​In my time teaching, I have found that practically anything can be made into a game. Music is supposed to be fun, and games are a clever way to show the kids how fun music can be without them sometimes even knowing they are learning. Games are simple to make up if you know music, but what if you don’t? Here are five games anyone can play with their child, even if they don’t know how to play an instrument.
 

1. Instruments: For this game, the fun is in making the instruments. Remember making maracas out of beans and paper plates in elementary school? This is the time to put those skills to use. You could also us buckets or pots for drums, a pencil and glass as a triangle of sorts, or blow across the lip of an empty bottle like a flute. Make rhythms and patterns for each instrument, and start a family band. The rhythms don’t have to be perfect. Just play a pattern over and over again. Pull up a song and tap along to the beat with your homemade instruments.
2. Catch: This is actually a game I made up on the spot in a lesson once. I had a student that wouldn’t sit down, so I said, “Let’s play a game” without thinking. I had to come up with something fast, so naturally this game is very simple. You play catch. Now, there is a twist. Each time you catch the ball, name something to do with music. This can be quarter notes, rest, even something like silence, beat, or drums. You don’t have to know anything about music. You can even ask them to teach you about a few. This will solidify the concepts in their mind even more when they have to teach it themselves.
3. Copycat: Copycat is all mimicking. You can play this game using notes, rhythm, or anything really. The concept is simple. One of you plays a small portion of a song (or make up one), and you copy. You don’t have to know notes or rhythm; you just have to copy exactly what they do. Make this more fun by adding in odd requests like playing a couple notes with your elbow or nose or playing it while standing up.
4. Conducting: I don’t know if this counts as a game, but it can be fun. Put on some music and stand side-by-side as if you are conductors of a large orchestra. Move your arms with the beat and exaggerate your movements. You don’t have to understand music, just feel the beat. Eventually you will get a feel for how many beats there are before the next downbeat.
5. Musical pillows: This game is played just like musical chairs. Place pillows for each person (minus one) in a circle. Press play on the music and have the kids walk around a circle of pillows until it stops. When it stops, everyone races to find a seat. You can change this up by having them mimic the emotion of the music or walk like certain animals to the beat.

 
No matter your musical ability, you can always find ways to help your children learn and love music. All that really matters is that they have fun and are excited to learn more.
 

Metronomes can strike fear in the heart of any pianist. The pulsing tick can drive all the creativity out of you if you aren’t careful. But metronomes aren’t all bad. Actually, I recommend using one. Following, I’ve listed the reasons I thought of for using (or not using) a metronome.
 
Pros:
Steady tempo
Metronomes are designed to steady your tempo as you play. Jolting music is almost painful to listen to, but music with a consistent beat flows smoothly. Metronomes can especially help after the notes and rhythms are already learned.
 
Makes practicing slowly easier
Metronomes can be used to subdivide the beat. On a really complicated song with lots of sixteenth notes, hearing where each note should be played can help in learning the rhythm.
 
Increase tempo slowly and efficiently
Once you know the rhythm and notes, increasing the tempo is simple. Not easy, but yes, simple. Play through your piece at a slow tempo until you feel comfortable, then crank up the speed a few notches each time. Make sure you are confident playing at the new tempo before you move on to the next tempo.
 
Cons:
Frustrating
Students can quickly get frustrated with the perpetual ticking of the metronome. It’s enough to drive anyone crazy, especially if they don’t understand the rhythm. If this happens to you, try slowing the tempo or subdividing the beat. Also, to avoid the restrictive feeling of metronomes, use drum beats instead of a classic metronome.
 
Overuse
Starting too early or overusing the metronome leads to a loss of natural rhythm. Music needs to breathe. When a student uses the metronome every time they play, music becomes more mathematical, and it is difficult to add in emotion. It feels like clockwork rather than music. To solve this, try only using the metronome while learning the piece. Once you know the notes and rhythms well, and you feel you have a consistent beat, turn off the metronome and listen to your internal clock.
 
Reliance
Using the metronome to often can also lead to a reliance on it. You won’t be able to bring a metronome with you on stage for a performance. If you feel you are becoming too reliant on a metronome, step back and play a few times without it. See how your playing changes. You’ll soon realize you don’t need it as much as you thought.
 
