Tips for teachers articles & Resources

Guido Mieth / Stone / Getty Images It’s never too early to introduce your children to music. From the womb, music is a great way to bond with your baby and start the journey of introducing them to the wonders of sound.  Once they’re out in the world, you can use music as a way for them to explore their creativity and even foster a lifelong appreciation for different styles and genres.  Here are five stages for introducing music to children.  What Are 3 Benefits of Learning Musi

Viktorcvetkovic / E+ / Getty Images Have you ever wanted to teach online but don't know where to start? Look no further! This ultimate guide is here to help you through the process of becoming an online teacher.  But first, know that the TakeLessons team is here to help teachers transition to online lessons. Our signature online learning platform was created to ensure that teachers and students can continue to thrive at home. In this article, you’ll learn how to activate your profile f

The following story comes from piano teacher Windy C. in St. Petersburg, Florida. Last fall, Windy began the challenging journey of teaching piano lessons to a student with Alzheimer's.  Below she shares some helpful tips she's learned as a result of working with her student, Jimi. Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story, Windy! _________________________________________ When I was first approached about giving piano lessons to a student with Alzheimer's disease, I was hesitant. I was

It's the most wonderful time of the year... the holidays will be here before you know it! In this post, Keenan R. from our Teacher Support team will show you how to maximize your time and efforts -- and find new music students, language students, and more.   With the holidays just around the corner, there will be tons of new students looking for the perfect instructor to help them achieve their personal goals (and New Year's Resolutions!). Wouldn’t it be nice to close out the year

With the holidays approaching, many musicians, music students, and music teachers are starting to make their travel plans. Sure, you've got plane tickets and turkey on your mind, but don't forget about your practice time! Most musicians can easily travel with their instruments with just a little extra preparation, so there's no need for the holidays to disrupt your music-making. Can you bring a guitar on a plane? What about a flute? Does your violin need any extra care while traveling? Read o

Teachers, when your student asks a question do you immediately give them the answer? Music teacher Peggy J. shares her teaching tips for guiding students to solutions instead of handing them an easy answer. Read on and discover the importance of teaching your students problem-solving skills... Musicians are unique performing artists in that they must do most all of their daily decision-making and practicing alone. Dancers prepare for a day of rehearsal by warming up in a teacher-led class and

Teaching can be tough work sometimes, especially if your students lose steam when they run into difficulties. Luckily, there is a simple linguistic trick you can learn to turn "mistakes" into "learning opportunities". TakeLessons teacher Leena K. shares her teaching tips on using positive language to keep students motivated... If you're like most music teachers (myself included), you have high expectations for your students. While there is nothing wrong with that, it is important to remember

Whether you're a brand new music teacher planning your first recital or a seasoned veteran, you know music recitals are important to help your students learn to perform and share their talents. You probably also know (or you're discovering) that putting on a recital is a lot of work! If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't fret; we've reached out to some of our expert TakeLessons teachers for their teaching tips on how to put on the best recital ever! Logistics Once you've selected a venue (a

We know what you're thinking: what the heck is audiation? Most musicians use the skill every day, even if you have no idea what it is. Read on and Boulder teacher Will S. will explain what it means, how it works, and how to use it to your advantage...       As a young man my father taught me an important lesson that has stuck with me ever since. He said, “Think before you speak.” These words were simply my dad’s way of preparing me for the real world. Lucky for us musicians

Teachers - we've all been there.  Even though your job is to teach your students, often we leave the experience having learned a lesson ourselves. It's a cycle that continues with each class, year or group of students.  Here, Portland teacher Tricia C. reflects on an important lesson she learned during one such class...   Nine weeks. It was only going to be nine weeks. I figured that I could handle nine weeks. After teaching college choirs and mentoring many music students for whole y