21 episodes
Teaching Studio Stories Nicola Cantan
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- Education
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5.0 • 3 Ratings
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Hey, you. Yes, you, that teacher beavering away teaching people how to create music. This is a show about you and others just like you.
In Teaching Studio Stories, we visit with a music teacher each week and learn about their journey to this career and the bumps and bruises they’ve encountered along the way. This is a positive and fun space that is also not afraid to face the music. Listen and learn from other mistakes, cheer for their successes and, above all, feel part of a global community of music teachers.
You are not doing this alone. You’re not the only one who isn’t sure about every move and step and word. Join us and find your tribe.
If you love this show and you want more, try The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast and the Colourful Keys blog. Please share your favourite episode (of either podcast!) with a teacher-friend who you think might enjoy it.
If you resonated with today’s story, then the Vibrant Music Teaching membership is probably a good fit for you too. Find out more at vibrantmusicteaching.com.
https://vibrantmusicteaching.com
https://colourfulkeys.ie/blog/
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/the-vibrant-music-teaching-podcast-proven-and/id1408807580
https://www.instagram.com/colourfulkeys/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vibrantmusicstudioteachers
ABOUT THE HOST
Hi! My name’s Nicola Cantan and I have been teaching piano in Dublin, Ireland since 2005.
When I first started teaching, I was teaching the way I was taught. Nothing wrong with that right? It got me to where I was.
What gradually started to become more and more apparent though, was how much of music had been left out of my own piano lessons. No one had ever encouraged me to compose, taught me to play pop tunes by ear or allowed me to improvise and embellish melodies.
All I could do was play classical pieces exactly as the composer intended. (Oh, and scales. I could play lots of scales quickly and accurately in many different permutations and configurations.)
I decided this wasn’t what I wanted to pass on to the next generation.
Well, I did want to pass on this ability – but also so much more! I don’t want to throw out what’s working, but I think the standard piano lesson format could use a makeover.
What I do at Colourful Keys is to open students up to their own musical journey. What’s going to really inspire each student is going to be different. My job is to open the doors.
My students perform confidently, write their own music, play with great technique, get great exam results, and enjoy collaborating with other musicians. They play jazzy pieces & pop songs as well as the great classical masters.
This is what I call a well-rounded musical education.
It’s a big wide musical world, and I want my students to have all the tools needed to go exploring.
I went through about 13 years of music education before I knew anything about improvisation, playing from lead sheets, composing or how pop music is constructed. When I finally started learning about all these things I felt pretty cheated. Why had no one introduced me to all of this great stuff?
I don’t want to cheat my students out of anything that could help them connect with music-making.
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Quit your day job with Becs Leighton
Today we’re heading to the UK to visit Becs Leighton. Becs had a successful career and one that she enjoyed before she gave it up to go all in with teaching and find a better life-balance for her and her family. I hope you’ll be inspired by her bravery and passion, I know I was!
Becs Leighton is a piano and flute teacher based in Bingley, West Yorkshire. She teaches from a studio in her back garden, and she teaches all ages from 4 to retired-a-long-time-ago! She is also one of the 2 Musical Directors of Bradford and Airedale Youth Choir, and occasional MD for theatre productions. Her core teaching values are built on her belief that music is for everyone - it should be inclusive, collaborative, individualised, inspiring and fun. She absolutely LOVES her job and is super geeky about putting theory into practice, so you'll find her on any training courses that help her understand more about piano and flute pedagogy, vocal coaching, and how our brains work!
Links mentioned today…Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com -
Tell me you don't know with Lisa Kisselstein
Today we’re visiting with Lisa Kisselstein in New York. Lisa is the definition of a lifelong learner in my book, she’s constantly questioning and seeking out answers and, as we discuss, admitting when she doesn’t know something yet. I know you’ll love our conversation and that it’ll give you an energy boost for your day.
Links mentioned today…Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.comTopMusic: topmusic.coSara Campbell: savvymusicstudio.comTiny Finger Takeoff: vibrantmusicteaching.com/courses/tiny-finger-takeoffPractice Pro: vibrantmusicteaching.com/courses/practice-pro -
A world-inspired studio with Aura Ruddell
Today we’re heading to Seattle to chat to Aura Ruddell. Aura’s diverse studio sounds like exactly the place I want to learn! Content warning that you may have an urge to head back in time and sign up for lessons with her too. ;)
Aura Ruddell is a musician and the owner of Cicada Music School, an inclusive music and piano studio in Seattle for students of all ages and backgrounds.
www.cicadamusicschool.com
Links mentioned today…Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.comwww.cicadamusicschool.com -
Embracing imperfection with Marcia Kravis
Today we’re heading to New Jersey to hear from Marcia Kravis. Marcia’s journey from harpsichordist to piano teacher is a fascinating one with lots of lessons about enjoying the longer route on the way.
Marcia teaches children ages 4 - 80 in Philadelphia, USA. Because her piano lives out of town, she bicycles to her students’ homes to teach them. Trained as a harpsichordist, she plays baroque music professionally.
Links mentioned today…Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com -
Travelling to teaching with Mei Po Sum
Today we’re heading to Singapore to visit Mei Po Sum. She hasn’t always lived there, though…far from it. Her story gave me instant itchy feet for travelling and, even more that, many flashbacks to my beginning years of teaching when I let parents run my studio. If you can relate, I think you’ll appreciate Mei Po’s perspective.
Mei Po has played the piano since she was a young child and is embracing her purpose as a piano teacher since leaving the corporate profession. Her mission is to instil a love of learning in her students so that their journey with piano will stay with them for life, even after they stop having lessons. Being based in the international hub of Singapore gives Mei Po the opportunity to teach students from different backgrounds, and she loves the diverse personalities that she interacts with each week. In her spare time, Mei Po loves to travel, cook, and indulge in her favourite books and tv shows.
Links mentioned today…Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com -
Exploring new strategies with Juanita Stauffer
Today we’re visiting Juanita Stauffer in Alberta, Canada. I’m hoping to meet Juanita in real life when covid finally allows me to attend the Alberta Piano Teacher’s Association conference but until then it was such a pleasure to chat with her virtually. I think Juanita’s advice about sticking to your policies might hit home for you in a way that this hasn’t rung true before.
Juanita Stauffer teaches a great group of students in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in her private piano studio. She enjoys making music with her students, playing cello in a community orchestra, reading, knitting, baking and gardening. Juanita is the president of the Alberta Piano Teachers Association and loves to encourage other teachers in their teaching endeavours.
Links mentioned today…Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com