And at the very end, I will give you a list of books for piano teachers on actual pedagogy.
Instead of focusing on piano pedagogy books, I wanted to give book recommendations for piano teachers that are all about mindset, motivation, and growth.
I wasn’t a big “self-help” reader until the last couple of years.
Now, I can’t get enough of them! I love a well-balanced book that gives me actionable steps and practical guides. What about you?
Please note, we may get commissions if you purchase through our links. This is at no extra charge to you; we just get a small percentage for playing referrer.
My challenge for you in 2023: Read more!
I know, I know… it’s way, way past January 1.
This is actually the perfect time to evaluate your reading goals for 2023. The mad rush of New Year’s resolutions is over and you can hone in on what you really want to learn.
Will you read one book a month? Two books each month? Take two months to read one book?
As James Clear in Atomic Habits states, “People who make a specific plan for when and where they will perform a new habit are more likely to follow through.”
I am a book nerd (I read over 100 books in 2022), so I know it’s easy for me to say “just read.”
For some of you, it isn’t that easy.
You’ll have to plan to read.
Here are some ideas to help you read more (pick just one of these ideas)
Read 1 page every night
Read 1 page every morning
Read for 5 minutes during lunch break
Read while you drink your morning (or afternoon) coffee or tea
Place your book where you have to pick it up in order to do something
Listen to an audiobook while you brush your teeth
Listen to an audiobook while you drive your kids to school
Listen to an audiobook while you walk
Listen to an audiobook while you wash dishes
Whether it’s 4 books or 100, I challenge you to make a plan to read in 2023.
6 must-read books for piano teachers
Here are 6 books I read in 2022 that I fully intend to re-read, and I think you’ll love them also.
As I said earlier, these books are all focused on motivation, mindset, self-help, and growth.
They’re books that will fuel your fire as you keep pouring out into your piano students.
I read Atomic Habits for the first time in 2022 and it’s going on my annual reading list!
All of those suggestions I gave you above in forming a reading habit?
Those are the types of easy principles outlined in Atomic Habits (those and so many more!)
Not only does James Clear give great guidelines and processes to help any individual build better habits, but I also found myself asking how I could use his principles to help my piano students build better habits as they learn their instrument.
I highlighted 165 quotes from this book!
Here are just a few to give you a taste:
“If you can get 1 percent better each day for one year, you’ll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you’re done. Conversely, if you get 1 percent worse each day for one year, you’ll decline nearly down to zero.”
“If you want to master a habit, the key is to start with repetition, not perfection.”
“Success is not a goal to reach or a finish line to cross. It is a system to improve, an endless process to refine.”
If you’re interested in learning even more about Atomic Habits, piano teacher Amie Webster at Motif Music Studios and I did a live YouTube chat all about how Atomic Habits can apply to use as piano teachers–and how we can use these habits to influence our students.
As piano teachers, we are often overwhelmed by running our own businesses and meeting students’ needs on top of any other health, family, and general responsibilities!
Lysa Teurkurst helps us to narrow down what is really the “yes” to say and how to decide whether or not something should go on our schedule.
This book is going on repeat for me! In short, Soundtracks by Jon Acuff is a simple introduction to neuroplasticity (brain retraining). It is a book about shifting our mindset and is relatable, practical, and humorous.
I highly recommend it for the average person who struggles with overthinking—or even those who are like me and think you don’t overthink. We can all use a little more help controlling our thoughts.
Similar to The Best Yes,Take Back Your Time by Christy Wright is another book about boundaries and schedules with practical, adaptable, and balanced advice. As the back cover states, “It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what matters.”
If overscheduling and being overwhelmed is a struggle for you, then this is a good read.
Do you have even more dreams than what you’re currently pursuing? Are you trapped from pursuing your dreams? Start by Jon Acuff is all about dreams and moving forward.
One of my biggest takeaways from this book is that when there are SO many dreams we have, just pick one and try it, because we won’t know if it’s a dream we’ll want to put feet to unless we test it out.
