Are you a music teacher looking to optimize your time and energy? Do you find scheduling your students’ lessons a daunting task, often leading to confusion and frustration? Look no further, because AI is here to revolutionize the way you organize your weekly private student schedule. Music teachers don’t get paid to agonize over student […]
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5 Ways to Save Money on Sheet Music
Looking for ways to stretch your music budget? I discovered the following money-saving tactics while running my private music studio. I use these methods and can vouch for them. It’s definitely worth the few minutes it takes to sign up for accounts! 1. Sheet Music Plus Easy Rebates Program (for Students and Music Teachers) Music teachers, […]
Continue readingMore TagOnline Lesson Scheduling Tools
How do you handle lesson scheduling? I was getting tired of phone and email tag, so I enlisted the internet to help me out. I’m coming to the close of my fourth summer using the website www.youcanbook.me for scheduling. It has been amazing! This isn’t a sponsored post or anything—it just worked well. Here are […]
Continue readingMore TagHow to Teach Tenor Clef
I remember learning tenor clef. My bassoon teacher told me I needed to learn it, but didn’t tell me how. I went to the music store and asked for tenor clef flash cards. They didn’t exist (this was pre-internet, of course). After a few months of hard slog, I finally had it figured out. I […]
Continue readingMore TagBasic Reed Adjusting Kit
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get your students (or yourself) equipped to adjust reeds. This is not a post on how to adjust reeds, rather it’s a list of the specific things to collect so the adjustments can happen. The following is a list of the materials I recommend and […]
Continue readingMore TagBreathing & Support
Teaching students to breathe properly is difficult. Teaching them to support is even more difficult. An approach that works for some students won’t work for others. I’ve collected advice from around the web (and the library) to help you as you teach your students proper breathing/support techniques. All students struggle to understand what the diaphragm […]
Continue readingMore TagInterHarmony International Music Festival – Apply Now!
Have you ever wanted to play bassoon in Italy? I have, so I am thrilled to announce that I’m a faculty member with the InterHarmony International Music Festival (Session II, July 12-24). This fantastic summer festival takes place in the beautiful mountains in Tuscany (not too far from Florence). There is no age limit for applicants; […]
Continue readingMore TagMethod Books for Bassoon
Are you a new teacher wondering where to begin? Or perhaps you have a current student who is not progressing. Placing your student in the right method book can revolutionize your teaching experience. It took me a few years to understand that not every student must begin with Weissenborn. In this post I will highlight the […]
Continue readingMore TagGoBassoon Contrabassoon Reed Review
My goal with these reeds reviews is to describe the reeds I feature as thoroughly as possible so that you, a bassoonist with a different instrument, elevation, embouchure, etc., can decide if these reeds are right for you. I tested this reed on January 25, 2016 in Rexburg, Idaho (elevation 4,865 ft). The temperature inside was […]
Continue readingMore TagSelling Reeds to Students
Would you benefit from selling your own hand-made reeds to your students? How much should you charge? Is it worth it? There have been times in my teaching career where it has been a wonderfully convenient thing–and then other times when it has caused me way more stress than I bargained for. Learn from my […]
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