July 2018
SOUNDTEACHING NEWSLETTER FOR LESSON TEACHERS @ MUSIC & ARTS
2
3
4
6
Cultivating a Supportive Musical Environment at Home
Your Acquisition Support Team
What Makes a Successful Teacher?
My Technology Evolution: From Inexperience to Advocate
Cultivating a Supportive Musical Environment at Home B Y P E C O S S I N G E R , C E L L O I N S T R U C T O R I N G R E E N B E LT , M D
not. It was through the early tutelage
music student with the direction and
with Mozart’s father that Mozart was
breathing room they need to succeed.
able to achieve such high levels of distinction.
That is why I always include the parents of my students in the learning process.
It’s not difficult to find a contemporary
Especially with younger students, it
example. The prestigious Queen
is important that the parent invest in
Elisabeth Competition in Brussels,
their child’s musical development. I
Belgium was dedicated to the cello for
often recommend for my youngest
the first time in 2017 (prior iterations
students to have their parents sit in on
have included competitions only for
the first few lessons. This serves the
When it comes to learning to play an
only violin, piano, and voice). Of the
dual purpose of putting the parent and
instrument well, there is simply no
twelve finalists, only one cellist hailed
child at ease, while ensuring that when
substitute for regular private instruction.
from the United States: Brannon Cho.
the child returns home, there will be
This is true for any instrument, but
During his high school career, Cho
someone there who knows the content
is especially true for unfretted string
flew to Chicago once a month to attend
of the lesson and can provide additional
instruments, such as the violin, viola,
private lessons with Hans Jørgen
support at home if necessary.
cello, and upright bass. Practitioners of
Jensen, in addition to weekly trips from
these instruments have accumulated
New Jersey into New York to study with
With older students, at least until they
centuries of wisdom and knowledge
Jensen’s son, Jun. This type of long
reach adolescence, I do not necessarily
that has been passed down in an oral
distance travel is not unique among
ask parents to sit in on lessons, but I
tradition through generations.
students whose families value superior
always touch base with them after the
musical instruction. This in no way
lesson, keeping them up to speed on the
Historically this tradition has relied
belittles the tremendous individual drive
progress their child is making, as well
on support networks, whether they
and discipline that led to Cho’s many
as some specific recommendations for
are the religious institutions, powerful
successes, but it does highlight the
home practice.
monarchs, or civil societies, and this
ways in which a young instrumentalist’s
remains true today. Unfortunately
family can help propel them to great
Whether the goal is to be the next
the modern support network has
artistic heights.
Mozart, a future laureate of the Queen
deteriorated in certain areas, including
Elisabeth Competition, or MVP of the
the public school system. That is why
While these are two extraordinary
middle school orchestra, it all begins
now, as ever, it is vitally important that
examples, they illustrate how a child’s
with the support that students receive
the musical arts receive support from
early musical development relies on the
at home. There are few processes more
the family network at home.
support they receive at home. Although
rewarding than that of learning to play
parents may not want to subject their
a musical instrument, and the gift of
This has been true throughout history.
children to the overbearing techniques
private musical instruction is one that
Would we have had an Amadeus Mozart
of Leopold Mozart, a healthy balance of
any child will benefit from in many ways
without a Leopold Mozart? Certainly
support and freedom provides the young
for the rest of their lives.
2 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | July 2018
Your Acquisition Support Team B Y TJ G E S N E R , M & A S T O R E M A N A G E R I N J O H N S C R E E K , G A
harder, but the teachers and I were in
You might be wondering “what do I
this together. We had each others back
do now?” Well, just do what you do
and that’s the most important thing to
best! As a music teacher, you are one
remember. Having a familiar face to
of, if not the most valuable assets we
talk to makes all the difference in the
have as a company. Your students and
world. I know that’s not the case in every
their parents will be anxious about the
acquisition but in my experience, Music
changes too. They will be looking to
& Arts will be there to listen. Hannah
you for how to react. As they say, happy
and Laura are two incredible women
teachers equal happy students and with
that are wise, sympathetic, and are
that, your studio will most certainly
“Any change, even a change for the
always eager to help. Always know that
grow. Show them all the exciting
better is always accompanied by
you can talk to them openly about your
changes including all the awesome
drawbacks and discomforts.”
concerns.
new products at their finger tips. You can even get commission when you
The M&A Johns Creek store was
During my acquisition, Hannah was
help your student pick out their new
acquired back in July of 2013, and at
my rock, and Laura, who was managing
instrument! I mean come on, that’s
the time, I was managing a modest and
a different store in the Atlanta, taught
awesome. And hey, if we don’t have
laid back business called Music Matters.
me so much about what I know. The
something that you normally use to
We focused more on lessons than
support I received from everyone was
teach, don’t worry, we will get it for you.
anything else. We had a talented group
more than I ever expected, and my
Like I said before, we have an amazing
of teachers and a little bit of product,
teachers embraced the change quickly.
support system for our teachers and our
but it was comfortable. A little too
(They were most concerned about their
stores. We strive for success, and my
comfortable.
posters). Johns Creek started at only
teachers happiness is one of my biggest
260 students in July of 2013. Now, we
concerns.
