Piano Teaching Success Podcast

The children sitting in front of you right now have brains that work entirely differently to the way they did just a few years ago. They’re living in a world where information is accessible at all times.  In this podcast episode, Anita Collins says this will require us, as humans, to evolve. She talks about how we can work with devices and addiction withdrawal and other experiences kids need in their lives that balance the digital world they’re living in.  This is why music is so important for kids right now.  Listening to this episode will help you understand where kids are at and where learning experiences are going.  If you’ve been worried about AI or digital apps taking over the music world, this episode will help you stay open minded to evolve and use tech in a way that supports our lives.  Dr. Anita Collins is one of the world's leading researchers in brain development and music learning. She's the author of The Music Advantage, the creator of Bigger Better Brains, and she has spent years translating complex neuroscience into language that teachers, parents, and policymakers can actually use. This conversation goes deep into what's actually happening in the brains of this generation of students, why it matters, and why music learning is uniquely placed to give children the very thing their devices are taking away. This one will change how you see your work. In this episode, you'll discover: How growing up in a screen-saturated world is genuinely reshaping children's brains What executive function actually is, why it matters, and why it's not developing the same way it did in previous generations Why this generation of students is both more sophisticated and more fragile; and what that means for how we teach them Why music matters now more than ever  The profound difference between what your students experience in a piano lesson and what they experience everywhere else in their lives Why what you do in your studio is far more than piano lessons    About Dr. Anita Collins Dr. Anita Collins is an internationally recognised researcher, educator, and writer in the field of brain development and music learning. She is the author of The Music Advantage and the creator of the Bigger Better Brains programme. Her TED talks and research have reached educators and parents around the world. Anita’s Program: biggerbetterbrains.com Anita’s Book: The Music Advantage  Anita’s TED Talk: The Benefits of Music Education  Resources 🎁 Free Download — The Real Secret to Keeping Piano Students Engaged Practical strategies to keep your students motivated, progressing, and loving their lessons. 👉 Download free here → https://www.pianoteachingsuccess.com/lm-keeping-students-engaged-guide Support the Podcast  If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would:  ⭐ Subscribe  ⭐ Rate  ⭐ Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Enjoy on your favourite platform Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts

What does it actually look like to transition from a full private lesson schedule to a group piano studio, in real life, in under a year? In this episode, I sat down with Caelyn, a young piano teacher from Wisconsin, who completed Group Piano University just nine months ago and has already transformed her studio, and her lifestyle, in ways she never knew were possible.  And now? She’s actually wondering what to do with her freed up time.  I hope you love this episode as this inspiring GPU grad walks us through step by step how she went from a maxed out schedule, to a thriving group piano studio.  She also reveals how she’s expanding even further to build the music school she's always envisioned. This is a real, honest, inspiring, and funny conversation about what's possible. I hope you love it!  Gillian x In this episode, you'll discover: (00:00) Why Caelyn decided she didn't want a studio full of private lessons, and what she did about it (04:20) How she went from 50 private students to 70 students (50 in groups) in under a year (08:10) How she launched her first group of six students and why that first mum brought four friends along (13:45) The surprising reason groups work better for Caelyn  (18:30) The mindset challenges of introducing groups (22:00) What she noticed musically about her group students  (27:15) Her exciting plans for the next stage of growth  (31:00) Her advice for any teachers interested in starting groups  Resources Want to See How Group Lessons Really Work? If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes. 🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)  Get the free video training here →   Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would:  ⭐ Subscribe  ⭐ Rate  ⭐ Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Listen/Watch on:  Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts Want More Done-for-You Whole Body Learning Resources? Inside The Studio, you'll find: a huge library of lesson-ready resources, including essential backing tracks practical Whole Body Learning strategies monthly masterclasses (live + replay) downloadable handouts up-to-the-minute teaching insights a supportive, nurturing community of piano teachers around the world 👉 Discover The Studio

 When thinking about starting groups many teachers get caught up in the “How will I do this?” question but what they should really be asking themselves is What is important to me musically and professionally?  In other words, what do you want for your students and yourself from adding groups to your teaching? And that’s where the principle of “Beginning with the end in mind” made famous by Stephen Covey in his book “Habits of Highly Effective People” comes into play. Adding groups to your studio can be one of the most powerful ways to teach music but choosing the right format, one that gives both you and your students what you want is key. In this episode we share how our single level curriculum has enabled us to keep students long term in groups sharing footage of a group of teens who started in groups at 4 or 5 and how they are best of friends - still learning in groups. Enjoy a peek into our world with real-life examples of groups in action.  See the lasting friendships, performance skills, and strong musical skills students can achieve almost effortlessly in groups. In this episode, you’ll discover: (00:00) How thinking about your ultimate goals or learning outcomes is the best place to start(01:30) Our now teenage students share what they love about groups(03:30) Our Ultimate Goals - give students musical like skills (05:20) How the soft outcomes of learning with others -  peer motivation and long-term friendships(09:10) Differences between private & group lessons(10:40) The staggering differences between novice and expert group piano teachers (15:10) Live group lesson in action - watch how the lesson flows If you’ve ever wondered how teachers run group piano lessons that are structured, musical, and engaging — without chaos, this episode will open your eyes to what’s possible.   Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, we’d be so grateful if you would: ⭐ Subscribe⭐ Rate⭐ Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Or Listen|Watch on Your Favourite Platform Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts Want to See How Group Lessons Really Work? If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes. 🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)  Get the free video training here →  

