#13 How to Teach Improvisation in The First Lesson (No Jazz Degree Required)

#13 How to Teach Improvisation in The First Lesson (No Jazz Degree Required)

When you hear the word ‘improvisation’, if you picture one of these smoky dens where these really cool jazz dudes sit in an almost meditative state, playing and improvising with their mates whilst being completely immersed and at one with the music? They have these crazy cool riffs at their finger tips and you think how on earth can you do that? How on earth could I ever teach that? I can't even do it myself! For most we just weren’t taught improvisation. It wasn’t part of how we learned piano. So the whole improvising piece seems a mystery and belongs to a select few.  But here's the thing: that gap in our own learning doesn't have to become a gap in our students' experience. If we keep waiting until we feel "qualified" to explore improvisation, we end up passing on the same limitation to the next generation of pianists. And that's a cycle worth breaking In this episode, Paul and I tackle one of the most requested topics from piano teachers worldwide. We show you exactly how to get a complete beginner creating their own music from the very first lesson We walk you through a beautifully simple approach that gives you the confidence to introduce improvisation right away, whether you've ever improvised yourself or not. And as a bonus, we share a video of Paul doing this exact activity with a real adult student in his very first lesson — so you can see it in action before you try it yourself. In this episode, you'll discover: Why So Many Teachers Avoid Improvisation (t's not your fault) What Paul's Master's Research Revealed Why Improvisation Belongs in Lesson One The Copy Me Game: a simple activity that works with any age or level How to Use Backing Tracks to Support You The Science Behind Why Improvisation Matters  Resources: Get the free activity on the Piano Teaching Success website via The Studio.  Studio Members Here's a direct link to this improvisation activity. The teaching example video, track & the teaching guide which includes some of the melodic phrases Paul used are all there waiting for you inside The Studio, inside the Music Skills Builder module. Simply log in and ➤ Access goodies instantly [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/products/piano-teaching-success-podcast-goodies/categories/2159065224/posts/2193387472] If you’re not a member yet and would like access to more activities and all the resources that go with them you can join The Studio here. It's only $49/mth. Join The Studio [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/studio] Not a Studio Member? We have a simple accompaniment that you can play as you work with your student. Having an underlying beat and harmonic structure is the foundation to making this activity successful.  ➤ Download for free here [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/offers/DPpgLMwt/checkout]   Support the Podcast We have a small favour to ask. If this episode was helpful, please click subscribe and like on your favourite platform so our podcast can reach more teachers just like you. It helps more teachers find this work and feel supported. We'd be so grateful if you would:  ⭐ subscribe  ⭐ rate and  ⭐ leave a quick review  🎉 Want More Done-For-You Whole Body Learning Resources? Inside The Studio, you'll find: * A huge library of lesson-ready resources, including important backing tracks * Practical Whole Body Learning strategies * Monthly masterclasses (live + replay) * Downloadable handouts * Up-to-the-minute teaching insights * And a supportive, nurturing community of teachers around the world Discover The Studio [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/studio]   Listen/Watch on: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6E8lbjbCjrKGjXjL0h99HA] | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/piano-teaching-success-podcast/id1861709900] | YouTube Video [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LNEWhdZ0tb1eYi7oJoK4unT] | YouTube Audio [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LN_c9RcTcLkbUVkbca_z_79] | iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-piano-teaching-success-pod-315595056/] | Amazon [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/0388562d-d59b-4b59-a928-bee3fbe8620f/piano-teaching-success-podc...] | Goodpods [https://goodpods.com/podcasts/piano-teaching-success-podcast-717917] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/rqks2otu]

