The power of creativity can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, and today’s guest exemplifies that truth in her approach to piano teaching and recitals. In this episode, we are joined by the distinguished piano and pedagogy professor, Dr. Olivia Ellis, from Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Olivia is renowned for her innovative teaching methods and as an editor for Piano Magazine and the author of the Easy Piano Lead Sheets and Chord Charts series. She shares how her upbringing, with a crafty mother and inspiring teachers, shaped her passion for creativity in music education. Tune in to learn how her creative recitals and teaching strategies can elevate your students' performances and create unforgettable musical experiences.

• Olivia shared a brief overview of her background and her roles in the piano teaching community.
• She shares her passion for creative teaching inspired by her mother and past teachers.
• Her preferred piano resources, favorite books and tools.
• Overview of Olivia's unique themed recitals.
• Importance of using creative ideas in teaching both young children and college students.
• How Olivia involves students in the planning and execution of creative recitals.
• Advice and tips for teachers feeling overwhelmed or on a budget.
• Olivia shares exciting future projects, including concerts and student recitals.
• Importance of integrating lead sheets in lessons for practical skills.
• Tips on how to start and progress with teaching lead sheets to students.

• Olivia Ellis Website - Creative Piano Teacher
• Creative Piano Teacher Instagram Page
• Creative Piano Teacher Facebook Page
• Download your latest TopMusic Magazine here

Dr. Olivia Ellis teaches piano, group piano, pedagogy, and chamber music at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. She's an editor for Piano Magazine and has published several books including the Easy Piano Lead Sheets and Chord Charts series. She's constantly creating new activities and games to teach concepts, and loves helping other teachers find their niche.

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.

• Visit her website at https://rachelehring.com/
• Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
• Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

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Confidence on stage is built long before the performance begins. In this episode, we're diving deep into the strategies and tools that will help your students perform with confidence. Whether you're a piano teacher guiding your students or a musician getting ready for your own performance, preparation is key to managing nerves and feeling at ease on stage. We'll explore everything from building a preparation timeline to effective rehearsal techniques, the power of affirmations, and even some personal stories and tips to help both you and your students shine when it matters most. Join me as we explore how to make performance day a success!

• Why preparation is key to calming nerves, but why it’s normal to still feel anxious.
• The value of creating a detailed preparation timeline to guide your practice
• How to avoid common mistakes, like scheduling dress rehearsals too late or not practicing in the performance space.
• Importance of practicing in front of others, whether it’s friends, family, or even stuffed animals.
• How technology and video recordings can provide additional practice opportunities.
• Fun ways to help younger students practice bowing and stage presence to reduce anxiety.
• How practicing on the performance stage ahead of time can improve confidence on recital day.
• The power of affirmations to help both students and teachers replace negative self-talk with positive, empowering thoughts.
• Tips on handling students’ post-performance disappointment with encouragement and positive reframing.
• Simple breathing techniques to help calm nerves before and during a performance.
• How to prepare mentally and physically on the actual day of a performance.
• Why it’s important to take care of all logistical details well in advance.
• Personal rituals, like lucky socks or mints, that help performers feel grounded and confident.
• Advice on responding when a student feels disappointed after their performance.

• Affirmations for Student Musicians YouTube video
• Affirmations for Performing Musicians YouTube video
• TMPP Episode 037: Helping Teens Work through Performance Anxiety with Sonia Poon
• TMPP Episode 036: Never Stop Innovating with Will Armstrong
• TMPP Episode 028: Music and Magic Journals with Tweena Vuong

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.

• Visit her website at https://rachelehring.com/
• Visit her Instagram page:

Performance anxiety is a significant hurdle for many young musicians, but Sonia Poon has mastered the art of helping students conquer it with grace. In this episode, we delve deep into effective strategies for teaching teens and tweens with the remarkable Sonia Poon, a dedicated piano teacher since high school and founder of Forte Music Studio. She shares her wealth of experience from decades of teaching, including her unique approaches to addressing performance anxiety, building student trust, and curating balanced repertoires that resonate with young musicians. We explore how Sonia utilizes technology, sets up ideal practice environments, and offers practical advice for both teachers and parents to support their children's musical journeys. Sonia’s engaging methods are shaped by her extensive background and passion for music education, making this episode a rich resource for anyone involved in teaching music.

• Sonia shared a brief overview of her teaching journey and her home studio.
• Teaching teens and tweens, their performance anxiety, and establishing a connection with this age group.
• Importance of eye contact, listening skills, and personalized communication to build trust.
• Why reading non-verbal cues and giving students the space to express their emotions during lessons is critical.
• Sonia stresses balance between necessary repertoire and pieces that resonate with students.
• How she uses video assignments to keep students accountable and help them get used to performing.
• Importance of setting up practice environment that is crucial for effective practice.
• Sonia advocates for a clear and structured approach to preparing for performances.
• Some tips and advice on handling performance anxiety.
• How group classes and overlapping lessons help students get comfortable in performing.
• Value of parental involvement by celebrating milestones.

• Forte Music Studio Website
• Forte Music Studio Instagram Page
• Download the latest issue of TopMusic Magazine here.

Sonia has been teaching passionately since she started high school. She specializes in intermediate/advanced private piano, and in contrast, also loves to work with her Music Explorers preschool programme.

At seven years old Sonia was accepted under the tutelage of Constance Kline with whom she completed her RCM examinations, receiving top provincial marks five times. During her years of study, she also garnered numerous honours and scholarships at the Kiwanis Music Festival. She competed in the Canadian Music Competition, where she was a semifinalist. At the University of Alberta Sonia studied with Marek Jablonski, Alexander Sandler and Jean-Paul Sevilla. After completing her Bachelor of Music, she went to Paris to continue her studies for piano solo, chamber music, and analysis. In 2001 Sonia founded Forte Music Studio, and currently serves as the Vice President of the Alberta Piano Teacher’s Association. She is also a standing member of the Alberta Registered Music Teachers Association and is a registered Royal Conservatory of Music teacher.

She has three wonderful children- Sascha, Luka, and Camila who play guitar, piano and violin. When possible Sonia also loves to play tennis, read and sleep in.

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently...