The Piano Pantry Podcast
By Amy Chaplin
The Piano Pantry PodcastMar 29, 2022
119 - Tap & Grow: Free Community-Based Marketing
Seven ways you can connect with and tap into your local community to promote awareness and, in turn, grow your business. Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode119
118 - Recital Programming Considerations
While it could be easy to just layer students into a recital program based on the order of age or repertoire difficulty, it may not result in a pleasing experience. Crafting a program that is positive for students, the audience, and yourself as a teacher (a.k.a. recital stage manager) requires a lot more thought, attention, and careful consideration.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode118
117 - Embracing Micro and Macro Adjustments in Your Studio
Your business is a living, breathing thing with the beautiful ability to be flexible and evolve with culture, client needs, and/or personal life. Sometimes, changes and adjustments are needed at the micro level and sometimes at the macro level. In this episode, we’ll explore what that could be like for your studio and also hear about some of the adjustments Amy’s making to her own.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode117
116 - The Case for Your No Makeup Policy
If you’ve ever experienced emotional labor determining makeup lesson policies in your studio, today’s episode will provide a little therapy. Australian-based piano teacher Samantha Coates invites a perspective that paints a vivid picture of why a no-makeup policy is absolutely reasonable.
(This episode is a replay of Episode 066 - Samantha Coates on How to NOT Give Makeup Lessons.)
Samantha Coates is the creator of BlitzBooks, a popular music education series focusing on theory, rote repertoire and sight reading for piano. Her 35+ years of teaching experience combined with her entertaining presentation style has made Samantha a sought-after lecturer on a wide range of pedagogical topics.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode116
115 - An Alternative to Student “Evaluations”
Putting together formal student evaluations can be very time-consuming. If you like the idea of evaluations or progress reports but struggle with the time required to craft them, I’m here to offer an alternative solution!
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode115
114 - ICYMI: Free Student “Award” Programs from MTNA
Welcome to the first-ever “ICYMI: In Case You Missed It” episode of The Piano Pantry Podcast! ICYMI episodes will feature anything from opportunities and resources I feel those in our profession should know about to items from the archives of the Piano Pantry blog that - if you’ve not been following me since 2016 - you might not know about! Today’s episode features three free student “awards” made available to members of Music Teachers National Association. Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode114
113 - Taking Time Off: The Tradeoff
Regularly scheduled downtime from teaching is important not only for us but also for our students and for maintaining a well-run business. Time off isn’t just about having unending hours to read, deep clean your freezer, or go for two-hour walks; it can also mean releasing ourselves from our normal routine to make room for other things.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode113
112 - Ponderings on Piano Teacher "Friends"
Ponderings on how we use the term “friend” within the context of our relationships with each other in the piano teacher community
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode112
111 - Conferencing Small and Large
Opportunities for independent teachers to get conference-type professional development in both large and small-scale formats, including the pros and cons of each setting.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode111
110 - Peter Mack on Teaching, Life, and MTNA 2024
You will surely be delighted by Amy’s conversation with Seattle-based pianist, teacher, and clinician Peter Mack, current President of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)!
They chat on a variety of topics, including teaching specialties, Peter’s natural knack for using visual descriptors, what it’s like to be on a conference planning committee, tips on the proposal submission process, and much, much more.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode110
109 - Joy & Amy: Ways We Used Notion This Week
Amy and her friend Joy Morin of the Color in My Piano blog share six ways they’ve used Notion (a productivity and note-taking app) this week as independent piano teachers.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode109
108 - 9 Useful Canva Features
Canva is an online graphic design tool that can be used for anything from social media content to presentation slides, resource creation, and more. Here are nine special features that you’ll want to know about - many of which Amy wishes she had known about sooner!
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode108
107 - March Minute Madness
How to run a note-naming challenge in your studio. We’ll cover things like objectives, leveling, scheduling, rewards, frequently asked questions and more. (The main content of this episode is a replay of episode 061.)
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode107
106 - My 2024 Valentines
Amy hands out “Valentines” to 9 items that she loves. More specifically, she’s featuring things she has found enhancing her life through beauty and simplicity.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode106
105 - Evernote vs. Notion
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here:
pianopantry.com/podcast/episode105
104 - Streamline Your Group Classes
Would you like to have a more streamlined approach to your group classes or have a few more tried and true activities in your back pocket? Listen in as Amy shares some of her favorite go-to activities to conduct during group class weeks.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode104
103 - Technical Pattern Progressions
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here:
pianopantry.com/podcast/episode103
102 - Freezer (Meal) Prep
While Amy’s not big on what you might know as traditional “Freezer Meals,” she has some time-saving tips on setting up your freezer to cover you when your dinner prep hours are teaching-filled hours.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode102
101 - ReThink, ReAdjust, and ReNew
Take time to rethink, readjust, and thus renew yourself for the upcoming season. We’re not talking about setting goals - that comes later. First, let’s pause and consider what’s working and what’s not. Hear the story of Amy’s biggest pain point in recent months and how the reflection and evaluation process she went through can help you.