It will inspire you to keep going when you want to give up.
Some great quotes:
“Intentions are ambitious liars.”
“If you don’t start again… yesterday’s successes will start to define your today and tomorrow.”
Choosing Gratitude by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth is on my annual reread list. We often don’t realize how much an ungrateful heart affects our mood, emotions, and attitude. But it does! It surprises me how much gratitude is an antidote for depression, anxiety, fear, and more.
This book helps me have a mindset shift that benefits not only me, but also those around me.
If I read a good one, I tell her about it. And she does the same for me.
However, she also has read a different set of books than I have (I’m still trying to work through her list), so you may find a book in hers that you either love–or that you want to add to your TBR.
Here’s Rebekah’s list of books for piano teachers (that aren’t about teaching):
Your turn! What books for piano teachers do you recommend?
I have a lot of questions for you (call it the bibliophile side of me ;))!
How many books do you plan to read in 2023? What books are on your list?
What was the best book you read in 2022? It doesn’t have to be non-fiction books either!
What books for piano teachers have you found helpful?
Have you read any of the books on our lists?
What is your best habit to ensure that you read more?
Bonus: Music-related books for piano teachers
If you are looking for books specifically to help you in piano teaching, I asked a piano teacher group their favorite books to read, and here’s what they said.
We had a fabulous chat discussing all things piano teaching and routine, and I think you will benefit greatly from her wisdom in setting routines as piano teachers.
If you love this blog post and want to glean more from Amy, she send a fabulous email every week that is uplifting and encouraging.
First steps to establish better routines as piano teachers
by Amy Elmore
Unlike you’re probably thinking, I won’t be talking about setting routines for actual piano teaching.
Instead, I have found my routine for non-teaching hours is instrumental in helping my whole day go smoothly.
I am by no means an expert on routines, but I have been trying to consciously learn and grow in this area and I hope you’ll learn something helpful from my trial and error.
I used to have absolutely no routine!
Though I’ve always been prone to organizational skills, I never looked at it in a framework.
I eventually learned that being prone to organization doesn’t mean you necessarily have a good routine.
We have many different kinds of routines as piano teachers.
Morning routines, piano practice routines, work day startup and shut down routines, just to name a few.
Recently, I’ve been focusing on creating a good morning routine.
As a piano teacher/studio owner and coach, my routine looks a little different now than when I was solely teaching piano.
I hope you can apply these principles to whatever stage you find yourself in and reap the benefits.
Make a list
When I was working to adjust my morning routine, I made a list of the things I’d like to do daily (read, journal, pray, workout) so I could curate a new routine that included all of those things.
My current morning routine is: make bed, prayer journal, set a timer for 10 minutes and read, and make coffee.
If I have more time, then I do movement of some type (Yoga or an online exercise app).
The beauty of having a morning routine is that I get some stuff done every day that I want to get done or know I need to get done.
It’s finished first thing in the morning so I don’t beat myself up all day because of something I haven’t done yet.
Keep promises small
At the same time, I have found it important to not make too many big promises for a morning routine.
Making these promises to ourselves can add so much stress when we don’t have enough time to realistically get them done.
Stay focused
Having my morning routine helps me stay focused. It has especially helped me in an area I struggle with: writing.
When I write just a little each morning, it helps me achieve the goal of being a content creator and helps me discover my style.
I also have realized that I don’t feel like I have to finish it all in one sitting when I do a little at a time.
This relieves so much stress and last-minute rush to get things done!
How to curate your own healthy routine as a piano teacher
I’ve shared my story, but I realize your life may look very different.
Here are a few concepts that you can apply to your individual life to create a customized routine that fits you and hopefully relieves stress in your everyday life.
What is your end goal?
As you make choices, think intentionally about your goal.
Before you make decisions, you need to know who you are and where you’re wanting to go.
So take a deep breath and think about where you’d like to see yourself at the end of the year. In five years.
