Category: piano performance

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

Short but Sweet: Short Music Courses

lizteachespiano

Short music courses offer a variety of benefits, making them a great choice for people looking to begin learning musical skills or explore new areas of interest.

Here are some reasons why short music courses are a great option:

🧁 Time-Saving

Short music courses are designed to fit into busy schedules. They allow students to learn new skills without committing to long-term programs or giving up too much time. This flexibility makes them ideal for people with jobs, families, or other responsibilities who want to improve their musical abilities without long term commitment.

🧁 Affordable

Short music courses are typically more affordable than full-length courses. This lower price point makes music education more accessible for people who might not have the financial resources to commit to a full-time program.

🧁 Immediate Results

Because short courses are more condensed, students often see quicker results. Whether you’re learning a new instrument or refining a particular technique, the focused nature of the course helps accelerate progress. This can be highly motivating, as learners can immediately apply what they’ve learned in a short period of time.

🧁 Variety of Topics

Short music courses often cover a wide range of topics. From songwriting to production techniques, students can explore different aspects of music in a short amount of time. This allows for the opportunity to discover new interests or skills.

🧁 No Long-Term Commitment

For those who are unsure whether they want to pursue music, short music courses offer a low-risk way to explore their interests. If they find that a particular course or subject isn’t a good fit, they can move on without feeling like they’ve invested too much time or money.

🧁 Hands-On Learning

Short courses often include practical, hands-on learning experiences, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned immediately. This practical approach helps build confidence and ensures that learners can apply their new skills quickly, such as writing a song, producing a track, or performing live.

🧁 Opportunity for Networking

Many short courses are held in group settings, whether online or in person. This allows students to meet other like-minded individuals, who share their musical interests.

🧁Convenient Online Options

Many short music courses are available online, making it even easier for students to access education . Whether you’re learning from home, on the go, or from anywhere with an internet connection, online courses offer unparalleled convenience.


Are you interested in learning a musical skill? My short music courses are designed to improve your musical abilities in an engaging, simple way:

short music course

Lunctime Liz teaches piano

With the short course: Lunchtime Liz teaches piano, learn basic beginner piano skills in your lunchbreak!

Course information

short music course

Electronic music for adults

This course is for adults who have an interest in music production and making electronic music, but are not sure how to begin.

Course Information

short music course

Electronic music for children and young people

Perfect for children and young people who like computers, and might be ready to explore music as well!

Course information

Short music courses are perfect for anyone looking for a quick and focussed way to improve their musical skills, whether as a beginner or an experienced musician looking to expand their knowledge. They’re affordable, and provide immediate benefits, making them an excellent choice!


beginner tutorial, Business, Entrepreneur, learning environment, Music Lessons, music performance, piano performance, piano teacher, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

How to be a musician and an entrepreneur

lizteachespiano

How to be a musician and an entrepreneur is an interesting position to be in, and also a difficult one.

Of course, everyone knows that being a professional musician in any form is notoriously difficult. After all, if it was easy to make money from something you enjoy, then everyone would do it. Being a professional musician- and I use this term for someone who makes money from music in some form or another-  requires planning, effort, and dedication.

In this blog I will talk a little about some key points if you are considering starting a music teaching business, as this is what I do. Although sometimes I am lucky enough to get paid to perform, realistically this is unlikely to sustain you. Using the skills and experiences I had already, it seemed a next step in life could be to try to teach music. For me, I think it was the right step to take. 

Keep in mind these tips are from the experience I have had. Yours will be different. Part of how to be a musician and entrepreneur is working with who you are, and what you are capable of. If you are not honest with yourself, it will only increase frustration and negativity.

However, the positive bit!

By preparing, providing excellent service, and marketing effectively, you can create a sustainable and fulfilling music teaching business, where you are doing something worthwhile for yourself, and giving something worthwhile to others.