Find the full transcript and show notes (including any links mentioned) here: https://pianopantry.com/podcast/episode101
100 - Piano Teacher World: 2022-2023 in Recap
Amy takes time to look back at some of the big events and happenings in the world of independent piano teachers in 2022 and 2023.
For the rest of the show notes, including the links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
099 - Holiday Wishes (AI-style)
Amy had a little fun playing around with Chat GPT to write you a song as you head into Christmas break. Hear a little about the process she went through guiding Chat GPT, receive the special holiday wish, and get a holiday-themed tiny tip (also AI-style!)
For the rest of the show notes, including the full transcript and links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
098 - ForScore (pt 2): Need-to-Know-Features
Episode 2 in a two-part series on best utilizing the forScore app. Check out some of these need-to-know features that Amy wishes she had known about sooner. For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
097 - ForScore (pt 1): Organizing Digital Scores and Setlists
A few basics on utilizing the forScore digital sheet music app, including how to digitize and import sheet music, a little on the benefits of the Apple Pencil, how to edit and maintain consistency with metadata information, organizing setlists, and more.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
096 - Manage Your Waiting List
Organizing, keeping, and maintaining a waiting list: I hope my hard lessons will be ones you can avoid! (this episode is a replay of episode 22)
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
095 - Teacher Talk with Wendy Stevens
Get a behind-the-scenes look at all that goes on in the background with Wendy Stevens and ComposeCreate.com. Listen in as Amy and Wendy chat about everything from what it means to do deep work to tools they use for daily workflow and more.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE: https://PianoPantry.com/podcast/episode-095].
094 - Amy’s Favorite Things
A random handful of some of Amy’s favorite things.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
093 - Rebekah Maxner: How to Help Students Who Are Not Reaching Their Full Potential
Canadian composer, piano teacher, and blogger Rebekah Maxner shares insight for piano teachers of all levels - from beginner to advanced - on what it can mean to teach a neurodiverse student. She touches on nearly 15 indicators and how certain characteristics can be signs of neurodiversity.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
092 - Shake Up Your Holiday Performances
Do you struggle with finding suitable venues for holding recitals, or do you just feel like shaking things up a little in your studio this upcoming holiday season? In today’s episode, I hope to save you a little energy and brain power with a little more than a half dozen recital ideas, from large in-person events to small-scale, intimate recitals, online-type digital events, and more.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
091 - Equip Your Students for Holiday "Singalongs"
Four basic and progressive ways to prepare your students for those spontaneous holiday singalongs. For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
090 - Teacher Talk with Sally Eppert
Amy chats with Sally Eppert, an Indiana friend and colleague who was recently named the 2023 Indiana Music Teacher Association Teacher of the Year. Sally manages a large studio and four teachers - offering both group and private piano lessons, voice, and percussion.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
089 - The Curious Piano Teachers on Asking the Right Questions
In this episode, Sally and Sharon from The Curious Piano Teachers share eight types of questions we can utilize in our lessons, from what they call “skinny” or easy, closed questions to meta-cognitive, emotional, and more.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
088 - Top 10 Halloween Resources
Do you enjoy including Halloween-themed activities in your music studio during the month of October? Amy has tried all kinds of stuff over the years, and in this episode, you’ll hear ten items that have made the cut and continue to be staple activities this time of year in her studio.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
087 - 9 Items I Regret Not Investing In Sooner
Are you a sucker for top tools, recommended resources, and favorites lists? Here are nine items that I regret not investing in sooner that will be helpful in both your business and everyday life.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE]
086 - On Assignment Sheets and Lesson Planning
In today’s episode, we’re talking assignments and lesson planning - two elements in our work that are in and of themselves separate entities, and yet, I think it’s hard to talk about one without the other because they can be intertwined. The whole situation with the upheaval of the Tonara practice app was enough to propel this conversation into the airwaves today. [CLICK HERE].
