The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

Tim Topham
  • 4.9 (49)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

The original podcast for growth-minded instrumental music and voice teachers since 2015. Our mission at TopMusic is to empower music teachers to find and nurture their innate creativity so they can teach lessons that are innovative, integrated and inspiring, and that will have a positive, life-long impact on their students. Tune in weekly as we interview teachers and creators from around the world and unpack fun and exciting ideas to maximise your teaching and studio business success.

  1. 21 HRS AGO

    394: Meet TopMusicSheets Composer Matt Walker

    In today's episode, we dive into the creative world of Matt Walker, our TopMusicSheets composer for November 2024. Matt's diverse background as a writer, composer, pianist, and piano tutor brings a unique perspective to his compositions. Join me as we unpack Matt’s musical journey, from his early fascination with musical theater to his innovative teaching methods that inspire creativity in students. We'll explore several of Matt’s captivating pieces, discuss his pedagogical approaches, and learn invaluable advice for budding composers. If you're passionate about enriching your music teaching repertoire, this episode is a must-listen! Matt shared a brief overview his background and accomplishments, including teaching, writing novels, and composing. Discussion about Matt’s contributions to the November 2024 TopMusicSheets collection. Matt describes his composition process and the themes behind his pieces. He talks about his musical influences including musical theater and classical composers. The role of improvisation and pedagogy in his teaching approach. Importance of chord-based teaching and pattern recognition for students. Matt's advice for other teachers and composers. Links Mentioned Learn more about TopMusicSheets here. Watch Tim playthrough Matt Walker's TopMusicSheets Collection here. Walker Productions Facebook Page Matt Walker's Amazon Author Page Matt Walker YouTube Page Today’s Guest Matt Walker is a writer, composer, pianist and piano tutor. He was the resident pianist at the Ramada Birmingham for five years, has musically directed many shows with Trinity Players, the Vesey Players and Aldridge Youth Theatre, and now teaches and accompanies at different schools. For ten years he accompanied for the award-winning Singing Community of Choirs, winning the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition 2015 and reaching the category finals (last 4) of BBC Choir of the Year 2012. Matt has also written seven novels and dozens of short stories (many of which are published in international magazines). 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 Mondays weekly. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE

    36 min

  2. 25 NOV

    393: Mark Gibson Talks “Whole Pattern Learning” with Encore Music

    In this episode, we’re having a chat with Mark Gibson, the founding director of Encore Music Education, about his innovative teaching approach known as "Whole Pattern Learning." Mark shares insights into the genesis of Encore, his experience with improvisation, and the vital role of rhythm, posture, and diverse methodologies in music education. Listeners will also learn about the wide array of resources and tools provided by Encore, including their engaging Encore Star Competition. Tune in to discover how Mark's methods can transform music learning into a more holistic and engaging experience. Mark discusses the origin of Encore Music Education. Insights into his early experiences and improvisation roots. He shares techniques used in the Encore program, with the emphasis on whole-pattern learning and using unconventional teaching tools. Discussion on how organ experience influenced teaching. Overview of resources provided by Encore, including apps, video libraries and teacher guides. Importance and exploration of rhythm as the essential DNA of music. Techniques to teach rhythm and integrate reading and technique. The balance and posture aspect of playing piano effectively. Influence of Kodaly, Orff, Suzuki, and other methods on Encore’s approach. Mark explained the SMART Approach for teaching. General advice for music teachers to diversify teaching techniques beyond piano and sheet music. The value of making lessons fun and engaging. Mark shared about the Encore Star Competition, an international online competition for students learning Encore pieces. Special offers for teachers interested in becoming licensed Encore teachers. Links Mentioned Encore Music Education Website Exclusive 10% Off Discount Encore Music Education for TopMusicPro Members Today’s Guest Mark Gibson is the founding director of Encore Music Education and Accent Publishing. He is the author of over 30 music publications including Encore on Keys, Theory Wiz, Encore on Strings and Kinder Beat®. His captivating compositions are featured in several exam syllabi. Mark travels nationally and internationally as an examiner, adjudicator, masterclass teacher, and workshop presenter. His teaching expertise extends from early childhood and group lessons through to university and high end diplomas. When he’s not on the golf course, Mark’s passion is sharing his expertise with other teachers and fostering imagination and excellence in all things musical. Today’s Sponsor ABRSM is The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and a global music education charity. At the heart of everything we do is our belief that music enriches lives. Building on our heritage, we offer...

