Key Ideas

Episode #71 is the last episode of season three and MAYBE the LAST episode of Key Ideas as you know it. Tune in to hear how I came to that decision. The process I share could be just the nudge you need to stop saying YES when you really mean NO! As a token of my appreciation for your lovely support, grab the FREE download HERE and make your own Freedom Compass I mention in the episode. Thank you SO much for listening to Key Ideas! I am grateful for your time, your ears, and your lovely support over the past three seasons. Leila

Episode #70 spotlights the brilliance of Marie Lee. You get to learn her secrets about how she prepares students for festivals in a group setting. She has honed a system that sets students up for success and who frequently receive high marks and even honors. Marie's strategies can also be applied in private lessons and will help your students repeatedly earn superiors at local performance events. Listen to the end, as some freebies and coupons tie in with Marie’s advice. Head to the show notes HERE to sign up for the Group IlluminatED conference and to get a free Emoji rating chart with instructions on how to use this in early-level group lessons.

Episode #69 features my conversation with the brilliant Andrea Miller. Perhaps you’ve already been an avid fan of her podcast, Music Studio Startup, enrolled in her courses, or heard one of her many timely presentations at national conferences. In this episode, Andrea shares how she developed her career straddling music and business–in my days, those never came as a package deal. You’ll learn about the tools she’s designed to help music teachers who resist the business side of their profession to manage their studios. We cover some common mistakes teachers make when it comes to running their studios, and you’ll appreciate her wisdom on how she balances her life as an entrepreneur, wife, and mom. Head to the show notes to get links to Andrea's site and course and to save your spot at the Composium.

In episode #68, you eavesdrop on my conversation with piano teacher and pioneer Carly Walton. If you aren’t familiar with Carly and her story, you’ll be blown away by her incredible timing back in 2019. When most of us were comfortable teaching in our brick-and-mortar studios, she was among the first to explore the possibilities of teaching piano online. When March 2020 hit, Carly had no idea that her expertise would become a beacon for teachers forced to pivot and face the vast frontier of online teaching. Today she encourages teachers to build their online studios at her membership site, Teach Music Online. Listen in as Carly recommends her favorite tools for teaching online, simple activities to engage students, and tips for getting new students online or in person. I gained some significant tips from Carly, and I know you will, too. Head to the show notes to learn more about Carly HERE. Save your spot at the COMPOSIUM HERE.

This is Episode #67 in which you are privileged to learn from Brenna Berman. Already an avid performer at the age of seven, Brenna’s promising career as a pianist was almost shut down by the pain and injuries she sustained from playing the piano. In fact, one of her college professors suggested Brenna find another career path. In our conversation, you learn how Brenna overcame her injuries and why she is now a leading expert in the Taubman approach. Weaved through the interview, Brenna touches on topics like enhancing our intuition, transcending the traditions of playing from a score, the six main things that cause injuries in pianists, and the foundational technique tools we can implement in our lessons even with our beginning students. Head to the show notes so that you can learn more about Brenna's upcoming workshop. Also, make sure to get your free sheet music from Wendy Stevens and set up your free account at Fortelessons. Go to SHOWNOTES!

Episode #66 is my conversation with Canadian journalist Adriana Barton. Adriana just released her new book called Wired For Music in which she shares her search for health and joy through music. Due to unfortunate circumstances and extraordinary connections, I am privileged to have connected with Adriana and now share our conversation with you. It’s a significant honor that Adriana includes our family’s story in her book! In this episode, you hear the story of how Adriana and I connected. Next, Adriana discusses her quest to establish a healthy relationship with music after a childhood of relentless practice toward perfection left her injured and joyless. “Drawing from neuroscience, anthropology and evolutionary biology, my book argues that music is much more than entertainment or a rarefied artform: It’s an age-old system to boost human health, connect us to each other (even at a chemical level) and add meaning, resilience and joy.” -Adriana Barton Follow THIS LINK for the show notes to get your free FORTE account and your free sheet music from WENDY STEVENS.

This is episode #65 which is part two of my conversation with good friend and colleague. Have you observed behavior in students who indicate that they may learn differently or are neurodivergent, but you can’t target how to guide them? Are you looking for tips and resources on how to help students with anxiety? Then start listening now! In this episode, Dr. Emily McGree and I continue our discussion on how to respond to a child who’s disrupting the class and how to talk with parents about their child who is showing behaviors that may indicate unique patterns in learning. We discuss the sensitivity required when approaching neurodivergent behaviors in group situations and focus on how to approach students who exhibit anxiety. Make sure to back up to episode #64 for part one of this conversation so you don’t miss a thing. And...head to the show notes HERE for FREE sheet music from Wendy Stevens of ComposeCreate.com. Remember to use "keyideas" to get your free sheet music!