085 - Tonara Transitions: A Special Teacher Talk
In reaction to the Tonara shutdown announcement, this is a special teacher talk episode. After briefly covering a list of Tonara alternatives, Amy shares a step-by-step process for easing the pain in your Tonara transition. Interspersed with Amy’s advice, you’ll also hear short audio snippets from eight of her teacher friends sharing their own thought processes, feelings, and ideas for moving forward. Even non-Tonara users who are interested in different ideas on how to give assignments to students will benefit from this episode.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
084 - Student Gift-Giving
Why do we often find ourselves struggling on the whole to give or not to give questions in regards to gifts for students, whether that be Christmas gifts, birthday, or even recital gifts? In this episode, we talk about the decision-making process, the emotions behind it, and some practical gift ideas as you plan your year.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
083 - Olivia Ellis & Davis Dorrough: Getting Started with Lead Sheets & Chord Charts
All the students want to play them! But did you know that lead sheets and chord charts teach many important and practical piano skills? In this episode, Davis and Olivia will hit the highlights of why and how you should teach lead sheets and chord charts to all your piano students… even the beginners. For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, and the transcript, [CLICK HERE].
082 - 12 Easy Easy to Save Money on Sheet Music
While it’s important we as teachers support our composers and publishers, sometimes it’s nice to know a few ways to save a little here and there (because we buy a LOT of music)! Here are 12 ways to save.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
081 - What's for Lunch?
While getting meals on the table is a daily life task many in this world understandably struggle to execute, the schedule of an independent music teacher seems to make it even harder. It’s easy for meal-planning efforts to often focus on dinner - leaving the midday meal a little in the lurch. In this episode, I’ll share six ways you can help your lunchtime meal plans.
For the rest of the show notes, including the transcript and links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
080 - Teacher Talk Schedule “Highlights”
As we shift into fall-scheduling mode, find inspiration for setting your own daily work-life schedule by hearing highlights and snippets from seven previous teacher-talk guests.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
079 - NCKP 2023 Wrap-Up with Janna, Kate, and Christina
Four teachers chat up all the good stuff from the NCKP: The Piano Conference in Chicago, Illinois. As you can imagine, it was an extra special time as it was the first in-person NCKP since the pandemic.
Whether you attended the conference, lived vicariously watching the happenings online, or have never been part of an event like this and are curious to hear more, I think you’ll enjoy hearing our stories and experiences today. For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
078 - Fall Scheduling: Don't Be Afraid
Are you tired of the struggle when it comes to fall scheduling? Today I have seven things I want to arm you with that might be the easy answer you need to make things work for all involved. A lot of this has come from experiences of my own over the years as well as things I see others doing. I’ll also share a little look into how I handle my own scheduling because I know you all love logistics!
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
077 - 7 Useful Chrome Extensions
7 extensions (plus 3 bonus ones!) that you might find useful to use on Chrome. We’ll also talk about why Chrome is the browser of choice for many, what an extension is, and how you can get them.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
076 - 5 Productivity Hacks For Your Digital Workspace
Being productive doesn’t always have to be about freeing up time to get more things done. Think about it as a means of creating margin and space in life. Here are five of Amy’s best hacks for setting up a more productive digital workspace.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
075 - RETREAT Teacher Talk with Florence Phillips, Laurie Bender, Shelley Pritt, and Laurel Carroll
Amy chats with attendees from the 4th Piano Pantry Retreat - Florence Phillips, Laurie Bender, Shelley Pritt, and Laurel Carroll - from her home in Northeast Indiana.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
074 - What I'm Rethinking
Sometimes changes we make result from weeks - if not months - of ruminating and pondering, and sometimes they occur on the fly when something suddenly doesn’t feel right. Here are seven things that Amy is rethinking in her own studio.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
073 - Chrissy Ricker: Adventures in Travel Teaching
Are you curious about travel teaching? In this episode, piano teacher and composer Chrissy Ricker shares her experiences as a traveling piano teacher: the advantages, disadvantages, and lessons learned from over a decade of teaching piano in students' homes.
Chrissy Ricker, NCTM, is a pianist, composer, and arranger from North Carolina. She enjoys sharing her ideas with other piano teachers and writing motivating music for pianists of all ages. Learn more about Chrissy at her website, chrissyricker.com.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
072 - RETREAT Teacher Talk with Lou Ann Knight, Jennifer Kurtz, and Gabrielle Tee
Amy chats with attendees from the 3rd Piano Pantry Retreat - Lou Ann (Pope) Knight, Jennifer Kurtz, and Gabrielle Tee - from her home in Northeast Indiana.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
071 - The Great Purge (Part 3): College Notebooks and Professional Magazines
How many shelves, tubs, or binders do you have full of old class notes and professional magazine subscriptions? In this episode, we consider why we hold onto so much old information we rarely, if ever use and how we can sort through and save it in a more useful way for the future.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].
070 - Teacher Talk with Jason Sifford
Amy chats with Jason Sifford, a freelance pianist, teacher, and composer from Iowa.
For the rest of the show notes, including links mentioned, [CLICK HERE].