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

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.PianoParentPodcast.com/340

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 to listeners. The reality is that most of my guests are parents just like you. They are in the trenches with busy schedules, trying to keep up with practice routines, dealing with tired and cranky kids, moody teenagers, and doing the best they can.

I hope you enjoy this quick look behind the curtain to hear real stories from Cher and me. You can find links and other resources for this episode at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/339.

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.

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.PianoParentPodcast.com/337

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

1. the warmest season of the year, in the northern hemisphere from June to August and in the southern hemisphere from December to February.

2. the time of year when many piano students backslide with their hard earned piano skills.

Sur·viv·al sərˈvīvəl/ noun

1. the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances.

2. how piano parents feel when struggling to prevent the aforementioned backsliding.

Kit kit/ noun

1. a set of articles or equipment needed for a specific purpose.

2. this book:  a source of rescue and ideas to help aforementioned piano parent when struggling to help aforementioned backsliding piano kid.

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/335

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.

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

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

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

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