When the owner came to me and told
peak at approximately 700 students and
me my store would be acquired by the
we usually sit in the top 3 largest lesson
I’m not expecting you to blindly accept
big boys, I was scared. My comfortable
stores in the company! That certainly
change. Just to keep an open mind
little world would be changing and I’m
didn’t happen over night.
and you will see that we care. We care about you, your students, and most
not big on change. My teachers were worried as well. They didn’t like the
I had the pleasure to help with recent
importantly, your happiness. We want
thought of some big company coming
acquisition in Atlanta. I was there to
you to be proud to be a Music & Arts
in and telling them how to do things,
help train the staff but to also offer my
teacher. Five years ago, I never thought
but quite the opposite happened. Yes,
support for being the guy who went
my store would be where it is today.
we had to take down our Led Zeppelin
through it all. My goal was to make the
I couldn’t have done it without the
and Beatles posters but we were given
change as easy and exciting as possible.
support of the amazing people in this
so much more: more resources, tons of
I wanted them to see that we are warm
company. You can certainly call me if
support, and even more pay.
and welcoming and that we care. I
you have questions or need advice from
wasn’t the big bad wolf there to blow
a manger’s perspective. I’m happy to
Now don’t get me wrong, it was tough…
their house down. I was there to make it
help because, after all, I’ve been there
REALLY tough. I was working ten times
stronger.
too.
July 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 3
What Makes a Successful Teacher? BY K AT H L E E N O R I G , P I A N O / V I O L I N I N S T R U C T O R I N G A R L A N D , T X
When everyone is on the same page,
The more in tune you are with an
the result is a positive environment
individual student’s abilities and
of mutual respect and understanding.
ambition, the better you can teach
When we work as a team with students,
accordingly. Finding the optimal
parents and staff, we can greatly
learning style for each student is vital
increase our chances of success!
for attaining goals. For example, I find that relating instruction to familiar
As a private teacher, you can choose
interests, such as sports or fine arts,
what method and style to utilize.
makes learning fun and easier to
When I began teaching at Music & Arts,
However, it is important to understand
understand. Be inspired to research
the lesson process generated a list of
the Music & Arts agreement your
different techniques to encourage
questions. The main question: What
student signs. Because private
practice and progress. When students
makes a teacher successful at Music &
lessons have a different dynamic than
see and hear their advancement, practice
Arts? Throughout your teaching journey,
group lessons, consider providing a
becomes rewarding because they know
it helps to take a personal inventory of
supplement of your studio policies on
they are improving. Hearing their
questions and proactively seek answers.
make-up lessons and credits, lesson
progress and knowing they are getting
Your manager, staff, and especially your
decorum, and what is in your discretion.
worth out of lessons helps greatly
fellow teachers are invaluable resources
with retention. Find what your student
since many have experience and advice
Offering a Meet and Greet is a great
loves in music and encourage it with
on questions you may have. Everyone
way to present your teaching style and
genuine enthusiasm. When students
has knowledge to contribute and insight
learn more about a potential student.
achieve their goals, it motivates them
on how things work.
Be yourself! A Meet and Greet is often
to continue lessons and to recommend
the first impression for everyone. Both
others. When the student succeeds, the
At Music & Arts, being an instructor
students and parents want to know if
teacher succeeds!
is a wonderful experience because I
you are a good fit. When I feel a student
can focus on teaching. Store personnel
would benefit from another teacher or
help greatly to coordinate information,
scheduling doesn’t permit, I recommend
order supplies and music, and assist
a fellow teacher who can provide quality
with instrument needs; they alleviate
music education as well.
some aspects of teaching that can detract from the act of teaching. The
Though we teach a primary instrument,
staff plays an essential role in providing
it is valuable to offer the option of
administrative support and recruiting
another instrument in recruiting
students to facilitate and augment your
students. This is especially helpful in
studio.
the beginning when you are growing your studio. In my experience, students
Maintaining a harmonious work
interested in music tend to want to learn
relationship is integral to your success
more than one instrument. When your
and performance at Music & Arts.
students see your enthusiasm for your
Communication is key. Clarity gives
instruments, it inspires them to want to
the confidence to know what to expect.
learn more!
