The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

Becoming a more confident, capable, and modern music teacher is what this conversation is all about. In this episode, I’m sharing a major update to TopMusic Certification for 2026, including how you can now complete the program on demand, what the four certification units cover, how the portfolio assessment works, and why this pathway is designed to help independent music teachers grow both their teaching and their studio business. Links Mentioned Get your LAST MINUTE ticket for TopMusicLive 2026 here.Find out for about TopMusic Teacher Certification here. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Does it feel like it’s getting harder to keep kids engaged in music lessons? In this episode, I’m chatting with Paul Myatt about what’s really going on with today’s students, especially Gen Alpha, and why so many teachers are feeling the shift. We unpack attention spans, movement, whole-body learning, and some practical ways to help students connect more deeply with music from the very start. Links Mentioned Get your tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here. Today's Guest Paul Myatt is a passionate teacher, performer, coach, author, composer and workshop facilitator. His purpose and passion is to continue to learn and work with people to assist them in developing their skills to achieve their goals. His experience extends across many fields: Business, music, technology and sports. Paul is a founding director and co-owner of Forte School of Music, a thriving and growing franchise network of music schools with over 5,500 students across 17 locations in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Since 1994, he has worked with his franchise partners to help them build their businesses in all areas including marketing, human resources, management and administration. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

There’s something powerful about stepping out of your studio and into a room full of like-minded teachers who are all working toward the same goal. Today, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at TopMusicLive 2026, including what’s planned, who you’ll be learning from, and why this event continues to be such a transformative experience for teachers around the world. Links Mentioned Get your EARLY BIRD tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here.TopCast 426: How Ambre Hammond Makes ASTONISHING Progress Teaching Scales in Lesson 1! Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Helping students perform confidently on stage is one of the biggest challenges music teachers face. In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation with performance psychologist and educator Noa Kageyama, who has spent years helping musicians understand the psychology behind performing under pressure. Together we explore practical strategies that can help both teachers and students prepare more effectively, build resilience, and develop the skills needed to perform at their best. Links Mentioned Get your EARLY BIRD tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here.The TopMusic Teacher Guide to Fearless PerformingPractice Hacks for Musicians Course by Noa KageyamaFind out more about TopMusic courses here.bulletproofmusician.com Today's Guest Noa Kageyama is a performance psychologist and faculty member at The Juilliard School and the Cleveland Institute of Music. A conservatory-trained violinist with degrees from Oberlin and Juilliard, he later completed a PhD in counselling psychology at Indiana University and now specialises in helping performers thrive under pressure using sport psychology principles. He has presented workshops at leading institutions including Curtis, Eastman, Peabody, McGill and Northwestern, and his work has been featured in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, CNN and TED-Ed. Through his courses and his blog and podcast: The Bulletproof Musician, he has supported more than 8,000 musicians worldwide and reaches over 45,000 subscribers each week. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