I am always learning and developing my business. I do not have all the answers, but before you entertain the idea further and try to find customers, consider these things:

  • Do you have: a)the practical skills to do this? (teaching experience/qualifications etc) and  b) the personality to do this? (being very self driven, passionate about what you do and organised).
  • There are other avenues you can try without having to go it alone. You could work for a music school or substitute lessons. You could teach as a hobby with much lower stakes, the list goes on.
  • Do you have the time,space and resources to get this off the ground? These are luxuries not everyone has and are necessary to try and start a business. Unless you have a lot of contacts (unfortunately this was not me) you will need to be prepared to put a lot of effort in for maybe six months or more, with very little pay back. Do not give up your day job expecting to be able to earn and live the same way, just with more time to do what you want. You won’t. If it’s not the right time now, that doesn’t mean that the stars won’t align in the future. Patience really is a virtue when it comes to starting a musical business.
  • Clarify what instruments or lessons you will offer (piano, guitar, voice, workshops, groups lessons etc.)
  • Decide on the type of business structure (sole proprietorship, a small company etc.) I am not naturally a business minded person. When I started, I had no clue that there were different options and why. Research research research. Study, learn, ask questions! Check with your local government to see if you need a business license or permits to operate a music lesson business. Here in Sweden I recommend you go to https://verksamt.se/en
  • Online presence- social media- keep branding and be consistent- this is something I need to work more on for sure! Its 2024, you need to develop a website where potential students can learn more about your offerings, pricing, and booking.

A successful musician doesn’t just focus on artistic talent; they also recognize the importance of treating music as a business.

Why is musician entrepreneur different from another type of entrepreneur? It is because you are selling a skill, an experience and a feeling. You’re not giving a product to touch like shoes or a sandwich. How will you make your service feel like a product? This is what most people will want to feel they have. How will you sell the experience?

Once you have your first customer- congratulations! Here are some things to consider when you begin to interact with real paying customers:

  • Providing excellent customer service will help build long-term relationships with students and their families.
  • Communication: Be responsive to inquiries and maintain clear communication about scheduling, payment, and progress. Be punctual. 
  • Stay Passionate: Your enthusiasm for music will be contagious. Let your love for teaching and music shine through in every lesson.
  • Mental Resilience: You may face disappointments and curve balls in your musical and entrepreneurial journey. It is not a 9-5 job. Personally I like routine and structure, and so this is a challenge for me. Many musicians face mental health challenges like performance anxiety, imposter syndrome, and isolation. Developing emotional resilience is an important part of maintaining a healthy musician mindset. It’s an important thing to consider when deciding if a business in music is for you.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the industry for years, cultivating a positive and proactive mindset will help you not only become a better musician but also navigate the complexities of a music career with confidence and purpose.

I have learnt a lot of these things the hard way, and I hope my experiences can help others who would be interested in building a business in music but have no clue where to begin.

Remember: The reason people push through the hurdles is because to entrepreneurially pursue something you enjoy even if the payback is small, is incredibly rewarding. 

In my Lunchtime Liz teaches piano course, I will cover a little more about musician mindset. Even if you have no intention of being a musician or an entrepreneur, it is worth keeping in mind. Sometimes you have to talk to yourself in a certain way to get the most enjoyment from learning music!

I think this is something which is not often covered in music lessons, but can really help people maximise their potential and minimise their disappointments in the journey to learning a musical instrument. I will also be providing an e-booklet as a resource to the people on the course, elaborating and adding to the entrepreneurial aspects and the musician mindset covered in this blog.

Who knows, I might even make another blog about how to be a musician and an entrepreneur…watch this space!


beginner tutorial, learning environment, music performance, music production, piano performance, Uncategorized

The Korg NTS-1: A compact synth thats big on fun.

lizteachespiano

The Korg NTS-1 (Nu Synthesizer) is a compact and affordable DIY synthesizer kit that may be small but is big on fun. It has captured the imagination of musicians and synth enthusiasts since its release.

There is now a MK II, but I’ve got the MK I, so that’s what Ill be talking about.

Why did I buy it?

I thought the NTS-1 would be fun to have because of a) how small it is! And b) the ability to customize and expand its sound.

I bought it predominantly to add more effects for my Arturia Minifreak (read the blog here), but more on that later. 

A DIY Approach to Synthesis

The NTS-1 arrives as a kit, which might seem scary, but don’t worry, assembly is ok (maybe half an hour or so?) and doesn’t require any soldering. This DIY aspect not only makes the NTS-1 more affordable but also makes you feel invested in this little machine from the start 😁

The Korg NTS-1 Mk1 come flat pack, but feels very rewarding once you have put it together.
There are not too many parts, it also has some screws and the keyboard part (which isn’t in this picture unfortunately)

Powerful Sound Engine

At the heart of the NTS-1 is a digital oscillator. It offers a wide range of sounds, from rich analogue-style tones to complex digital waveforms. The NTS-1 can also have sounds and effects added to it. It’s a little tricky to start with, but go to the Korg website and then support, find your synthesizer and it gets a bit more straightforward. The website shows you lots of different sounds and some are free! Make sure you use the official channels to download from. I also found a super helpful YouTube video here.