There are definitely good points on either side of the argument, but my final answer is yay. Using a metronome improves your technique, tempo, and internal rhythm. If you find that you are finding problems, use some of the solutions in the cons section. 

​What makes a good teacher?
Think of your favorite teacher. What made them great? My favorite teacher connected with me. He knew what my struggles were and tailored his lessons to my needs. He cared about me, and he inspired me to become the best version of myself I could. While the perfect teacher is impossible to find, a good teacher can be found. A good teacher is one that connects with the student and inspires them to be better.
 
Finding a teacher like this may seem like an impossible task. It’s not. Before you start searching, take a moment to think about what you want in a teacher. Take out a sheet of paper right now and answer these questions.
 

• Do you want to be a concert pianist, play casually, or something in between?
• Are you okay with travelling to find a better fit?
• What styles of music do you want to play?
• Do you want to take group lessons, private, or both?

 
The search
Recommendations: Start the search for the right teacher by asking around. People are honest about who the best teachers are, and they don’t have the bias any self-promoter does. Make sure you don’t just ask if they are a good teacher. Ask how they teach and what kind of a personality they have. Are they funny or serious? Either could be good, depending on what you are looking for.
 
Start with music stores, churches, schools, and neighbors. You’ll most likely receive many names of people to research. Before making a decision, make sure to meet with them.
 
Interview: Now that you have a list of names, set up an interview with each of the teachers you are most interested in. Any teacher will love to show you around their studio or meet in person to talk about potential opportunities. An interview tells you a lot more about a teacher than whether it will fit you wants. You’ll be able to tell who they are as a person and whether their personality will be a good fit.
 
Music Teachers National Association: At the MTNA website, you can search the area for teachers in the association. This won’t list all of the piano teachers available, only those who are members of the MTNA. This is still a great resource, especially if you want to go a more professional route.
 
Google: As a last resort, google it. Most larger studios have websites, and many other teachers do as well. I recommend asking around the area before turning to the internet, but google can be insightful.

We’ve all heard of students that start learning piano only to stop a few months or years later because they didn’t enjoy it anymore. While I’m not sure why some students stop while other press on, I do know of some ways to get them excited about music again. Here are six.
 
​
Movement
Students complain about practicing because it means they are trapped on the bench for the next half hour. In sports, no one wants to be the one stuck on the bench. While it’s vital that they take time to practice at the piano, let them step away for a minute. Kids sit around for most of the day when they are in school. Sitting for another 30 minutes will make it seem like a chore. If they seem a little rowdy or lose interest in practicing, let them step away from the music for a moment. Let them watch a YouTube video of the song they are practicing. Give them time to do jumping jacks to the rhythm of a song; whatever it takes to get them off the bench and moving. After five or ten minutes, have them return focused.
 

Technology
Apps on a tablet or phone can engage your child faster than anything. Kids instantly pay attention to watching a YouTube video or using an app. Download some of the apps mentioned in my previous post or any other music app. Allow five minutes during practice or as a reward for practicing for half an hour.
 

Be excited yourself
Christina Greenwood, a piano major and teacher says she gets her students excited about piano by being excited about music herself. She says, “I’ve found that as I show enthusiasm and a love for music, and try to make it fun for them, they realize how enjoyable music can be. It stops being only a chore and starts to be a game and something they can express themselves with.”
 

Incentives
Rewards can go a long way in motivating kids to play. Ultimately, you want the incentive to be beautiful music, but until they get to that point you can use stickers or charts to help. If you are on a budget or just don’t want to spend money, take time to create something together, like painting small rocks with glitter or creating other small rewards. When your child practices for a certain number of days each week, they are rewarded with one of their creations to add to their collection.
 

Expose them to different kinds of music: my family and showtunes, listening to dad’s weird music, concerts.
Remind them what got them excited about music in the first place. I’m grateful for my parents who introduced music to me. We always listened to The Phantom of the Opera on road trips and my dad would play really weird songs no one had ever heard of. I didn’t always like all the music they showed me, but I was able to decide for myself what I liked.
 
Kids like to make decisions like that. They are still finding themselves, and music can play a big part in that. Throw a musical soundtrack in the car and listen to it while you run them to school. Take them to community concerts. Make maracas with beans and paper plates and play them with each other.
 

Let them play with their music not just play it
As they are exploring music, ask them what a piece would sound like if it was played for Halloween. See if they can create a song that sounds like wind or rain. Whatever you do, encourage them to be creative.
 
Take one of these ideas and run with it. See what happens, and let us know in the comments below.

Technology is available to so many people now, and children use computers at school even to help with learning. There should be a way to incorporate technology into piano teaching. Luckily, there are a lot of apps available to teach musical concepts. Here are five of my favorite that will start improving your child’s playing today.
 

1. Piano Maestro
If you want to get beginner students excited about piano, Piano Maestro is the way to go. At the very beginning, students play simple melodies to accompaniment. Simply feeling like they are making music affects a beginner enormously.
 
In our studio, we have had a competition to see which student practices the most each week. The kids connect their studio account to their home account and go at it. The average winner each week practices about three hours. While this doesn’t replace the role of a teacher, it solidifies musical concepts and improves sight-reading.
 

2. Pro Metronome
A metronome is essential in helping students keep a steady beat, which in turn greatly improves a piece. Metronomes can be expensive though and digital ones require batteries. Downloading a free metronome app is a great alternative.
 
Pro Metronome is a free app, but you can make in-app purchases to have more features. The free version has plenty to get started, however. In it is a large display showing a play button, tempo marks, the time signature, and subdivisions. You can turn the dial to increase or decrease the speed or use the left and right arrows. As well, a button on the lower right allows you to tap the beat you want to use. This metronome is great because it emphasizes the downbeat with a higher note, so you always know where in the measure you should be.
 
Download the app and use it with one of your student’s pieces today and see the improvement in their playing.
 

3. Rhythm Lab
Many rhythm apps flat line after a certain difficulty, and they become useless when you improve far enough. Rhythm Lab moves from simple rhythms to complex polyrhythms. With this app, you can create custom drills and set up individual accounts. Using Audiobus and GarageBand, you can create tracks to back your playing as well. This app is ideal for any age or ability. The flexibility makes this app even more applicable to anyone.
 
Download this app today, and allow you child ten minutes to play during their practice time. You’ll see an improvement in their rhythms.
 

4. Note Rush
When most people learn notes, they try physical flashcards and apps based on flashcards to repeat the notes enough times that they will recognize the notes instantly. Note Rush is an app that uses the same principle of repetition, but without the annoying flashcards everyone gets annoyed with. Using the microphone in your phone or tablet, this app uses pitch recognition to determine if you are playing the right note. If you don’t play the correct note, it waits until you do. It also is time-based, so the kids can try to beat their previous times, but don’t have the pressure of a ticking clock.
 
Our studio loves Note Rush, and David has been showing it off to the teachers to convince them try it out. Not only can this be used for piano playing, but it can also be used for any instrument, including voice. You could use this in ear training and improve pitch.
 
One downside is that this cannot be used with headphones. The app needs to hear the note played rather than being hooked up by a midi cable.
 

5. Musiclock
As important as scales are, they often bore kids. The idea of Musiclock is to provide a fun way for students to practice scales. When you first open the app, you can choose which scale to play along to and which kind of track to play to. This engages the student more, and they feel that they are actually playing music rather than boring scales. This app works for both piano and guitar.

By Annah Despain

If you’re anything like most people, a task won’t get accomplished unless it is in the schedule. Piano is exactly the same. Unless, you set aside time or make music a priority, your child won’t practice. Sure, they love music and the idea of becoming good, but doing it now rather than later is hard.
 
Reserve time
Decide on a specific time to practice, and make sure it is at least six days a week. Assigning a time to practice reminds your child to practice. Not only that, but it also automatically places practicing piano as a priority. Don’t let anything get in the way of that time. Consistency is what forms habits.
 
Write it down
Write the reserved time down for everyone to see. This will let them know not to disturb your child or play the television loudly during this time. Their siblings may even remind them if your child forgets it’s time to practice. This also cements the importance of this time in your child’s mind. Having it written makes it more official.
 
Don’t miss days
Obviously, life happens, but missing days on end of practice leads to students feeling anxious and inadequate in lessons. They haven’t practiced, and they know they won’t do very well. This usually leads to dissatisfaction and eventually giving up learning the instrument all together. Success at home leads to success in lessons which leads to continued growth in your child.
 
Consistency is key
Horace Mann said, “Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, and at last we cannot break it.” Consistency is key to creating habits. Day after day of hard work will eventually lead to a thick cable that cannot easily break.
 
It’s better to practice in shorter increments every single day than 30 minutes three times a week. Obviously, the student should try to practice for the full time allotted every day, but life happens. You should already have a routine if you followed the earlier advice, but if you still don’t, find the time to practice every day, even if it is for a short time. Maybe it is for ten minutes before leaving for a dentist appointment. No matter where you can fit it, do it every day. Consistency creates habits. Good habits create musicians.
 
Read parts one and two here to learn about the power of parents and creating a practice nest.

By Annah Despain, Studio Teacher

Andrea Dow, co-founder of Teach Piano Today, wrote about something called a practice nest to convey the feeling of comfort and peace that should exude from a musical environment. A good practice nest can improve focus, motivation, and love for making music. Your child will want to practice piano. Here are six characteristics of a successful practice nest you can create today.
 
Central location
Pianos that are easily accessible are more likely to be played. Anytime a student has the urge to play, they can quickly walk to the piano before the inspiration disappears. Even seeing it more often may remind them to play.
Placing the piano close to the normal happenings of the house also reminds the student that they are not alone. This helps when it comes to performing in front of others because they have already “broken the ice.”
There must be a balance though. The practice nest cannot be in the action. Practically anything can distract a student, especially younger children. If the student feels she is in the action, she will not practice. The opposite is true as well. If the student feels she is far away from the action, she will feel detached and alone.
 
Free from distraction
Again, distraction is a huge problem with students. Obviously, loud noises from the next room can distract. However, even visual noise like clutter can distract a student. Ultimately, when the student is distracted, very little work can get done, and they won’t enjoy playing the piano because there is no progress. Give them the freedom to practice without their mind being in a million places.
 
Warm and welcoming
Good lighting can go a long way. Not only does good lighting help a student see notes clearly, but lighting lifts the general mood. It will keep them alert and ready to focus. Making a room welcoming with pictures or other items your child associates with good feelings can motivate them to practice. Also, having pencils, colored pencils, sticky notes, and other supplies will prevent students from leaving the room for a desperate 30-minute search for something to write with. They’ll get in the mood of music making and stay in it.
 
Place for family members to sit and listen
We frame finger paintings and brag about our children’s talents, but most of the time we don’t listen to appreciate the hard work it takes to play an instrument. Taking time to listen to your child play shows that their work is worth noticing. The student begins to feel they can share their successes or show off a piece they have finally figured out.
 
Read part one here to learn about the power of a Parent Practice Pal.
Continue with part three here.

By Annah Despain, Studio Teacher

A successful music experience starts with you. The parent is essential in creating a successful music lesson experience. When parents are excited about music, the students start to see music as a fun experience rather than a chore.
 
These first three posts will be focused on making your child’s music experience better. If you have found that your child is starting to view piano as a chore, implementing just a few of these tips can help kindle the fire of curiosity and learning for them.
 
Be their biggest fan
Becoming your child's biggest fan can be exhausting a times. Honestly, they may even hurt your ears at first with their practicing. Encouraging them despite that is what makes the difference in a child's performance and practice. And not only does it help them with piano, but it can affect them immensely as an individual. Peggy O'Mara said, "The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice." Make sure their inner voice is the right one.
 
I think it’s so interesting that when a kid has a big soccer game, we pack up the lawn chairs, stake our claim close to the field, and cheer loud enough to embarrass them in front of their friends. If they win or lose, we even take them to ice cream to celebrate their achievement. When it comes to music lessons however, we say, “Go practice your music,” and ignore their achievements. Children need just as much encouragement in their piano playing as in their soccer game, maybe more. They need someone that will tell them they are improving and that the work is worth it.
 
Expose your child to a variety of music
Make your home a musical place. Try listening to musicals in the car on the way to school or taking time to watch a concert at the local high school. Expose them to all kinds of music. Listen to some Blue Man Group with their odd use of everyday objects or African drumming on YouTube. What does music in India sound like compared to music in Sweden? The world is filled with music, and the more kids experience it, the more they will enjoy good music and want to create their own.
 
Play with your student
This doesn't have to be just music games, though those serve both purposes of learning music and boosting creativity. The point is, you don’t need to know how to play the piano to play with your child. Sit in on the next lesson or two. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can catch on. Have them teach you a simple music game they have learned. Games help students learn more about the world and boosts their creativity. We all know kids can make a game out of anything. Encourage them to come up with games. They start to make connections in their brain their never had before.
 
Encourage your child to teach what they know
Start with asking them to play for you a song they are learning. Compliment their good work and ask them what certain parts of the music mean. You don't have to know anything about music to do this. All you have to do is ask them why they played loud or soft, how they knew what knots to play, anything. When a child teaches, they cement that concept in their mind. Not only that, but it shows them that you care about what they are learning.
 
Take a few of these ideas and start implementing them today. The great thing about them is that you don't have to start these when your child first starts learning to play. You can use them at any point along the way. When you use these steps, piano becomes a part of them, not just something they have to do for 30 minutes a day.

Saturday, April 2nd, was the first day of the annual MTNA annual conference for music teachers held in San Antonio, Texas. And for the fourth year in a row, I've been privileged to attend. The first year I attended, it was held at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim California and it was magical to say the least. By day my mind was enlightened with new teaching ideas and by night I was mesmerized by the wonderful world of Disney reflecting in the wide eyes of my one-year-old. To me, that conference was the real kick starter for what Love Family Piano is today. 

It was also at that conference I connected with JoyTunes, the ultra-creative startup company behind the award winning apps Dust Buster, Piano Maestro, and most recently Simply Piano. Thanks to Joytunes and their amazing team, I've been able to attend the last few conferences and present on their behalf. Something I feel honored to do. Although much time is spent at these conferences networking and demonstrating Piano Maestro, I get the opportunity to attend a few sessions. In one of those sessions, a young group of fine college students made their case for why teachers should teach popular music. But wait. Why are they making a case for something that seems obvious? If a child or teenager wants to learn Star Wars, Katy Perry or Coldplay, wouldn't a teacher let him or her just for the sake of honoring their wish. In short, the answer is no. Some teachers would argue that pop music is too basic, mundane, boring, or even not "pedagogically" sound for teaching students. Some feel it's a waste of time when a student can be discovering all of Bach's preludes and fugues and inventions and minuets and sonatinas and.... Well, you get the idea. But, despite this traditional approach to learning an instrument...

We Teach Pop Music! And at this session I was reminded why we not only teach popular music, but we embrace it because it can be a power tool in a student's music education! Did you know that by teaching popular music students:

1. Learn to hear, read, and write simple to advanced rhythms. Pop music can also be their first introduction to syncopation.
2. Learn harmony and theory, including chords.
3. Learn to play from a lead sheet and improvise.
4. Learn to arrange, interpret, and even compose on their own!

These reasons alone bring a solid pedagogical case for teaching popular music, but I still haven't made the case that our students love playing their favorite pop songs, and when they do, they want to practice! Tell me this isn't genius! 

Our studio tagline is Seriously Fun. Teaching popular music is one way we fulfill that commitment to our students.

Today was filled with learning, networking, great Tex Mex and great entertainment with guest artists Time for Three. But I think the most memorable moment was a quote by Carl Orff, "Tell me, I forget...Show me, I remember... Involve me, I understand." Students don't learn well by lecture or show and tell. But they do learn when they can become a participant of their musical experience. 

Do you have a song you've always wanted to play? Did you ever learn it? Not yet? Comment below!