There’s a moment many of us have experienced as teachers. A student who plays beautifully in lessons suddenly freezes when they step onto a stage. In this episode, I’m doing something a little different and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at our new resource, the TopMusic Teacher’s Guide to Fearless Performing. I’ll share the big ideas behind it and why preparing the performer, not just the piece, might be the most important thing we teach. Links Mentioned Get your EARLY BIRD tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here.The TopMusic Teacher Guide to Fearless PerformingPractice Hacks for Musicians Course by Noa Kageyama Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Keeping students focused in today’s distraction-filled world can feel harder than ever. Today, I’m joined by Samantha Coates, one of our keynote speakers at TopMusicLive, to preview her session on staying ahead of student distraction. If you’re looking for practical, ready-to-use ways to boost engagement in your lessons, you’re going to love what she has planned. Links Mentioned Get your EARLY BIRD tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here.The TopMusic Teacher Guide to Fearless PerformingJoin our Spotlight Session with Noa Kageyama here.Practice Hacks for Musicians Course by Noa Kageyama Today's Guest Samantha Coates is an internationally regarded piano pedagogue and presenter. In addition to running an active teaching studio, she is the creator and publisher of BlitzBooks, the music education series that has brought laughter and creativity to music theory, sight reading, and piano repertoire. Samantha’s sense of humour and ability to connect with students through her books and online resources reflect her ongoing dedication to making all areas of music accessible, enjoyable and memorable. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Helping students move from confident practice room playing to reliable stage performance is one of the biggest challenges we face as music teachers. In this episode, I'm sharing some honest reflections from my own performance anxiety journey, including sitting a high-level diploma exam as an adult. We’re unpacking what really causes that gap between practice and performance and how to help students become truly stage ready. Links Mentioned Get your EARLY BIRD tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here.Join our Spotlight Session with Noa Kageyama here. Practice Hacks for Musicians Course by Noa KageyamaPreparing For an AMusA Performance Diploma Exam – Why Bother?!TMPP 099: Reflections on 99 Episodes of the TopMusic Piano PodcastTMPP 100: The Teacher Who Shaped Me as a Pianist with Dr. Un-Young WhangTMPP 101: Real Talk About Performance Anxiety Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

I’m really excited to give you a taste of what’s coming up at TopMusicLive this year. In today's episode, we're having a chat with Dr Anita Collins, who’ll be delivering one of our keynotes in Sydney. We talk about something that every music teacher is feeling right now — students are changing, attention spans are shifting, and resilience looks different than it used to. Anita helps us understand what’s happening in the brain and why music learning has never been more important. Links Mentioned Get your SUPER EARLY BIRD tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here.Find out more about Unfazed: Teaching Neurodivergent Students Course here.Check out all TopMusic Courses here. Today’s Guest Dr. Anita Collins is an internationally recognised educator, researcher, writer, and consultant who bridges the gap between cutting-edge brain science and everyday teaching practice. Best known for her expertise in music learning and brain development, she uses this powerful lens to address broader educational challenges including student engagement, parent advocacy, and system wide innovation. Anita’s presentations inspire new possibilities, her consulting transforms how schools and organisations think and act, and her pragmatic strategies ensure change is both achievable and lasting. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

Helping parents understand and support their neurodivergent children starts with clear, compassionate communication. In this special replay episode from our TopMusic Piano Podcast, I’m sharing a valuable conversation of Dr. Rachel Ehring with Tara Mock on how music teachers can navigate those tricky but important discussions with empathy and clarity. Whether you’re new to working with neurodivergent students or looking to strengthen parent relationships, Tara’s insights are packed with wisdom you can use right away. Links Mentioned Get your EARLY BIRD tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here.Find out more about Unfazed: Teaching Neurodivergent Students Course here.Check out all TopMusic Courses here.Find out more about TopMusic Piano Podcast here. Today’s Guest Tara Mock has been teaching for 28 years and owns an independent piano studio in Raleigh, North Carolina. She earned a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy in 2001 from the University of South Carolina focusing on improvisation for the beginner piano student. After homeschooling her own children with neurodivergent diagnoses for over 14 years, she is focusing on teaching piano to students who learn and experience the world differently as well. She currently serves as the 2nd Vice President of Membership in the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association, and previously served in various roles in the Jacksonville Music Teachers Association in Jacksonville, Florida. Her family includes her genius husband, two amazing and gifted children (one in college and the other finishing high school), two of the best dogs ever, a goofy horse, and many fish. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.

