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Nicola Cantan
Practical and proven tips, ideas and advice for private music teachers. Listen in to improve your instrumental or vocal music studio business and find that oh-so-elusive feeling of balance in your life.
Welcome to The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast! This is the show for you if you’re an instrumental or vocal music teacher that wants friendly, creative and accessible advice.
I’m your host Nicola Cantan. My membership site, Vibrant Music Teaching, helps teachers all over the world to include more games and creativity in their lessons, so that their students giggle their way through music theory and make faster progress. I also run a popular blog, Colourful Keys, where we write about creative ideas and teaching strategies and an interview show, Teaching Studio Stories.
Every Monday I provide bite-sized bursts of inspiration and ideas for instrumental and vocal music teachers. The episodes are usually between 10 and 20 minutes – the perfect length of time to put away some of the music books scattered all over your studio and hide the rest of them in the piano bench.
Listen to a few episodes and hit the subscribe button. When you come across an episode you love, make sure to tell your teacher-friends they can get it for free in any audio app that supports podcasts.
https://vibrantmusicteaching.com
https://colourfulkeys.ie
https://instagram.com/colourfulkeys
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vibrantmusicstudioteachers
Meditation in the Music Teaching Studio
With all the emotions which come along with learning to play an instrument, meditation can be a great tool for piano students. Here's how.
17:5206/12/2021
Best Method for Teaching Piano Scales: Notation, Rote or Writing?
What's the best method for teaching piano scales? Let's explore the various options so you can try different approaches with your students.
17:2229/11/2021
What Order Should I Teach Piano Scales In?
Have you ever stopped to question whether you teach piano scales in the best order for your students? Learn more in this article and podcast.
20:1922/11/2021
When Should Piano Students Start Scales
When is the best time for piano students to start scales? Here we'll unpack the ins and outs so you can decide yourself when to start scales.
15:5215/11/2021
How to Teach Piano Modes, for the Uninitiated
Dazed by dorian? Muddled by mixolydian? If you don't teach piano modes in your studio, here's the lowdown so you can get started.
18:0308/11/2021
7 Tips to Level-Up the Fun Factor in Solo Lessons
Even if you teach music lessons one-on-one, you can still include games and make lessons incredibly fun for your students. Here's how.
11:3301/11/2021
How to Set Up a Piano Studio Lending Library
Having a lending library in your piano studio is a great way to expand the resources available to your students. Whether you’re just starting a library or extending your existing one, there are a few things you can do to make it go more smoothly.
27:2125/10/2021
Adapting Piano Teaching Games in an Instant
Found a great music theory game but it’s just not quite right for your student? Here are some ideas to adapt any piano teaching game for your students.
28:4318/10/2021
Help! My Piano Parents Don't Want Us to Play Games!
Have you ever had a piano parent complain that you’re playing too many games in lessons? Maybe they’ve asked you to take out all the games and just spend the whole lesson time on the bench? Party poopers!
25:4511/10/2021
4 Fun DIY Christmas Party Games
If you're tired of the traditional holiday recital or studio party, try this Blitzen Bash complete with gig-like performances & Christmas piano party games!
25:0304/10/2021
7 Awesome Tools to Assess and Address Transfer Piano Student Gaps
When a new transfer piano student arrives in your studio, we have to assess their skills and gaps quickly. Here are 7 great tools to help.
22:1427/09/2021
How to talk to parents about practice
https://colourfulkeys.ie/shop/practice-pie
https://blitzbooks.com/why-piano-playing-is-like-bike-riding/
In this masterclass, Nicola Cantan and Samantha Coates will discuss their favourite analogies for educating parents about music practice. You'll bake a metaphorical practice pie with Nicola, ride a fictional practice bike with Samantha, and by the end you'll feel much more confident discussing practice with parents in your studio.
01:04:5724/09/2021
How to Teach Old Piano Parents New Tricks
If you've ever struggled with the parents of transfer piano students, here are some strategies to teach an “old” piano parent new tricks.
