Studio Management

Today we had a recital. I always struggle with what to say after each student has played their song. Everyone is clapping, then I pop back up again to introduce the next performer. I say “that was great” then the next student I’ll say “that…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• acknowledging students, communication, Gordon Harvey, ideas for recitals, introducing students, introducing to students, private recital, public recital, public recitals, recital, recital acknowledgments, recital format, recital ideas, recital introductions, recital program, recital programs, recitals, recognition, recognizing students

One of my new private adult students (she is practicing diligently, LOVES SM, her playlist so far is very strong) wants to switch from having one (half-hour) lesson per week to two (half-hour) lessons weekly (several days apart) because she is eager to make even…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• 2 lessons per week, adult students, duration of class, duration of lesson, frequency of lessons, importance of playlist, length of class, length of lesson, lesson duration, lesson frequency, lesson length, managing playlist, managing the playlist, multiple lessons per week, number of songs on playlist, Playlist, playlist management, practice, semiweekly lesson, special needs, teaching week, twice per week lessons, two lessons per week

One of my new students (a 16 year old, very disciplined at practicing, and he and his Dad both love SM so far, he is on Jackson Blues) just told me today that he is also learning some extra songs (songs he likes and knows…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• base tools, developing generative skills, generative, generative learning, generative students, generative tools, importance of playlist, learning clues, learning tools, learning tools and strategies, managing playlist, managing the playlist, mastery of tools, outside materials, outside music, outside pieces, outside repertoire, PB, pieces outside the program, playing-based, playing-based strategies, playing-based tools, Playlist, playlist management, reference clues, self generating, self generative, self-generate, self-generation, songs outside the repertoire, students teaching, students teaching each other, teaching, teaching clues, teaching outside music, teaching students to coach, tools, tools and strategies, YouTube

Can anyone point me towards resources to help a student with performance anxiety? She’s 13 and used to willingly play and sing for anyone who’d ask, but now she’s extremely resistant even as she’s a fabulous and sensitive musician. I’ve never felt like much of…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• anxiety, anxious, anxious student, communication, enjoying the process, expressive playing, fun, Gordon Harvey, mindfulness, nerves, nervous, nervousness, performance, performance anxiety, performing, performing in front of others, playing, playing duet at recital, playing fluently, playing in front of others, playing in the moment, playing with distractions, playing with expression, playing with families, private recital, public performances, public recital, public recitals, recital, recitals, student anxiety

A student is on a 6-week road trip. His mom just texted, “My piano player has been missing his piano. It is his coping mechanism when the world gets overwhelming. I didn’t realize how much piano helps him. Do you know of general places–besides music…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• audio, audio materials, audio SHMs, away from home, cell phones, holiday, holidays, home use of practice pads, imagination, imagine, iPad, iPad app, iPad apps, iPad music, iPads, iphone, iPhone app, iPhone apps, key pads, keypad, keypads, listening to audio recordings, listening to the audio recordings, phone, portable instrument, portable piano, practice pad, practice pads, roll-up piano, smart phones, student holiday, student travel, student vacations, using practice pads, utilize ipad, vacation, vacations, visual learners, visualize, visualize practice, working away from the piano

I have a question about the SHM. I talked to my boss at the studio the other day and she was concerned about students possibly discontinuing lessons with me and then proceeding to use the videos and purchasing additional levels to learn the songs. She…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• discontinuation, discontinuation notice, discontinuation policy, discontinuing, discontinuing lessons, going ahead, Laurie Richards, learning ahead, learning from SHMs, lesson requirements, materials, moving ahead, moving ahead on the video, moving ahead on video, moving ahead on videos, new material, purchasing SHMs, quitting, quitting lessons, requirement, requirement based studio, requirements, requirements in lessons, self study, self study programs, self-study program, SHM, SHMs, student home material, Student Home Materials, student moving ahead, students moving ahead, students quitting, students who move ahead, want to quit, watching ahead on the video

I have a level one student (7 yo) who learned the whole AMB (2 and 3) by watching the level 1 demo. Argh! Naughty, naughty! I point out to students when they do this, they are missing out on vital learning clues (I don’t tell…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• Alma Mater Blues, alma mater blues 2nd section, AMB, claiming territory, communication, demo, demonstration, going ahead, group lessons, Laurie Richards, learning ahead, learning clues, practice, student moving ahead, students moving ahead, students teaching, students teaching each other, students who move ahead, teaching clues, teaching with integrity

Sharing a requirement-based success story. I had a family recently whose two children never practiced consistently since they started. I told parents and children consistently the past week before spring break and week following that it wasn’t a problem, but that it wasn’t going to…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• alignment with coaches, angry parent, at home practice, busy coaches, claiming territory, coach, coach at lessons, coach not coaching, coach responsibility, coaches, coaching, coaching parents, commit, commitment, commitment to lessons, communicating with parents, communication, communication with parents, confidence as a coach, confidence as a teacher, dealing with parents, distracted coach, encouraging practice, frustrated parents, holding coaches accountable, importance of life coach, lack of practice, Laurie Richards, lesson requirements, life coach, life coach roles, life coaches, managing coaches, managing practice, managing practice time, monitor practice, not practicing, parent, parent concerns, parent involvement, parent role, parent struggles, parent support, parental expectations, parental involvement, parental participation, parental responsibility, parents, parents attending lessons, poor practice, practice, practice guidelines, practice habits, practice time, practicing, practicing guidelines, problem parent, relationship with coach, request vs requirement, requirement, requirement based studio, requirement versus request, requirement-based, requirements, requirements in lessons, role of parent, selective coaching, student not practicing, studio policies, teaching parents, unhappy parent, unsupportive parent, working with parents, working with parents on how to practice

How would my expert teachers out there manage a student who was absolutely adamant that they should only have 1 NEW song to practice each week. Regardless of if they get it easy or not; how can I correct this limiting belief in their psychology…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• claiming territory, coachabilty, coachable, communication, different facets of musicianship, introducing streams, learning pace, limitations, managing streams, multiple project management, multiple projects, multiple songs, multiple streams, normal progress, pace, pace of learning, pace of teaching, practice, progress, rate of progress, reclaiming territory, requirements, Robin Keehn, slow pace, slow progress, speed of learning, speed of progress, streams, student progress, students progressing differently, students speed of progress, teaching streams, too much homework

How would you handle this situation: neighbor (parent 2) of a current student (parent 1) was interested in SM; current student parent 1 shares account info just to give the parent 2 neighbor an idea of what the digital materials are like etc. parent 2…

• Last updated 6 years ago
• claiming territory, coaches, communication, cost of materials, cost of SHMs, digital materials, digital SHMs, group lessons, Laurie Richards, license, license agreement, materials, purchasing SHMs, requirements, Robin Keehn, sharing material, sharing materials, sharing SHM, sharing SHMs, SHM, SHM costs, SHMs, student home material, Student Home Materials, using SHMs, using the SHMs