Shows
Vivid PracticeHow audio files can improve student practiceHey lovely teachers! Nicola here, and today on Vivid Practice, we’re diving into the often-overlooked power of audio tracks in music practice. We all know listening is key to great musicianship—but let’s be honest, getting students (and parents) to actually do it is another story. 😅In this episode, we’ll explore why listening matters, how the CD era is holding us back, and smart, simple ways to make audio a natural part of students' routine—from apps to car rides. Plus, I’ll share some mindset shifts for teachers who worry about ear learning vs. sight-readi...2025-05-1007 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersKeeping student attention in a digital world (Hey, is that a squirrel???)Struggling with student focus? In this episode of Vivid Practice, Nicola Cantan dives into why kids’ attention spans really are shrinking—and what we as teachers can actually do about it. From screen-time hangovers to too-challenging repertoire, Nicola breaks down the real reasons your students might be zoning out and shares practical strategies to keep them engaged, focused, and thriving in lessons. It's not about gimmicks—it’s about connection, pacing, and smart teaching.Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2025-04-2819 minVivid PracticeApp Spotlight | Bell GameIn this episode of Vivid Practice, Nicola Canton shines a spotlight on Bell Game—a simple yet powerful ear training app that helps students develop pitch recognition and aural memory step by step. With gradual difficulty levels and engaging gameplay, it's a fantastic tool for music teachers looking to make ear training fun and effective. Tune in to learn how to use it in lessons and at home! 🎶📱2025-04-2605 minVivid PracticeQuick Practice Tip | New Parent Meetings📍 Vivid Practice: The Power of New Parent Interviews 🎶In this episode of Vivid Practice, Nicola Canton shares why new parent interviews are a game-changer for studio success. These quick but essential meetings help set expectations, establish practice routines, and ensure a great parent-teacher fit. Tune in to learn how a simple conversation can prevent future frustrations and create a smoother learning journey for your students! 🎹✨2025-04-1905 minVivid PracticeHow videos can enhance a student's practice📍 Vivid Practice: Using Video to Enhance Student Learning 🎹✨Hey, lovely teachers! In this episode of Vivid Practice, Nicola Canton dives into the power of video in music lessons. From "Top Tips" videos to performance comparisons and video lesson alternatives, discover creative ways to support student practice. Whether you're reinforcing concepts, building independence, or offering flexible lesson solutions, video can be a game-changer. Tune in for fresh ideas to level up your teaching! 🎶📹2025-04-1209 minVivid PracticeTeacher Spotlight | Nicola Cantan📍 Teacher Spotlight: My Own Practice JourneyHey, lovely teachers! This episode of Vivid Practice is a little different—I'm in the spotlight! 🎙️ I'm answering the same questions I usually ask other teachers, sharing my own practice journey, from inconsistent habits to becoming a piano teacher. Whether you practiced diligently or struggled like I did, I hope my story resonates with you. I'd love to hear your experiences too—find us on Instagram and share your thoughts!#PianoTeaching #PracticeHabits #MusicEducation2025-03-0810 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersSit Somewhere Else🎧 The Vibrant Music Teaching PodcastIn this episode, Nicola Cantan explores how changing your position in the teaching room can transform your perspective and enhance your students' experience. Discover the surprising impact of where you sit, stand, or move during lessons, and join Nicola in an experiment to try something new in your teaching space. Listen in for fresh ideas to improve connection and insight!Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2025-02-0309 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersPros and Cons of Regular Recitals🎧 The Vibrant Music Teaching PodcastIn this episode, Nicola Cantan dives into the pros and cons of regular recitals. Should you plan more performance opportunities, or could they distract from broader musical progress? Discover how to find the right balance for your studio and why Nicola is experimenting with fewer recitals this year. Tune in for insights and inspiration!Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2025-01-2710 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersMorning Memos - My latest productivity hack🎧 The Vibrant Music Teaching PodcastIn this episode, Nicola Cantan shares how a simple “morning memo” can transform your productivity. Learn how to reclaim focus, reduce mental noise, and make the most of your day—whether in the morning or any time that works for you. Tune in for practical tips and inspiration!Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2025-01-2010 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachers5 Favourite Things for January🎶 The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast 🎶🎧 Hosted by Nicola Cantan, this episode dives into five favorite things bringing joy this month—knitting, inspiring piano pieces, an incredible recipe app, embracing a concert-free season, and reclaiming time with Instagram limits. Whether you're looking for fresh teaching inspiration or a little more fun in your life, tune in for practical tips and joyful ideas.Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2025-01-1314 minVivid PracticeApp Spotlight | NoteRushHey, beautiful teachers! Welcome back to Vivid Practice. I'm Nicola Cantan, and today we're shining the spotlight on Note Rush 🎶, a fantastic app for drilling note recognition in a fun and effective way. Learn why this simple yet powerful app stands out, from its customizable levels and playful themes to its unique feature of answering by playing your instrument. Perfect for both kids and adults, Note Rush could be the perfect addition to your teaching toolkit. Check it out and see how it can enhance your students' note-reading skills!2024-12-1104 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersDog training for piano studentsWelcome to the Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast with Nicola Cantan! In this final episode of 2024, Nicola shares insights from an unexpected source—dog training! Discover how principles like celebrating success, avoiding overloading, and embracing the learning process can transform your teaching. Reflect on a year of growth, celebrate wins, and get inspired for 2025. Don’t miss this fun, insightful episode packed with lessons for every music teacher!Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2024-12-0914 minVivid PracticeQuick Practice Tip | Environmental AwarenessWelcome back to Vivid Practice! I'm Nicola Cantan, and today we're diving into a powerful yet simple tip for piano teachers: optimizing the practice environment. 🎹 Discover how the room setup can make or break practice sessions and learn how to guide parents in creating the ideal space. Whether it's avoiding distractions or fostering a supportive atmosphere, these insights could transform your students' practice routines. Don't miss this essential advice for improving practice quality and engagement in your studio!2024-12-0405 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersOrganising Teaching ResourcesHi, I'm Nicola Cantan! In today’s episode, we’re diving into organizing teaching resources—a hot topic for many teachers. Zsuzsa asked how to manage both physical and digital resources, especially from multiple sources. I’ll share practical tips for creating a system that works for your brain, keeping everything accessible and tidy—just in time for year-end organization!We’ll explore:Streamlining physical games and books.Setting up user-friendly digital folders and naming systems.Tools like Dropbox and why a good enough system beats perfection.Stay tuned to get inspired for your 2025 teaching org...2024-12-0212 minVivid PracticeWhat is "focused" practice?Hey, music teachers! In this Vivid Practice episode, Nicola Cantan dives into "Focused Practice"—a specific practice structure used in the Vivid Practice app. Learn how focusing on one assignment with built-in breaks can help students tackle challenging pieces, reduce stress, and avoid counterproductive habits. Whether you use the app or not, discover practical tips for integrating focused practice and mindful breaks into your students' routines to enhance their music learning experience. 🎵🧘♂️2024-11-2707 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersWhen a student wants to practice in PRIVATEThis week, Nicola dives into a question from Michelle about helping a tween piano student overcome their resistance to practicing strategies in lessons. This student, who prefers working independently at home, is now facing challenges at the early intermediate level. Nicola explores the underlying issues, like vulnerability and fear of mistakes, and shares playful, gentle approaches to ease the transition.Learn how to use games, role-reversal, and creative strategies to teach practice techniques without adding pressure or embarrassment. Tune in to gain fresh insights into supporting students through emotional challenges in lessons—and fostering a love for le...2024-11-2511 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersMaking the Switch to a Practice AppYou're Listening to the Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast with Nicola CantanDiscover step-by-step strategies to implement meaningful changes in your music studio, like transitioning to a practice app. Nicola offers practical advice on handling resistance to change, setting up systems, and engaging students and parents effectively. Whether you're streamlining your studio's organization or enhancing student practice, this episode provides actionable tips to ensure smooth transitions and lasting improvements. Follow along for insights, tools, and encouragement to elevate your teaching journey!Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2024-11-1817 minVivid PracticeApp Spotlight | Vibrant Music IntervalsHey, music teachers! In this episode of Vivid Practice, Nicola Cantan introduces Vibrant Music Intervals—a must-have app designed specifically for drilling intervals. With three engaging games, this app helps students master intervals in a fun and interactive way, boosting their music reading skills. Perfect for beginners to late beginners, it's available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Explore the Vibrant Music Interval Arcade and give your students the edge they need in music theory! 🎶📲2024-11-1304 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersWhat about the GOOD students?In this episode of the Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast, Nicola Cantan discusses a unique perspective on what she calls “the good ones” – those students who are quiet, diligent, and well-behaved. Nicola explores how these "good" students often fly under the radar and might not get the same level of attention or adjustments to their learning approach that more demanding students do. Through her own childhood stories and experiences with the Colorful Keys team, she encourages music teachers to reflect on whether these students could benefit from more movement, new learning strategies, or simply more of the teacher’s active focus.2024-11-1113 minVivid PracticeQuick Practice Tip | WhalesongHey, music teachers! In this quick tip from Vivid Practice, Nicola Canton introduces the "Whale Song" exercise—a creative and engaging way to help students focus on their left hand. By humming or using a kazoo, students learn to truly hear and internalize the left-hand part, enhancing their listening skills and memorization. Perfect for adding a fun twist to practice sessions! Try it out in your lessons and share your experiences in the comments! 