Then, ask yourself if the things you’re doing today will help you achieve those goals.
If so, then definitely keep those on your routine!
If not, then remove them from your routine.
What might be a good decision for one person and circumstance isn’t the same good decision for another person.
Likewise, what was a good decision for you in one season of your life may no longer be a good decision for you in this season (my decisions were very different when my boys were still at home than now that they are grown up).
Always remember that the decision can be a good decision but that doesn’t mean it’s the best decision for you.
What is your purpose?
Similar to your goal, your purpose is the driving motivation of your life.
I have found my purpose to have the same overarching theme, but different applications in different seasons.
Asking a big question like “what is my purpose?” can seem impossible.
I have found that my daily, routine journaling has helped me solidify my purpose and goals in life.
So if you don’t have the answer to your “purpose” question yet, that’s okay.
Maybe your routine needs to include something that will help you discover that.
What do you need to purge?
I know that purging doesn’t seem to apply much to routines as piano teachers, but it does!
Taking out the “extra stuff” (whether it’s tangible stuff or just extra decisions) removes so much stress because it’s no longer floating around in your life.
Minimizing your amount of choices might seem like you’re living in limitation and scarcity, but it’s the limited choices that give you the freedom to spend the time on what you want or need to do–so you can spend time on that which really lights you up.
For instance, I recently purged my closet, tossing out old clothes, ragged clothes, clothes that didn’t fit, and clothes I’d never see myself wearing.
My wardrobe is now only colors I like, clothes that actually fit, and styles that I like.
I noticed that I have saved so much time and overwhelm in the mornings by purging my closet!
Since I have a minimal wardrobe to choose from, I no longer spend extra minutes standing in my closet, trying to decide what to wear.
It has freed up so much mental space!
Maybe you don’t think a closet purge will help you all that much.
That’s okay! Let’s apply this concept to other aspects of life.
Purge studio resources
I think I’m as guilty as any other teacher who collected hundreds and hundreds of music that I’d never look at or ever teach from… but “maybe someday” I would, so I kept it.
When I decided that my purpose was to teach beginning students and my goal was to nurture young children, that gave me direction with what to purge.
I don’t need “Clair de Lune” and “Moonlight Sonata.”
Not only have I purged my repertoire on hand, but if you noticed, it came because I’ve also narrowed down my teaching focus: children.
Is there a way you can purge your focus in teaching? Or purge the resources in your studio?
Purge value systems
There are many wonderful value systems from which teachers teach.
I realized, however, that not everyone’s value systems are mine.
It relieved so much stress and pressure when I realized that being a “fun and creative” teacher wasn’t my personal value system.
Although I still add those elements into my teaching, they are not the overarching way I market my studio.
Right now, my goal is to encourage my students to reach their fullest potential in life–not just in music–and become students who are balanced and don’t struggle with doubt, perfectionism, overwhelm, and stress.
I want them to have an adult who is a steady person for them.
I realize most of my students won’t continue on to perform professionally, but they’ll remember their teacher with her support and smiles and know they were respected and loved.
I want my students to look back on their piano lessons with me as a time that was informative in their development as a person.
That might not be you, though.
What are your core values?
What is your core direction for your studio?
Once you’ve decided “I’m not a ______ teacher,” just let it go.
That’s one less decision you have to make.
It’s a teacher mentality to want to reach everybody. At the heart of a teacher is a desire to want to help.
You don’t want someone to fall through the cracks and not receive something that they need.
However, by realizing your gifts, talents, and values are for fewer people, you’re opening opportunities for other people to come into that segment to shine with their gifts and talents.
How to help your students establish good piano practice routines
I want to briefly touch on how you can use the routine mindset to help your students.
The things I’m learning in my own life concerning routines is something I want to pass along to my students as well.
I am a big advocate of consistency over cramming.
I would rather my students practice only 5 minutes a day rather than wait the day before lesson and try to cram two hours in.
So I try to teach my students the importance of showing up every day.