Note: I couldn’t get my computer to recognise it so you might have to do something to your audio drivers- google will be your friend here-but this could also be because my computer is a bit old and weak, and is already doing a lot with sound equipment! Fix: I just put the Korg digital librarian on my partners computer and it worked perfectly. 

I was very proud of myself when I downloaded some new sounds!

Example of a new sound!

Compact but Feature-Packed

The NTS-1 is packed with features. It includes a multimode filter, three LFOs, an envelope generator, and a versatile arpeggiator. The onboard effects section is especially impressive, offering high-quality reverb, delay, and modulation effects that can dramatically alter your sound. Whether you’re looking to create lush pads, sharp leads, or experimental textures, the NTS-1 can handle it.

Perfect Companion for Other Gear

So remember I said the main reason I got it was for more effects for my MiniFreak? The NTS-1 shines when used with other gear. It has full MIDI and sync capabilities, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into larger setups. Its audio input even lets you process external signals through its effects, making it a great tool for adding depth and character to other instruments. If you connect the timer to your other equipment, the arpeggiator will slow or speed up according to what you’re doing on the other synth, which I found fun as well.

Endless Creativity

The Korg NTS-1 encourages endless experimentation. Whether you’re a beginner looking to dip your toes into synthesis or an experienced musician searching for a portable and versatile synth, the NTS-1 offers something for everyone. Anyway enough of me describing- here a video of it in action. Thanks for reading!

An example of the effects so far!
beginner tutorial, learning environment, Music Lessons, piano lessons, piano performance, piano practice, piano teacher, singing lessons, Singing teacher, Uncategorized

Get prepared and stay organised! Your music teacher checklist

lizteachespiano

As a music teacher preparing for the back-to-school season (or maybe you are starting this semester!) you’ll need a variety of resources that can help you organize your lessons, engage your students, and enhance your teaching.

Here are some valuable resources I have discovered across different categories which I have put together into a music teacher checklist available to download in this blog!

Your music teacher checklist, Lesson Planning and Organization

You will need some sort of planner. Now, personally I like to have a notebook AND digital notes- I use a notebook often for when I travel, and for planning child lessons, and I use digital for when I am teaching from home, or teach adults.

I use Microsoft OneNote because I already had it, and I like that I can just write on my laptop like a tablet, then email the notes to my student after the lesson.

For students: If you are a student reading my blog, don’t worry I haven’t forgotten you! A lot of these resources could also work for a student taking the leap with piano lessons or other music lessons too!

Music practice notebook : this little book has a space for teachers, and parents to write notes- and at the bottom gives a tip for practice that week!

I created “Your music teacher checklist”: available to download for free here!

Teaching Materials and Sheet Music

These are the most important things for teaching music. Figure out the payment systems, and scheduling later, because without teaching materials, you will struggle to teach. It is also important to remember: you will build these up gradually. Take it step by step and don’t buy everything at once: Firstly because if you buy a lot of things which turn out to be not useful, you’ve made a loss, and secondly because your teaching path may go down a different route than you first anticipate.

You will probably want:

Music books

  • Music books: just get a few to start with- I like Piano Time books by Pauline Hall, and also the Faber piano adventures look clear and structured.
  • Duet music book: I have found that duets are great for sight reading (both yours and students!) and is a way to help your student build confidence in playing music. Plus, it shows music can be fun (its always quite fun for a student to see if you make a mistake, and its rewarding when you play the finished piece together.)
  • Music Theory resources, which follows nicely to:

Supplementary Materials

Worksheets and Printables:

  • Teach piano today: A very useful resource.
  • Flashcards: You can easily make some. Also Musical snap is very popular with my students. You will need some sort of musical game, because learning a skill is tiriing, and it is nice for you and the student to keep it fresh and fun. Google and you will be amazed the free resources on offer!
  • Making Music Fun: Offers a variety of printable music theory worksheets and activities.

Games and Activities:

  • Teach Piano Today’s WunderKeys: A program with fun, game-based learning for young beginners.

