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Positive Piano Instruction for Students of Every Age – Located in Muncie, Indiana

Positive Piano Instruction for Students of Every Age – Located in Muncie, Indiana

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  • Home
  • About
    • Christina Whitlock Bio
    • Studio Philosophy
    • Studio Policy
    • 2022-2023 Studio Calendar
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Current Students
  • For My Teacher Friends
    • Beyond Measure Podcast
    • Consulting
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Conference Notes
  • Summer 2023

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August 26, 2015 christinaw

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šŸ™‹šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļøWhatā€™s giving you life right no šŸ™‹šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļøWhatā€™s giving you life right now? Iā€™m a big fan of the Life Energy List (thanks, @emilypfreeman ). I regularly track the things that bring me life, and - consequently - the things that drain it right out of me. Lately, a HUGE life-giver to me is working outside. Any writing/emailing/planning/communicating I need to do has been happening on my deck and I just canā€™t get enough. Fortunately for me, my teaching hours are pretty much wrapped up and my days have been spent catching up on copious amounts of this kind of work. The weather has been amazing - and itā€™s just been such a pleasure to my mind, spirit, and body. GET THEE TO THE OUTDOORS, friends! We musicians tend to spend WAY too much time inside.šŸ¤ (Iā€™m sure this bliss is extra-sweet because my kids finish school this week and I will soon return to a life of full-time refereeing, beverage-fetching, and activity-directing šŸ™ˆ) BUT TELL ME: What is life-giving to YOU right now? I need to know! šŸ˜‚
We think a lot about progress this time of year... We think a lot about progress this time of year... I just finished my latest round of student evaluations (and parent meetings, thanks to inspo from @amychaplinpiano !), and it's left me pondering what systems we use to measure progress. Progress is measured in more than how many multicolor books a student has completed. It's more than how many scales they've learned. It's more than how many practice hours they've logged. (All those things are healthy CONTRIBUTORS to progress, of course!) Today I'm curious how YOU note progress in your students. Listen in! šŸ„‚
Itā€™s that time again! ā° High school pianists Itā€™s that time again! ā° High school pianists who play at the Intermediate+ level are encouraged to apply for this very-unique opportunity. Many teachers get a rocky start in this profession and learn everything by trial and error (I know I sure did!). This 6-week study requires 1-2 hours of work a week for high schoolers, and will equip participants with: šŸŒŸa better understanding of the studio teaching profession, as a whole šŸŒŸeffective teaching strategies šŸŒŸbasic principles of running a business (at an age-appropriate level) šŸŒŸmaterials to help them on their journey Applications are due on Tuesday - May 23rd. Selected participants will be notified by Saturday, May 27th. Please share with any interested families. ā€¦looking forward to working with some incredible young musicians this summer! šŸŒŸ
Say it with me nowā€¦ You can show compassion to Say it with me nowā€¦ You can show compassion to studio families in p l e n t y of ways that do NOT result in your own financial hardship. Check out episode 126 for more details. šŸ„‚
How about a little accountability today? šŸ™ƒ Wha How about a little accountability today? šŸ™ƒ What is something YOU want to accomplish in the next 7 days? Tell me here and Iā€™ll circle back next week and see how youā€™re doing!