    53 min

  3. 18 NOV

    392: Unpacking the New ABRSM 2025 Syllabus with Samantha Carrasco

    To keep our music students engaged and interested, we must evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape. Our guest, Samantha Carrasco, unpacks how the new ABRSM 2025 syllabus has been developed to capture the attention of today’s students. Rather than sticking with traditional repertoire, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) is now drawing from a wide range of genres, including pieces from movies, films, and even arrangements of pop songs. As an examiner, trainer, reviewer, and presenter for ABRSM, Samantha is passionate about introducing more diverse music styles into exam syllabuses. As Head of Keyboard at Peter Symonds College, Samantha knows firsthand that teenagers have less time nowadays to practice for hours on pieces they don’t relate to. Listen in as we discuss how the syllabus changes aim to inspire and challenge students, making classical music education more inclusive and relevant for today’s musical landscape. Samantha discusses her role and responsibilities at ABRSM. She also discusses her role as Head of Keyboard and involvement in various music programs. Overview of the ABRSM Piano Syllabus, including it's structure and updates. Different types of ABRSM exams and their requirements. Changes and goals of the 2025 Series, focusing on diversity and inclusion. Discussions around the inclusion of pop and contemporary music. Importance of giving students choice in their musical repertoire. How ABRSM examiners ensure fair evaluation of different music styles. Samantha performs excerpts from various pieces in the syllabus. Accessibility and availability of ABRSM music recordings on streaming platforms. Final thoughts from Samantha and where to find more information and resources. Links Mentioned Samantha Carrasco Website Find out more about ABRSM here. Today’s Guest Pianist Samantha Carrasco explores a diverse and flexible repertoire as a recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber musician and accompanist. Alongside her performing career, Samantha continues to pursue her commitment to education. She is an examiner, trainer, reviewer and presenter for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, working nationally and internationally in classical music, diplomas and jazz. She presents teaching and examining seminars on behalf of ABRSM in China, the USA and the UK and presented a number of practise and pedagogical videos over the lockdown. Samantha is the Head of Keyboard at Peter Symonds College, Winchester, and helps to run the Hampshire Specialist Music Course. Samantha participates in BSO Live! education projects and has made various performance presentation podcasts and videos. She coaches chamber ensembles and adjudicates music competitions as well as hosting masterclasses for pianists, accompanists and ensemble groups. Today’s Sponsor a...

    58 min

  4. 11 NOV

    391: Meet Brian Shepard, New CEO of MTNA

    Music is not just a profession; it's a calling, a lifetime of passion and dedication. In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Brian Shepard, the newly appointed CEO of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). With a musical and professional journey that mirrors this passion, Brian shares his early experiences with piano and voice, his swift rise within MTNA, and his transformative vision for the organization’s future. Outside MTNA, Brian enriches the music community through various leadership roles and continues to touch lives as a musician. Join us as Brian reveals how he plans to ensure that MTNA’s 150-year legacy remains vibrant and relevant in the 21st century. Brian shared a brief overview of his musical background, from studying violin to piano and voice. He talks about his roles at MTNA and his quick transition from working in retail to becoming Director of Marketing and Public Relations. His journey to becoming the CEO of MTNA and his responsibilities in this role. Insight into Brian's current musical activities, including community concerts. Overview of MTNA's mission and its focus on public awareness and support for music teachers. The decline of music programs in schools and MTNA's role in advocating for music education. Explanation of MTNA's structure, including state affiliates and local associations. Details about MTNA's annual conference and its significance. The new all-virtual conference, Tempo, aimed at creating greater access for teachers. Brian outlines his vision for MTNA, focusing on community development, cutting-edge programming, increasing access, and improving infrastructure. Increasing diversity and accessibility to attract teachers of other instruments. Importance of creating a welcoming community and support system for all music teachers. Details about the upcoming MTNA national conference in Minneapolis and the TEMPO virtual conference in April. Links Mentioned Brian Shepard LinkedIn Page Brian Shepard Facebook Page Brian Shepard Instagram Page Music Teachers National Association Website Music Teachers National Facebook Page Today’s Guest Brian Shepard is Chief Executive Officer of Music Teachers National Association. Brian first began his career at MTNA in 2003 as the Director of Marketing and Public Relations. In addition to his work at MTNA, Brian volunteers on several other nonprofit boards and committees. From 2009 to the present, Brian has served in multiple leadership roles with the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. He currently serves the Hall of Fame as Board President. Since 2013, he has been a member of the CCMpower Board at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Previously, Brian has served on the Cincinnati Opera Sales and Marketing Committee and was President of the Middletown Music Club. Brian is also an accomplished musician who performs frequently for church and community programs as a pianist, vocal soloist and choral conductor. A graduate of Miami University of Ohio, Brian holds degrees in marketing and music education. He was named an MTNA FOUNDATION Fellow in 2010. Today’s Sponsor a...

