This week was my first full week back from my maternity leave. I taught a couple lessons last week because one of my substitute teachers was out of town, but this week is my true return to the studio. I’m not going to lie, I was really dreading coming back to teaching. Two babies is […]
How to Boost Your Practice Time Productivity
Use this simple tool to keep yourself accountable and motivated to get things done! Image Credit Sometimes I have a hard time concentrating when I practice. A really hard time. I generally have issues concentrating, and those are exacerbated when I sit down to practice violin efficiently. (It truly is a miracle I’ve made it […]
How to Keep You AND Your Students Happy
It seems like every time I get a new student, my excitement is tempered with a sense of impending doom. Is this student going to actually stick with it? I warn these potential students that technique is important to me, and I tell them why. They always act on board and eager to play the […]
Are You Forgetting this Important Music Teaching Tool?
How to rewire your music students’ brains in ten words or less… I enjoy folding my babies’ laundry. I love the teeny socks and sleepers. I love thinking about the kissable little feet that go in those socks, and the sweet cuddles from little ones in those sleepers. This was not always the case. […]
How to Use Memrise to Complete the Summer Theory Challenge!!!
A Step by Step Guide to Using Memrise As many of you know, I am currently obsessed with the Memrise app. If you want to see just how crazy, you can check out this post. Some of my students (and their parents) were wondering exactly how to use Memrise to complete their Summer Theory Challenge. […]
How to Teach your Teenage Students Music Theory
Music Theory for Teens that isn’t “cutesy” I don’t know about you, but I struggle to teach music theory. I often feel as if I don’t have the time in lessons, and the things I do teach quickly fall on deaf ears. In addition, I hesitate to buy expensive music theory books, or ask my […]
How I’m Keeping My Students Motivated this Summer
Who’s ready for the SUMMER THEORY CHALLENGE?? I don’t know about you, but I really struggle to keep my students’ interest in the summer time. They show up to lesson with their hair wet, faces flushed, straight from swimming lessons, and they are eager for the lesson to end so they can go play with […]
10 Cures For Stiff Bow Arms
Free up tension and let the bow sing! We all know that the most important ingredient for good tone is beautiful right arm technique, yet so many of our students saw away at the fiddle with locked wrists, elbows and shoulders. This has something I have struggled with time and time again. How can I […]
Memorize New Pieces in 3 Easy Steps
Fool-proof memorization for all! Our memories can be one of the most frustrating and unreliable of our music-making tools. Memory lapses in performance, or even memory catastrophes, are incredibly common. I know we have all heard the dreaded never-ending Martini Gavotte, or worse, Fiocco Allegro! As a young student, I was blessed with a fairly […]