Did anyone begin teaching as a teen? šŸ™‹šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø There are quite a few of us who got an early start to this profession and - while I am proud of my initiative - I also know I would have appreciated some structured guidance in those early days. šŸ˜… In my attempt to serve a role I *wish* was there for me 28 years ago, I offer Summer Pedagogy Studies for High School pianists. High Schoolers (or recent graduates) who play piano at the Intermediate Level or above are welcome to apply for this summerā€™s program. The virtual option runs for 6-weeks, and is largely asynchronous. Students receive a video on Monday mornings and have the week to complete the work. Approximate commitment is 1-2 hours/week. We also meet three times on Zoom during that time period. To protect the intended care of this program, spots are incredibly limited. The application window closes on Saturday - May 20th. If you have students who might be interested in dipping their toes in PianoTeacherWorld, please direct them to: https://christinawhitlock.com/virtualsummer2023/ (I also run an in-person version for anyone more local to me. DM for those details) ā˜ŗļø CHEERS to helping future generations have it better! šŸ„‚
Hereā€™s something that bothers meā€¦ Studio musi Hereā€™s something that bothers meā€¦ Studio music teachers often tell me they feel torn between their own financial needs and their desire to show compassion to Studio families. Friends. There are MANY ways to show compassion that are not going to have a negative impact on your income. For instance: I roll my eyes every time a teacher says no-makeup policy means you are not a compassionate teacher.šŸ™„ Showing your students and their families compassion comes in many forms. Sometimes that CAN involve money, but it does not have to. Listen in to episode 126 for more on mixing Business with Compassion. Cheers to Monday, my friends! šŸ„‚
Rarely will any advice I offer in a lesson be more Rarely will any advice I offer in a lesson be more helpful than teaching a student to connect with music in times of trouble. šŸ¤
šŸ›‘ Stop Talking šŸŸ¢ Start Playing This is pr šŸ›‘ Stop Talking šŸŸ¢ Start Playing This is pretty solid advice for teachers in a multitude of sticky situations. As I discussed in this weekā€™s episode (no. 125), oftentimes the best thing we can do for a struggling student is to give them a moment to speak some words, but then get them PLAYING. Also: Have a student who is being disrespectful? Get them playing. A student who is full of excuses? Get them playing. A student whoā€™s trying to avoid the task at hand? Donā€™t fall for it: get them playing! THAT SAID: I am ALL FOR the importance of conversation in the lesson (casual and otherwise)ā€¦ see episodes 32, 74, and 83ā€¦ ā€¦but for those of us who fall easily into the over-explaining/over-processing category šŸ™‹šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø, I think itā€™s incredibly wise to remember: when in doubt, PLAY THE INSTRUMENT. šŸ„‚
Do you ever feel more like a therapist than a teac Do you ever feel more like a therapist than a teacher? Of course you do. Weā€™ve all joked about itā€¦ but itā€™s REALLY important to recognize we are not, indeed, counselors. Todayā€™s episode offers the reminder that we ARE uniquely-equipped to offer our students something others cannot: developing a relationship with their instrument that will see them through the trials of life. šŸ¤ I think this is a special one, friends. Please share with someone who could use this reminder today. šŸ„‚
Studio music teachers often get left out of Teache Studio music teachers often get left out of Teacher Appreciation festivitiesā€¦ ā€¦but NOT AROUND HERE! šŸ¤ Iā€™m on a mission to make sure ALL educators feel the love this week, as itā€™s Teacher Appreciation Week in the US! Stay tuned for more encouragement, acknowledging all the good you bring the world around you. PS: Iā€™ve re-opened/re-named my private Facebook Group for this week. Search up ā€œTeacher Friends of the Beyond Measure Podcastā€ if you want an extra boost of solidarity this week! šŸ„³
I define TeacherMagic as this: The ability to su I define TeacherMagic as this: The ability to summon consistently positive energy and endless confidence in your studentsā€™ abilities. To view each student as capable of more than they could ever imagine. Connections forged instantly, forever. I talked a lot about TeacherMagic in Episode 124 this week. Itā€™s something to be protected and examined. YOU are TeacherMagic, my friend. Even if it feels like the sparkle is waning this time of year, take heart. Itā€™s still there. ā¤ļøā€šŸ©¹
What are your studio relationship deal-breakers? What are your studio relationship deal-breakers? For me, itā€™s anything that leaves me feeling ā˜‘ļødisrespected ā˜‘ļøunappreciated ā˜‘ļøhassled by financial ā€œnegotiationsā€ My fragile sense of self just canā€™t deal with that nonsense. šŸ˜‚ I shared thoughts on how to know when itā€™s time to part ways with a student in this weekā€™s episode, so feel free to check it out! I would LOVE to know: what are YOUR deal-breakers?