  The Skill Every Musician Needs, From Beginners to Professionals - That's Often Overlooked Why do some students struggle to play in time — even when they can count perfectly? In this episode, we unpack one of the most fundamental (and overlooked) skills in piano teaching: beat. We explore why beat is the foundation of all music, why rhythm can’t exist without it, and why counting alone doesn’t always help. You’ll discover why beat is something students need to feel, not calculate - and how it helps at every level. We also demonstrate one of our favourite Whole Body Learning beat activities, Shark Shark.   In this episode, you’ll discover: (00:00) Why Beat Is the Most Important Skill in Music (And Why It’s Often Missed) (01:32) Why Counting Alone Doesn’t Guarantee Playing in Time (02:50) Why Beat Is a Feeling — Not a Mathematical Process (03:37) How One Simple Activity Can Build Beat, Reading, Creativity, and Awareness (06:16) How Beat Supports Sight-Reading, Ensemble Playing, Focus, and Musical Confidence Access the Shark Shark activity below to help students develop creativity, improvisation, reading stamina, and a deeper connection to music.   The Podcast Goodies & Resouces Podcast resources are available on the Piano Teaching Success website. Simply log in via the link below to access 📝 Get the Shark Shark beat activity If you’re a PTS Studio member, simply log in ➤ ⁠Access goodies instantly⁠  New to Piano Teaching Success? ➤ ⁠Register and download⁠    Join our Newsletter for updates  Never miss an episode →   Small Favour If you loved this episode and enjoyed the Shark Shark download, please click subscribe and like on your favourite platform - it helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. 🎉   Listen/Watch on: Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts   Want More Done-For-You Whole Body Learning Resources? Inside The Studio, you’ll find: A huge library of lesson-ready resources, including essential backing tracks Practical Whole Body Learning strategies Monthly masterclasses (live + replay) Downloadable handouts Up-to-the-minute teaching insights A supportive, nurturing community of piano teachers around the world 👉 [Discover The Studio]

Episode 2: What Neuroscientists Discovered About Learning — Every Piano Teacher Must Know Have you ever watched a piano student’s eyes glaze over — even though they’re “doing the work”? In this episode, Gillian and Paul unpack groundbreaking neuroscience research that explains why this happens — and what actually helps students learn faster, retain more, and enjoy lessons again. We explore Dr Stanislas Dehaene’s Four Pillars of Learning and show exactly how they apply to modern piano teaching through the Whole Body Learning (WBL) approach. In this episode, you’ll discover: (00:00) Why students’ eyes glaze over and how to maintain their attention (01:12) How the brain learns best and how to use this to your advantage (02:25) Why passive learning doesn’t work in piano lessons and what to do instead (03:35) Why students keep coming back with the same mistakes and what to do about it (04:40) How students can make progress even if they don't practice Resources:  Podcast resources available on the Piano Teaching Success website.  Simply log in via the link below to access The Podcast Goodies.  Dehaene’s Four Pillars of Learning (visual/model) Have you tried Cha Cha Cha with your students?  If you’re a PTS Studio member, simply log in and ➤ Access goodies instantly  New to Piano Teaching Success? ➤ Registration and download   Support the Podcast We have a small favour to ask - If you loved listening to the latest neuroscience and helpful hacks for teaching piano to today's kids, please click subscribe and like on your favourite platform so our podcast can reach more teachers just like you. We’d be so grateful if you would: ⭐ subscribe ⭐ rate and ⭐ leave a quick review …it helps more teachers find this work and feel supported. Listen/Watch on:  Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts Want More Done-For-You Whole Body Learning Resources? Inside The Studio, you’ll find: A huge library of lesson-ready resources, including important backing tracks  Practical Whole Body Learning strategies Monthly masterclasses (live + replay) Downloadable handouts Up-to-the-minute teaching insights  And a supportive, nurturing community of teachers around the world Discover The Studio

Gillian and Paul are looking forward to sharing ideas, tips, and strategies for using the Whole Body Learning methodology to make piano teaching easier and effective.