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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
    • 2021-2022 Studio Calendar
  • FAQs
  • Contact
  • Current Students
  • For My Teacher Friends
    • Beyond Measure Podcast
    • Consulting
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Conference Notes
  • Summer 2022

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August 26, 2015 christinaw

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beyondmeasurepodcast
Hello and Happy Monday, teacher friends! 🤍 Dep Hello and Happy Monday, teacher friends! 🤍 Depending on where you live, some of us are closer than others… but the end of another school year looms ahead! Today, I’m sharing four simple things you might consider doing as the academic year winds down. What would YOU add to my list?
Keeping our “eyes on the prize” is good and al Keeping our “eyes on the prize” is good and all… BUT. I have an ongoing quest to help musicians find satisfaction in the skills they’ve accomplished in the here-and-now. Episode 77 offers up a few suggestions as to how you can help your students come undeniably face to face with their accomplishments. Onward and upward, my friends! 🥂
🌟 Teacher Appreciation Day 🌟 Cheers to all 🌟 Teacher Appreciation Day 🌟 Cheers to all the teachers who make the world keep turning. 🥂 None of us would be where we are without them. 🤍
Episode 76 is here and packs a big punch.🥊 Tod Episode 76 is here and packs a big punch.🥊 Today I’m sharing my Zero-Energy List; which is a collection of three things I downright refuse to spend mental energy on. Cutting out (pointless!) attention to these three things has made me a more content, more focused teacher. Listen in, and see if you agree! 🤍
A recital story… If you’ve listened to episo A recital story… If you’ve listened to episode 75 of the podcast, you already know I like to offer up a little “pre-show” entertainment via some improvisation duets in the half hour leading up to recital time. I’ve found this dramatically reduces recital tensions and helps us all get into a headspace of “sharing music is FUN.” Not all students participate, but I simply head to the piano and ask for one volunteer. The line begins to form. This year, after I announced we were finished with the improvisations, I looked over and saw my sweet 5-year old daughter walking up to the stage. I said, “did you want a turn?” to which she nodded her head, and the audience sighed a collective, “aww!”. It was such a sweet “piano teacher mom” moment, I had tears in my eyes as we played. One of my studio parents thought to catch this sweet moment and I am grateful. ❤️ Recitals hold such special moments for parents, even when they’re the teacher! 🥰 Be sure to check out Episode 75, then head back to the archives for episodes 26-27 for all things Beyond-Measure-Podcast-recital-related. 🤍
☀️ Summer Offering! ☀️ I have a special p ☀️ Summer Offering! ☀️ I have a special place in my teacher heart for high school students with visions of becoming piano teachers (in whatever capacity that may be). As a young girl - hired to teach at my local (small town) music store at age 14 - I know *I* would have benefitted from having a mentor to walk me through a solid overview of pedagogical principles, rather than learning everything the hard way. 😉 Last year, I launched a summer study for high school students interested in learning more about Piano Pedagogy. It was met with such enthusiasm; I've decided to run the virtual option again. If you have students in high school - or who have recently graduated - who (1) play at the intermediate level or higher, and (2) would benefit from a deeper understanding of pedagogical foundations …please check out the link in my bio and encourage them to join the mailing list. Specific meeting times are still being determined. Signing up for the mailing list ensures students will be kept in the loop. Thanks, all! You can find more details and sign up for further info at the link in my bio! 🤍
So yesterday was recital day… My video didn’ So yesterday was recital day… My video didn’t record 🙈 I ran out of time/sort of forgot to set the projectors up 🤷🏼‍♀️ I neglected to sign my certificates for my first-time performers 🧐 …but none of that matters. Each of my students shined in their own special way yesterday. I cried more than twice. Once the performances began, all the busy-ness quieted in my head and I just watched student after student demonstrate their ability to overcome obstacles and do cool musical things. I *love* recital day so much, I wanted to record a few reflections in the hours that followed. What you’ll hear today is simply me talking to you about why I love recitals and what I think makes a great one. Hint: make it less about you, and more about them. 🤍 Cheers to Monday, my friends! 🥂