4 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | July 2018
K A T H L E E N O R I G is a graduate of the University of North Texas. She teaches violin and piano at Music and Arts in Garland and Lewisville, Texas. Her former teachers include: Carol Sharp, Sachiko Mori, Sho-Mei Pelletier, an Associate Principal of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and UNT professor of violin, Julia Bushkova. Kathleen is an alumna of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra and a participant in the 1996 GDYO Tour d’France. More recently she freelances as a music artist in various shows, festivals and concerts as well as volunteers for those in need of music therapy.
In the Arts with Laura: Finding Your Voice Using the Internet BY LAURA ZOLFO, M& A REGIONAL LESSON MANAGER
you want to come across as qualified.
Keep Them Coming Back: If you’ve
But professional, fun, engaging and safe
checked off all these steps, I encourage
rank higher on the customer’s list of
you to utilize social media to your
priorities. Consider this when deciding
advantage.
what elements of your page will be most
•
prevalent.
Whether you choose Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or all of the above, they are all powerful
Make a Great First Impression: •
Use a professional-looking photo.
mediums to broaden your reach. •
Any media consultant will tell you
Historically, M&A has established and
Imagine shopping online for a
to post every day. Yes, every day.
expanded our reach for new customers
product, and there aren’t any
The internet likes frequent content
through school relationships. For
pictures. You skip right over it!
just as much as unique content.
decades, the local music director was
A professional headshot is not
the most reliable source for a parent
necessary. But a clear image that
really, but be yourself. You can fuel
to determine where to shop for their
shows your face with a pleasant
ongoing inspirations by choosing a
musical needs. While these relationships
look will do the trick. If you don’t
theme: favorite teaching moments,
remain pivotal to our business overall,
have a current photos, ask the Store
what you learned today, practice
there’s no denying that the world wide
Manager to take one for you.
tips, stories of your musical journey.
Create your tagline - a quick quote
It’s even okay to sprinkle in posts
or statement that speaks about
unrelated to teaching.
web is now- at least for lessons- the greatest avenue to reach new customers.
•
who you are and what you offer. It
•
•
What to post? Anything you want,
Tag your posts. Yes, use hashtags.
MusicArts.com sees over half a million
should motivate a customer to keep
They’re the social-media snowball
visitors every month. We also appear in
reading, keep scrolling, and keep
effect. Pick a few that can be
over 4 million Google searches, monthly.
clicking.
regularly included in your
This level of visibility gives our lesson
posts (ex. #TeachingMoments,
program and online presence like no
Offer Additional Clicks: Add photos,
#TeachingMusic, #MusicArts,
other. So out of all those searches and
videos, testimonials, products you
#TheLessonStudio). The more you
clicks, how do you make sure you’re
recommend, and even links to your
tag, the more likely you’ll pop up on
heard? The great news is that in of all
Facebook, Instagram or professional
new peoples’ feed.
the information available, the internet
page. Having this additional content
likes unique content.
tells potential students you’re willing
This may seem like quite the project, but
to engage with them before you even
the return on this investment is huge.
Consider your Audience: Think about
meet them. Most people will spend
Having not just a basic presence, but a
what a parent considers most important
no more than 45 seconds on a page
robust one is more important than ever.
when selecting a music teacher. This list
before deciding whether to move on, or
While there are over 20,000 pianos to
is different than the student’s, but both
hang around to learn more. Give them
choose from at MusicArts.com, what’s
will be vastly different than comparing
something to look at!
more unique at Music & Arts than each
yourself to a fellow musician. Of course
of our 2,800 teachers? July 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 5
My Technology Evolution: From Inexperience to Advocate BY L AU R A Z A R U TA , P I A N O I N S T R U C T O R A N D R O L A N D R E P R E S E N TAT I V E
These students aren’t all the same,
happen immediately for everyone,
so why am I teaching them the same
but I soon noticed the following
way? I needed to find different tools for
improvements: steady and consistent
different students, and I needed to make
tempo, fewer counting problems,
piano fun again!
not skipping rests, and a better understanding of time signatures. The
Like many of you, I had a Roland piano
students who practiced this way at home
in my teaching studio. But at that time,
had substantially faster progress than
I didn’t know anything about it or
those who only practiced this way in
anything about technology. I just knew I
the lesson. In addition, they avoided the
needed solutions if I were going to keep
dreaded “I practiced it wrong all week”
Greetings fellow teachers! I am
my students engaged. I began exploring
situation, because it’s difficult to learn a
delighted to join you in print for the
the piano – the sounds, rhythms,
piece incorrectly when you are playing
next few months as we discuss teaching,
metronome, recording, and playing
with an accompaniment. Not having to
students, and how to get the most out of
along with background MIDI files. The
correct these “mistakes that had become
our new Roland pianos. I’d like to share
students loved exploring music in this
habits” freed up more lesson time
my story, because I’m sure I have a great
way and I began seeing a new energy
and also contributed to happier, more
deal in common with many of you –
from everyone!
