curiosity.

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@sdpspiano 11 Episodes