Category: Music Lessons

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Inspiring Lessons Through Smart Planning-and a free resource!

lizteachespiano

 Whether you teach piano, violin, or voice — a clear curriculum and planning turns lessons into lasting progress.

Teaching music privately gives flexibility — but without a structured approach, that freedom can become overwhelming. I like organisation and planning. A well-crafted curriculum and plan doesn’t restrict creativity, it supports it. With the right planning and curriculum in place, you can stay consistent, adapt to individual students, and track progress with clarity and confidence.

Here are a few practical tips to help you shape your music lessons:


1. Start with a “Why?”

Ask yourself:

  • What is the goal of your teaching? (Exam prep? Creative expression? Life-long musicality?) These goals may be different for depending on your student.
  • What do you value in a musician? What do you think is important for a student to know?

This helps shape your curriculum— and makes sure every lesson builds toward something meaningful.

Be sure to ask your students “Why?” also. At every trial, I ask my students why they want to learn to play piano or sing. 

2. Design Flexible Learning Plans

You don’t need a rigid syllabus. Instead, create learning levels (e.g. Beginner, Early Intermediate, etc.) and have an idea of what students need to know at each level:

  • Core skills (technique, reading, listening)
  • Repertoire (always get your students input in repertoire also)
  • Creative work (improv, composition, etc.)

A note here: You will be teaching all these things to all your students, but you may have students with particular interests/goals. It is very important that you incorporate their goals into your lessons to give them a personal 1 on 1 experience (after all, that is often what students are having private tuition for) . So if you have a student who wants to get better at sight reading, make sure you plan this into their lesson in a way that works for them. The way one student learns to sight read will be different to another.

3. Plan Lessons in “Mini-Arcs”

Think in 3–5 lesson arcs, rather than one-off lessons. Each arc could have a little focus on:

  • A piece or project
  • A specific technique (e.g. legato playing, bow control)
  • A musical concept (e.g. phrasing, dynamics, rhythm)
  • What do I want the student to know or do by the end of this arc? (Ask the student for their input as well.)
  • How will I break that down across lessons?
    You will still need to be covering everything they need to know in the lesson, but there wil be a time in the lesson you can focus on this particular area. 

4. Keep your Lessons and Curriculum Balanced

A well-balanced music lesson usually includes:

  • Warm-up or review (5–10 min)
  • Technique focus (10–15 min)
  • Repertoire (15–20 min)
  • Creative or listening activity (5–10 min)

Mixing modes — playing, listening, creating — keeps energy up and supports different learning styles.

5. Reflect and Adjust Often

After each lesson, jot down:

  • What worked?
  • Challenges?
  • Next step?

Even a 1-minute note helps you spot patterns and adapt. Over time, this turns into a useful resource for planning and curriculum insight.

It is a lot of work being a private music teacher! Planning and preparation of every students lessons does take time. However, if you do stay consistent with goals and planning- not only is beneficial for the student- but beneficial for you as a teacher- you go into each lesson calm and prepared. 

You don’t need a one-size-fits-all curriculum- you need a framework that guides each student’s journey. If you’re a little stuck on how to begin, use this lesson plan document to jot ideas down. I would recommend in time you begin to make more personal plans and layout, but to make a start I hope this will be useful!

With structure and planning, your lessons become more purposeful, and your students feel the difference. 

learning environment, Music Lessons, music performance, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, singing lessons, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

From Practice to Performance

lizteachespiano

Over the past few weeks, one of my students (as well as learning scales, arpeggios and two other more traditional pieces) went from practice to performance, giving a gorgeous rendition of “Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star on piano.

It started with the basics—practice getting comfortable with the chords , smoothing out transitions, and keeping a steady rhythm. Slowly but surely, the song performance began to take shape.

This post is about how that hard work paid off!

To help the student experience the feel of moving from practice to performance, I picked up a guitar and began to accompany them—singing the melody while playing a bit of an accompaniment .As the familiar chords rang out from the piano, supported by gentle strumming and vocals, everything clicked.

My student wasn’t just practicing anymore—they were playing music. 

From practice to performance

Hearing their part in context brought a new level of understanding and confidence. It was a real collaboration, and a reminder that even simple chords can create something powerful when shared.

Moments like this are what music lessons are all about: connection, creativity, and the joy of turning practice into performance.

Never underestimate a good teacher, an amazing student and a song.

beginner tutorial, Music Composition, Music Lessons, music performance, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, Uncategorized

Mnemonic Magic: Master Piano Notes the easy Way

lizteachespiano

Plus a free resource!

Hello! I know it has been a little while since my last blog, I’ve been teaching final summer lessons for some students (so they have to be extra special!) , planning summer lessons for students still taking lessons, rehearsing for performances and working in my allotment. Along with many other things. Today I writing a blog on something lots of students struggle with, but is truly fundamental when it comes to learning piano (particularly if you want to be independent and free to play whatever you want at some point!) That is reading music. A good way to begin to read piano music is with mnemonics. With a little Mnemonic Magic, you will be well on your way to reading piano notes!

 Mnemonics are memory aids that help you remember information—in this case, the names of the notes on the lines and spaces of the musical stave (staff) for piano.

Firstly, lets get to grip with a piano staff:

🎼 Understanding the Staff:

  • The staff consists of five lines and four spaces.
  • Piano music uses two staves:
    • The treble clef (usually middle C and above, and for beginners, usually for the right hand)
    • The bass clef (usually middle C and below, and for beginners, usually for the left hand)

Tip: You can access blank sheet music at https://pianocoda.com/blank-sheet-music/

🎹 Treble Clef Mnemonics 

Lines (from bottom to top):

E – G – B – D – F
 💡 Mnemonic Magic: Every Green Bus Drives Fast
(this works well in my town as the busses are green!)

