Musical toys and instruments encourage children to play and explore musical ideas. Dancing and singing come naturally to toddlers. A toy can extend the range of sounds a child can produce. With an easy-to-use instrument, very young children will create rhythms and tones, often as an accompaniment to singing. The Harmony Road Music Course builds on a child’s innate joy...
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You have a degree in music education, and you’re about to start teaching. You’re a new graduate. Or, college was a few years ago but only now are you ready to set up shop. Maybe life took you down a non-musical career path, or maybe you’ve been teaching in someone else’s studio. Whatever the situation, the time is right to...
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Did you make resolutions for the new year? If you didn’t, or if your best intentions have fallen by the wayside, it’s not too late to refocus. Now is the best time to improve how you run your music studio. New music teachers can be so wrapped up in teaching that they neglect the business end of the profession. But,...
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Katherine was a shy toddler. She hid when people visited her home. Later, when she started school, she seldom raised her hand in class even though she often knew the answers. When Katherine enrolled in children’s piano lessons, she discovered she had a talent for music. She practiced every afternoon and became an accomplished pianist. As much as Katherine loved...
Read More“What do you do for a living?” “I teach piano lessons.” “I love music! I took keyboard lessons as a kid, but I didn’t keep up with it.” Have you ever had that conversation? Nearly all children have a chance to take music classes either in or after school. But how many people quit after only a year or two?...
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Music teachers have the same challenges as other business people. They need to set a dollar value on their products and services. Undercharging or overcharging will have the same results: not enough income to make a living. Charge too little, and you may have a full teaching schedule, but not enough revenue to earn a wage and pay your business...
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Children moving into adolescence have a lot with which to contend. The ages between 9 and 13 are a time of transition, sometimes marked by a drop in self-confidence. Teens need support as they juggle challenges related to school, friends and their own mercurial moods. But, it’s not always easy to give comfort. Teenagers want independence. They want to feel...
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It’s never too early to start teaching kids about music. Babies learn just by listening, but by the time children are a couple of years old, they can attend classes. Learning at this age is based on fun activities. Whether you’re a parent or music instructor, here’s what you should know about teaching music to kids under the age of...
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Much has been made of the way music enhances a child’s intellectual development. The evidence for the brain-boosting power of music is impressive. But music’s benefits don’t end there. Music, science is finding, is a potent force for building bonds. The Harmony Road Music Course curriculum depends on group learning. We’ve seen how playing music together teaches students to cooperate...
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If you’re teaching in your own music studio, you’re in the enviable position of being your own boss and doing work you love. Whether your students are young, old or somewhere in between, teaching is one of a musician’s most satisfying jobs. Running a business isn’t all rainbows and melodies. There are no doubt aspects of being an entrepreneur that...
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