    35 min

  5. 4 NOV

    390: Teaching Piano on YouTube with Emma Blair Piano

    The beauty of music lies not just in its performance, but in the journey of learning and teaching it. In today’s episode, our guest, Emma Fajcz, shares her inspiring journey from being a reluctant piano student to becoming a YouTube sensation known for her practical and engaging piano tutorials. She transitioned from traditional one-on-one lessons to leveraging YouTube and social media to reach a broader audience. Emma discusses her creative process, how she balances multiple income streams, and offers invaluable advice to piano teachers looking to expand their online presence. Stay tuned as Emma reveals her top practice tips and insights into making piano practice both fun and efficient. Emma shared a brief overview of her background and music teaching studio. She shared about her transition from traditional teaching to YouTube. Her current teaching approach and some actionable tips for piano students and teachers. How she combined online business skills with piano teaching on YouTube. Splitting content into niche channels for better growth. Using Instagram for engaging with other piano teachers and students. The importance of using email marketing to grow your email list. Emma’s performance and personal practice tips and insights. How to handle social media overwhelm. Some tools and software that she uses, such as YouTube's built-in scheduler and Meta Business Suite for Instagram/Facebook. Her monetization strategy and why she prefers organic growth over paid advertising. She shared about her food blog that she co-runs with her mom. Links Mentioned Emma Blaire Piano Website Learn Piano with Emma Blair YouTube Page Emma Blaire Piano Instagram Page Emma Blair Piano Facebook Page Today’s Guest Emma Fajcz (fights) AKA Emma Blair Piano, a pianist of fifteen years and a piano teacher for four, didn’t have a typical start to piano. She quit piano lessons after several years to focus on dance, but later found her passion for piano as a teenager. After a few more years of piano, Emma figured that there must be ways to streamline her practice routine so she could learn more in less time--and what she learned was too helpful to keep to herself! Through her social media and email newsletter, Emma shares piano practice tips that help piano students and teachers make practice both fun and efficient. Today’s Sponsor ABRSM is The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and a global music education charity. At the heart of everything we do is our belief that music enriches lives. Building on our heritage, we offer face-to-face

    34 min

  6. 28 OCT

    389: Burnout, Cancer and a Learning Legacy with Dr Edward Gifford

    Sometimes, life forces us to pause, reflect, and completely redefine our path. Dr. Edward Gifford’s story is a powerful testament to this truth. A former senior lecturer in music education, Dr. Gifford spent decades shaping future educators, developing innovative teaching methods, and inspiring students with his passion for music. But when burnout and a life-altering diagnosis struck, he was forced to pivot and reinvent his life. In this episode, Edward shares how he transitioned from academia to life coaching, how he fought back against stage four cancer, and the profound wisdom he's gained on balancing purpose, well-being, and the power of love over fear. Join us as we dive into the powerful lessons he's learned about living with purpose and finding peace amidst life’s greatest challenges. Edward shared about his background as a music teacher, using a mix of singing, movement, music games, and incorporating methods like Kodaly, Orff, and Suzuki.He emphasized whole-body learning and music immersion before introducing instruments.How he fostered deeper musical understanding by encouraging creativity through movement, instruments, and imaginative play.His backstory and connection with Bec Stewart, TopMusicPro’s community manager.How he faced burnout, which led him to step away from music teaching.His life coaching career, guiding people to discover their life purpose using techniques like asking meaningful questions.He shared about his life-altering diagnosis.The importance of breathwork, mindfulness, and meditation to maintain mental wellness.His perspective on life and how he views life as seasons.Edward encourages living with purpose daily, seeing it as the key to peace and fulfillment.He shared about his book, "Broken to Whole: How to Put Humpty Together Again”. Links MentionedDr Edward Gifford's websiteDr Edward Gifford's book: Broken to Whole: How to Put Humpty Together AgainTopCast 388: Tim and Bec React to a Creative Piano Lesson from 1984! Today's Guest Prior to starting his life coaching business today’s guest was a senior lecturer in Music Education involved in undergraduate and post graduate teacher education within the University sector for some 20 years in WA, Tasmania and QLD. He’s also author of children’s music books - Read and Play the Singing Way. In 1991, Edward completed his PhD in Music Education, also at the University of London. He took up his first tertiary education teaching post in Tasmania in 1982 and moved to Griffith University in 1987. In 1998, due to a significant life changing event which brought his academic career to a sudden end, Edward reinvented his career to become a coach, trainer, speaker and author. Much of this period was also taken up in business coaching for small business owners. 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 Mondays weekly. a href="https://members.topmusic.co/register/tmp-studio-monthly?coupon=IMTPOD23" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    48 min

  7. 21 OCT

    388: Tim and Bec React to a Creative Piano Lesson from 1984!

