Piano Teaching Success Podcast

"I'd love to teach groups, but my studio's not big enough." If you've ever said or thought your space wouldn’t work for groups, this episode is for you. In reality, you probably don't need a bigger space. You just need to see what's actually possible. In this episode, we take you inside the real teaching spaces of Group Piano University graduates from around the world — from home studios and church halls to school classrooms, community music centres, and small commercial spaces. Real- life GPU grads join us in this conversation! And what they show you is surprising and impressive.  In this episode, you'll discover: (01:36) Why space doesn’t have to keep you stuck (02:30) Why starting small (3-4 students) completely changes your income in the long-run (05:18) Actual school classrooms. See how Vanessa, Melody, and Margie have made this work beautifully (09:46) Church halls & the unexpected benefits you wouldn't think of (11:28) Small commercial spaces — for teachers with bigger dreams (Lorraine in Malta, Sarah in Sydney, Kate in California) (14:23) Home studios — how four grads have transformed their own spaces Resources Want to See How Group Lessons Really Work? If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes. 🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)  Get the free video training here → 👉 Watch it here. Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would: ⭐ Subscribe ⭐ Rate ⭐Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Listen or watch on your favourite platform: Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts

What does it actually look like to transition from a full private lesson schedule to a group piano studio, in real life, in under a year? In this episode, I sat down with Caelyn, a young piano teacher from Wisconsin, who completed Group Piano University just nine months ago and has already transformed her studio, and her lifestyle, in ways she never knew were possible.  And now? She’s actually wondering what to do with her freed up time.  I hope you love this episode as this inspiring GPU grad walks us through step by step how she went from a maxed out schedule, to a thriving group piano studio.  She also reveals how she’s expanding even further to build the music school she's always envisioned. This is a real, honest, inspiring, and funny conversation about what's possible. I hope you love it!  Gillian x In this episode, you'll discover: (00:00) Why Caelyn decided she didn't want a studio full of private lessons, and what she did about it (04:20) How she went from 50 private students to 70 students (50 in groups) in under a year (08:10) How she launched her first group of six students and why that first mum brought four friends along (13:45) The surprising reason groups work better for Caelyn  (18:30) The mindset challenges of introducing groups (22:00) What she noticed musically about her group students  (27:15) Her exciting plans for the next stage of growth  (31:00) Her advice for any teachers interested in starting groups  Resources Want to See How Group Lessons Really Work? If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes. 🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)  Get the free video training here →   Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, we'd be so grateful if you would:  ⭐ Subscribe  ⭐ Rate  ⭐ Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Listen/Watch on:  Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts Want More Done-for-You Whole Body Learning Resources? Inside The Studio, you'll find: a huge library of lesson-ready resources, including essential backing tracks practical Whole Body Learning strategies monthly masterclasses (live + replay) downloadable handouts up-to-the-minute teaching insights a supportive, nurturing community of piano teachers around the world 👉 Discover The Studio

When thinking about group piano, many teachers get stuck on one big question: “How do I teach pieces to multiple students at the same time?” Because in private lessons, we naturally adapt to each individual student. But in a group setting, that approach simply doesn’t work. So what’s the solution? In this episode, we show you the exact model we’ve used successfully for over 30 years to teach pieces in group piano classes — in a way that works for every learner in the room. You’ll discover how combining multi-sensory learning and lesson structure allows students to learn faster, feel more confident, and succeed when they get to the piano. We also take you inside real group classes so you can actually see how this works in action. In this episode, you’ll discover: (02:26) Snippet of a Piece called Snowstorm for Early-Intermediate Students (02:50) How to Teach Pieces to Several Students at the Same Time (03:40) The Pedagogy Behind Teaching Groups (04:10) Snippet of a Piece called Creepy Colin, Pre-Learning Activity (06:30) Auditory, Visual, and Kinaesthetic Learning Explained (10:30) Why Singing Matters (11:26) The Role of the Teacher so Group Lessons are Seamless If you’ve ever thought, “I just don’t see how to teach pieces in a group…” this episode will give you a clear, practical pathway forward.   Want to See How Group Lessons Really Work? If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes. 🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)  Get the free video training here →   Watch/listen on your favourite platform:Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts   Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, we’d be so grateful if you would: ⭐ Subscribe⭐ Rate⭐ Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported.

