When you had your first piano lesson, did your piano teacher open a method book and
point to middle C and show you where to put your thumb on middle C and they were probably
held for two counts each and you would be playing middle C one, two, one, two.
If you're lucky, you might use your left hand one, two, and that was kind of lesson one.
Was that lesson one for you?
Well, if I asked that question to, I was in fact speaking at a conference yesterday, I
was about 35 teachers and it's about 90% of their hands went up to say, yes, that is how
I was taught.
So the question is, keep your hand up if you think that's the most imaginative, creative,
musical, fun, exciting, enjoyable way that you could possibly start a music lesson with
a student today.
And of course all the hands go down.
I mean, no one in their right mind would think that's a good way to engage students and excite
them in this journey they're starting when they are the most enthusiastic they'll ever
be in that first lesson.
My goal for the book is I want more students in the world continuing their piano instruction.
I want more teachers enjoying the process of teaching so they do more of it and they
have fun with it.
So here is your framework.
Here are your lesson plans.
Go for it.
Have fun with it.
Anyone can do it regardless of how little creativity you think you have inside you.
I mean, there's so much that's changed in 10, 15 years.
Family dynamics have shifted, have changed.
Students leisure time has changed.
Studies impacted everything and it's changed things like students ability to focus and
what students expect of their learning.
And this goes to classrooms as well.
We are seeing a trend that adding creative aspects to lessons.
We've seen a huge shift towards people and organizations embracing creativity.
That is a trend that I'm super delighted that is happening.
I believe that in creative activities are best done or explored in lessons when they're
connected somehow with a learning outcome.
It's about integrating creativity and not just creativity but connecting multiple parts
of a lesson together for a student.
Join me in an exclusive conversation with the incredible Tim Topham, music educator
and CEO of Top Music Co.
Our discussion revolved around his recently released book, No Book Beginners, which encapsulates
his experiences as a music educator and is a valuable resource for music teachers.
Join us this Tuesday, February 20th at 8 p.m. Eastern for an enchanting conversation with
Tim streaming on the Piano Pods YouTube channel and available on your favorite podcast platform.
Like this video, spread the word and don't forget to follow the Piano Pod on social media.
The links are in the description.
Catch you on Tuesday.
Bye.