by Tim Topham
The TopMusic Piano Podcast is a weekly show that provides piano teachers with inspiration and ideas for teaching piano in a way that engages and motivates students. Your host, Dr. Rachel Ehring, is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano-teaching gadgets. Rachel holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and an MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. Join Rachel as she interviews guests from the music education industry and shares tips and advice to help you run your dream piano studio.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/5/2023
Email Addresses
0 available
Phone Numbers
0 available
April 18, 2025
In today’s episode, Spanish pianist and teacher Juan Cabeza shares how his traditional classical training led him on a journey to redefine piano education through creativity. From discovering the power of pattern-based teaching and improvisation to building a vibrant community of teachers in Madrid, Juan offers a fresh perspective on holistic music learning. He discusses the value of ensemble playing, the inspiration behind his Piano Train Trips series, and the process of creating his online course, Piano Patterns in Harmony. Whether you're looking to rethink your teaching or bring more creativity into your studio, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration. <ul> <li>Juan shared an overview of his background as a piano teacher and composer from Madrid.</li> <li>The importance of teaching students to play by ear, improvise, compose, and arrange from the start.</li> <li>He reflected on how group teaching pushed him to explore new, more holistic methods.</li> <li>How the idea of “create to learn” inspired him to focus on improvisation and hands-on discovery.</li> <li>He shared that Music Learning Theory (MLT) also influenced his shift toward a more creative approach.</li> <li>How his blog and compositions led to his first books being published by Piano Safari.</li> <li>The benefits of forehand and ensemble playing, including rhythm, flow, and fun</li> <li>He shared about the teacher meetups he hosts in Spain to share ideas and build community.</li> <li>Why playing together helps students listen better, relax, and build confidence on stage.</li> <li>Juan recommended favorite ensemble books like Keyboard Crocodile and Melodic Explorations.</li> <li>He introduced his course, Piano Patterns in Harmony, for learning harmony through improvisation.</li> <li>How pattern-based learning helps students grasp theory and repertoire more quickly.</li> </ul><br/> <h2>Guest Links Mentioned</h2> <ul> <li>Juan's website: <a href="https://megustaelpiano.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Me Gusta El Piano</a></li> <li><a href="https://megustaelpiano.com/en/course/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Piano Patterns in Harmony Course</a></li> <li><a href="https://pianosafari.com/juan-cabeza/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Juan's books on Piano Safari</a></li> <li>Blog Post: <a href="https://megustaelpiano.com/en/piano-repertoire-for-4-or-more-hands/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Piano Repertoire for 4 or More Hands</a></li> </ul><br/> <h2>Resources Mentioned</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://forrestkinney.com/improvising-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Forrest Kinney's The Art of Improvising</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pianists-Guide-Historic-Improvisation/dp/0190920408" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Pianist's Guide to Historic Improvisation by John Mortensen</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.paulharristeaching.co.uk/simultaneouslearning" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul Harris's Simultaneous Learning</a></li> <li>Garreth Brooke’s website: <a href="https://www.pianocreativity.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Piano Creativity</a></li> </ul><br/> <h2>Today’s Guest</h2> Juan Cabeza is a pianist, pedagogue and composer. He teaches private and group piano students at his studio, in Madrid, where he specializes in students in the elementary and intermediate stages of study. As a result of his research in piano pedagogy, Juan created a blog, megustaelpiano.com. Here he expresses his ideas about teaching and learning piano, provides teaching resources, and suggests interesting piano repertoire. Juan Cabeza is the author of Piano Train Trips, Miniatures and the two Diversions books published by Piano Safari. He has translated into Spanish the Piano Safari Method and Create First by Forrest Kinney. He has also created the online improvisation course Piano Patterns in Harmony, which has been recently nominated for The Art of Piano Education
April 11, 2025
In this inspiring episode, Leila Viss shares how nearly 40 years of piano teaching, church musicianship, and personal resilience have shaped her creative voice. She opens up about her journey through trauma, healing, and the power of expressive arts—introducing tools like her Cupcake Improv Pack and the Creativity Pyramid. From hands-on group pedagogy at MTNA to guiding students from improvisation, Leila encourages teachers to embrace curiosity, let go of perfectionism, and find their own “bliss station.” Whether you're stuck in an improv rut or just need a creative spark, this conversation will leave you energized and ready to reconnect with your musical imagination. <ul> <li>Leila shared an overview of her background and her piano teaching journey.</li> <li>The importance of group piano pedagogy, which was a highlight in her MTNA conference experience.</li> <li>She encouraged teachers to attend conferences, a great place for networking and community-building.</li> <li>Why creativity is essential for pianists and all musicians.</li> <li>Leila introduced her Creativity Pyramid model.</li> <li>How curiosity, when balanced between fascination and fear, helps unlock creative potential.</li> <li>The importance of letting go of perfectionism as a step in creative growth and personal exploration.</li> <li>She highlighted a powerful research from Dr. Martha Beck.</li> <li>How music became a grounding and healing force for both her and Carter during their recovery.</li> <li>Leila introduced her creative teaching resource, the Cupcake Improv Pack.</li> <li>Rachel shared how the Cupcake Improv helped her explore fresh musical ideas.</li> <li>The power of naming musical patterns to help students remember and reuse them.