Can the Orff method translate from the classroom to the studio?
How to Arrange a Piano Ensemble in Orff-inspired Style
You can have an Orff-inspired studio by creating fun piano ensembles for your students! Orff teachers in a music classroom, with the beautiful barred instruments, are basically looking at four parts:
the melody, which can be played or sung or both
the bass line, which is usually one note at a time. This can also be a bottom note and another note a fifth above. The bass line follows the harmony.
a middle part, which follows the harmony and uses open fifths. These fifths can be harmonic, or they can be melodic with different rhythm patterns. The easiest is harmonic with two notes, one in each hand. More complicated are these patterns : Left >right>left>right, or left>right>right>right. These examples are from 4/4 time.
a melodic fragment or decoration on the very highest bells. This can be a small motive that is repeated.
Parts 2, 3, and 4 follow the harmony.
Think of the piano in three regions: the bass notes (from the bottom note all the way up to the C below middle C.)
Then comes the middle region (C below middle C to E above middle C).
The top region (F above middle C to the highest note.)
These regions are not set in stone.
For some songs, the regions may shift a little, to allow for more space between players. You can arrange an Orff-inspired piano ensemble with three parts, and all the children could play on one piano!
If you have other pianos, children can play the parts on separate pianos. Do you have more than three students?
Why not get them singing and moving, Orff-style?
Add some rhythm instruments.
Have children learn all the parts and rotate them.
There are so many possibilities!
Here are your 3 steps to Create Fun Piano Ensembles that are Orff-inspired:
1) Notate your melody.
You might want to teach the melody by rote; or, notate it in the area around middle C. The pianist will play this melody at LEAST one octave higher than written; maybe two. Here’s an easy example:
2) Notate the bass line according to the harmony.
Keep it simple for young kids. I would use tonic and dominant as much as possible. I am notating it here in actual pitches; you might want to teach your young beginners by rote.
3) Decide on a middle part.
You will want to use open 5ths in this harmony. Avoid the third of the chord. If the melody has a moving rhythmic part, try longer notes in the other parts. In other words, leave space for the melody to be heard. For this song, I have two examples:
Students can play the above part with one hand, either left or right. OR – they can use one finger of each hand. Here’s another choice:
In this example, the student would play the lower notes with a left hand finger, and the upper notes with a right hand finger.
You might be thinking – these harmonies break voice leading rules! You are CORRECT!
You also might be thinking – this arrangement doesn’t sound like the best arrangements I have heard. You are CORRECT AGAIN! Here’s an example of how the parts might work together:
The POINT of the Orff-inspired ensembles is this: Make the accompaniment parts extremely pattern-based, so that ALL kids can have a shot in playing in the ensemble.
You can make these songs as easy or as hard as you like.
You can even add a 4th part – obbligato! I have used this method to create ensembles for holidays, summer camps, and recitals. Here’s an example of a Christmas tune: We Three Kings – a pre-reading ensemble
I hope you are inspired to try this type of playing with your students. They will have a blast! If you are interested in checking out some of the Orff-inspired ensembles I have created, have a look at these links:
Enjoy creating, moving, and playing together with your students!
About Kay Lowry
Kay is a piano teacher dedicated to helping people learn and love music! For over 40 years, Kay has been teaching children through her studio, classroom, or choir room. She hopes to help parents, kids, and teachers have joy and fun as they continue in the journey of music making. When not teaching or creating, Kay is busy with her two grandsons, her miniature dachshund, and keeping up with her energetic husband of 42 years!
How do you create fun piano ensembles in your studio?
I’d love to hear about the piano ensembles you do in your studio! Do you use written music? Rote? Are you going to try something new after reading this article? Comment and share your thoughts!
If you’re a piano teacher looking to expand your curriculum and offer your students a valuable skill that they can carry with them throughout their musical journey, teaching chord charts in your piano studio is an excellent option.
Chord charts provide a roadmap to understanding harmony, which is fundamental in music theory and performance.
In my 20+ years of teaching piano, I’ve had several opportunities to teach chord chart reading, and each time it has been a rewarding experience.
It’s a fantastic “break” from normal lessons, and it offers students a fresh wave of inspiration.
Chord chart reading is indeed a new skill – a skillset that is similar to reading sheet music, but is different enough that it sparks creativity and motivation.