Spaces (from bottom to top):

F – A – C – E
 💡 Mnemonic Magic: Just remember: it spells “FACE”!

🎹 Bass Clef Mnemonics (Left Hand)

Lines (from bottom to top):

G – B – D – F – A
 💡 Mnemonic Magic: Good Burgers Deserve Fries Always

Spaces (from bottom to top):

A – C – E – G
 💡 Mnemonic Magic: All Cows Eat Grass

Mnemonic Magic

This is available to download as a free pdf on my resources page.

How to use the mnemonic magic:

When reading sheet music:

  • You identify whether a note is on a line or space.
  • You determine which clef is used.
  • You then apply the mnemonic to quickly figure out the note name.
  • This will become more automatic with practice and eventually gets replaced by immediate recognition.

What about B, middle C and D?

Middle C is below the lines in treble clef and above the lines in bass clef. Think of music like a diagonal line going up, not just two straight lines. You can also use the resource I’ve provided to actually picture middle C on the page.

💡Mnemonic Magic Tip:

Always try to recognise where middle C is on the music. Try to note where maybe D below middle C is (3rd line up in bass clef) and an octave higher than middle C (3rd space up in treble clef). These are good ANCHOR points. As time progresses start to remember more anchor points, and use the same idea for notes above and below the main stave (but those notes are for another blog!)

Thanks for reading 🙂

beginner tutorial, Business, learning environment, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, Uncategorized

Why Piano Duets Deserve a Place in your Lesson

lizteachespiano

Why Teach Piano Duets?

Here’s why piano duets deserve a place in your lesson: There’s something a little magical about four hands on one piano. Piano duets—whether teacher and student or two students together—bring a fresh energy to lessons. They create connection, encourage listening, and add a little extra fun.

While solo playing builds independence, duets foster collaboration. Students must tune in to rhythm, timing, and phrasing—not just their own, but their partner’s too. It’s music-making as conversation.

The Benefits Go Beyond the Notes

  • Boost Listening Skills: Students learn to hear the whole, not just their part.
  • Strengthen Rhythm & Timing: Duets demand precision and ensemble awareness.
  • Build Confidence: Its good for students who feel a little nervous performing- in a sense they are performing because they are working with another person, but its still low stakes because the other person is not “watching” them.
  • Encourage Social Connection: Piano is often a solo instrument—duets add a sense of team and fun.
  • Improve Sight-Reading: Students are more motivated to read ahead because they need to keep up.

👉 Pro Tip: Keep an easy duet book readily accessible in your lesson- it can be great for if the student needs a break from the task at hand, and can be a good confidence boost and refresh!

Try It This Week

Next time your student’s motivation dips or you finish a piece early, pull out a piano duet. Whether it’s a silly beginner tune or a fun jazz piece, you’ll be amazed at how engaged they become, and you’ll see why piano duets deserve a place in your lesson.

🎹 After all, the best part of playing piano isn’t always the notes—sometimes it is who you’re sharing them with.

A fabulous student and I playing Coconut Rumba by Roy Stratford.

Want More Duet Resources?

Check out these ideas for some duet music- I really like Piano time books, so I’ve linked the one I’m using in the video:

Ready to bring duet magic into your piano playing?

Feel free to get in touch if you’re interested in more tips ideas, or beginning your own musical adventure!

beginner tutorial, learning environment, Music Composition, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, Uncategorized

Playing piano by ear

lizteachespiano

Have you ever heard a song and wished you could just sit down and play it—without sheet music, just by listening? That magical skill is called playing piano by ear, and the good news is: Anyone can learn it, and it’s a fun way to make music. I like to think over the years I have become relatively good at this, but it does take some training. Here are some of the keys to playing piano by ear: 

What does it mean to “Play by Ear”?

Playing piano by ear ( or playing by ear) means listening to music and figuring it out on your instrument without using written notes. You start to recognize patterns, chords, and melodies just by sound. Think of it like learning a new language—you start by hearing and repeating before reading or writing.

Why is playing piano by ear valuable?

  1. Improves Listening Skills – You become more in tune (no pun intended!) with what you hear. I encourage all my students to listen to lots of music, and listen to what they are playing. The more you can recognise notes and tones, the easier playing by ear is.
  2. Boosts Creativity – You can improvise, make your own arrangements, and even write music more easily. I work on improvisation and composition with my students, and it’s always really fun and interesting to hear the outcomes!
  3. Adds Confidence – You can deviate from the written music on your page (when the time and place is right!) you can collaborate with other musicians, and it becomes a lot quicker to play many songs you always wanted to play.

Some simple keys to get your started:

  • Pick Simple Songs You Know Well – Nursery rhymes, favorite movie themes, or pop songs with clear melodies.
  • Hum the Melody First – If you can sing it, you can start finding the notes on the piano.
  • Try One Note at a Time – Don’t rush. Finding even a small part of the melody by ear is a great start.
  • Practice. Immerse yourself in lots of different types of music.
We are ready for eurovision!

A Little Goes a Long Way

In piano lessons, I work on improvisation and composition with my students, and it’s always really fun and interesting to hear the outcomes!
Alongside reading music , some improvisation and composition tasks will help students grow into well-rounded musicians. Even just a few minutes a week playing by ear can spark new excitement and confidence.

Ready to give it a try? At Liz teaches Piano, I enjoy helping students explore music beyond the page. Whether you’re new to the piano or have been playing for years, Let your ears lead the way!