24:1320/09/2021
How to Smoothly Switch Piano Methods Midstream
If you have a transfer student with an entirely wrong method book match, let me help smooth out the switch to more suitable piano methods.
25:1713/09/2021
Piano Transfer Students: Looking at the Sunny Side
Piano transfer students get a bad rap, but they can actually be wonderful. Let me help you make them a favourite in your studio, too.
24:4606/09/2021
8 of the Best Piano Technique Books to Transform Your Teaching
If you want to teach technique to your students in a deliberate, systematic way, here are 8 of the best piano technique books to try.
19:3730/08/2021
Teaching Piano Articulation: How, When and Where
Let’s get you teaching what all of these piano articulation signs mean so your students play in a healthy and expressive way.
18:1923/08/2021
How Yoga Could Unlock Success in Your Piano Lessons
Yoga is a fantastic tool for piano teachers and students, both in lessons and before home practice. Let me share what yoga has taught me.
31:1816/08/2021
3 Positive Piano Posture Tips for Teaching Wiggly Kids
Teaching proper piano posture can be a challenge when students are little and struggle to sit still. Here are some tips to get you started.
18:1309/08/2021
How to Teach Piano Technique (without Hanon and the Lads)
The old paradigm for how to teach piano technique worked OK...ish.
I mean, it got many of us through our studies and towards teaching. But how many other students dropped off because of aches, pains, injuries and inefficiencies?
In this episode, we’ll look at how to teach technique effectively. And we won’t need any dry exercises.
26:0302/08/2021
How to Teach Beginner Piano Students
If you’re just getting started, your instinct might be to start to teach beginner piano students first. After all, they’re just at the start too so how hard could it be?
Teaching beginner students actually requires great skill and care. In this article, we’ll take an overview of all the areas you need to consider.
15:1326/07/2021
Teaching Piano from Home with Healthy Habits
Here are some solutions to help you keep the balance, stay zen and develop healthy habits while teaching piano lessons from home.
17:5819/07/2021
Shimmy into Your Symbolic Work-Shirt
We often hear about dressing for success. Let’s take a look at what that means for piano teachers and why it matters even if we’re teaching a few students from our living rooms.
22:0312/07/2021
The Successful Music Teacher Map: 3 Horizons and a Shortcut
Want to feel like a successful music teacher? The journey to becoming a successful music teacher can be scary. Avoid the quicksand and head straight for the goal with this helpful advice.
14:1305/07/2021
14 Lyric Writing Prompts for Piano Students
Here are 14 of the best lyric writing prompts to inspire your piano students to dive into songwriting with confidence. These are perfect to use when a student can’t find inspiration for their song-writing project.
16:1228/06/2021
Help Students with Complex Rhythm Dictation
Students often compose really interesting rhythms…but then have trouble figuring out how to notate them. In this article, I’ll help you as you help your students with complex rhythm dictation.
19:5721/06/2021
Teaching Songwriting (When You're Not a Pro)
Teaching songwriting to piano students can be hard when you’re not a master songwriter yourself. This article will give you everything you need to guide your students who want to become songwriters.
22:2114/06/2021
Your Music Teacher Vision Statement
150 characters. That’s all I’m allowing you for your music teacher vision statement. If you had to whittle it all down, what would you say? Why are you doing this?
13:2807/06/2021
How to Make a Steady Income as a Piano Teacher
Teaching piano, violin or voice doesn’t have to be a risky career path – making a steady income as a piano teacher CAN be done. I’ll show you how in this article.
20:0331/05/2021
Best Project Management Software for Music Schools
Project management software can help to add structure to scattered to-do lists. Finding the right project management tool for your music studio can feel like a holy grail. But, as always, we’re here to help make it simple.
10:5424/05/2021
Creating a Model Music Studio System
Creating a music studio system might sound like a boring endeavor. But if you do it right – if you make a model studio – it can be exciting. It can change your whole game.