Why Learn How to Read Chord Charts?
Chord charts are a versatile tool used in various musical genres, from pop and jazz to rock and gospel.
They provide a simplified representation of a song’s harmonic structure, allowing musicians to play along and improvise.
Here are a few compelling reasons why your students should learn how to read chord charts:
Real-world Application:
Chord charts are widely used in professional music settings:
bands
worship teams
jam sessions
Learning how to read and play chord charts prepares your students for real-world musical collaborations.
Enhanced Creativity:
Chord charts encourage musical creativity and improvisation. Students can explore different chord voicings and create their arrangements.
Understanding Harmony:
Reading chord charts deepens a student’s understanding of harmony, chord progressions, and how songs are constructed.
Versatility:
Chord charts are not limited to pianists. Guitarists, bassists, and other instrumentalists frequently use them, promoting musical collaboration.
How to Add Chord Chart Curriculum to Your Piano Studio
Incorporating chord charts into your piano studio curriculum can be an exciting addition. Here are steps to help you get started:
Assess Student Levels: Before introducing chord charts, assess your students’ current music theory knowledge and piano skills. Ensure they have a strong foundation in reading sheet music and understanding scales.
Gradual Introduction: Start with basic concepts and progressively introduce more complex topics. Begin with simple chord progressions in familiar keys and gradually advance to more intricate arrangements.
Supplemental Materials: Invest in chord chart books, or look into online resources such as Ultimate Guitar. These materials can be instrumental in teaching this skill effectively.
Application in Repertoire: Incorporate chord charts into your students’ repertoire. Encourage them to play familiar songs using chord charts alongside traditional sheet music.
Start With A Music Theory Review
Notes and Steps
Before diving into chord charts, it’s crucial to review essential music theory concepts with your students. Ensure they have a solid grasp of notes on the keyboard and understand the concept of whole and half steps.
Major Scale Pattern of Whole and Half Steps
Teaching your students about the major scale’s pattern of whole and half steps is fundamental. This knowledge serves as the basis for building chords and understanding the structure of chord progressions.
Building Chords in the Major Scale
Introduce the concept of chord construction using the major scale. Show your students how to build major and minor triads and explore the relationship between scale degrees and chord types. This theoretical foundation will make chord charts more accessible.
Charting the Path of Chord Charts in Your Piano Studio
Review Roman Numerals
Roman numerals are often used to represent chords in chord charts. Ensure your students are comfortable with associating Roman numerals with scale degrees and chord types. This will allow them to quickly interpret chord symbols in charts.
Chord Progressions
Explain the significance of chord progressions in music. Help your students identify common chord progressions, such as the I-IV-V in a major key or the ii-V-I in jazz. Chord progressions are the backbone of many songs and understanding them is crucial when reading chord charts.
The Bass Line
Emphasize the importance of the bass line in chord charts. The bass note determines the inversion of the chord and greatly influences the overall sound. Practice playing chords with different bass notes to illustrate this concept.
The Difference Between a Chord Chart and Lead Sheet
It’s essential to clarify the distinction between chord charts and lead sheets. Chord charts primarily focus on harmony and chord symbols, while lead sheets include melody lines and lyrics in addition to chords. Make sure your students understand when and how to use each type of chart.
Inversions
Teach your students about chord inversions and their significance in chord charts. Show them how inversions can create smoother transitions between chords and add variety to their playing. Practice playing chords in different inversions to develop this skill.
Final Thoughts on Teaching Chord Charts in Your Piano Studio
Incorporating chord charts into your piano studio’s curriculum can open up exciting possibilities for your students. It not only equips them with valuable skills for collaborative music-making, but also deepens their understanding of harmony and musical structure.
With a strong theoretical foundation and gradual progression, your students will be well-prepared to read and interpret chord charts confidently!
How do you go about Teaching Chord Charts in Your Piano Studio?
What special tips and tricks do you have for teaching chord charts in your piano studio? Are there specific songs you always start with? Share your thoughts in a comment below!
About Christine Passig
Christine Passig has taught piano for over 20 years in her home in Minnesota. She is an accomplished songwriter and musician, performing solo and with her band, JustUs. She was also a Worship Director for 13 years, and owns Belt Out Your Band, LLC, developing chord chart workbooks, piano practice incentive programs, and organizational tools for piano teachers.
Do you have a student who wants to write piano music?