#12 Every Piano Teacher Needs to Know this Japanese Warm-up Game

Looking for something engaging, fun, and packed with real musicianship skills to bring into your studio?  This episode is a little different - and so much fun!  Paul recently ran this traditional Japanese clapping game with a group of teachers at Top Music Live in Sydney, and the room had an absolute ball. In this episode, we walk you through the activity, unpack the pedagogy behind it, and then we show you the video of Paul leading the teachers so you can try it for yourself.  You’re going to love it!  It's called Omochio Tsukimasho - and the version Paul shares has been beautifully modernized for today's students. This is one of those activities that works for every age group, every level, and every setting.  Whether you're running a group class, a summer camp, an end-of-term lesson, or you just want to inject some energy and connection into your teaching week - this one delivers every time. And the best part? It doesn't matter if anyone makes a mistake. In this episode, you'll discover: * Why this traditional Japanese clapping game is the perfect warm-up or ice-breaker for any age group * How Paul establishes the beat without saying a word - and why that matters * The simple layering approach that gets everyone engaged, laughing, and learning at the same time * Why mistakes don't matter in this activity - and what that unlocks in your students * How backing tracks teach the foundational musicianship skill that pays off at the piano afterwards * Why this activity is perfect for end-of-term classes, summer camps, and group lessons What to watch for in the video: Before you watch, here are a few things to look out for: Paul doesn't start with the music. He gets everyone feeling the beat first - and then teaches the words a little at a time, with the beat already underneath.  Watch how he moves his body to place the beat and the whole room follows without even realizing they're learning. Once the beat and words are locked in, he layers in the second part. That's where the fun really begins. And notice how nobody stops when they make a mistake. They laugh, catch the beat, and keep going. That is such a freeing experience for students - and such a powerful way to build foundational music skills. Resources   🎁 Free Download — Omochio Tsukimasho Movement Guide  Everything you need to bring this activity into your studio.  If you’re a PTS Studio member, simply log in and ➤ Access goodies instantly  [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/products/piano-teaching-success-podcast-goodies/categories/2159065224/posts/2193387472] New to Piano Teaching Success? ➤ Registration and download [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/offers/DPpgLMwt/checkout] 🎵 Want the backing track Paul used?  It's available inside The Studio — our program for private piano teachers.  👉 Try The Studio here → [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/studio] 🎧 Haven't listened to Episode 5 yet?  This episode is a good one to revisit - all about using music to learn music, and it pairs beautifully with this activity.  👉 Listen to Episode 5 here → [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/blog/the-must-have-piano-teaching-tool-for-today-s-kids-that-almost-no-one-knows-about] Support the Podcast  If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would:  ⭐ Subscribe  ⭐ Rate  ⭐ Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Listen/Watch on:  Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6E8lbjbCjrKGjXjL0h99HA] | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/piano-teaching-success-podcast/id1861709900] | YouTube Video [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LNEWhdZ0tb1eYi7oJoK4unT] | YouTube Audio [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LN_c9RcTcLkbUVkbca_z_79] | iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-piano-teaching-success-pod-315595056/] | Amazon [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/0388562d-d59b-4b59-a928-bee3fbe8620f/piano-teaching-success-podc...] | Goodpods [https://goodpods.com/podcasts/piano-teaching-success-podcast-717917] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/rqks2otu]

#11 What happens when piano students become active music makers? With composer, Elissa Milne

“Because we have keys [on a piano] we can press, it’s so tempting to turn the keys into a data entry exercise, and to think if we get the data wrong, the calculations will come out wrong. You could play all the wrong notes with the right rhythm, and it’s music.” What if the way we've been teaching piano is actually getting in the way of real musicianship? That's just one of the ideas Elissa Milne drops in this conversation, and it's one you won't stop thinking about. Elissa and I sat down together at Top Music Live in Sydney, and you’ll be on the edge of your seat listening to this conversation as we explore the big picture and grand philosophies behind music making. It’s funny, thought-provoking, and game-changing. Elissa is one of Australia's most beloved and internationally recognised composers, the mind behind Little Peppers, Pepperbox Jazz, and pieces that piano teachers and students around the world have been playing for decades. If you've ever wondered how to build musicians who are truly expressive, this episode is for you. In this episode, you'll discover: (00:00) Why Elissa started writing educational music (05:00) The compositional philosophy behind her pieces (10:00) Why she doesn't use her students as "crash test dummies" (16:00) The Shakespeare analogy that reframes everything about performance (22:00) Questioning why we become vessels for dead composers’ art (28:00) A case for mucking around with music (34:00) The harmonic hologram: a fascinating concept from contemporary music your students will love (40:00) Why BTS, Taylor Swift, and the supermarket soundtrack matter in the piano studio (46:00) The two pieces that deserve to be in every exam syllabus RESOURCES 🎁 Free Download: The Real Secret to Keeping Piano Students Engaged Get strategies to keep your students motivated, progressing, and loving their lessons. 👉 Download free here → [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/lm-keeping-students-engaged-guide] SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would: ⭐ Subscribe ⭐ Rate ⭐ Leave a quick review Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6E8lbjbCjrKGjXjL0h99HA] | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/piano-teaching-success-podcast/id1861709900] | YouTube Video [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LNEWhdZ0tb1eYi7oJoK4unT] | YouTube Audio [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LN_c9RcTcLkbUVkbca_z_79] | iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-piano-teaching-success-pod-315595056/] | Amazon [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/0388562d-d59b-4b59-a928-bee3fbe8620f/piano-teaching-success-podc...] | Goodpods [https://goodpods.com/podcasts/piano-teaching-success-podcast-717917] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/rqks2otu]

