The Modern Music Teachers Podcast

Trial lessons can come in many shapes, sizes, ages, and skill levels. This episode highlights trial lesson tips and tricks to ensure that you have a great first trial lesson with any student! In this episode we cover:  • Introduction: Learning about the student, setting expectations, and tips for the discovery phase  • Getting to the music - the instrumental, musical, and technological section of the trial lesson • Closing the deal - How to get students and families excited to start lessons with you and getting comfortable "asking for the sale"  - Subscribe to The Modern Music Teachers Podcast on your podcasting app of choice, leave us a review and a comment, and check us out at modernmusicteacherspodcast.podbean.com for more music education content!

Many music teachers have recently made the transition from teaching in person and in studio lessons to online, virtual environment based lessons. There have been some great learns, successes and opportunities along the way. On this episode, we tackle our best strategies towards making your online lessons as fruitful and fun as in person, as well as share our personal ups and downs with virtual lessons. We also speak with Teach Music Online's Carly Walton and her terrific strategies towards learning, cultivating, and owning your online lesson experience to make it work for you. Carly's tips and tricks will help you become more familiar with the digital landscape and will assist you in creating the most immersive, modern learning environment for students of all ages. 

As musicians (and especially music teachers), we constantly speak about new repertoire, teaching methodologies, and everything pertaining to music. However, finances in the music industry can often be a taboo topic to speak of and can often paint bleak pictures of making a living through music. Enter our special guest this week, World-renowned Grammy Nominated Cellist and Composer Tina Guo. We speak with Tina about how musicians can develop their relationship with finances, how to create multiple streams of income with your musical talents, how important it is to learn and embrace technology in the modern music industry, and so much more. Enjoy our conversation with Tina Guo! 

Teaching music theory can often be a pain point for many teachers. However, bringing music theory into your lessons can help students appreciate and understand music deeper than ever before. Join us as we talk about how you can bring music theory into any lesson, regardless of student age or level. Learn different strategies, games, and apps that you can begin to integrate into your lesson plans! Also, John sits down with world renowned instructor and Fundamental Changes guitar author Levi Clay! We discuss the current climate of electric guitar learning and the overwhelming importance of music education.  

Welcome to the first episode of the Modern Music Teachers Podcast! The Modern Music Teachers Podcast discusses the latest in music methodologies and more. Sonia and John Kiernan talk all things music education with guest interviews from today's top music teachers and composers and dive into music education like never before. Our first guest is Kevin Olson, esteemed composer, the director of the Utah State University Youth Conservatory, and part of the Utah State University piano faculty.  We discuss the current state of music pedagogy, as well as how to innovate and inspire creativity in any teaching environment!