Strategizing, Teaching, Empowering: The Many Hats of a Group Piano Teacher

Dr. Rebecca C. Bellelo, Baton Rouge, LADr. Emily Book McGree, Lafayette, CODr. Nan Baker Richerson, Salisbury, MD

Upcoming Webinars

Webinars : 2 EST/1 CST/12 MST

9/24: Coping in the time of Covid: Conversations Among Teachers

10/8: Teaching Beyond the Classroom

10/22: Group Teaching Basics: Methods, Materials, and Making it Work

11/8: The Inspired Group Classroom

12/3: FAQ’s of Group Teaching: Get your Questions Answered!

For a recording of this webinar and a copy of the Powerpoint, visit the website for the National Piano Foundation: pianonet.com

Recreational Music Making

Recreational Music Making is music instruction in a group

setting that is student-centered, social, stress-free, and fun.

Strategizing: The Business Manager HatDr. Emily Book McGree

Considerations For Covid▪ Organizational Structure – LLC? 501(c)3? Do something!

▪ Pricing Structure

▪ Tuition payments

▪ Studio Policies

▪ Pay yourself … and your business!

▪ Studio Set-up

Insert Studio Pictures

Does your tuition need to change?

Physical Materials▪ iPad tripod

▪ Boom and microphone

▪ Light ring

▪ Computer stand

▪ Webcam

▪ Air Purifier

▪ Wifi system

▪ Extra books and white boards

▪ Sanitizing supplies

▪ Practice Packets

Online Materials▪ Upgraded internet

▪ Zoom fees

▪ Flipgrid (NOW FREE!)

▪ Vimeo fees

▪ Escape rooms and other online games (leilaviss.com)

▪ Webcam software (internet MIDI and Classroom Maestro)

▪ Apps (Noterush, flashnote derby, etc.)

▪ Digital Badges (leilaviss.com)

▪ Tonara, Sight-reading Factory and/or other online websites

USE YOUR WEBSITE!!

▪ If you don’t have one, utilize a website building option like Wordpress.▪ Consider buzz phrases and use tags to help search engines find you.▪ Make it official with Google Suite, or a studio specific email.▪ Look into Google ads, analytics, and reviews – get help!!! ▪ Register your location on Google.▪ Use a contact form and/or registration form to populate email lists.▪ Accept payments for classes.▪ Post all policies and studio news.▪ Consider a blog.▪ Clear and concise content! Include pictures.

Marketing Ideas for RMM Classes

▪ Logo

▪ Utilize your current clientele – perks for referrals and reviews.

▪ Have your elevator speech ready

▪ Social media – increase engagement and find those local mom groups!

▪ Google Ads.

▪ Offer scholarships/discounts for new students.

▪ PARTNERSHIPS and RELATIONSHIPS!

▪ Tap into new communities in different ways.

Customer Loyalty

•Care about your students and know about their lives.•Be responsive.•Find activities for the whole family to participate in the musical journey.•Seek feedback and adjust as needed.

BE THE BEST TEACHER YOU CAN BE.

Teaching

Dr. Nan Baker Richerson

Music is for everyone.

Teacher-Centered vs. Student-Centered

Begin with the end in mind.Fine

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

Structure:The lesson sandwich

• The bread matters.

• Pacing – 10 minute max.

• Choices.

List of Choices1. Laser listen.

2. Point/Follow the score while listening.

3. Say “Shh” when there is a rest present in both hands.

4. Raise the hand that is playing (right, left, or both).

5. Tap rhythm with one or both hands.

6. Shadow play on closed keyboard with one or both hands.

7. Sing the melody.

8. Play one or both hands.

9. Concept play.

10. Dynamic drama.

11. Combinations of the above.

Practice. What does that mean exactly?

People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou

Empowering

Dr. Rebecca C. Bellelo

BuildShort-term goal: Build relationshipsMusic “this or that” cardswww.composecreate.com

Go on a “date”Take a field tripGo to a concertEat a meal together

BuildLong-term goal: Build life-long musicians

Scheduling

Spring Semester- 16 classes from January-May Divided into 2, 8-week sessions

Summer- 4-7 classes in June-JulyFall Semester- 16 classes from August-December Divided into 2, 8-week sessions

Course TopicsStyle/Genre Jazz Hymns Lead Sheets Classical Arr. Seasonal Pop hits Ensembles

Theory Major/minor keys Meter Rhythm patterns Motive/Sequence Form

Social Events Take a field trip Attend a concert Eat a meal together Visit each other’s homes

Listening Units Composers Styles or genres Famous pieces Ensembles

Projects Notebooks Anchor Charts

Technical PatternsScalesArpeggiosChordsInversionsAccompaniment Patterns

FingeringPedalingBalanceVoicing

Motivational Strategy

Rhythm of LearningRomanceExample: Listen to a new song. PrecisionExample: Find a “work zone” in your music.

GeneralizationExample: Review a favorite piece.

Empowering YOU“When all these pieces come together [what you are deeply passionate about, what you can be best in the world at, and what drives your economic engine] come together, not only does your work move toward greatness, but so does your life. For, in the end, it is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work. Perhaps, then, you might gain that rare tranquility that comes from knowing that you’ve had a hand in creating something of intrinsic excellence that makes a contribution. Indeed, you might even gain that deepest of all satisfactions: knowing that your short time here on this earth has been well spent, and that it mattered.”― Jim Collins, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and

Others Don't

Upcoming WebinarsJoin us for six scheduled webinars in 2020! The NPF and MTNA are co-sponsoring a series of webinars about teaching as an independent piano teacher on a variety of subjects including COVID-19.

September 24: Coping in the Time of COVID: Conversations Among Teachers

October 8: Teaching Beyond the Classroom

October 22: Group Teaching Basics: Methods, Materials, and Making it Work

November 5: The Inspired Group Classroom – registration coming soon.

December 3: FAQ’s of Group Teaching: Get your Questions Answered!

Visit www.pianonet.com to view webinar recording from Sept 10.