15:0217/05/2021
Paid Time Off for Piano Teachers
Do you wish you could take paid holidays and sick leave? Think paid time off is just a pipe dream for self-employed piano teachers like us? I have the solution for you.
19:1010/05/2021
Overcoming the Disadvantage of Friday Piano Lessons
There are so many factors involved for a student to succeed in their music studies. Their parents, their teacher, their attitude and their grittiness all play a role.
But one factor you might not have thought of is their lesson schedule – more specifically, their lesson day.
17:4703/05/2021
Growing Grit and Sharpening Piano Students’ Stick-to-it-ive-ness
Do some of your students seem to throw their hands in the air at the first whiff of struggle and difficulty? What they need is grittiness. They need the determination and self-belief to keep going when things get hard.
36:0426/04/2021
The 5 Masts of Music Student Motivation
I think of music student motivation as 5 masts which keep a structure standing tall. Nurture all 5 for highly motivated and engaged students.
16:2519/04/2021
Gateway to Growth Mindset for Piano Students
If your goal is to foster a growth mindset in your piano students, then extrinsic motivation could be the best route to get there.
13:0012/04/2021
Incentives, Awards and Rewards in the Piano Studio
Incentives, awards and rewards are common practice in many piano studios. If you use them, you’re a raving fan. If you don’t, you’re staunchly opposed.
Whichever side of this debate you fall on, let’s stop and think about each type of external motivator.
19:2605/04/2021
What I Learnt About Listening in Online Lessons
I think it’s fair to say that we all learnt a lot in 2020. Some of the biggest lessons for me last year were about listening…and Zoom was my teacher. 🙃
18:4829/03/2021
Improve Aural Memory with these Music Games
Every student can improve their aural memory over time. But some students come to us with a particularly weak aural memory which can present a real challenge to us as teachers. The aural memory music games in this article are simple, but they might be just the solution you need right now.
16:3022/03/2021
Five Steps to Create a Sensational Piano Mashup
Have you ever thought about creating a piano mashup with your students? It’s easier than you think and there are so many learning opportunities.
22:1715/03/2021
A Three-Minute Ear Training Exercise for Piano Students
If you're on the hunt for a new ear training exercise for your piano students, this step-by-step activity is perfect for you.
15:5908/03/2021
The Clear and Concise Guide to Curwen Hand Signs
In this article, we’ll get down to the brass tacks of why and how and music teachers of all stripes should use Curwen hand signs.
14:3201/03/2021
Tips for Teaching Piano Technique to Adults
When teaching piano technique to adults, make it relevant to them and avoid sounding like a schoolteacher telling them off. Here's how.
16:5622/02/2021
Six Things Adult Beginner Piano Students Need to Hear
Adult beginner piano students are often held back by mental and emotional baggage. Here's how to help them banish these limiting beliefs.
19:0415/02/2021
Refined Repertoire Adult Piano Students Will Adore
Adult piano students need repertoire which sounds sophisticated but is easy enough for them to play. These are the top choices in my studio.
14:3908/02/2021
How to Attract More Adult Piano Students
If you love teaching adult piano students, you should be proactively working to attract them, not leaving it up to fate. Here's how.
14:5201/02/2021
Three Heroic Habits for Music Teachers
Despite being so small, these 3 heroic habits for music teachers can make a big difference in the balance between your work and life.
16:3625/01/2021
Save Time by Outsourcing Your Music Studio Admin
We signed up to be music teachers, not to be office-drones. But it can feel like we spend more time doing music teaching studio admin tasks than actually teaching.
If you’re on the administrative burnout bandwagon, I’m here to help.
19:1118/01/2021
Doing "All the Things" in Your Piano Studio
Do you dream of getting more stuff done in less time? I'm going to let you in on my secret for doing “all the things” in your piano studio...
09:2311/01/2021
Power Up Your Piano Teacher Productivity
You read about the latest piano teacher productivity idea, but does it work? is it magic? The only way to know is to experiment. Here's how.
13:2904/01/2021