Students are so overbooked that they sometimes think they will only succeed if they can dedicate a big chunk of time to something.
I like to help them see the importance of small steps.
One thing that I have encouraged my students to do is habit stacking (from James Clear’s Atomic Habits).
I ask them “What is something you do every day?” and then “Can you add your practice time before/after that?”
Just a few examples:
Dinner
Getting ready for bed
Brushing teeth
Getting ready for the morning
My best result was a student who started practicing before school.
It became a longest-lasting, consistent routine and piano practice was out of the way first thing in the morning.
Even better, if you want to get your students’ parents on board, look up Red Cloud Studio (Instagram: @redcloudchicago). Molly shares a lot of practice ideas for parents you can share.
Other tips for creating a routines as piano teachers
Finally, I want to leave you with a list of small, helpful ideas..
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the amount of things you need to figure out, you’ve got this!
Here are a few great reminders that have kept me going when figuring out a new routine:
Start small
Be consistent
Don’t give up on it
Have accountability with other people
Talk to other people who fire you up
Listen to podcasts that help you
Read or listen to inspiring books (Grit by Angela Duckworth is one I recommend)
What does your routine as a piano teacher look like?
Comment and let us know what tips have most helped you in creating your routine. What has worked best for you? Is there something new you’d like to try? Join the conversation!
About Amy Elmore
Hi, I’m Amy. I love a warm drink, a cozy space, and connecting over deep conversations. I also love helping piano teachers go from feeling confused and alone to feeling confident and supported, so they can get back to doing what they do best… teach! I’ve taught students ages 4-18 for 35 years and started Keys to Praise Studio 15 years ago. Being a licensed marriage and family therapist in one of my earlier careers has further equipped me in helping others.
I am thrilled and excited that you can now join us in playing beautiful & educational music games with YOUR music students!
To make it easy for you, I’m dumping all of the free music game links and bonus information in this one blog post so you can get it all here.
And if you find it helpful, you can share this blog post with your teacher friends so they can get the music game freebies & bonuses too!
Music Game Freebies
Free Music Game Dynamic Den
Our first and biggest music game freebie was Dynamic Den. Dynamic Den is no longer free, but can now be purchased in our shop here.
This music game will help your music students learn dynamics from softest to loudest–all while trying to escape the hyenas!
Here’s what other teachers are saying…
“It was a hit! As soon as the game was over I had [my 13 year-old student] flip through her music book and find all the dynamic markings. It prepared her well to think about including dynamics in her new piece.” – Juli H.
“For someone to win the game, they must know all terms and definitions to know where to place the cards. In terms of practicality, this helps with internalizing the dynamic markings so that they can recognize them in sheet music.” – Ramon C.
“I love that the game is so exciting for the students! They want to play it over and over again and try to ‘attack’ each other with the hyena card. It’s really quite amusing to watch them have a lot of fun and learn about dynamics along the way!” – Rachel S.
Part of achieving goals is to create a plan to see the goals through.
We definitely hope you’re setting goals to play more music games in 2023!
This free printable will guide you in creating a “game plan” (literally). Added to that, there is an adorable extra page for “notes” that you can use for whatever you’d like.
Slightly different than the music game plan (which helps you know the “when” to play games), the Free Music Game Brainstorming printable helps you narrow down “what” to play.
Just like the free music game plan printable, this one also has an extra sheet for “notes” that you can use for absolutely anything!
Here are a few more music game freebies, but these music game bonuses DO expire on January 8, 2023 and will be put in the shop at a later date.
I will admit I’m partial to both of these because they are just so much fun!
1) Stacking Snowmen Rhythm Game
Did you ever have those “mix ‘n’ match” wooden toys as a kid? My family and I had a little wooden bear that had six different faces, six shirts, and six pants.
I loved mixing and matching the outfits and expressions!
Well, Stacking Snowmen is a similar game, but with rhythms!
There are four snowmen for each meter: 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4.