 When thinking about starting groups many teachers get caught up in the “How will I do this?” question but what they should really be asking themselves is What is important to me musically and professionally?  In other words, what do you want for your students and yourself from adding groups to your teaching? And that’s where the principle of “Beginning with the end in mind” made famous by Stephen Covey in his book “Habits of Highly Effective People” comes into play. Adding groups to your studio can be one of the most powerful ways to teach music but choosing the right format, one that gives both you and your students what you want is key. In this episode we share how our single level curriculum has enabled us to keep students long term in groups sharing footage of a group of teens who started in groups at 4 or 5 and how they are best of friends - still learning in groups. Enjoy a peek into our world with real-life examples of groups in action.  See the lasting friendships, performance skills, and strong musical skills students can achieve almost effortlessly in groups. In this episode, you’ll discover: (00:00) How thinking about your ultimate goals or learning outcomes is the best place to start(01:30) Our now teenage students share what they love about groups(03:30) Our Ultimate Goals - give students musical like skills (05:20) How the soft outcomes of learning with others -  peer motivation and long-term friendships(09:10) Differences between private & group lessons(10:40) The staggering differences between novice and expert group piano teachers (15:10) Live group lesson in action - watch how the lesson flows If you’ve ever wondered how teachers run group piano lessons that are structured, musical, and engaging — without chaos, this episode will open your eyes to what’s possible.   Support the Podcast If you enjoyed this episode, we’d be so grateful if you would: ⭐ Subscribe⭐ Rate⭐ Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Or Listen|Watch on Your Favourite Platform Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts Want to See How Group Lessons Really Work? If you’re curious about group piano teaching, we’ve created a free training video that walks you through the structure behind successful group classes. 🎥 How to Run Professional Group Piano Classes (Without Chaos or Compromise)  Get the free video training here →  

Episode 5: The Must-Have Piano Teaching Tool for Today’s Kids (That Almost No One Knows About) What’s the one teaching tool master piano teachers have used for decades - but many teachers forget about, underuse, or even feel slightly guilty about?  It’s using music to teach music. In this episode, we unpack why fully-orchestrated backing tracks may be the most powerful - and most under-utilised - teaching tool available today. We share the story of how we “stumbled” across this approach… and why modern technology has finally made this accessible and transformative for teachers everywhere. You’ll learn why backing tracks are your active teaching partner! And how to use them effectively.  In this episode, you’ll discover: (00:00) The Teaching Tool Master Teachers Have Always Used (But Most Forget) (01:00) What “Using Music to Teach Music” Really Means (06:11) The Skills that Happen as a Natural Consequence of Backing Tracks (06:45) Why Back Tracks Never Really Took Off  (08:07) 8 Reasons Why Backing Tracks are the Greatest Undiscovered Teaching Tool  (08:33) Snowstorm - Our Multi-meter Piece in ⅞ (13:50) Video Sample of Forte Group Class Doing Chunk Learning  Once you realise that using backing tracks isn’t “cheating”, you’ll open up a whole new world that makes teaching fun, effortless, modern, and powerful! Listen to the episode to discover all the benefits. Resources 📝 Download the 1-Page Teaching with Tracks Handout PTS/Studio Members: Grab it inside your account New here: Download the handout for free Support the Podcast If this episode shifted your thinking, we’d be so grateful if you would: ⭐ Subscribe ⭐ Rate ⭐ Leave a quick review It helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Or Listen|Watch on Your Favourite Platform Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts Want more done-for-you Whole Body Learning resources? Inside The Studio, you’ll find: A huge library of lesson-ready backing tracks Practical Whole Body Learning strategies Monthly masterclasses (live + replay) Downloadable handouts Up-to-the-minute teaching insights A supportive global community of piano teachers 👉 Discover The Studio

  The Skill Every Musician Needs, From Beginners to Professionals - That's Often Overlooked Why do some students struggle to play in time — even when they can count perfectly? In this episode, we unpack one of the most fundamental (and overlooked) skills in piano teaching: beat. We explore why beat is the foundation of all music, why rhythm can’t exist without it, and why counting alone doesn’t always help. You’ll discover why beat is something students need to feel, not calculate - and how it helps at every level. We also demonstrate one of our favourite Whole Body Learning beat activities, Shark Shark.   In this episode, you’ll discover: (00:00) Why Beat Is the Most Important Skill in Music (And Why It’s Often Missed) (01:32) Why Counting Alone Doesn’t Guarantee Playing in Time (02:50) Why Beat Is a Feeling — Not a Mathematical Process (03:37) How One Simple Activity Can Build Beat, Reading, Creativity, and Awareness (06:16) How Beat Supports Sight-Reading, Ensemble Playing, Focus, and Musical Confidence Access the Shark Shark activity below to help students develop creativity, improvisation, reading stamina, and a deeper connection to music.   The Podcast Goodies & Resouces Podcast resources are available on the Piano Teaching Success website. Simply log in via the link below to access 📝 Get the Shark Shark beat activity If you’re a PTS Studio member, simply log in ➤ ⁠Access goodies instantly⁠  New to Piano Teaching Success? ➤ ⁠Register and download⁠    Join our Newsletter for updates  Never miss an episode →   Small Favour If you loved this episode and enjoyed the Shark Shark download, please click subscribe and like on your favourite platform - it helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. 🎉   Listen/Watch on: Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts   Want More Done-For-You Whole Body Learning Resources? Inside The Studio, you’ll find: A huge library of lesson-ready resources, including essential backing tracks Practical Whole Body Learning strategies Monthly masterclasses (live + replay) Downloadable handouts Up-to-the-minute teaching insights A supportive, nurturing community of piano teachers around the world 👉 [Discover The Studio]