🎵🧠2024-11-0604 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersWhat I've learned from watching almost 60 music lessons this weekJoin host Nicola Cantan in this episode of The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast as she shares insights from watching nearly 60 video clips submitted by passionate music teachers around the world. Discover valuable lessons from different teaching styles, creative strategies, and unique approaches that can help inspire your own music teaching journey. Nicola discusses the power of recording lessons for growth, the joy of watching dedicated teachers in action, and the importance of supporting one another in this field. Plus, get a sneak peek into the new "Music Lesson Clips" YouTube channel, launching soon, where you can witness these incredible...2024-11-0412 minVivid PracticeWhat is "interleaved" practice?Discover the power of interleaved practice in music lessons! 🎶 In this video, Nicola Cantan from Vivid Practice breaks down the difference between blocked and interleaved practice, showing how mixing up practice tasks can supercharge memory retention and learning efficiency. Learn how to implement this method in your own practice sessions and lessons, and explore how it can help students achieve better, longer-lasting results. Perfect for music teachers looking to optimize their teaching techniques!2024-10-3011 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersMusic Practice MottosWelcome to the Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast! I'm Nicola Cantan, your host, and today we’re diving into the world of music practice mottos. Whether you're out for a walk, cleaning up, or simply relaxing, thanks for letting me join you for a few moments. Today, we're talking about those words of wisdom that can guide music practice, support our students, and spark progress, whether it's a catchy rhyme or a saying that helps students tackle perfectionism or keep a steady beat. I’ll be sharing some mottos and would love to hear any you use in your teaching!2024-10-2823 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersStarting a homeschool music programIn this episode of the Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast, host Nicola Cantan dives into programs for young beginners, offering valuable advice for structuring music lessons, especially for homeschool groups. Nicola also introduces the Epic Clip Contest, where teachers can win a $1,000 Visa gift card by submitting a short video of their teaching. With practical tips on using existing curricula, like Mini Musicians, and ideas for making lessons engaging and effective for mixed-age groups, this episode is packed with inspiration for music teachers. Don’t forget to submit your clips before the October 31st deadline!Find out more ab...2024-10-2114 minVivid PracticeApp Spotlight | Tenuto🎵 App Spotlight: Tenuto for Serious Music Theory Practice 🎶In this video, Nicola Cantan explores Tenuto, a must-have app for music theory enthusiasts. Perfect for motivated teens and adults, Tenuto offers customizable drills covering everything from note and interval identification to ear training and chord construction. While it’s not flashy, its simplicity and effectiveness make it ideal for those who want to master theory on the go. Discover how Tenuto can help your students solidify their music knowledge with targeted practice sessions.2024-10-1604 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersMaking things EASY for a challenging studentIn this episode of the Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast, host Nicola Cantan answers a listener's question about handling a tricky piano student who rushes through pieces and struggles with learning new ones. Nicola shares creative strategies for making lessons more engaging, using improvisation, games, and thoughtful planning to help students build skills without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you're facing similar challenges or just looking to refresh your teaching approach, Nicola offers practical advice to inspire your next lesson. Submit your own teaching questions at vibrantmusicteaching.com!Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2024-10-1412 minVivid PracticeQuick Practice Tip | Piggyback Practice🎹 The Secret to Consistent Practice: Piggyback Practice Explained 🎶In this quick tip from Nicola Cantan, learn about the game-changing strategy of "piggyback practice." Discover how tying practice time to an existing daily routine can help students build consistent habits and make steady progress on their instrument. Nicola shares practical examples for busy families, explaining why traditional time-based practice schedules often fail and how creative scheduling can make all the difference.Watch now to boost your students' practice consistency with this simple, effective approach! 📅🎵2024-10-0904 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersLessons after breaks and studio namesWelcome to the Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast with Nicola Cantan! In this episode, we dive into two important topics: easing students back into lessons after a break and choosing the perfect name for your piano studio. Nicola shares tips on helping students transition smoothly after time off and offers advice for naming your music studio, whether you're staying local or planning to expand. Tune in for practical insights and fun ideas to keep your teaching vibrant!Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2024-10-0713 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersPaperless or paper planning and personal practiceThe Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast, hosted by Nicola Cantan, tackles key challenges for music teachers. In this episode, Nicola explores two important questions: navigating printed versus digital lesson assignments for traveling teachers and finding time to practice as a busy teacher. Nicola offers practical advice for using hybrid assignment systems and balancing teaching with personal practice. She also shares details about the EPIC Clip Contest, encouraging teachers to submit videos of their lessons for a chance to win $1,000. Tune in for insights and tips to enhance your teaching journey!Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2024-09-3015 min
The Scrappy Piano Teacher PodcastEpisode 016: Helping New & Seasoned Teachers with Nicola CantanIn this episode of The Music Teacher Master Mind, Jaclyn chats with Nicola Cantan about her exciting new book for rookie teachers, "Zero to Studio".