Your students will love building snowmen! What’s better is that they probably won’t even realize they’re having to do a little math while they build!
Composing is one of my favorite hobbies and I love making composition easy for my students.
Well, now it’s easy for your students too! They literally just have to roll a die and will come up with their own, unique composition!
This composition activity is versatile and can be used with beginning students who just know the notes of the keyboard OR for more advanced students who know chords.
Here’s a peek at how it’s played (this is also our official video tutorial that we include with each music game so you can very easily learn how to play the music game).
March 2023’s Music Game Club membership game was Froggy Fifths, a circle of fifths game that is easily played at any level: from beginners to college-level students. You can now purchase Froggy Fifths here.
Here’s the video to show you how easy it is to introduce the Circle of Fifths to your students with Froggy Fifths. If you don’t see the video below, watch how to play Froggy Fifths here.
What you’ll sign up for at Music Game Club…
A monthly music game (formatted for 8.5 x 11” and A4 printing)
An exclusive Music Game Club membership group
Video tutorials
Themed success posters to go with the monthly game
Bonus activity review sheet
Bonus video tutorials with extra gameplay ideas
The membership is only $9.97/month and you did read all of the above correctly.
Today, I’ll discuss two more important aspects of playing music games in your studio:
How to play music games with all student levels
How to decide WHAT music games to play with your students
These two questions go hand-in-hand, because sometimes it’s easy to think that our students aren’t ready for a game… but as our founder Rebekah puts so well, maybe they really are!
To help you out, we have yet another freebie for you: a brainstorming sheet for music games!
I’ve done some of the work for you and have already filled out some music theory game points for you to consider (but more on that later).
First, I love what Rebekah has to say about playing music games for all levels of music students (this means don’t limit yourself when you’re brainstorming & planning!)
How to play music games with all students & levels
I have a little homework for you: decide the top 5 music theory concepts your students need to learn/review.
To help you out, here’s the music game brainstorming printable I mentioned earlier.
It has theory concepts that most students learn in their first few years of lessons.
You can print it (or save it on your tablet) and start filling out the theory concepts needed.
And if you’re feeling brave, I’d absolutely love to hear what your top 5 theory concepts to play in a game are!
In fact, I’ll share my students’ top 5 music theory needs right now:
Circle of Fifths/Key Signatures
Note names (always!)
Accidentals
Rhythm
Intervals
Do any of your students need to review the same things as mine?
And remember, if you’re hesitant put certain music games on your brainstorming list because they aren’t quite the level of your students, Rebekah has some really good points in her video about using a game even if it’s “too hard.”
I love her perspective of laying a foundation without expecting the student to fully understand the musical concept.
How do you play music games with all students & levels?
Do you play music games like Rebekah?
Are there any music theory concepts that you “lay a foundation” for before your student has learned it?
If you’re just teaching 30-minute lessons and are already stretched thin, then an extra 15 minutes can go a long way!
TIP #2: Aim for 5 minutes
Playing games doesn’t have to be this big to-do. Most music games can be played in 5 minutes. In order to do this, understand how the game is played before you present it to your student. Have low expectations and goals (if it means adapting the game so the student has time to feel good about it, by all means, adapt away!).
TIP #3: Have a “game week”
If you struggle to divide your time between repertoire, technique, and games, then have a special “game week” where you focus half the lesson time on a game. This builds excitement in your studio every month when “game week” is drawing near.
TIP #4: Use games as a reward
Instead of stickers, why not use games as rewards? When a student finishes a book, memorizes 5 pieces, or reaches any other goal, have the reward be a game.
TIP #5: Play a game for new concepts
Alternatively to playing when something is completed, games are a great way to introduce a new concept. If you turn the page in the lesson book to a new concept, start with a game rather than with an explanation. This will give you a good plan to know when to play games in your studio.
BONUS Tip #6: Play game to review concepts
I had to throw this one in the mix! If you have a student struggling because they are overwhelmed, figure out the concepts they’re having a hard time with and play a game specifically to review that concept.