Maybe each week they show you a new composition they’ve come up with, or they “noodle” on the piano, inspired by the music they’re learning.
Or maybe they are asking you questions that make you think maybe they want to write piano music.
Or maybe you want to explore composition in your studios and want to help your students know how to write music so they’ll become better rounded pianists..
Today’s post is by composer Amy at Piano Postcard.
She shares six practical tips to write piano music–based on her experience with creating original compositions inspired by historical stories.
Music is one of the greatest tools we have on earth for expression.
Music ranges from modern rap to intricate classical and expresses just about every feeling, thought, and story we can think of.
Being able to express ourselves in this form is easy – everyone can write music to some extent.
However, we tend to limit ourselves because we think we lack the tools to create great music.
If you have any musical ability, you can start creating your own music today!
I am going to give you six steps to become a better composer.
1. Find your muse to write piano music
Occasionally, I will think of a random melody out of the blue, but most of the time, I am thinking up music about something – an event, a person, a place, a phase of life, etc.
You can write about anything.
If you don’t know where to begin, start with a little brainstorming. Here are some questions to get you started.
What are some of your favorite events in history?
What was your favorite event in life?
Who is a person you love?
Who is a fictional character you can’t get enough of?
What historical person do you wish you could have met?
Who inspires you and why?
What was your favorite vacation spot?
Where would you travel if you could? (don’t limit it to this world–you can think of fantasy realms too!)
Once you find your inspiration, move to the next step.
2. Develop a melody.
This may be a controversial step in writing piano music, as many composers I know like to develop chord progressions first and work on the melody after.
However, this is too limiting for me.
I like to be able to take the melody in any direction I want.
If you are having trouble with developing a melody as you write piano music, take time to be somewhere alone where you can sing out loud.
Go ahead and sing or hum out a melody until you come up with at least eight bars.
This is a great start!
You can build from there.
3. Write piano music–literally
Write your melody onto a notation paper, dividing up the measures by counts.
Remember, this is not permanent. You can change it at any time.
Add more and more melody until you feel like you have a solid composition.
If the thought of writing down the melody intimidates you, use a pencil and consider your staff paper as “scratch paper.”
You are getting your first thoughts down.
If you decide to move a whole section of melody from the beginning to the middle later in the process, that is totally fine.
You can number the sections and rewrite the melody in a logical order later.
When your melody is finished, you are ready for the next step in writing piano music.
4. Add chords to your piano composition
Once you have your melody written, write the chord that should be with your melody under each measure.
For example: A minor, G7, C major.
For this step, I am sitting at the piano playing my melody and fiddling around with different chords until I get them just right!
Don’t let this step intimidate you.
Usually, the correct chord is obvious, and for those spots that aren’t, you can usually choose between two.
If you get stuck with adding chords as you write piano music, try working with just one bass note and then fill in the chord after you have established a good bass line.
With printing, cutting, testing, and prepping music games for months now, we have discovered over ten helpful tools for music games that you’ll love.
Now, before I dive into all ten tools for music games, I’ll add that you don’t need all of these tools to begin playing music games today.
I have personally been growing my music game tool collection all year, one piece at a time (my most recent favorite is a paper cutter, but I’ll share more on that later).
In this blog post, I’ll share how you can budget for tools for music games and then give our list of recommendations to get you fully set up for music games in your studio.
How to Budget for Tools for Music Games
Before I get into our list of recommendations, I can hear you asking, “But how can I afford it?”
If you cannot purchase all these tools for music games, there are definitely ways you can work around it so your students can experience the fun of music games.
For example, if you don’t have a budget for a printer, you can take trips to your local print shop.
If you can’t swing a laminator now, you can print on cardstock (which may not last as long, but it is a sturdier option than printing on regular paper).
But one of the best ways you can budget for tools for music games is to include it in your tuition.
Remember that adding music games to your studio adds value–and your students will usually go home with exciting tales about the fun they had at music class, which parents always love to hear.
So if you’re wanting to plan to play more music games in your studio, calculate the total expected price of purchasing music games and the tools for music games.
Divide it by the number of students you have and raise your rates by that specific amount.
+ $500 (for everything on our list–a teacher can dream ;))
/ 35 students
= $17.41
This means that if each student pays $20 extra for the year, you can easily afford music games and all of the equipment to keep your games organized and in good condition!