They also dive into valuable resources for seasoned teachers and share insights from Nicola's own teaching journey.
Don't miss this inspiring conversation packed with tips for every stage of your teaching career!
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Episode Mentions: Zero to Studio https://a.co/d/0xtB6R1
Practice Survey www.vibrantmusicteacher.com/practice
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Want to Connect?
Nicola Cantan:
www.instagram...2024-09-2338 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersStarts and stops and starting studiosThe Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast, hosted by Nicola Canton, offers proven, practical tips and strategies for music teachers. In this episode, Nicola answers listener questions about helping students overcome start-and-stop habits during playing and advice for starting a new music studio. She also shares exciting updates, including a new Vivid Practice Podcast, a practice survey, and details about an upcoming teacher retreat in Ireland. Nicola encourages teachers to reflect on their teaching methods, marketing strategies, and how to grow their studios, offering insightful advice for both new and experienced educators.Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching...2024-09-2313 minVivid PracticeApp Spotlight | ForScore🎹 App Spotlight: Fourscore for Musicians! 🎹Join Nicola Cantan in this episode of Vivid Practice as she shines a spotlight on Fourscore, a top-tier score reading app for musicians. 📱 Discover how this app helps you store, organize, and annotate your sheet music with ease. Learn about its intuitive page-turning features, integration with Bluetooth pedals, and how it enhances your teaching and practice sessions. Whether you’re using it for interval challenges, storing teacher copies, or flipping through flashcards, Fourscore is a must-have tool for every musician.Explore Fourscore and take your music practice to the next level! 🎶2024-09-1807 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersAm I the right kind of teacher for my different studentsThe Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast, hosted by Nicola Canton, explores how music teachers can adapt their teaching styles to fit different students and instruments. In this episode, Nicola responds to a question from Emily, a teacher of both piano and brass instruments, about whether her varied teaching approaches for each instrument are acceptable. Nicola delves into the idea of aligning expectations across instruments, considering factors like performance experience and student dynamics. Teachers are encouraged to reflect on their own methods and consciously shape their teaching to meet both their goals and their students' needs.Find out more...2024-09-1611 minVivid PracticeQuick Practice Tip | Crossing the River🎹 Welcome Back to Vivid Practice! 🎹Join Nicola Canton as she shares a fun and effective piano practice game called "Crossing the River." 🐾 Using simple tokens like cute erasers or small toys, this strategy helps students focus on specific challenges and achieve practice goals. Learn how to make practice more engaging, improve listening skills, and encourage mindful repetition—all while keeping it fun! 🎶 Perfect for lessons and home practice.Try it with your students and watch their progress flow!2024-09-1105 minVivid PracticeWhy "VIVID" Practice and What to Expect from this PodcastJoin Nicola Cantan, a passionate piano teacher from Dublin, Ireland, as she introduces Vivid Practice—a dynamic resource designed to revolutionize music practice for students and teachers alike. 🌈 Discover how to make practice more colorful, memorable, and effective with fun games, tips, app spotlights, and interviews. Say goodbye to dull routines and embrace a vibrant, modern approach to music! 🎵Subscribe now and be part of the mission to make practice more vivid!2024-09-0403 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersPublic speaking, marketing and preschool studentsJoin Nicola Canton as she delves into building confidence in public speaking and offers insights into teaching young students effectively. This episode covers how to overcome the fear of speaking, the importance of practice, and the challenges of teaching preschoolers, with real questions from teachers like you. Tune in for practical tips and thoughtful discussions that can transform your teaching approach and boost your confidence. Don't forget to submit your own questions at vibrantmusicteaching.com/question to be featured in future episodes! 🎧Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2024-09-0219 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersQuestions, podcasts and going from zero to studioJoin Nicola as she shares new resources, exciting announcements, and honest reflections on the teaching profession. Whether you’re a seasoned teacher or just starting out, there’s something here for everyone. This week, discover new resources for piano teachers, learn about Nicola's upcoming podcast, Vivid Practice, and hear about her latest book, Zero to Studio. Tune in and elevate your teaching today!Find out more about membership at vibrantmusicteaching.com.2024-08-2622 min
Integrated Music Teaching Podcast341: Janna Williamson and Nicola Cantan on Integrated Music TeachingThanks for reading 341: Janna Williamson and Nicola Cantan on Integrated Music Teaching from TopMusic.co.
