How to Set Low-Stress Routines as Piano Teachers
When it comes to routines as piano teachers, it can be so challenging to establish a good, stress-free zone for daily living.
Today, I’m welcoming long-time piano teacher (and more recent friend) Amy Elmore with Keys to Praise to the blog.
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.
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~Amanda at Music Game Club
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)
And don’t forget, you can download the free Reflection Questions to get you started on figuring out your goals and purpose here.
I am cheering you on!
~Amy Elmore
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.
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