🌟 Friday Introductions 🌟 Well, HELLO, frie 🌟 Friday Introductions 🌟 Well, HELLO, friends of Instagram! I noticed a lot of you are new here at the Beyond Measure community and I wanted to welcome you and give you a taste of what I’m about. 🎶I’m getting ready to head into my 27th year of private piano teaching (and my studio recital is SUNDAY! LET’S GO!🎉) 🤍 I’m a relationship-first teacher. Don’t get me wrong; I am serious about musical progress, but my connection with students (and their families) is 100% my secret sauce. 😇 My longtime favorite quote was from an old Jewel song: “Please be careful with me, I’m sensitive and I’d like to stay that way.” 🙋🏼‍♀️ You might accuse me of being the most enthusiastic piano teacher you’ve ever met. Guilty as charged. (PS: I am equally-passionate about sharing my love for the studio teacher community; hence the whole point of this podcast) 🤷🏼‍♀️ I think a solid 92% of the world’s problems stem from our inability to admit there are things we just don’t know. 😅 I currently teach 48 private students at home, plus private lessons and Piano Pedagogy at Taylor University. I have three weeks left of this schedule and am going to seriously preen my schedule for next fall. (Wish me luck!) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 I have a great husband and two lovely daughters. They are my world, though I do have workaholic genes and am constantly striving not to work my life away. …now it’s your turn! Tell me one fun fact about YOU:
Yep, you read that right… Today, we talk strat Yep, you read that right… Today, we talk strategy pertaining to those students who just want to talk…and talk…and talk…and talk. (I’m also including some tidbits on how to handle their parents🙃) Thanks for listening!🌟
…from a recent email I sent to my collegiate ped …from a recent email I sent to my collegiate pedagogy students… I found myself typing these words as I sent a reminder about some upcoming in-class presentations: Preparation is expected. Perfection is not. It’s one of those things that hit me right between the eyes because perfectionism is SUCH a struggle for me. Perhaps your students need this reminder as recital season approaches… Or, even more so, perhaps YOU need the reminder yourself. Prepare. Do your work. Honor those who invest their time and money in exchange for your expertise. But then, be satisfied. All you can do is all you can do. 🙃 Sending love, my friends! 🤍🤍🤍
🌟 Episode 73 🌟 Today’s episode is a bite- 🌟 Episode 73 🌟 Today’s episode is a bite-sized reflection (re: under 11 minutes!) on how we bring our own unique brand of Teacher Magic ™️ wherever we go. After you hear my latest example (including a blood draw gone awry), be sure to tell me an example of your own. Keep shining, teacher friends! 🌟
Yep. Progress is one of five things I listed as Yep. Progress is one of five things I listed as “better than perfection” in last week’s episode. Curious about the other four? Check out episode 72! 🌟
🎙 E P I S O D E 7 2 🎙 We all KNOW there ar 🎙 E P I S O D E 7 2 🎙 We all KNOW there are things better than perfect, but sometimes a little reminder is good 😉 I’m sharing 5️⃣ things that are Better Than Perfect today (even though there are WAY more than five). What would you add to my list? Drop your suggestions in comments! 🌟
As I was writing this past episode on bouncing bac As I was writing this past episode on bouncing back from disappointing ourselves, it dawned on me that our students often confuse the emotion of “disappointment” with “embarrassment” (and vice versa). While the two may *sometimes* go hand in hand, there are plenty of scenarios where one is of particular concern. Naming which emotion they are feeling helps us know how to proceed. For more on this, listen on in to episode 71. 🌟 Have a most terrific weekend, teacher friends! 🥳
Michigan friends! I cannot WAIT to hang out with y Michigan friends! I cannot WAIT to hang out with you tomorrow. 🤗
World Piano Day: I love my students, but oh how World Piano Day: I love my students, but oh how I *also* love my piano teacher friends. 🤍 Thanks to all of you for following along on our MTNA party at @amychaplinpiano ‘s house. I had to leave early (boo!) but will carry memories of this week in my heart for always.
Have you ever felt disappointed in yourself? (I’m pretty sure we all have… 🙃) Today’s episode looks at how we can help our students when THEY feel like they’ve fallen short of their own standards. Plus, I share a recent bout of disappointment in my own life (which, I’m pleased to say, had a happy ending) 🙂 Those high standards we set for ourselves can set us up for a lot of disappointment, friends. Our students are no different. Let’s be kind to ourselves. 🤍
Get yourself some piano teacher friends. 🤍 Bon Get yourself some piano teacher friends. 🤍 Bonus points if one cooks like @amychaplinpiano
…my MTNA session aired earlier and I am delighte …my MTNA session aired earlier and I am delighted to say it was better than I remembered it 😂 (Keep this in mind when you listen to tomorrow’s podcast episode🙃) I am having so much fun hanging with my pals @amychaplinpiano @joymorinpiano and @jannaonpiano this week as we watch the MTNA National Conference (and eat Amy’s INCREDIBLE culinary masterpieces. Seriously.) When was the last time you spent time with teacher friends? I do my best to keep you company on the podcast, but I do hope you find time to hang with your other teacher pals, too.
There’s a lot to love about spring, but the teac There’s a lot to love about spring, but the teacher’s schedule is not necessarily one of them… Tune in today for a pep talk to get our teacher brains set in the right direction this season. 🤍🤍🤍
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