Episode # 64 is part one of my conversation with Dr. Emily McGree. If you’ve heard the term neurodivergent but aren’t sure what it means, or if you have observed behavior in students that indicate that they may learn differently, but you can’t target how to guide them, or if you are in need of resources for how to help students with anxiety, then stay tuned! Emily has so much to share and you will find her insight and advice incredibly valuable as you teach privately or in groups. Thank you to Wendy Stevens for her generous support of Key Ideas. I know that if you try just one piece you'll see why Wendy Steven’s music is known as Music Kids Love.® I'm thrilled that Wendy is offering to give any Key Ideas listener a popular, big-sounding elementary piece called "The Bold Escape" for free! I think you and your students will love it! Use coupon code keyideas to download your free sheet music of "The Bold Escape" from Wendy Stevens HERE.

This is episode #63 in which I talk with innovators Mark Murtagh and Hunter McGranahan. Together they founded ForteLessons.com. After years of settling on Zoom, I tried Forte and noticed an immediate difference and improved sound quality. You hear about the vision and work behind the scenes in our conversation. It's clear that the intentions of this small company are not only to be a free alternative to Zoom, but much more. Curious how they intend to keep Forte free? They have BIG plans so listen in... Head to the show notes to set up YOUR FREE account HERE.

This first episode of 2023 features a conversation based on something rockstar piano teacher Andrea Zimmerman revealed to me in an email. Have I sparked your curiosity? Hint, Andrea shares why she and her husband can afford to take ten weeks off every summer to travel. No spoiler alert here, you’ll have to listen to learn her story. Stay tuned for fantastic ideas to keep your studio relevant in the 21st century. And make sure to listen to the end when you get to hear Andrea sing for us. You’ll be swooning! Grab the show notes HERE. Episode #62 is sponsored by Forte, a free alternative to Zoom built for teaching music. Follow this link to learn more.

In episode #61, the last one to drop in 2022, I share a few of my favorite things that have gotten me through this postpandemic world. If you know me well, I don’t prefer the phrase silver linings but some of the favorite things I share today come close to silver linings. The list bundles favorites for my business and personal life in no particular order. From a favorite recipe to bar soap to the top tools for my business, you’re in store for an eclectic list and some clever tips, too. Make sure to head to the SHOW NOTES for ALL the links.

Episode #60 features part two of my interview with Vanessa Cornett. It picks up where we left off so it’s important to head back to episode #59 if you haven’t taken in all of Dr. Cornett’s insight and advice about healthy disengagement. Make sure to catch her descriptions of disidentification affirmation and detaching with compassion—especially as musicians–these mental frameworks could provide just the lift your self-compassion needs. In this second part of our conversation, Vanessa explains how to re-engage with resistance–like salmon swimming upstream. Personally, I’ve noticed that her timely and timeless wisdom in these two episodes has served as a tune-up for my emotional well-being. My guess is that it may do the same for you. By the end of this episode, you, too, will feel empowered with strategies to help you mindfully navigate your way upstream in this postpandemic world. Head to the show notes for links to Vanessa's book and Perry's Party Piano Camp!

Episode #59 features my one-on-one discussion with the enlightening Dr. Vanessa Cornett. You’ll want to eavesdrop on every second! From the start, it was clear that I’d have to split our conversation into two episodes because Vanessa has countless insights to share about our collective journey through a global pandemic. As we enter into a postpandemic world (BTW, the Wallstreet Journal uses NO hyphen!) Vanessa offers some stellar reflections on what we can take with us and what we can leave behind. In part one, you hear Vanessa identify eight dimensions of well-being and explain the benefits of healthy disengagement. Yes, apparently, that is a thing. Stay tuned in episode #60 for part two of our conversation where we discuss re-engaging with resistance. Yes, apparently that’s a thing, too! Make sure to head to the SHOW NOTES to learn more about Vanessa and her book The Mindful Musician. And there's a link to save your spot at the Composium!