Episode 3: The 3 M’s — The Real Secret to Making Piano Learning Stick (Even When They Don’t Practice) Have you ever felt frustrated when students come back to lessons unable to remember what you worked on the week before - even when you know you taught it clearly? In this episode, we explore why this happens - and why it has very little to do with how much students practise. Instead, we reveal the 3 M’s, and show how mixing these three elements helps students remember, feel confident, and make progress even in today’s busy world. This episode will completely reframe how you think about learning, memory, and practice. In this episode, you’ll discover: (00:00) Why Relying on Practice Alone No Longer Works (00:57) How to Give Children Enough Little Anchors so When they Finally Practice, Something Fires Up (02:10) The 3 Ms of Whole Body Learning to Help Learning Stick (02:38) Real-life Studio Example of How to Use the 3Ms with Your Students  (11:20) How to use Multi-sensory Activities in a Structural, Effective Way (13:04) The Surprising Truth about Beginners  (Plus a few giggles — and an unexpected craving for pepperoni pizza and hot cross buns.) Resources Podcast resources are available on the Piano Teaching Success website. Simply log in via the link below to access The Podcast Goodies. 📝 Download the 3 M’s Handout If you’re a PTS Studio member, simply log in and ➤ Access goodies instantly New to Piano Teaching Success? ➤ Register and download   Small Favour  If you loved this episode and found the 3M’s helpful, please click subscribe and like on your favourite platform - it helps more piano teachers discover this work and feel supported. Listen/Watch on: Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts Want More Done-For-You Whole Body Learning Resources? Inside The Studio, you’ll find: A huge library of lesson-ready resources, including essential backing tracks Practical Whole Body Learning strategies Monthly masterclasses (live + replay) Downloadable handouts Up-to-the-minute teaching insights A supportive, nurturing community of piano teachers around the world 👉 [Discover The Studio]

Episode 2: What Neuroscientists Discovered About Learning — Every Piano Teacher Must Know Have you ever watched a piano student’s eyes glaze over — even though they’re “doing the work”? In this episode, Gillian and Paul unpack groundbreaking neuroscience research that explains why this happens — and what actually helps students learn faster, retain more, and enjoy lessons again. We explore Dr Stanislas Dehaene’s Four Pillars of Learning and show exactly how they apply to modern piano teaching through the Whole Body Learning (WBL) approach. In this episode, you’ll discover: (00:00) Why students’ eyes glaze over and how to maintain their attention (01:12) How the brain learns best and how to use this to your advantage (02:25) Why passive learning doesn’t work in piano lessons and what to do instead (03:35) Why students keep coming back with the same mistakes and what to do about it (04:40) How students can make progress even if they don't practice Resources:  Podcast resources available on the Piano Teaching Success website.  Simply log in via the link below to access The Podcast Goodies.  Dehaene’s Four Pillars of Learning (visual/model) Have you tried Cha Cha Cha with your students?  If you’re a PTS Studio member, simply log in and ➤ Access goodies instantly  New to Piano Teaching Success? ➤ Registration and download   Support the Podcast We have a small favour to ask - If you loved listening to the latest neuroscience and helpful hacks for teaching piano to today's kids, please click subscribe and like on your favourite platform so our podcast can reach more teachers just like you. We’d be so grateful if you would: ⭐ subscribe ⭐ rate and ⭐ leave a quick review …it helps more teachers find this work and feel supported. Listen/Watch on:  Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts Want More Done-For-You Whole Body Learning Resources? Inside The Studio, you’ll find: A huge library of lesson-ready resources, including important backing tracks  Practical Whole Body Learning strategies Monthly masterclasses (live + replay) Downloadable handouts Up-to-the-minute teaching insights  And a supportive, nurturing community of teachers around the world Discover The Studio

In this episode, we unpack the real challenges today’s piano teachers face in an AI-driven, distraction-heavy world: Shorter attention spans Rising anxiety Overwhelmed students Perfectionism Find out how Whole Body Learning (WBL), our neuroscience-backed teaching approach can cut through digital overload and transform engagement from the very first lesson.  You’ll learn how WBL works, why it boosts memory and focus, and how one simple beginner piece, Cha Cha Cha, can be layered for learners of all ages to build technique, confidence and instant success.  Try Cha Cha Cha for yourself  Already registered with Piano Teaching Success? ➤ Access instantly Not registered with Piano Teaching Success then ➤ Free registration and download Watch the interview with Jane Shellshear on seating position here. 🎉 We have a small favour to ask - if you loved the latest neuroscience and helpful hacks for teaching today's kids in this episode, please click subscribe and like so our content can reach more piano teachers just like you. Get your downloadable goodies here. Listen/Watch on: Spotify | Apple | YouTube Video | YouTube Audio | iHeart | Amazon | Goodpods | Pocket Casts  

Gillian and Paul are looking forward to sharing ideas, tips, and strategies for using the Whole Body Learning methodology to make piano teaching easier and effective.