Understanding the minds of neurodivergent students can completely transform how we approach teaching. In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood diagnoses: dyslexia. This week, I’m sharing a powerful webinar replay from Dr. Olivia Colomaio, a dyslexic pianist and educator who brings both personal experience and deep research to the table. She breaks down how dyslexia affects music learning, highlights the strengths of dyslexic students, and gives you practical strategies to build a more inclusive studio environment. Links Mentioned Get your SUPER EARLY BIRD tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here.Find out more about Unfazed: Teaching Neurodivergent Students Course here.Check out all TopMusic Courses here.Join our Lite Plan here to watch the webinar. Today’s Guest Olivia Grace Colomaio (Bradstreet) is a pianist, accompanist, teacher, and doctoral candidate in Piano Pedagogy at the University of South Carolina. She teaches lessons in piano, accompanying, composition, and music theory, and she loves teaching students of all ages, interests, experience levels, and backgrounds! Originally from Bath, NY, she earned her master’s in piano pedagogy and performance from Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, KY), and her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Roberts Wesleyan University (Rochester, NY). Her research focuses on discovering and providing resources for students with dyslexia and other forms of neurodivergence. Olivia currently resides in Lexington, South Carolina. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our...

One of the most powerful webinars we’ve ever run at TopMusic was a session with educator Selena Pistoresi, focused on how to support neurodivergent students. The response from teachers around the world was incredible, so I’m sharing a replay of that webinar here on the podcast. Selena offers practical, compassionate advice that challenges some of the traditional ways we approach behavior, motivation, and lesson structure. And it’s all grounded in a deep respect for the unique ways our students experience the world. Links Mentioned Get your SUPER EARLY BIRD tickets for TopMusicLive 2026 here.Join our Spotlight Session with Bec Stewart here.Find out more about Unfazed: Teaching Neurodivergent Students Course here.Check out all TopMusic Courses here.Join our Lite Plan here to watch the webinar. Member Links Unfazed: Teaching Neurodivergent Students in 2024 Webinar ReplayUnfazed: Teaching Neurodivergent Students Course Today's Guest Selena Pistoresi has been a piano teacher for over a decade. Selena blogs over at Notablepiano.com and is the author of the Milestone Method. She owns Cultivate Music Studio, a studio in San Jose, California, where she specializes in working with students with special needs. She equips teachers all over the world with the mindset tools and curriculum to teach students with special needs and to help their studios flourish. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development...

Hey there, and welcome back to a brand-new year of The TopCast! I’m so pumped to kick off 2026 with a very special announcemen, one that many of you have been asking me about for years. This episode is all about what's ahead in 2026, from our exciting monthly themes and spotlight guests to the return of something very close to my heart. I won’t spoil the surprise just yet, but let’s just say if you’ve ever wanted to gather in person with like-minded music teachers for a game-changing experience, you’re going to want to hear this. TopMusic Live 2026 Links Mentioned Get your EARLY BIRD ticket for the TopMusicLive 2026 here.Find out more about Spotlight Session with Rebecca Stewart here. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

2025 has been one of the biggest years yet for us here at TopMusic. And I’m thrilled to wrap it all up with you in this final episode of the year. In today's episode, we're diving into the key highlights of everything we’ve accomplished, from new courses and Spotlight Sessions to powerful AI tools and a complete website transformation. You’ll also get a sneak peek into our bold new vision for 2026, including our upcoming Studio Coaching Tier, a refreshed action-focused approach to teacher growth, and the exciting announcement of TopMusicLive 2026 happening in Sydney! topmusiclive.com. Links Mentioned Find out more about TopMusicLive hereDownload your latest TopMusic Magazine hereJoin the next cohort waitlist of the 12-Week Studio Transformation (12WST)TopMusic Piano Podcast with Rachel EhringLeave a review for our podcasts Courses Mentioned Recruit Right, the Essential Guide to Hiring Teachers CourseJam Sessions CourseCanva for Music Teachers CourseUnlock Your Brand Voice: The Signature Soundbook for Music Teachers CourseChatGPT Made Easy: The Music Teachers’ Guide to AI Course Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by

One of the most exciting things we did this year was launch our first-ever TopMusic Composition Competition — and the response blew me away! In this episode, I’m sharing the replay of our live winner announcement, where I performed each winning piece and celebrated the creativity of our global piano community. You’ll hear from students as young as five years old who submitted original, notated works with impressive musicality. I also talk about how milestones like this competition can motivate students to compose, improvise, and truly engage with the structure of music in a meaningful way. Links Mentioned Find out more about TopMusicSheets here.Download your latest TopMusic Magazine here. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