motivated students.
the challenges we face with students, or
Playing along with MIDI files was
In addition to the musical benefits,
starting from scratch with technology in
the biggest game-changer because
students were having fun practicing!
the studio.
it’s like playing in the band. It’s so
They were happy, their parents were
important for pianists to learn how to
happy, and I was happy. I still rely on
I am a classically-trained pianist who
be collaborative players, but sometimes
MIDI files and today it’s even easier to
had “traditional piano lessons” growing
the traditional lesson format doesn’t
access them via online downloads or
up. I majored in piano, received a
focus on these skills. In an ensemble,
apps – like the Piano Adventures Player
Master’s Degree in Piano Pedagogy,
you listen to the other players, their
App. Now students can use their mobile
and then began teaching. Like many
parts, their tempo, their intonation. You
devices when practicing!
teachers I meet, I started teaching the
begin to understand how all of the parts
way I had been taught: the same lesson
musically interact, and you work on
In my next article we will navigate
format, similar repertoire, and “classical
blending, balancing, and playing in time.
through some of the features on your
whether it’s our educational background,
Roland pianos. We will then wrap up this
goals” for most students. But I soon encountered some challenges – students
We began using MIDI files by
series by discussing how to incorporate
losing interest, not coming to lessons
incorporating them into the existing
these features seamlessly into your
prepared, and not making progress. I
lesson plans. We didn’t change anything
lessons in order to enjoy the benefits
was afraid of losing them – and I did
– we just changed the way we played. My
technology can offer both you and your
lose some. I couldn’t figure out why
students were listening while playing
students! Until then, Happy Teaching!
this was happening, and then it clicked:
and this led to great results. They didn’t
6 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | July 2018
Inside The Lesson Studio with Hannah BY H A N N A H B E S T, M & A R E G I O N A L L E S S O N M A N A G E R
the lesson is cancelled, rescheduled,
performance opportunities. We also
or lengthened in any way. A good
learned that if a student was engaged
communicator is critical for the
in a regular performance at least once
student’s success.
every three months, they would stay in lessons longer.
3. An attentive, compassionate teacher. This means a teacher
We believe that the regular schedule of
that can adapt to the mood of the
having performances gives the student
student, notice their behavior. The
something to work toward in terms of
range on this is broad. Over time,
goals This also helps build confidence,
looking for when they’re choosing their
teachers will be able to notice signs
ensures that the student is more well-
music teacher. Do you know what the
of boredom, frustration, happiness,
rounded, and gives the student (and
top things are that they look for?”
anxiety, etc. Families want to know
their family) an opportunity to hear
that they’re dropping off a member
the progress that’s been happening in
of their family to learn music
lessons.
Q “I want to know what parents are
A “Wow, students and their parents are looking for a variety of different
and that the teacher is listening
things when they’re selecting a music
attentively to the student’s needs.
Once we learned this, we started building more performance
teacher. The most commons things These are the three most common
opportunities into the schedule.
requests when a family is looking for a
Generally, we aim to have some type
music teacher. Experience, education,
of performance event once every
student’s individual progress. This
performance level, and appearance are
quarter. As a teacher, you’re able to
means a teacher that is able to
also contributing factors. However, the
schedule more frequent performance
customize the lesson to cater to that
top three is what causes a student to
opportunities with your students.”
student’s specific needs. This also
stick to the instrument (not always, but
means, not just the style of music
often) and will also stay in your studio
Q “The store was closed recently for
that the student may want to learn,
over time.”
4th of July and I would like to schedule
though, across the board are: 1. A teacher that is interested in the
but a teacher that is able to decipher the style of learning that would help
Q “I like to involve my students
the student make the most progress.
in regular performances. However, is there a recommended number of
some make up lessons for my students. How do I make sure I get paid for those lessons?”
recitals or performances that you
A “I’m glad you’re able to schedule
want to know what is expected
would recommend to keep students
some make up lessons. Excellent!
from them in terms of progress. If
engaged in lessons?”
The team at the store will need to add
2. A good communicator. Families
this isn’t established early on in
charges to offset the previously credited
the lesson, families often take a
A “We surveyed students and their
backseat (not coming into the store
families a while back to get a good
month’s lessons are paid for by families,
at all) because they don’t know that
gauge on this. What we learned is that
the charges for the make-up lessons will
they have a role in the student’s
families were more likely to choose
be collected and this amount will be
progress. They also want to know if
M&A for lessons if there were regular
added on your next pay check.”
lessons so that when the following
July 2018 | S O U N D T E A C H I N G | 7