Blog - Oclef

What are parents really paying for in music lessons?

Oclef teamMay 09, 2016 Music Education Advocacy No Comments

What are parents really paying for in music lessons?

I love music. I spend most of my day in and around music. For as long as I can remember I have always dreamed in music. It has brought me all over the world and has taught me more than any other single thing. Music is the lens that I see the world through....

Going beyond music lessons to shape student’s lives

Oclef teamMay 06, 2016 Music Education Advocacy No Comments

Going beyond music lessons to shape student’s lives

Music Education Advocacy

I sent a survey out to my studio this past week. Among a pile of great feedback and static, I found an obvious, but really helpful insight. Parents want personalization for their children. As with any premium service or luxury product, customization is...

Addiction to Performing

Oclef teamMay 03, 2016 Perform No Comments

Addiction to Performing

Perform

His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy” Eminem opens Lose Yourself with the image of someone battling ‘Fight or Flight’. I think this is a battle that we all face. Speeches, performances, interviews or sports are all events...

Facing fear in learning music

Oclef teamApr 30, 2016 Music Education Advocacy, Teacher No Comments

Facing fear in learning music

Music Education Advocacy, Teacher

Balance is a powerful, yet simple force in our world that often goes unnoticed. It’s incredibly beautiful when observed and it hit me this week when teaching. I have a retired student that I teach every week – for privacy let’s call...

The theory of motivating music students

Oclef teamApr 27, 2016 Teacher No Comments

The theory of motivating music students

Teacher

About two weeks ago in my beginning music theory class, I decided to have students assign their own homework. Previously, I would tell them they had to get to a certain point, I’d draw a stop sign and hope they’d finish. This never worked....

The tension of student retention

Oclef teamApr 24, 2016 Teacher No Comments

The tension of student retention

Teacher

A parent who doesn’t normally attend her child’s lesson came into the studio the other day. There is always an awkward air in the room when this happens. Obviously the parent is in the lesson for a purpose. The few times in the past that this happened...

Before and after recital

Oclef teamApr 21, 2016 Music Education Advocacy No Comments

Before and after recital

Music Education Advocacy

This past weekend I hosted a recital called Before and After. I started with the question, “How did you sound when you first began piano and how do you sound now?” In the recital, each one of my kids played the first piece of music they ever...

What is the purpose of a music education studio?

Oclef teamApr 18, 2016 Music Education Advocacy No Comments

What is the purpose of a music education studio?

Music Education Advocacy

When I first started teaching, I took over a studio of eight students that was left by someone who moved away. From day one, I was shocked that students in my new studio would walk into their lesson as the other student walked out and had no awareness...

The perfection of pursuit

Oclef teamOct 26, 2015 Teacher No Comments

The perfection of pursuit

Teacher

In the education world, we teachers are so focused on results and I just wanted to share a message I recently sent to my studio: Early on in my music education, I believed that doing well in recitals and competitions mattered most. Great performances...

Step up

Oclef teamSep 21, 2015 Teacher No Comments

Step up

Teacher

With a diverse music studio in ages and abilities, I often question what I can do to constantly improve myself as an educator of such a wide range of minds. What’s next? How can I better the student experience and skill while still helping them develop...