Welcome back to another exciting episode. I just got back in town after an exhilarating trip to the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in Chicago and had a blast meeting many of the podcast listeners and some of our members, attending captivating workshops, and sharing conversations over coffee. In today’s show, we continue the exploration ... 341: Janna Williamson and Nicola Cantan on Integrated Music Teaching
The post 341: Janna Williamson and Nicola Cantan on Integrated Music Teaching appeared first on TopMusic.co...2023-08-0427 minIntegrated Music Teaching Podcast318: Innovative Scale Practice Ideas for Piano Teachers with Nicola CantanThanks for reading 318: Innovative Scale Practice Ideas for Piano Teachers with Nicola Cantan from TopMusic.co.
As musicians, understanding scales is an important part of our study, but it can also be a struggle for some students. In today’s episode, our guest Nicola Cantan from Vibrant Music Teaching answers a lot of questions and concerns when teaching scales, starting by looking at the value of learning scales, how improvising can change ... 318: Innovative Scale Practice Ideas for Piano Teachers with Nicola Cantan
The post 318: Innovative Scale Practice Ideas for Piano Teachers with Nicola Cantan appeared fi...2023-02-2438 minIntegrated Music Teaching PodcastTC271: Turboboost Your Teaching with Nicola CantanThanks for reading TC271: Turboboost Your Teaching with Nicola Cantan from TopMusic.co.
Today’s episode is all about Nicola Cantan’s upcoming Teacher Turboboost Retreat. We’re going to be sharing exactly what’s happening and how this retreat is different from every other online summit, retreat, or conference you’ve attended. If you’re tired of coming home from events with only a notebook full of notes and no actions taken, this ... TC271: Turboboost Your Teaching with Nicola Cantan
The post TC271: Turboboost Your Teaching with Nicola Cantan appeared first on TopMusic.co - Your Integ...2022-03-2529 min
Teach Music OnlineE72: What to Do When Your Piano Students Aren’t Having Fun Anymore with Nicola CantanThis week, I was joined by Nicola Cantan, a piano teacher, blogger and author who creates teaching resources for music teachers everywhere. She has been teaching piano since 2005, and currently runs a piano studio in Dublin, Ireland, Colourful Keys. We enjoyed getting to talk about some of the joys(and the less-pleasant parts) of being a piano teacher. Throughout this pandemic, we have seen many changes, some of which are oh-so apparent in our music lessons. They lose focus, get bored and upset easier, and have a harder time staying motivated. In this episode, we talk about h...2022-03-0733 min
Teaching Studio StoriesTeaching Studio Stories Podcast TrailerWelcome to Teaching Studio Stories, the podcast that brings you lessons and laughter from real music teachers all around the world. Each week we’ll visit with a teacher to learn about their studio and their journey with music so far. They may be young, old, experienced or brand new. They might have 5 other jobs or run a multi-teacher music school. The one thing that’s for certain is that you’ll see part of your story in theirs.I’m your host Nicola Cantan. My membership site, Vibrant Music Teaching, helps teachers all over the world to inclu...2021-12-2101 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersThe Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast TrailerWelcome to The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast! This is the show for you if you’re an instrumental or vocal music teacher that wants friendly, creative and accessible advice. I’m your host Nicola Cantan. My membership site, Vibrant Music Teaching, helps teachers all over the world to include more games and creativity in their lessons, so that their students giggle their way through music theory and make faster progress. I also run a popular blog, Colourful Keys, where we write about creative ideas and teaching strategies and an interview show called Teaching Studio Stories. Every...2021-12-2102 min
How To Teach Music with Jessica GrantPractice Pie with Nicola CantanNicola Cantan has been teaching piano in Dublin, Ireland since 2005 and runs a highly-successful blog for both her own piano studio and to support teachers around the world. She is the author of several books including The Piano Practice Physician’s Handbook, Rhythm in 5, and her newest release - Practice Pie: The step-by-step guide to helping your child enjoy their music practice. Nicola has created a multitude of resources for teachers, which she shares on her blog, and started the Vibrant Music Teaching Library to provide teachers with an easy way to use games and other fun lesson activities to t...2021-11-0235 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersHow to talk to parents about practicehttps://colourfulkeys.ie/shop/practice-pie
https://blitzbooks.com/why-piano-playing-is-like-bike-riding/
In this masterclass, Nicola Cantan and Samantha Coates will discuss their favourite analogies for educating parents about music practice. You'll bake a metaphorical practice pie with Nicola, ride a fictional practice bike with Samantha, and by the end you'll feel much more confident discussing practice with parents in your studio.2021-09-241h 05
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersThe Clear and Concise Guide to Curwen Hand SignsIn this article, we’ll get down to the brass tacks of why and how and music teachers of all stripes should use Curwen hand signs.2021-03-0115 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersTips for Teaching Piano Technique to AdultsWhen teaching piano technique to adults, make it relevant to them and avoid sounding like a schoolteacher telling them off. Here's how.2021-02-2217 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersSix Things Adult Beginner Piano Students Need to HearAdult beginner piano students are often held back by mental and emotional baggage. Here's how to help them banish these limiting beliefs.2021-02-1519 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersRefined Repertoire Adult Piano Students Will AdoreAdult piano students need repertoire which sounds sophisticated but is easy enough for them to play. These are the top choices in my studio.2021-02-0815 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersHow to Attract More Adult Piano StudentsIf you love teaching adult piano students, you should be proactively working to attract them, not leaving it up to fate. Here's how.2021-02-0115 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersThree Heroic Habits for Music TeachersDespite being so small, these 3 heroic habits for music teachers can make a big difference in the balance between your work and life.2021-01-2517 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersSave Time by Outsourcing Your Music Studio Admin
We signed up to be music teachers, not to be office-drones. But it can feel like we spend more time doing music teaching studio admin tasks than actually teaching.