ā“When is it time to part ways with a student? ā“When is it time to part ways with a student? Todayā€™s episode seeks to explore that very idea, using a framework of symbiotic relationships and keeping tabs on your own supply of TeacherMagicā„¢ Every episode of the Beyond Measure Podcast seeks to unite studio music teachers in the unique trials of our work. I hope you feel seen and appreciated through this project! šŸŒŸ Onward and upward!
Give students the chance to surprise you šŸŒŸ We Give students the chance to surprise you šŸŒŸ We may think weā€™re great at knowing what lies in store for our young musicians, but trulyā€¦ we just never know. Donā€™t ever count your students out. Just like flowers that bloom in different seasons, so are our budding musicians. šŸŒ· This also happens to be the subject of Episode 123: Cheers to the Surprising Ones šŸ„‚ PS: I have this little series of teacher survival tips I add to whenever the mood strikes (you can see all of them in the highlights on my page). Check them out and let me know: do you have a favorite?
15-minutes of Warm Fuzzy Feelings for your Mondayā€¦ Today Iā€™m offering celebration for those students who surprise us in the BEST of ways. šŸŒŸ Cheers to a new week, friends! šŸ„‚
As you consider changes for next yearā€¦ How man As you consider changes for next yearā€¦ How many of our Studio decisions are based in fear of what might happen and/or as a reaction to something that hurt us in the past? What if, instead, we made decisions based on what we hoped to see? (If this sounds familiar, itā€™s because I sent out these thoughts - and more - to my email subscribers on Friday. Keep your inbox connected to the heart of studio teaching by joining the Insiderā€™s Report at christinawhitlock.com/subscribe)
ā€¦and then I melted right into the groundā€¦ I s ā€¦and then I melted right into the groundā€¦ I started a new homeschooler this afternoon and it was ALL the magic a first lesson should be. ā€¦So many smiles and ā€œI canā€™t believe I just did THATā€ momentsā€¦ As he left, he said, ā€œI think I just found my little happy place.ā€ šŸ„‚ May we never lose sight of the fact that what we do for work is what others do to find their little happy places. And - may we remember that we, too, find our instruments to be places of immense joy and solace. šŸ„‚
Brace yourselves; weā€™re talking money todayā€¦ Brace yourselves; weā€™re talking money todayā€¦ Episode 122 focuses on a rarely-discussed consideration related to determining your tuitionā€¦ ā€¦as well as my argument for why itā€™s easier than ever to raise your rates. šŸ¤·šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø Put on those business hats and tune into episode 122! šŸ„‚
Pulling your hair out over those teen students lat Pulling your hair out over those teen students lately? šŸ™ˆ Could you use some encouragement, some insight into optimizing the teenage lesson experience, or even some criteria to determine if they should be in lessons at all? Iā€™ve got your back, friend! šŸ¤ On Tuesday, April 18th: Iā€™m leading some Zoom calls featuring highlights from my MTNA session, Busy Teens: Should They Stay or Should They Go? You have THREE chances to get in on the conversation that day: 11:00am (eastern time) 2:30pm (eastern time) 8:30pm (eastern time) (Iā€™m hoping some friends from across the sea can join for that last one šŸ˜‰) These calls are FREE; you just have to register so I can send you the link. Weā€™ll meet for about 30 minutes each call. ā±ļø I hope youā€™ll join me for a time of solidarity, perspective, and problem-solving! TO REGISTER: head to christinawhitlock.com/busyteenszoom or find the link in my bio. Zoom Links will be emailed the night before we meet. Keep an eye on those spam folders! šŸ«£ Thanks friends, hope to see you LIVE on Tuesday! šŸ„‚
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