We’ve all been there—navigating the headache of rescheduled lessons, disappointed parents, and the pressure to make up for every missed session. In this episode, I'm chatting with Jonathan Roberts, director of South Shore Piano School, about why giving make-up lessons may be hurting your studio more than helping. We unpack the emotional and financial cost of flexibility, how to shift toward professional boundaries, and what a sustainable, no-make-up lesson policy actually looks like in practice. Links Mentioned Watch Jonathan's YouTube Video on Makeup LessonsSouth Shore Piano School WebsiteSouth Shore Piano School Facebook Page@sspianoschoolDownload your latest TopMusic Magazine issue here Today's Guest Jonathan Roberts is a pianist, entrepreneur, and content creator who serves as the owner and director of the South Shore Piano School in the Boston area, where he leads a team of 10 teachers serving more than 350 students. A passionate advocate for music educators, Jonathan has built SSPS on a foundation of supporting teachers with fair pay and meaningful work, while fostering a transparent, community-centered approach to music education for students and families. In addition to his leadership at SSPS, he is an examiner and U.S. ambassador for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Certificate Program, as well as immediate past-president of the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a

It was such a pleasure catching up with Katherine Fisher again. In this episode, we revisit her groundbreaking Piano Safari method and explore how it has evolved to meet the needs of today’s students. We're going to dive into beginner piano technique, discuss why rote teaching and intervallic reading are so powerful, and explore creative ways to build technical foundations through movement, rhythm, and imagination. Katherine’s insights are grounded in deep pedagogical research and a passion for helping teachers inspire young pianists. Links Mentioned Piano Safari WebsiteTeaching Piano Safari Facebook Groupwww.youtube.com/@pianosafari346TTTV071: Exploring Piano Safari with Dr Julie Knerr and Katherine FisherGet access to Teaching Advancing Pianist Course TopMusicPro Member Links 10% off Piano Safari Today's Guest Katherine Fisher serves on the piano faculty of the Ohio University School of Music in Athens, Ohio where she teaches applied piano and piano pedagogy, coordinates the group piano program, and mentors graduate teaching assistants. Katherine is internationally recognized in the field of piano pedagogy as a creator of the innovative method Piano Safari. Along with co-author Julie Knerr Hague, she has published well over one hundred books and pedagogical materials. The Piano Safari method and its supplemental teaching material is distributed throughout the world and is used by thousands of piano teachers and students. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development...

To wrap up our “Streamline Your Studio” month, I’m sharing a special replay of one of my most popular conference presentations from the MTAC Conference. In this session, I'm going to break down practical strategies for saving time, boosting productivity, and running your music teaching business more efficiently. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by admin or just looking to fine-tune your workflow, this episode is full of quick wins you can implement right away to reclaim your time and increase your income. Links Mentioned Find out more about our Lite Membership here.Download your latest issue of TopMusic Magazine here. Member Links Business Systems & Productivity for the 21st Century Today’s Sponsor Opus1 helps music school owners run their schools with ease, confidence, and connection. Created by fellow school owners, our all-in-one platform brings scheduling, billing, communications, and marketing together under one roof. By simplifying admin tasks and improving family engagement, Opus1 empowers music school owners to grow an average of 40% in just 18 months. Join a growing community of schools building stronger businesses — and stronger music programs — with Opus1. Book a Demo of Opus1 here. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership.