If you’re on the administrative burnout bandwagon, I’m here to help.
2021-01-1819 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersDoing "All the Things" in Your Piano StudioDo you dream of getting more stuff done in less time? I'm going to let you in on my secret for doing “all the things” in your piano studio...2021-01-1109 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersPower Up Your Piano Teacher ProductivityYou read about the latest piano teacher productivity idea, but does it work? is it magic? The only way to know is to experiment. Here's how.2021-01-0414 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersTop Findings from the 2020 Vibrant Music Teaching Industry ReportWant to know what the average music studio teacher makes? Or what exactly they're teaching? Find out in the Vibrant Music Teaching Industry Report.2020-12-1442 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersFive Questions to Ask Yourself at Least Once a YearReflecting on the past year is an important part of getting ready for a new one. Tune in to find out my top 5 questions that I believe all teachers should be asking themselves right now.2020-12-0722 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersGetting Strategic About How You Teach ReadingThis conversation is an excerpt from one of my member Strategy Sessions. In this call, a member and I worked to uncover the issue behind her students’ reading fluency.
I hope you’ll enjoy listening and that it will help you problem-solve for your own students.2020-11-3019 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersLead Sheet Basics: Where to Find Them and How to Use ThemLead sheets are a vital tool for teaching other concepts and skills. But where do you find them? And once you do, how should you use them? 2020-11-2318 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersHow to Teach Pop Music to Piano StudentsWhat approaches really work when it comes to teaching pop music to piano students? And where do we find great pop music arrangements, anyhow?
We’ll dive into all that and more in this episode.2020-11-1623 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersWhy You Should Teach Pop Music in Your StudioDo you teach pop music to your piano students? Why or why not?
In this episode, I’ll explore the reasons I believe we should be teaching pop music in our studios so you can see if it’s right for you.2020-11-0919 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersHow to make your data TALKAre you collecting and analysing data in your studio? If not, you might be missing out on the important information that numbers can give you.
In this episode, we’ll talk about the data you should collect in your studio and how to put it to work for you.2020-11-0226 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersTeaching Beginner Reading in Online Piano LessonsHave you been struggling with the idea of teaching the beginner stages of music reading online? I’m here to help!
I found the idea of introducing the staff to my students through online lessons pretty overwhelming in the beginning but I’ve found what works and I’m happy to be sharing it with you on the show today.2020-10-2623 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersTeaching Rote Pieces in Online Piano LessonsTeaching rote or pattern pieces to piano students online has its own unique challenges. How do we make sure students remember these pieces? How do we demonstrate clearly and check their position on the piano through video calls?
I’ll cover all this and more in this episode.2020-10-1927 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersTeaching Technique in Online Piano LessonsTeaching technique in online piano lessons requires some rethinking and creative ideas to make it work. In this episode, I’ll go through my top tips for teaching technique effectively to online piano students.2020-10-1223 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersBackup Plans for Online Music TeachersThere’s one thing stressing many teachers out when it comes to online music lessons...what about when it all goes wrong?! What do we do when the internet drops out or the student has an off-day?
In this episode, we’ll discuss strategies for dealing with all the technology frustrations and how to put a back-up plan in place for your online music lessons.2020-10-0523 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersTeaching Strategies for Online Music TeachingWhat teaching strategies work for online music teachers?
In this episode, we’ll unpack the adjustments most teachers need to make when teaching online music lessons. We’ll also discuss some great ideas for learning from your online lessons and improving your teaching across the board.2020-09-2830 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersHow to Make Your Online Music Lessons FUNAre your online lessons feeling a bit stale? Are you wondering if there’s a better way to engage with your students over video call?
In this episode, I’ll help you figure out how to inject some fun into your online teaching with games, surprises and teaching tricks.2020-09-2120 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersPlanning and Systems for Online Music LessonsDo you have good systems in place for your online lessons? Are you happy with how you take notes, plan or send assignment sheets to students?
