What makes good piano technique? Interview with John Bloomfield

by Tim Topham

Interested in Piano Technique? I don’t know about you, but I find all the ins and outs of piano technique fascinating. I love that Glenn Gould could sit well below the keyboard in a position that most teachers would denounce as pretty appalling and still achieve incredible performances and be revered for evermore. I love ... What makes good piano technique? Interview with John Bloomfield

Easy pop music arrangements that actually sound good!

by Tim Topham

Finding easy pop music arrangements can be tough! There’s been a fair bit of discussion over at the PianoFlix discussion threads regarding how hard it is to find pop music arrangements that are not only playable by beginners, but actually sound like the real versions. This is one of the hardest things about introducing pop music into your ... Easy pop music arrangements that actually sound good!

1000 Hours to Competence « Music Teacher’s Helper Blog

by Tim Topham

Should 10,000 hours really be the benchmark? You’ve no doubt heard rule of thumb that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of practice to become a master of something. The statement originated in Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers” and, even if you haven’t read it, you’ve no doubt heard the statistic. It has since been used by many authors in discussing high-achievement and ... 1000 Hours to Competence « Music Teacher’s Helper Blog

6 essential skills for beginner accompanists | Guest Post

by Robin Baker

What makes a good accompanist? What skills do you need? Guest poster Robin Baker, one of Melbourne’s most experienced accompanists, has put together a list of skills that are a focus of her own practising, rehearsing and performing with other artists. Collaborative Pianists (as the role of accompanists is increasing becoming known) require specialised skills very different to ... 6 essential skills for beginner accompanists | Guest Post

Teaching Rhythm in Pop Music

by Tim Topham

Teaching Rhythm in Pop Music – How do you do it? Since launching my online training for piano teachers recently, there have been lots of questions about how to help students ‘find their groove’ in pop music and how teachers can help students with tricky rhythms. In my opinion, it’s one of the hardest things about teaching ... Teaching Rhythm in Pop Music

AMEB Series 17 Piano | Best Pieces Grades P-3

by Tim Topham

Quick NavigationIntroductionSeries 17 OverviewFavourite SelectionsHow I decided on the selectionsPreliminaryGrade 1Grade 2Grade 3ConclusionWhere to buy​What are your thoughts?  Introduction If you’re an Australian piano teacher who uses the Australian Music Examination Board syllabus with your students,  you’re no doubt aware that a new series of teaching books has just been released: Series 17 Piano. As ... AMEB Series 17 Piano | Best Pieces Grades P-3

What can teachers bring to the classroom, that has increasing value? | Douchy’s Blog

by Tim Topham

How does the internet impact on how you teach? If you’re an Australian educator, you may well have come across Andrew Douch and his excellent education blog. He writes compelling articles, many focussing on the intersection between technology and education. This recent post is about the general changes taking place in education as we move from ... What can teachers bring to the classroom, that has increasing value? | Douchy’s Blog

Webinar: Getting Started with Online Piano Lessons

by Tim Topham

Ever considered online piano teaching? I was really interested to hear recently that well-respected teacher and presenter Dr Melody Payne from Virginia USA will be presenting an online webinar for piano teachers all about how to teach online piano lessons. Keep reading for a special offer for staging.topmusic.co subscribers. In this increasingly connected world and ... Webinar: Getting Started with Online Piano Lessons

Take a track walk: getting students to slow down

by Tim Topham

Making the most of the AMEB Manual List | The Piano Teacher Magazine

by Tim Topham

How should I use the Manual List? While the Australian Music Examinations Board  (AMEB) releases music books for each grade level whenever they update their exam syllabuses, there is a wealth of other great pieces listed permanently in the syllabus under the “Manual List”. Remember that the exam books for each grade only feature around three ... Making the most of the AMEB Manual List | The Piano Teacher Magazine

Top 3 Most Innovative Rhythm Teaching Resources

by Tim Topham

Teaching rhythm to students can be a challenging experience. Some students just seem to get it, some students really struggle to even feel or keep a steady pulse. Some students are great at copying rhythms, others like to work it out for themselves. Some understand rhythm best when it’s explained metrically, others like to think ... Top 3 Most Innovative Rhythm Teaching Resources

Piano Repertoire for Students | Live Videochat with Joy Morin

by Tim Topham

Choosing Repertoire for Students I’ve just found out that Joy Morin from Color in my Piano Blog has started recording some regular Google Hangouts (online group chats) with other piano teachers on a number of really interesting topics including choosing repertoire, piano technique and business sense.  I’ve just finished watching her latest video about choosing ... Piano Repertoire for Students | Live Videochat with Joy Morin