Bottom line: Playing music games isn’t wasting time.
Instead, it actually helps you as a teacher and helps the student.
Hopefully now you’re all excited about playing games.
But maybe you’re lost when it comes to knowing what games to play (trust me, there’s so much more than just music flashcard games ready for you!).
Friday we’ll be back to help answer those questions for you!
For now, get started with your game plan!
We can help you save time!
We know it can take hours to dig through internet resources to find the perfect music theory game.
That’s why we send you a music game every month when you join Music Game Club!
It will not only help you save time, but your students will start looking forward to a new game each month!
Membership is only open twice a year. Check out our membership page here for more details.
How do you Make Time for Music Games in Lessons?
When do you play music games in lessons?
How often do you play music games?
Are you wanting to try something different this year… or does your current strategy work?
Now that the excitement and flurry of December recitals has settled down, hopefully you’ve taken a breath and are ready to tackle setting goals for your piano students in 2023.
I know you want to start 2023 with a great start, so in the next few days, I’ll be sharing a few tips to help you out (included with freebies!).
The goal of this printable is to help you and your students get the discussion started for setting goals in 2023.
If you’re new to setting goals with your piano students, here are a few tips to help you:
Print a goals sheet for each student. They can choose either the sea turtle or blue crab from our free 2023 music goals sheets.
Discuss potential goals with each student (we have some suggestions on the 2023 goals printable download to get you started).
Help students brainstorm a few different ideas.
Remind students that it’s okay to shoot high and not quite reach the goal. A goal is just something to work toward, not something to achieve perfection in.
Write down the student’s top 6 goals for the year.
Take a picture of the student with their goal sheet. You can either hang it on your studio wall or text it to your students’ parents for accountability and motivation.
Revisit the goals list at the end of each month. Do you and your student need to adapt lessons to fit these goals?
As a teacher, remember to keep an eye out for opportunities to help your student reach their goals.
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR TEACHING PIANO IN 2023?
Of course, in addition to setting goals with your piano students, I’m sure you’re already thinking about your goals in teaching.
If you’re like me and Rebekah (founder of Music Game Club), you’re likely looking for solutions to your students who get bored or frustrated in lessons.
I’ve seen this show up in a few ways with students:
The student stops practicing.
The student starts giving an attitude.
The student complains that music is too hard.
The student cries.
The student is overwhelmed.
While coming back to lessons after Christmas break can help this, sometimes it actually makes things worse.
In our studios, our #1 solution to these piano student problems is to play music games.
Yep, we make no secret how much we love music games, but there are several reasons for that!
Music games are an easy way to review concepts when coming from a break.
Music games lessen the tension so the student can have fun.
Music games teach new concepts away from the piano.
Music games solidify concepts you’ve taught in lessons.
Music games build teacher/student relationships.
Music games build rapport between students.
Music games provide great memories for the students (and teachers!).
Music games break up a lesson for difficult students.
Do you play music games in your studio?
If so, I’d love to hear your best game-playing stories of students who improved with games!
If not, I hope you’ll put it on your list of goals with piano students in 2023!
However, you might be asking the biggest question we hear: “How can I make time to play games when there is not enough time to do everything I want to in lessons?”
For now, I encourage you to start thinking about your struggling students and what music concepts might be able to help them.
Maybe make your own list of goals for piano lessons.
I can’t wait to hear what you and your students accomplish in 2023!
Is “playing more music games” a goal for you?
If so, then we can help you out!
Our Music Game Club monthly membership allows you to explore a new music game easily each month!
It will not only help you save time (because now you don’t have to go searching for the perfect game), but your students will start looking forward to a new game each month!
Membership is only open twice a year. Check out our membership page here for more details.
How do you achieve Setting Goals with your Piano Students?
What kind of goals do you set with your piano students?
Do you regularly play games? What problems do you think they solve for your students?
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
And don’t forget to grab the FREE printable to help you in setting goals with your piano students in 2023.