We’ll look at the best planning methods in this episode so you can upgrade your systems and make your lessons run as smoothly as olive oil.2020-09-1420 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersTools and Software for Teaching Piano OnlineYou can absolutely get started with teaching piano online simply. All you need is your computer and something to run the video call.
When you’re ready to level-up, though, there are a few things you can do to make things run more smoothly and provide a fantastic experience for your students. We’ll dive into a few great options in this episode.2020-09-0734 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersThe Best Equipment for Online Piano LessonsWhen it comes to your online teaching kit a few upgrades can make a huge difference. But it can be SO confusing!
In this episode, I’ll break down all the microphone and camera jargon so that you can get to the bottom of what will work for you in your music studio.2020-08-3133 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersSuggestions for Safe and Socially-Distant Piano StudiosAre you trying to figure out what your music teaching studio will look like this year? Whether you’ve decided to teach online or in-person, or have no idea what you’re going to do yet, I hope that these suggestions for safe and socially-distant piano studios will be helpful for you during the Covid-19 pandemic.2020-08-2434 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersHow to Get Ready for a New School YearAre you ready for a new year of teaching? There are several things you can do to get your head and your systems set up for a new school year.
In this episode, we’ll look at setting up your calendar and timetable, finding the balance in the busy seasons, and making sure your new students get off to the best possible start in your studio. 2020-08-2424 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – PurposefulHave you ever felt like you and a student were just meandering through lessons? Everything was going sort of ok...but where was it going, exactly? In this show, I want to talk to you about what it means to be a purposeful teacher and how planning can help you achieve more and be more satisfied by your work.2020-08-1711 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – RelevantChoosing repertoire that feels relevant and that our students love sounds like it would be an obvious priority for us as teachers. But, sometimes, we can get so caught up in the weeds of teaching that we forget about the music. Take a step back with me and check in to see if your studio meets this foundational criteria.2020-08-1012 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – OpenThe primary goal of my studio and how I structure my curricula is all about opening doors for my students. I want them to have excellent technique and reading skills, yes, but I also want them to know about improvisation, lead sheets, composing and all genres of music so that they have a wide variety of musical paths to choose from.2020-08-0316 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – FunBeing a fun music teaching studio means a lot more than just having a smile on your face or playing games every once in a while. It can also mean your students learn faster and more thoroughly. Find out how in this episode.2020-07-2713 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – CoolWould your students describe you as “cool”? We’re diving into what it means to be a cool teacher and why your relationships with your students are so important to their progress in this episode.2020-07-2015 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – ProfessionalBeing perceived as a professional is an important part of having the respect and attention of your students and their parents. Find out the three foundational factors that can make your business more professional in this episode.2020-07-1315 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – WelcomingHave you thought about the experience of a new student and their parents in your studio? Do you think they would feel welcomed and validated in their decision to join right from the get-go? We’ll explore strategies to make sure they do in this episode.2020-07-0617 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – ProfitableIf your music teaching studio is a business – and it is – then one of your primary goals should be to make a profit. To do that, you need to plan for it and put procedures in place that make your income predictable.2020-06-2917 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – ConsistentThis episode is part of the Vibrant Music Studio 101 which will take you through 10 foundational building blocks for all great music teaching studios. Consistency is the name of the game this week. Is your studio consistent? Do you have policies and procedures and do you actually stick to them?2020-06-2214 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersVibrant Music Studio 101 – DeliberateThis episode is part of the Vibrant Music Studio 101 which will take you through 10 foundational building blocks for all great music teaching studios. In this first episode, we’re focussing on being deliberate with our businesses and taking them (and ourselves!) seriously.2020-06-1511 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersTeacher Lessons Learned in the Past YearThis special episode celebrates our 100th episode in style by sharing some of the lessons listeners have learned over the past year. I hope you’ll tune in as we take a look at what lifelong learning means to these music teachers.2020-06-0821 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersListen. No Really, Listen. No, REALLY Listen.Listening skills are vital to becoming a great musician, and yet, many teachers never find time for developing them in lessons. Learn about active listening and an idea for working on it with students in this episode.2020-06-0111 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersPrevent Summer Stress with a Studio BudgetHave you made a budget for your music studio? This is an important factor if you want to manage your income better and be able to take time off without stressing in the summer.
