138: 10 Tools to Teach Beginner Technique

Free printable from this episode: topmusic.co/piano138 Technique can get stale fast when you’re reaching for the same analogy week after week. Today, I’m sharing 10 practical tools for teaching beginner piano technique, from objects like bouncy balls and squishy ladybugs to simple posture cues like riding a horse. I pull some of these from Irina Gorin’s recent TopMusi Pro Spotlight Session, some from my own studio, and a few from unexpected places, like a baseball-loving student and a personal trainer. My hope is you walk away with at least one new idea to try in your very next lesson. Rachel shared holding a pencil loosely to feel a rounded hand shape, an idea from Irina Gorin. The horse-riding posture cue helps students sit tall and relaxed before playing a note. Why imagining a puppet string pulling from the head encourages good posture. Small bouncy balls give tiny hands a tactile sense of a rounded hand shape. The importance of staying patient with technique instead of rushing to the next song. Squishy ladybugs let students rest their hand in a relaxed, neutral position. Soft butterfly finger puppets help students feel light, floating movement at the keys. Technique practice can happen off the bench, through arm weight and shoulder relaxation. She encouraged teachers to keep rotating fresh analogies instead of relying on the same few. Links Mentioned Find out more about Spotlight Session here. About Rachel Ehring 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 RachelEhring.com Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694 Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Fridays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL