26- Purposeful Teaching, Joy-filled Lessons and Building Lifelong Musicians with Dr. Christina Mathis

Send us Fan MailPiano teaching gets a lot easier once you stop treating every missed practice session like a personal insult! I’m joined by Dr. Christina Mathis, founder and director of Carey Music Academy at William Carey University, to talk about what it looks like to teach with infectious joy and humor while still honoring the reality of busy schedules, neurodivergent learners, adult beginners, and stressed-out college students.Christina shares how she helps students build sustainable practice habits, stay creative when life is packed, and find joy in the process, not just the “big moments” like festivals, exams, and performances. We also talk about human capacity and boundaries, including the hidden cost of “yes” when students stack commitments, scholarships, sports, and theater. As pedagogues, we want to ensure that students are enjoying their lessons rather than create environments where students approach lessons with dread and anxiety, and sometimes that means we have to check our egos at the door.  If you’re looking for real-life music education strategies that still produce strong musicianship, this fun and engaging conversation will meet you right where you teach.Subscribe, share this with a fellow teacher, and leave a review so more piano educators can find the show! Links:Learn more about Dr. Christina Mathis and her podcast here!Follow Dr. Christina Mathis on Instagram!Check out our new Member Resources here!Support the showSubscribe to Elizabeth's email list here so you won’t miss future courses, freebies, teacher events and more. Love the show? Buy us a coffee and support the podcast.Let's stay in touch!On the website/blogFollow on FacebookFollow on InstagramFollow on YouTubeYou can find all of our favorite repertoire and teaching tools on the Amazon Storefront (affiliate link)Questions or suggestions? Send Elizabeth an email:[email protected] As an Amazon Affiliate, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase through our links. Thank you for helping support the podcast!