Take a listen to learn how to set up a simple budget for your studio.2020-05-2511 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachers5 Ways to Decompress in 5 MinutesWe all get stressed or overwhelmed from time-to-time so it’s important to have strategies to decompress and relax quickly. Try out these ideas at the end of your next teaching day and let me know how you get on!2020-05-1815 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersHow to Show You’re on Their SideDeveloping a great relationship with your music students is vital to ensuring they follow your directions (both in the studio and at home) and have a great lesson experience that makes them stick with it long-term. Learn how to develop rapport with students of all ages in this episode.2020-05-1119 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersGood, and Again. Good, and Again.Are you overusing praise in your music studio? Could you be providing feedback in a more neutral way instead? On this episode of the podcast, we’ll talk about how to find the balance between feedback and praise and where a neutral tone might be more useful.2020-05-0412 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersThe Patience of Understanding and Understanding PatienceTeachers do not need patience when they have true understanding and are involved in the learning process. Find out what patience can teach us and our students in this episode.2020-04-2716 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersStudio Review 2019 and Plans for 2020It’s important to take stock and reflect once in a while so that your studio doesn’t take on a character you didn’t design. Find out what changes I’m making to my studio for next year and how I’m implementing them in this episode.2020-04-2030 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersStrictness vs. AuthorityHow do you maintain control of a lesson without becoming a strict and unpleasant teacher? For me, it’s all about understanding the difference between strictness and authority. The former is unnecessary, the latter is essential.2020-04-1316 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersI Bought a New Toy – How Should I Use It?What’s the right approach to using technology and gadgets in your studio? Find out how you could be thinking about using iPads and other tech toys backwards and what a better approach is for music studios.2020-04-0614 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersAn Argument for Alternating Exam YearsDo most of your students do exams as standard every year? I want to question that. Let’s think about what exams are good for and what they’re not good for and come to a more balanced view of where they should sit in our studios.2020-03-3021 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersHow to Make Private Lesson Games Less LameLet’s face it, playing a game with an adult is not as fun as playing with another kid your age...but that doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyable and beneficial. Get my top tricks for making games work in private music lessons in this episode.2020-03-2311 minIntegrated Music Teaching PodcastTC182: Helping ALL Piano Students Achieve Greatness with Nicola CantanThanks for reading TC182: Helping ALL Piano Students Achieve Greatness with Nicola Cantan from TopMusic.co.
By improving inclusivity, we are helping our piano students achieve greatness. In this episode, learn how to differentiate your teaching so that each and every one of your students can find success. Nicola Cantan is a piano teacher, author, blogger and creator of imaginative and engaging teaching resources. She loves getting piano students learning through ... TC182: Helping ALL Piano Students Achieve Greatness with Nicola Cantan
The post TC182: Helping ALL Piano Students Achieve Greatness with Nicola Cantan appeared first o...2020-03-2028 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachersBONUS EPISODE – A quick COVID-I9 updateIn this extra episode, we'll talk about how you can stay calm with everything that's going on and how to get help and support if you need it. 2020-03-1710 min
The Vibrant Music Teaching Podcast | Proven and practical tips, strategies and ideas for music teachers3 Ways to Invent Time in Your Music LessonsDo you feel like you never have enough lesson time for all the things you want to do? It’s definitely challenging to stretch those minutes to everything we need to cover but in this episode, I’ll give you some strategies to help you make the most of them.2020-03-1619 minIntegrated Music Teaching PodcastCPTP155: 10 Ways to Fit Music Teaching Games into Your Lessons with Nicola CantanThanks for reading CPTP155: 10 Ways to Fit Music Teaching Games into Your Lessons with Nicola Cantan from TopMusic.co.
This episode of the podcast is a little bit different. My podcast producer, Nicola Cantan, has taken over the show today to give us 10 strategies for finding more time for music teaching games in our lessons. If you don’t know Nicola, she’s the writer behind the Colourful Keys blog and the creator of the ... CPTP155: 10 Ways to Fit Music Teaching Games into Your Lessons with Nicola Cantan
The post CPTP155: 10 Ways to Fit Music Teac...2019-03-2949 min
Oclef PodcastOclef Interviews | EP06: Nicola Cantan - Teaching kids to practice and play in a more colourful wayFor show notes: http://oclef.com/podcast/ep06-nicola-cantan-teaching-kids-to-practice-and-play-in-a-more-colourful-way/2017-06-3050 min
The FULL VOICE Podcast With Nikki LoneyFVPC #28 Studio Spotlight: Nicola Cantan and the 30 day Music Teaching Studio RefreshHappy New Year! Looking for some New Year inspiration? In this podcast, we talk with Nicola Cantan. Nicola is a piano teacher, resource creator, and music teaching blogger from Dublin, Ireland. Although she teaches piano, Nicola does quite a bit of (sight) singing with her students in her lesson studio. (The reason for this is quite surprising!) She is the creator of the 30-Day Music Teaching Studio Refresh Challenge on her Colourful Keys Blog. Find out how to be part of the Studio refresh at www.thefullvoice.com/fvpodcasts2017-01-1032 min