TopMusic Piano Podcast
The TopMusic Piano Podcast is a weekly show that provides piano teachers with inspiration and ideas for teaching piano in a way that engages and motivates students. Your host, Dr. Rachel Ehring, is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano-teaching gadgets. Rachel holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and an MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. Join Rachel as she interviews guests from the music education industry and shares tips and advice to help you run your dream piano studio.
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133: Simply Music at Dancing Keys with Giana Nguyen
The way we're taught to learn music shapes how freely we play it for the rest of our lives. In this episode, I'm chatting with Giana Nguyen, owner of Dancing Keys Music Studio in Irvine, about how she went from a classically trained, page-dependent pianist to a devoted teacher of the playing-based Simply Music method. We talk about her own skepticism turning into 13 years of belief in the program, how she structures group lessons, and her approach to practice and memory retention. Giana also shares advice that applies to any piano teacher, whether or not Simply Music is part of...
132: Piano Ninjas, Dog Music, Memberships, and More with Lisa Spector
Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs in a career come from the moments we never planned for. Today, I'm chatting with Lisa Spector, a Juilliard-trained pianist whose career has taken her from concert stages to composing calming music for anxious dogs to building a global membership for adult pianists. We talk about her journey from over-practicer to practice strategist, the hand injury that changed how she thinks about music, and what she's learned about building a membership from scratch. Lisa also shares some surprisingly simple tips for helping nervous students perform with more confidence. Lisa shared how her mother's piano playing first...
131: Applying Bartel’s Taxonomy to Piano Lessons with Christina Liu
Every student is motivated by something different, and figuring out what makes each one tick can transform how they engage with lessons. Today, I'm chatting with Dr. Christina Liu, Associate Professor of Music at Bethel College, about Bartle's Taxonomy, a framework for player personality types she discovered through her love of gamification. We talk about the four types Bartle identified, how Christina uses them to quietly tailor her teaching, and the personal stories that shaped her own piano journey. She also shares how these ideas carry into training the next generation of piano teachers. Christina teaches piano, theory, aural skills...
130: Creative Composition Ideas with Emily Dehut
Creativity doesn't have to be complicated to make a real difference in how students connect with music. In this episode, I'm chatting with Emily Dehut, a piano teacher from Howe, Texas who built her studio from scratch to 40 students in under a year. We talk about her favorite creative teaching tools, from an animal-themed system for learning keyboard letters to her own songwriting resources and DIY rhythm blocks. Emily also shares how she keeps generating fresh ideas and why she believes creativity keeps students motivated to practice. Emily shared how she grew her studio from zero to 40 students in one...
129: Changing the Landscape of Piano Repertoire with Wynn-Anne Rossi
The landscape of piano repertoire looks nothing like it did 50 years ago, and Wynn-Anne Rossi helped shape that change. Today, I'm chatting with Wynn-Anne, an acclaimed composer with over 175 publications who has spent decades helping young musicians find their own creative voice. We talk about how she got her start composing as a toddler, how the industry has evolved since the 1980s, and how she brings composition into her own teaching. Wynn-Anne also shares her favorite resources for teachers who want to bring more composing into their studios. How the piano pedagogy landscape shifted in the 1980s toward genres beyond...
128: Back-to-School Favorites with Natalie Weber
A good theme can turn an entire year of piano lessons into an adventure your students can't wait to come back to. Today I'm chatting with Natalie Weber, who has run her Kansas piano studio since 1998 and shares teaching ideas on MusicMattersBlog.com. We talk through her favorite back-to-school ideas, from practice incentive themes and rhythm activities to sight reading apps and recital games. Natalie shares a ton of practical, ready-to-borrow ideas for your own studio this year. Natalie shared how she's taught piano in Kansas since 1998.How MusicMattersBlog.com began in 2005 to house her teaching resources.How she gathers...
127: How to Include Composition in Lessons with Amy Ferguson
Composing isn't just for the musically gifted few, it's a skill every piano student can build with the right guidance. Today, I'm chatting with Amy Ferguson, a piano teacher of over 30 years who calls herself a lifelong composer. She shares her own creative process, why she believes composing belongs in every studio, and practical activities you can try with students at any level. Amy also offers a free printable to help students write their very first piece. Amy shared how she won a Kawai piano through Pianist Magazine's composer competition.She described herself as a lifelong composer, tracing it back...
126: When the Rest is the Work
After spending a few days at a retreat with fellow piano teachers, I came home with a completely different perspective on what it means to rest. In this episode, I'm reflecting on why rest isn't just about slowing down, but about making space for creativity, meaningful connection, and the kind of balance that helps us become better teachers and healthier people. Rachel shared how a recent teacher retreat reshaped her understanding of rest.She explained why rest is essential for preventing burnout and sustaining a teaching career.Rachel highlighted how creative projects can restore energy instead of draining it.Why...
125: Successful In-Home Teaching with Michael Richey
<p>Teaching piano in students' homes isn't a model we hear about very often, but it can be an incredibly successful way to build a studio. In this episode, Michael Richey shares how he grew a thriving multi-teacher travel studio, the business systems that keep it running smoothly, and why in-home teaching can be a premium service that benefits both families and teachers.</p>Michael shared how building a travel-based piano studio created a thriving multi-teacher business.He explained the benefits of bringing lessons directly into students' homes.The importance of creating efficient teaching routes to maximize time.How strong...
124: What is the Right Way to Teach Group Piano?
<p>After last week's conversation about transitioning to group teaching, I wanted to continue the discussion by exploring what group piano can actually look like. In this episode, I’m sharing the different group teaching models I've experienced, from preschool classes and piano labs to buddy lessons and multi-level groups, and why the best approach is the one that fits your students, your space, and your teaching style.</p>Rachel explored several approaches to teaching group piano lessons.She shared how her view of group teaching has changed over the years.She explained how college piano labs differ from modern gr...