Technology

Use technology. Even if it sounds scary- there really are an abundance of resources online and you can also find out lots of things about how to improve your teaching, and different learning techniques etc etc.

Digital Tools:

  • Online Music: musicnotes.com is useful, but I am sure there are others!
  • Online music notation software that allows you to create and share sheet music. I like Noteflight
  • Stand for a camera or phone so you can record you playing a scale, or a section of music to send to your student.
  • Consider providing students with recordings of their playing, which can be a valuable teaching tool.
  • Spotify: to listen to songs your students like and you can try to transpose!

I hope the ” Music teacher checklist” resource I have created can help you get started for the new semester! You can download below:

Music-Teacher-ChecklistDownload
beginner tutorial, learning environment, music performance, music production, piano performance, piano teacher, Uncategorized

A beginner guide to amps.

lizteachespiano

Unsure what amps can do ? (apart from Amplify!) Do you need an amp? What is a good starter amp? Read my beginner guide to amps, and hopefully it can help narrow your search.

A beginner guide to amps: What do amplifiers do?

Amplifiers are box like things that you plug an instrument into, and it gets louder. At least, that is what one initially thinks of when they hear the word “Amp”. However, even if you don’t play guitar, they can be useful for other things, such as:

Signal Conversion: Some amplifiers convert signals from one form to another, such as converting analog signals to digital (ADC) or digital signals to analog (DAC)

Effects and Processing: In music production, amplifiers can be part of signal processing chains, adding effects like reverb, delay, and distortion.

Multi instrumental use: You don’t just plug an electric guitar into an amp. I plug in my synthesizer, and even my ukelele (just make sure the instrument does have the capacity to be plugged in to an amp!)

Are they useful if you don’t play guitar?

Yes. I sometimes use my amp as a speaker to hear music more clearly (although I plan on investing in some studio speakers soon) and although I could play ukelele with an acoustic mic, plugging it into my amplifier which then inputs the sound into my DAW makes life easier.

What kind of amp do I need?

There is unfortunately not a precise answer for this. As this is meant to be a beginner guide to amps, I recommend you think about what you will be using it for? Think about:

  • Budget
  • Will you play live?
  • Do you practice at home? Or will it need to be carried somewhere by you?
  • What effects are you looking for?

I am not much of a guitar player, I really only play for a hobby, and I also knew I would be using this at home (where I am always running out of space for music things!) so I have a very old Yamaha THR 5. This is what the equivalent is now: Yamaha THR5 V2. There are a few different THR models by Yamaha, and a slightly larger version than mine is featured in this article: https://www.guitarworld.com/features/best-beginner-guitar-amps-amplifiers-for-beginners#section-buying-advice. As they mention, I wouldn’t say it has the best gain ever, but for me, this is not an issue. For me it is small, and can be an amp and a little speaker on my desk. (Although as I said, even as a relative beginner I know I need to invest in proper speakers soon!)

Amp Yamaha THR5 (very old!)

It is also worth thinking about if you want a valve amp, or solid state amp. I do not know very much about this but I do know that usually professionals use valve amps, however, I think solid state amps are the standard for beginners.

Why I like my amp as a beginner:

I like my Yamaha THR5 because:

  • Auxiliary Input: It includes an auxiliary input for connecting external audio sources, which is useful for jamming along with backing tracks or music from a phone or MP3 player. Keep in mind this is not build to be a speaker, so don’t expect professional monitor sound from it. However, I think you will be pleasantly surprised just how good of a speaker it is for an amp!
  • User-Friendly Interface: The controls are straightforward and intuitive, making it easy for users to dial in their desired sound quickly. Plus I like it has a sort of retro look!
  • Durability and Build Quality: It is sturdy. I have had mine over 10 years, and it has travelled and lived in many different apartments, and even countries! If you look after it, you will have it for a long time.
  • It is compact! Its small size and lightweight design make it highly portable, ideal for home use, travel, or (very) small gigs where space is limited. Despite its compact size, it delivers a surprisingly powerful and clear sound.
  • USB Connectivity: The THR5 V2 features USB connectivity, allowing for direct recording to a computer. This is a significant advantage for musicians who want to use the amp with recording software.

You may not want this particular amp, and you may not look for these things in an amp, but this list does give an example of the type of things to think about when buying an amp, and is another example of why even if you’re a musician who doesn’t play guitar much- an amp might be something worth adding to your studio. Thanks for reading my beginner guide to amps!