Let’s face it. Talking about pricing can be uncomfortable. That’s why I was to have a chat with Jonathan Kuuskoski, Director of the EXCEL Lab at the University of Michigan, to explore how music teachers can confidently communicate the real value of what they offer. We talked about teaching identities, emotional labor, storytelling, and how to shift conversations with families away from “cost” and toward “transformation.” If you’ve ever felt uneasy about pricing your lessons or explaining your worth, this episode will give you the mindset and the words to make it easier. Links Mentioned Jonathan's LinkedIn pageUniversity of Michigan - School of Music Theater and DanceUniversity of Michigan - School of Music Theater and Dance Excel Lab Today’s Guest Jonathan Kuuskoski is Chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and Director of the EXCEL Lab and at University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where he leads their comprehensive entrepreneurship, leadership, management and career development programming. Since 2015, EXCEL has helped launch hundreds of student-led arts projects, while incubating dozens of student ventures and delivering personalized training resources to thousands of aspiring performing arts professionals. To-date, the department has delivered more than $1 million in direct student support funding. Jonathan has presented his work widely, including at the Peabody Institute (Johns Hopkins), Yale University, the Bolz Center for Arts Administration (Wisconsin School of Business), New World Symphony, the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna (mdw), and the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. He has provided commentary on a number of music sector issues for CNN, Forbes, and Inc.com, and his work in the arts entrepreneurship and leadership space has been profiled by CNBC, Crain’s Detroit Business, Symphony Magazine, and other news outlets. His recent publication, “Narrowing the Gap: Implications of Arts Business Training on Artist Labor Market Outcomes” (co-authored with Dr. Christos Makridis, Artivate, Vol. 12), examines the impact of business training on artists’ earnings using U.S. Census Bureau data. Today’s Sponsor

Today we’re doing something a little different. This bonus episode features a special chat with Maddy Palare, a passionate teacher and graduate of our 12-Week Studio Transformation Program. Maddy shares how she went from teaching part-time to running a thriving, multi-teacher studio, all while navigating uncertainty, burnout, and business challenges. You'll hear how the program helped her streamline her systems, boost her confidence, and discover powerful tools for growth. Whether you're just starting out or looking for a refresh, Maddy’s journey will inspire you to see what’s possible with the right support. 12WST Links Mentioned Find out more about the 12wst (12-Week Studio Transformation) here.Adelaide Music LLC@adelaidemusicllcAdelaide Music LLC Today’s Guest Madelyn Palare is a 25-year-old piano teacher and the founder of Adelaide Music LLC. Teaching since age 16, she’s working to actively build a studio culture in her area where students become holistic, lifelong musicians—developing musicianship with confidence and joy. Madelyn also enjoys creating playful, well-designed resources for other teachers to keep learning engaging for students of all ages. She lives just north of Los Angeles with her husband, you can often find her spending time with her friends and eating sushi. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for...

We know how hard it can be to cut through the noise when it comes to studio marketing. That’s why I’m thrilled to bring you this special replay from our sister show, the TopMusic Piano Podcast, hosted by Dr. Rachel Ehring. In this episode, she sits down with Kelly Riordan of Outside the Bachs to unpack a practical, no-fluff 3-step approach to marketing your music studio. From crafting a profitable lesson package to building authentic community relationships, Kelly shares advice that’s grounded in experience and designed to help you grow your studio in sustainable and meaningful ways. Links Mentioned Outside The Bachs WebsiteOutside The Bachs YouTube PageKelly Riordan’s TikTok Page@kellyriordanmusicianPrivate Music Instructors, Piano Lesson Teachers, and Music Studio Owners Today’s Guest Kelly Riordan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Outside the Bachs, LLC – a program designed to give musicians the skills to create their own private music studios and deliver the highest quality instruction to their students. Her work has brought her to the forefront in music business education. In addition to hosting The Outside the Bachs Podcast, Riordan presents regularly at conferences and universities, with recent appearances at The NAMM Show and The Ultimate Music Business Summit, in addition to lectures at the University of Tennessee, Miami University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Kelly Riordan holds a Master of Music (MM) in Performance and Literature from the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music from the Peck School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Today’s Sponsor Opus1 helps music school owners run their schools with ease, confidence, and connection. Created by fellow school owners, our all-in-one platform brings scheduling, billing, communications, and marketing together under one roof. By simplifying admin tasks and improving family engagement, Opus1 empowers music school owners to grow an average of 40% in just 18 months. Join a growing community of schools building stronger...