    Today, we’re chatting with our very own Rebecca Stewart, a talented piano instructor and the Community Manager and Head of Certification at TopMusic. With a professional journey that includes over two decades of teaching with Yamaha Music Education Centres, Rebecca brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. We dive into a nostalgic video from 1984, showcasing Rebecca's childhood piano lessons with Dr. Edward Gifford. This episode highlights their discussion on creative teaching techniques like whole-body learning, solfège, and transposition. We also reflect on how these innovative methods shaped Rebecca's approach to music education and their relevance in today's teaching environment. Tune in to explore the intersection of past memories and modern advancements in music pedagogy. Rebecca shared a brief overview of her work background and her roles at TopMusic.She introduced a video of her childhood piano lessons with Dr. Edward Gifford.Discussion of various teaching techniques seen in the video, including movement and physical interaction and they highlight the novelty and effectiveness of Dr. Gifford’s methods.Tim shares his own music lesson experiences.Rebecca reflects on her accent and undiagnosed ADHD during her childhood.Importance of whole-body learning and physical movement in music education.Discussion on sensory memories contributing to learning experiences, usage of solfège and sneaky repetition in lessons.The importance of teaching transposition to children.Benefits of singing and playing simple melodies for enhancing sight-reading skills.Tim and Rebecca reflect on physical and imaginative engagement in music.Edward’s impact on Rebecca’s teaching methods.How a blended approach to music teaching contributes to long-term appreciation and understanding. Links MentionedClick here to watch the YouTube video of this interviewLink to Tim's childhood piano lesson YouTube videoTopCast Episode 387: A New Pathway to TopMusic Teacher Certification Today's Guest Rebecca grew up listening to her three older sisters practice their musical instruments. She delighted in her childhood music lessons and wanted to teach young children in a fun and creative way. Her piano teacher at Melbourne University recommended the Yamaha method, and Rebecca taught with Yamaha Music Education Centres from 1998 to 2018. She loved being a national teacher trainer with Yamaha, and enjoyed opportunities to travel to Toronto and Tokyo for Yamaha teacher development events. In 2016 Rebecca went to Jakarta where her 8-year-old Yamaha student performed his original composition at the Asia Pacific Junior Original Concert. Her first book "Sight Reading Secrets Grade One" was published in 2004, and there are now nine books in the series. In 2023, Rebecca worked with Tim Topham in developing the TopMusic Certification program. 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 Mondays weekly. a...

    39 min

  8. 14 OCT

    387: A New Pathway to TopMusic Teacher Certification

    As a music teacher, have you ever wished for a clear, guided path to professional recognition? In this episode, we're exploring a new pathway to TopMusic Teacher Certification program, exclusively available through our new Studio Plus membership. Today, I'll be sharing my own teaching journey, reflecting on the challenges of navigating the early years without a clear guide, and how this new certification is designed to empower music teachers with confidence and professional credibility. Whether you're looking to refine your pedagogy, improve your business skills, or gain recognition as a certified instructor, this episode is packed with insights into how you can elevate your teaching studio and career. Becoming TopMusic Certified and how it can transform your teaching studio.Overview of TopMusic Certification, now part of the Studio Plus membership.Tim reflects on his struggles and the lack of a clear guide in his early teaching career.Why get TopMusic certified  and why choose TopMusic Certification?The PRESTO Framework.10 key learning objectives, including creative teaching strategies, curriculum design, studio management, and marketing.Who is TopMusic Certification for?How to join TopMusic Teacher Certicication?Assessment process and renewal. Links MentionedTopMusic Teacher CertificationTopMusic 12-Week Studio TransformationJoin TopMusicPro or Upgrade to Studio Plus nowTopCast Episode 386: Introducing Our Studio Plus Membership!Register for the The 6 Cores of Music Teaching and Studio Business Success Workshop 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 Mondays weekly. Leave us a voice messageIf you would like to leave the Podcast Team a voicemail and have your burning questions answered on a future show or YouTube video, visit this link to leave us a voicemail today. Tim also accepts requests for his Pop Song Solutions videos if you have a pop song you’d like help teaching a student.

    26 min
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4.9
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

The original podcast for growth-minded instrumental music and voice teachers since 2015. Our mission at TopMusic is to empower music teachers to find and nurture their innate creativity so they can teach lessons that are innovative, integrated and inspiring, and that will have a positive, life-long impact on their students. Tune in weekly as we interview teachers and creators from around the world and unpack fun and exciting ideas to maximise your teaching and studio business success.

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