Then, once you’re set up for music games, refills for ink, paper, and laminator paper are a lower price each year.
Also remember that these are all tax write-offs, so you can include it in your studio purchases.
So now that I have distracted you with math… let’s get to the fun part: shopping!
10+ Tools for Music Games
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When we knew we’d have tons of games to print testing for Music Game Club, we did a lot of printer research, and cartridge-free printers seem to be the most cost-efficient. The ink lasts longer and is super easy to replace.
I made the mistake of printing a set of music games on regular paper. You probably know what happened: they bend easily and don’t last long. To ensure your music games last longer, you will want to print them on cardstock … and for even more sturdiness, finish it out with lamination.
To extend the shelf life of your game even more, laminate it. A laminator is very simple to use and can be quite addicting! Laminator sheets are also inexpensive to keep on hand so you’re always ready to go.
This paper cutter is top on my list because it has saved me SO much time (not to mention saving my hands from cramping). I’m pretty sure it paid for itself in just one month, given how much time it saved me.
Because there are a lot of cards in Music Game Club games, you’ll be doing a lot of straight cutting. This guillotine paper cutter saves time because you can stack up to 10 pages (5 cardstock), line it up, and with one cut you’re done (literally, in as much time as it took you to read that).
Now, think about how long it would have taken to scissors-cut just one side of ten pages?
The paper cutter can only do so much, and you still might need some hand-held scissors for curves. It is worth saving your hands to get a pair that is comfortable! Try these out!
Our music games use minimal tape, but tape is a great commodity for any music studio. We especially love the sturdy desktop dispenser that makes it easy to pull tape and cut.
For the longest time, I kept music games scattered around in semi-organized piles per game.
These plastic envelopes make it easy to keep all of one game in a neat unit AND I love that it is visible so you can easily see what game you’re storing.
This is a must-have for me! Because Music Game Club’s game pieces are fold-and-tape so they can stand upright on the board, this means that they’ll easily get squished if you slip them into a folder or envelope.
These storage boxes fit all 8 of the game pieces perfectly (with room for a little more if needed) and keep you from having to remake game pieces as often.
You can add even more educational angles by using dry-erase markers. If your games are laminated, then your students can draw helpful notes as they figure out the answer.
Also, if you don’t want to print a new activity for each student (which is included in every music game), print 1 activity, slip into a page protector, and have students write their answers with dry-erase markers. When the next student comes, wipe the page clean and start over. This saves you time and paper.
This is not a necessity, but it is an extreme nicety to have in the studio! Students do very well if they can visualize the staff and piano keys, and this piano dry-erase board does both.
Stay updated with our favorite tools for music games!
Our responsibility to teach music listening skills to students
During our talk, Christina brought up the excellent point that there is so much good music out there (more than any single person can listen to in a lifetime!).
If we don’t show it to our students, who will?
If we don’t introduce our students to famous pianists, who will?
It is our responsibility as teachers to expand our students’ knowledge of genres and repertoire.
I am a living testament of that.
Because of one college professor, I discovered Glenn Gould (performer).
Because of another college professor, I learned of Amy Beach (composer).
Would I have stumbled on these names at some time during my piano career? Probably.
But they stand out to me so much more because of the videos my teachers shared with me.
I know that you can be that teacher for your students also.
But if you need some ideas, here are 5 ways you can teach music listening skills to your students.
1) Assign students to listen to music
This is such an easy assignment.
I know, students notoriously don’t fulfill their assignments, but I have more on this later.
Each month, try to find a new pianist to introduce your students.
According to Pianist Magazine, up-and-coming performers you should keep an eye on are Yunchan Lim, Alim Beisembayev, Alexandra Segal, Illia Ovcharenko, Kenji Miura, and Dmytro Choni.
Meanwhile, Ledgernote lists some of the best piano players as Martha Argerich, Leif Ove Andsnes, Alfred Brendel, Arthur Rubinstein, Murray Perahia, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Claudio Arrau, Dame, and Myra Hess.
Thanks to YouTube, you have an extensive library of professional recordings to show your students at no extra cost to you.
And if you only can manage one new pianist a month, that is twelve new pianists your students will hear in a year.
If your students take lessons for 3 years, they will be introduced to 36 new pianists.
In 5 years, that’s 60 new pianists.
