Music Teacher Forum

Milo Academy

2012-04-10T05:02:51Z

Milo Academy Covered Bridge in Southern Oregon Douglas county in Canyonville features covered bridge information, pictures and map of Milo Academy covered bridges in southwest Oregon and other covered bridges. The bridge at the Seventh Day Adventist Academy near Milo is one-of-a-kind in Oregon covered bridge history. The covering certainly is not a structural necessity but fills an aesthetic need, as it is Oregon's only steel bridge housed in wood.

Milo Academy
Milo Academy Horses
Milo Adventist Academy

Milo Adventist Academy

2012-04-10T05:01:22Z

When you start searching “horse schools”, you’ll find there are many different kinds. There are many university programs for equine studies, professional riding certification, and professional horse training certification, to name a few. There are also schools that use horses for hippotherapy, in which children and adults with certain disabilities are taught to care for and ride horses as part of their therapy.

Milo Academy
Milo Academy Horses
Milo Adventist Academy

Hi, Newbie Here

2012-03-31T04:56:37Z

Hi, after messing up, 2 user names, not being allowed to post, and finally figuring this thing out (thanks to tech support) I can finally post : )

Yea! I love everything I've read so far and I'm eager to participate in discussions.

At the moment I have no private students, I just had baby #3, so I'm only teaching a piano pedagogy course this semester.

I also write at various places on the world wide web. Can't wait to "meet" all of you.

KM Logan
http://www.633music.net

Student doesn't want to play "easy" music

2012-03-23T17:28:53Z

I teach a family of four children, and one student is 12 years old. She keeps insisting that I pick more challenging music for her, music that is "not easy". She won't play anything with "beginner" or "easy piano" anywhere on the song. Even if she looks at a piece and it looks sparse, she thinks it is too easy. The problem is she is not technically advanced enough to play any more difficult music. Even some of the "easy songs" are too difficult for her. Do you have any suggestions of how I can approach this/what I can give her to play?

(I have tried explain how we have to play some songs that are easier to build good technique, but she thinks they are too babyish)

Also, this is my first year teaching the family (they took lessons elsewhere before)

Thank you!

Recital Planning

2012-03-22T18:10:55Z

Hi! I am looking for some frugal, "out of the box" ideas for a holiday recital venue? I am not a church member (yet) and only have 4 students. I thought of an in-home recital, but my home is too small and I really would like for my students to have the TOTAL recital experience.

Also, if anyone would like to share some money-saving tips for recital planning and prep - I would LOVE it!!!

Thank you!
Elizabeth

How do you Organize single copies of music?

2012-03-22T18:08:06Z

I am finding that I have multiple files (and piles) of single octavos, and I'd like to come up with a filing system that is easy and helpful. How do you file your music? What shorthand do you use to tag aspects of the piece so you can find what you need later? And how do you physically file them?

Thanks! I look forward to hearing ideas!

Piano vs Keyboard?

2012-03-22T18:03:06Z

I have a lot of young students who only own keyboards. I realize that I will always have students who have keyboards, but it does create certain problems, unless they have one of the expensive ones. I stress things like dynamics and proper posture early on, with the belief that if they are taught early they will become a natural part of playing later. A lot of keyboards are not touch sensitive, and even if they are, the keys are usually not weighted, making it feel very different to play different dynamics on real pianos. Many of the students do not have stands or benches for their keyboards, so they just put them on a table, or their lap, or whatever is most convenient. This makes learning proper posture and hand position difficult. Some students say they can't afford to get a piano, which doesn't have to be an issue with all the pianos available on Craigslist for free or very little (I know how to tune pianos and do basic repairs, so while I don't advertise this, I may decide to tune a new piano for a lower income family). Those who say they don't have room for a piano may have a more legitimate argument.

What have some you heard for reasons not to get a piano? Do you prefer that they get a piano as soon as possible, or do you think they can learn everything with a keyboard for the first year or two? Are there any problems that you have seen arise from either a student's piano or keyboard? What do you usually say to the reasons people have for not getting a piano? I'd really like to hear what other piano teachers have to say on the topic!

How do you motivate your middle school students to practice?

2012-03-22T17:57:08Z

I think it is fairly easy to come up with ideas to motivate my young students (stickers, charts, certificates, small prizes, candy, etc.) Middle school students are another story! I do studio recitals, and formal recitals, but I am looking for some other contest ideas, prizes, awards, etc. that would appeal to the middle school set. Obviously, they need to be inexpensive... What has worked well for you?

My website via iPod Touch

2012-03-09T06:14:31Z

I looked at my website on my iPod and noticed that the embedded YouTube videos are not there at all, there is just a blank space where they should be, and also my MTH ad does not show. Is this a Safari or iPod thing or what?

Changing Parent & Child Students

2012-03-09T06:09:12Z

I would like to be able to switch students from either Parent or Child status without having to create a whole new student; much like switching between Active, Waiting, or Former students. Is there any way to do this or implement it in the interface?

Similarly, I need to assign a child student to a parent but can't without having to re-enter everything from scratch.

Thanks.

Were getting invaded by the spam monsters!

2012-03-09T06:07:58Z

God I hate people that do this crap!

Previous balance on invoices: please break it down for parents!

2012-03-09T06:02:20Z

It would be so helpful to have the invoices explain what a previous balance is for. When there is money due on an account beyond that of tuition, the invoice simply shows that amount as a "previous balance." Parents have no idea what it's for and most won't log in to their MTH accounts to find out even though I remind them to (forgotten passwords, uncertainty of how to use website, etc.). So after every round of invoices are sent out, I get at least half a dozen indignant e-mails from parents who want to know why I am charging more for lessons that month.

Usually when you get a bill that has some sort of past due balance on it, the bill will explain why. This would be so nice to have on MTH invoices so that I don't have to tell parents they owe late fees or that books were purchased, etc.!

Need for Web Design/Code Section

2012-03-09T05:46:25Z

We need a separate section of the forum just for Web Development of our sites. I was typing some stuff and need to know what the "Anchor" is (the little flag next to the "Link" feature in the RTF editor.

Also, when typing in a link, all the extra stuff in the tabs of the pop-up window (Target & Advanced) threw me for a loop. Any explanations of all this stuff? I did figure out that the Target "New Window _blank" meant that you could direct the link to open in a new tab after doing some research on Google.

Any manuals or advice here on the site?

Sitting or standing?

2012-03-07T07:51:06Z

What are your thoughts on allowing students to sit for their lessons? I am a violin teacher, and I always practice sitting down, and most of the time we are sitting when we play (with an orchestra or small ensemble.) We do stand for some of the lesson, so I can check their posture, but I feel that it is important to have good posture while sitting as well. Just wondering if any other violin/viola teachers allow their students to sit. (I am 50, and standing through 9 or 10 lessons in a row is too much for me!)

Piano Method Levels

2012-03-01T17:14:34Z

I have recently started using the Hal Leonard piano books, both the ordinary lessons and the adult method. Does anyone know how these method books (particularly the adult ones) fit in alongside the repertoire books which are labelled 'Early Elementary', 'Elementary' etc.? I have some pupils who are looking to explore other repertoire books, but we're having trouble matching the levels - I'm having the same trouble with Piano Adventures. I don't know whether the terms 'Early Elementary', 'Elementary' etc. are generally the same level between publishers?

We don't have anything like this in the UK - you just take pot luck!

David