#10 How Digital Disruption is Rewiring Students' Brains - with Dr. Anita Collins

The children sitting in front of you right now have brains that work entirely differently to the way they did just a few years ago. They’re living in a world where information is accessible at all times.  In this podcast episode, Anita Collins says this will require us, as humans, to evolve. She talks about how we can work with devices and addiction withdrawal and other experiences kids need in their lives that balance the digital world they’re living in.  This is why music is so important for kids right now.  Listening to this episode will help you understand where kids are at and where learning experiences are going.  If you’ve been worried about AI or digital apps taking over the music world, this episode will help you stay open minded to evolve and use tech in a way that supports our lives.  Dr. Anita Collins is one of the world's leading researchers in brain development and music learning. She's the author of The Music Advantage, the creator of Bigger Better Brains, and she has spent years translating complex neuroscience into language that teachers, parents, and policymakers can actually use. This conversation goes deep into what's actually happening in the brains of this generation of students, why it matters, and why music learning is uniquely placed to give children the very thing their devices are taking away. This one will change how you see your work. In this episode, you'll discover: * How growing up in a screen-saturated world is genuinely reshaping children's brains * What executive function actually is, why it matters, and why it's not developing the same way it did in previous generations * Why this generation of students is both more sophisticated and more fragile; and what that means for how we teach them * Why music matters now more than ever  * The profound difference between what your students experience in a piano lesson and what they experience everywhere else in their lives * Why what you do in your studio is far more than piano lessons    About Dr. Anita Collins Dr. Anita Collins is an internationally recognised researcher, educator, and writer in the field of brain development and music learning. She is the author of The Music Advantage and the creator of the Bigger Better Brains programme. Her TED talks and research have reached educators and parents around the world. Anita’s Program: biggerbetterbrains.com [http://biggerbetterbrains.com] Anita’s Book: The Music Advantage  [https://www.amazon.com.au/Music-Advantage-learning-childs-wellbeing/dp/1760875880/ref=asc_df_1760875880?mcid=145b9513adc1373eb4d8e469c6dc89b1&tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=712356658778&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11072501492844012478&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9068984&hvtargid=pla-926109007854&psc=1&hvocijid=11072501492844012478-1760875880-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1] Anita’s TED Talk: The Benefits of Music Education  [https://www.ted.com/talks/anita_collins_the_benefits_of_music_education] Resources 🎁 Free Download — The Real Secret to Keeping Piano Students Engaged Practical strategies to keep your students motivated, progressing, and loving their lessons. 👉 Download free here → https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/lm-keeping-students-engaged-guide [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/lm-keeping-students-engaged-guide] Support the Podcast  If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would:  ⭐ Subscribe  ⭐ Rate  ⭐ Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Enjoy on your favourite platform Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6E8lbjbCjrKGjXjL0h99HA] | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/piano-teaching-success-podcast/id1861709900] | YouTube Video [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LNEWhdZ0tb1eYi7oJoK4unT] | YouTube Audio [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LN_c9RcTcLkbUVkbca_z_79] | iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-piano-teaching-success-pod-315595056/] | Amazon [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/0388562d-d59b-4b59-a928-bee3fbe8620f/piano-teaching-success-podc...] | Goodpods [https://goodpods.com/podcasts/piano-teaching-success-podcast-717917] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/rqks2otu]

#9 Thinking about Group Piano? Don’t let your room hold you back

"I'd love to teach groups, but my studio's not big enough." If you've ever said or thought your space wouldn’t work for groups, this episode is for you. In reality, you probably don't need a bigger space. You just need to see what's actually possible. In this episode, we take you inside the real teaching spaces of Group Piano University graduates from around the world — from home studios and church halls to school classrooms, community music centres, and small commercial spaces. Real- life GPU grads join us in this conversation! And what they show you is surprising and impressive.  IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER: (01:36) Why space doesn’t have to keep you stuck (02:30) Why starting small (3-4 students) completely changes your income in the long-run (05:18) Actual school classrooms. See how Vanessa, Melody, and Margie have made this work beautifully (09:46) Church halls & the unexpected benefits you wouldn't think of (11:28) Small commercial spaces — for teachers with bigger dreams (Lorraine in Malta, Sarah in Sydney, Kate in California) (14:23) Home studios — how four grads have transformed their own spaces RESOURCES WANT TO SEE HOW GROUP LESSONS REALLY WORK? If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes. 🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)  Get the free video training here → [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/lm-the-group-piano-structure-opt-in] 👉 Watch it here. [https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/group-piano-breakthrough-hub] SUPPORT THE PODCAST If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would: ⭐ Subscribe ⭐ Rate ⭐Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. LISTEN OR WATCH ON YOUR FAVOURITE PLATFORM: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6E8lbjbCjrKGjXjL0h99HA] | Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/piano-teaching-success-podcast/id1861709900] | YouTube Video [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LNEWhdZ0tb1eYi7oJoK4unT] | YouTube Audio [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeaqg3Aps8LN_c9RcTcLkbUVkbca_z_79] | iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-piano-teaching-success-pod-315595056/] | Amazon [https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/0388562d-d59b-4b59-a928-bee3fbe8620f/piano-teaching-success-podc...] | Goodpods [https://goodpods.com/podcasts/piano-teaching-success-podcast-717917] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/rqks2otu]