Small introductions will add up and help shape your piano students.
If you don’t want the pressure of assigning listening to your students, one very simple thing you can do to teach music listening skills to your students is play for them yourself, as a teacher.
I think we forget how impressive our piano skills are in our students’ eyes.
Playing for our students is never a waste of time.
It will help them hear music from a different perspective than when they play it and it will also encourage them to continue practicing and improving.
2) Discuss what you are listening to with your students
This is how you can get your students to listen more attentively to music.
Don’t just assign them to listen to music… give them a list of observations to make.
How does the performer treat the tempo?
What unique interpretations do they present?
How does this performance contrast another performer’s?
What opinions does the student have on the performances?
This, of course, is more suited for older students, but you can create a list of questions for the younger students as well.
Did the music sound sad or happy?
Was it soft or loud?
How did it make you feel?
What part did you like?
Analyzing music is the easiest way for some to train their aural skills.
Don’t just listen… but listen with purpose.
Talk through what you liked or didn’t like.
The first few times you do this with your students, they will probably be timid about their answers.
But the more they learn to listen with purpose, the more they will learn how to talk about what they’re hearing.
3) Have students listen to themselves
I’ll bring the music listening down to a very personal level: our students don’t even listen to themselves.
I am convinced that one of the most beneficial things to me as a music student is to record myself and listen.
I like to tell my students that their brain is so busy working through everything, it doesn’t actually hear what they’re doing.
This is evidenced by many times when I ask a student, “Did you realize you paused a lot while playing?”
Many times, their answer is “No.”
So while listening to other pianists is a very beneficial activity, our students will also learn a lot if they learn to listen to themselves and “become their own teacher.”
Listening to their playing also helps students realize the “time warp” that occurs in playing piano.
This has happened to me many times.
I feel like I’m not playing fast enough, but when I listen to a recording, I realize I’m playing it plenty fast enough!
An added benefit of having our students recording themselves while practicing is that recording yourself is the closest you can come to performance nerves.
I will add one caveat: emphasize the importance of students listening to their recordings.
I taught one student who confidently answered “Yes!” when I asked if she recorded herself.
Then, when I asked her what she learned from listening to herself play, she said, “Oh, I didn’t listen to it.”
Encourage your student to do BOTH recording and listening!
4) Remind the student to listen to the overarching sound
Continuing along the veins of helping students listen to their own playing, remind students to listen to their overarching sound.
Like many pianists, I struggle with perfectionism.
I like my runs to be note-perfect.
However, I had to learn that the overall sound of the run was more important than hitting every note accurately yet without feeling.
I have to remind my students (and myself) that simply playing all the correct notes isn’t what moves the listeners to tears or touches their heart.
5) Have fun while you teach music listening skills to your students
There are so many ways to work on music listening skills in your studio!
Help your students figure out piano riffs and trending TikTok tunes.
Encourage students to try what they hear (I bet they’ll pay more attention to melodies after they’ve tried this once!)
Have the students play their piece on a keyboard with a different sound.
If the student is learning a piano reduction, have them hear the original piece (I find this especially fun if they are learning a reduction of an orchestrated piece).
Don’t forget to keep in mind what helps your students as functional, everyday musicians.
Take music listening skills to a practical level as you teach.
What are your thoughts on teaching music listening skills to your students?
What has worked for you with strengthening your students’ aural skills?
Who would you add to our list of good pianists to listen to?
What fun ideas do you have for ear training and listening skills?
Christina Whitlock, M.M., N.C.T.M. currently operates a bustling independent studio in Muncie, Indiana, offering individual and group instruction for students of all ages. Christina began teaching in the private setting when she was only fourteen, and has maintained a full studio roster ever since. She is proud to be celebrating her 28th year of piano teaching this coming summer.
As host and producer of the weekly Beyond Measure Podcast, Christina enjoys connecting with studio music teachers from all over the world on a regular basis. She is a sought-after speaker, collaborator, and teacher of teachers.
If you don’t know how to help students learn piano keys, this is a great video to watch.
Once you teach your students piano key names, here are 3 tips to help them retain it.
1) Find every note…
I always assign my students to “find all the Ds on the piano” and then “find all the Es” and so on. This also helps students familiarize themselves with “high” and “low.”