Episode #58 is a SOLO spotlight episode with special guest host Dorla Aparicio. Dorla shares her unique and tried and true approach to group teaching. I use the phrase tried and true because Dorla is a pioneer in the field of group teaching. She is always so generous with her expertise based on her past experiences. Her sage advice is ideal if you are considering group lessons or are already sold on them. Dorla even provides samples of the music she uses for her pyramid approach to teaching multi-levels in one group. And you won’t want to miss her explanation of the GROUP acronym she uses to help her formulate her philosophy and structure her lessons. Grab your free e-book featuring the multi-level ensemble Dorla explains in the episode at the show notes HERE.

As a child, Emile Pandolfi was passionate about playing and creating at the piano. His passion turned into a life-long career. His story is an inspiration and he serves as a role model to us as well as our students. Emile proves that you CAN carve out a career as a performing artist even if it doesn’t follow the expected path. In this episode, Emile shares how his music-making expanded and has withstood the test of time. Despite massive changes in technology over the past decades–-remember cassette tapes and CDS?--and the squeeze of a global pandemic, Emile continues to overcome and reinvent and stay loyal to his childhood passion and his work. You'll enjoy his take on technique, performance, and practice! Head to the show notes to get Emile's book Play it Like You Mean It. Look for the link so you can listen to Emily on Spotify or Pandora. And...make sure to try Forte and earn the chance to get a $50 Amazon gift card. LINK TO SHOW NOTES

Episode #56 is the second SOLO spotlight episode with special guest host Janna Carlson. If you missed her first one you MUST Head to #54 to hear her first spotlight episode. You’ll learn the two reasons why Key Ideas now includes spotlight episodes and it sheds light on why Janna speaks with such authority when it comes to piano teaching, online lessons, and websites. In this episode, Janna gets specific and shares how you can use your website to bring more freedom to your life as a music teacher. Yes, freedom! Janna’s four tips will also support you if you simply want to grow your studio to the next level. Find links to the resources Janna mentioned and learn more about her course by following THIS LINK to the show notes. Enrollment opens October 26, 2022 - make sure to grab your spot!

Notice the title does not say how to talk TO students. It uses the word WITH instead. The word WITH seems more appropriate because learning an instrument requires instruction but also an exchange of words, an interaction between the teacher and the student. In this episode, I sift through top resources and collect advice or more specifically, a vocabulary from various experts. My discoveries are reduced to a short list of suggestions which is by no means a comprehensive list but it’s a place to begin. Head to the show notes HERE for links to the books and articles mentioned in the episode.

This episode is a FIRST for Key Ideas! It's because I made a pact with myself to work smarter and not harder. You can hear this proclamation back in my season opener, episode #48. So instead of a conversation that can often become cluttered with "extras", this episode lets website guru Janna Carlson get right to her fascinating story. Her tale comes with twists and turns as a piano teacher turned website designer. And her gift to you? Janna shares what she calls her "piano teacher's big life-change toolbox." The tools that she stumbled upon through her ups and downs may be just what you need for your studio! Head to the show notes HERE for all the resources mentioned and a coupon code for Janna's course. I can't recommend it enough!

Episode #50 is part two of my chat with one of my most popular guests, rock star piano teacher, and innovative pedagogue Charlene Shelzi Jarvis. Tune in as we continue our round up our favorite ensemble pieces from a variety of composers –not just one publisher--and we even play portions of them. The episode comes paired with a carefully organized list of pieces that features the titles and composers with links to videos and where to purchase the music. The list alone is worth its weight in gold so make sure to head to the show notes AFTER you listen in. Our conversation begins in episode #49. Make sure to listen in and get tips from Charlene for prepping a successful ensemble concert. And, I’ve got 4 parameters to follow when choosing a piece for any special occasion. Follow THIS LINK to download your list! From sponsor Tim Topham! Join the TopMusicPro community, on a 14 day all-access FREE trial by heading to https://topmusicpro.com and using code TEAMLEILA. You'll also get ongoing discount access after your trial for as long as you remain a member. Find out more about the TopMusic blog, podcast and videos over at topmusic.co.

Here's another episode where we don't hold back! Charlene and I provide a list of THE TOP Halloween music for piano solos and ensembles, too. Head to the show notes to grab the downloadable list of all the music featured. The list is organized according to level and includes links to videos and where to purchase the sheet music. Also, grab Twinkle with a Twist while it's on sale. Follow THIS link for the show notes!