</li> </ul><br/> <h2>Guest Links Mentioned</h2> <ul> <li>Leila's website: <a href="https://www.leilaviss.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.LeilaViss.com</a></li> <li>Leila's Instagram page: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/leilaviss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@leilaviss</a></li> <li>Leila's Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/88pianokeys/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leila Viss, 88PK </a></li> <li>Leila's YouTube Channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@leilaviss" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.youtube.com/@leilaviss</a></li> <li>Leila's Book: <a href="https://a.co/d/dY3IMHJ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Found in the Wake: Rising from the Depths of a Devastating Boat Strike</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.leilaviss.com/cupcake-improv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cupcake Improv</a></li> </ul><br/> <h2>Links Mentioned</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://topmusic.co/integrated-music-teaching-podcast/409-using-notion-to-organise-your-studio-and-life-with-amy-chaplin-joy-morin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TopCast 409: Using Notion to Organise Your Studio and Life with Amy Chaplin & Joy Morin</a></li> <li><a href="https://amzn.to/4jcjTzT" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose by Martha Beck</a></li> </ul><br/> <h2>Today’s Guest</h2> <span style="font-weight: 400">Leila Viss creates imaginative, tech-savvy resources for her in-person and online piano studio and website. She founded Space to Create where she empowers pianists and teachers to connect with their creativity through improvisation, composition, and arranging. A longtime church musician and dynamic speaker, she co-authored Found in the Wake, a memoir of loss and resilience. Viss is Colorado’s 2024 MTNA Foundation Fellow and a 2025 Frances Clark Center Outstanding Service Recognition Award recipient.</span> <h2>About Rachel Ehring</h2> Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves
April 4, 2025
In today’s episode, we’re chatting with Megan Maxwell and Lani Lammoglia from Little Chords to discuss the world of successful online teaching. With their vast experience in early childhood music education, Megan and Lani share insights on blending digital and physical learning formats to engage young students effectively. They delve into their tech setup, the challenges they faced transitioning online, and how they've managed to cultivate vibrant, interactive music classes. Plus, they discuss their innovative approach to teaching preschoolers online and their newly published children's book designed to make music education fun and accessible. Join us as we explore these topics and more, offering a treasure trove of information for educators looking to optimize their online teaching methods. <ul> <li>Megan and Lani shared their extensive backgrounds in music education and early childhood development.</li> <li>The importance of blending digital and physical learning for young students.</li> <li>They recounted the founding of Little Chords, emphasized the impact of online lessons, and their adaptation during the pandemic.</li> <li>The initial challenges and mistakes made in their online teaching journey.</li> <li>Their current successful model, featuring small, interactive classes and monthly masterclasses.</li> <li>Lani discussed the creativity involved in making engaging and effective resources for children.</li> <li>Their approach to making online preschool education effective, emphasizing flexibility and playfulness.</li> <li>Their tech setup, including the use of Zoom, OBS, and Canva for interactive lessons.</li> <li>Lani spoke about their combination of teaching Spanish language and music.</li> <li>The value of small group classes for enhanced student interaction and learning.</li> <li>Their method of gradually introducing piano technique to young students online.</li> <li>They talked about their newly published book for piano students, which integrates playful learning.</li> </ul><br/> <h2>Links Mentioned</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.littlechords.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Little Chords Website</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/littlechords/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Little Chords Instagram Page</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.littlechords.com/post/transforming-online-music-lessons-our-technology-setup-for-exceptional-virtual-piano-keyboard-and" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blog: Quality Online Piano, Keyboard, and Voice Lessons: Studio Technology that's Family Focused</a></li> </ul><br/> <h2>Today’s Guest</h2> With 20 years experience teaching piano, voice, and early childhood classes, <strong>Megan Maxwell</strong> combines her Early Childhood Development degree with extensive music studies. She creates interactive resources that blend digital and physical learning for young students. She focuses on the critical developmental years where children's curiosity can be channeled effectively,' Her innovative approach supports hands-on learning without keeping children glued to screens, making music and language education accessible for children, parents, and teachers. <strong>Lani Lammoglia</strong> combines 14 years of teaching experience with her Early Childhood Psychology background from Venezuela and graduate studies in Flute and Vocal Performance. Beginning her own musical journey at age 5, she understands the value of early music education. 'Teaching is never boring with little kids. She loves meeting children where they are and guiding them to discover the joy in learning. Her innovative resources blend digital and physical elements that enhance online lessons while providing engaging materials for between-session learning, creating an interactive experience that supports children's curiosity without excessive screen time. <h2>About Rachel Ehring</h2> Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and
Tim Topham
Amy Chaplin
Nicola Cantan
Christina Whitlock
Andrea Miller
Ashley Danyew
Ashlee Young
jaclyndm
Clinton Pratt
Angela Toone
Unknown author
Daniel Patterson & Nate Shaw
Shelly Davis
Dhru Purohit
Katy Wells
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at [email protected] for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.