2) Find notes at random
Once my students have drilled finding the same note on all registers of the piano, I give them a note drill, where I mix up the notes for them to find one at a time (e.g. “Find A, now D, C, E, F, B, G…”).
I will also use this time to drill specific notes, “Find a high A, find a low B, find a C in the middle.”
3) Write songs
One of the most interactive ways to help students learn piano keys is to have them write their own music using the notes they know.
It can be very simple where the student picks notes at random and adds their own little lyrics.
Because the student has written the music, they usually are very excited to play something they made up.
I especially love this idea, because you can use it with students who progress through learning their piano keys slowly.
If they only know two notes, they can create a song to review those two notes.
Each week, you can create a new song based on the new notes they’ve learned.
If you like this idea and want a little more guidance, check out our music composition guides that can be used from this level to more intermediate note-reading levels.
Keyboard Kittens: a way to help students learn piano keys
If you want to do some off-bench activities to establish piano knowledge with your students, Keyboard Kittens is a fun and easy music theory game to help your students learn piano keys.
Students chase yarn across a special kitten room as they identify notes and see who can get to the basket first.
What is Keyboard Kittens Music Theory Game?
Don’t let the title fool you.
Keyboard Kittens isn’t only about learning the keyboard. Since we like our games to be as versatile as possible, we have once again created two levels.
Use Keyboard Kittens for new beginners
We wanted a keyboard-focus for this game, specifically for young beginners.
Level 1 covers white notes on the keyboard.
The students will identify the piano key and move forward on the board to the appropriate letter name.
Use Keyboard Kittens for intermediate note readers
Once students are comfortable with piano keys and have moved to note names, you can use Level 2 cards.
Level 2 covers notes on the staff up to two ledger lines! (this is more than our Starfish Staff game, which focuses only on the lines and spaces)
Bonus: Use Keyboard Kittens as a solfege music theory game
Several international teachers have given us input to make Music Game Club games playable across the globe, and solfege is one request we’ve received.
Keyboard Kittens game has two different game boards to use with the cards to add even more versatility: the music alphabet and solfege.
Here’s what you’ll get with the Keyboard Kittens printable download:
Keyboard Kittens game in 2 sizes: US letter & A4
Keyboard Kittens game board with the music alphabet (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)
Bonus Keyboard Kittens game board with solfege (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti)
The gameplay is a simple, Candyland-type gameplay where students draw a card, identify the note, and move forward–unless, of course, they get a specialty card, in which they could move forward or backward!
We know students are going to love it!
See how it’s played in our video…
A complete breakdown of what you get in the music game download
Keyboard Kittens naturally lends itself to group piano lesson game play.
You get 8 kitten game pieces and can play with both levels on the same game board.
We provide a bonus poster-sized game board option (included with membership) for both the music alphabet and solfege versions that you can bring to your local print shop and get a larger board for students to crowd around.
Keyboard Kittens is easily played with 2 students or 8.
For more than 8 players, you will need to print multiple game pieces.
Keyboard Kittens Game Success Poster
We believe celebrating music theory game wins with a success poster will build student rapport!
The students have a goal to work toward (taking a picture with the success poster) and you can send the picture to the parents as a way to showcase what their child has achieved during lessons.
It’s a win-win!
These also give you great material for social media posts (be sure to tag @musicgameclub so we can celebrate with your kiddos!).
Keyboard Kittens Music theory Game activity sheet
Once the student has completed the Keyboard Kittens music theory game, you can further help them solidify their music theory knowledge with the activity sheet (included with membership).
We have two levels of activity sheets to go along with the Level 1 and Level 2 cards.
Level 1 activity sheet has the piano keyboard for students to color while Level 2 activity sheet is a story the student needs to decode by identifying the notes.
This is a great send-home activity after your students have played the game.
Behind the scenes of Keyboard Kittens music game
We are proud of the artwork by Kristen McHenry and Emily Darrel. We also love behind-the-scenes, so wanted to share a sneak peek of progress pictures from Keyboard Kittens.
Want Keyboard Kittens music game to help students learn piano keys?
Christine Passig has taught piano for over 20 years in her home in Minnesota. She is an accomplished songwriter and musician, performing solo and with her band, JustUs. She was also a Worship Director for 13 years, and owns Belt Out Your Band, LLC, developing chord chart workbooks, piano practice incentive programs, and organizational tools for piano teachers. 
