The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

• 411: Forrest Kinney’s Framework for Playing and Teaching Lead Sheets

  In this special episode, we’re honored to share with you a webinar with the late Forrest Kinney, one of the most thoughtful and inspiring voices in music education. With warmth, wit, and deep insight, Forrest walks us through his framework for teaching and playing from lead sheets—starting with ear-based learning, nurturing creativity, and progressing to rich styles and arrangements. His heartfelt belief that all students can improvise, arrange, and compose, Forrest reminds us why creativity is central to joyful music-making. Whether you're a seasoned teacher or just starting with lead sheets, Forrest’s gentle wisdom and practical strategies will leave you inspired to nurture confident, creative students who can play with freedom, flexibility, and joy. Tim shared his goal of creating “all-rounder musicians” who can play by ear, accompany, transpose, improvise, and use lead sheets confidently. Why skills like transposing, improvising, and reading lead sheets matter. He highlighted how chord work improves reading, composing, and playing flexibility. The importance of introducing lead sheet reading even if teachers haven't taught it before. Forrest explained a lead sheet as melody plus chord symbols. He highlighted that chords represent flexible families of notes, not just fixed triads. How lead sheet skills can lead to diverse career opportunities. The value of ear training and improvisation from the first lesson. How to prepare beginners through ear games, bass note additions, and transposition before introducing notation. The importance of left-hand styles in creating rhythmic impact. Forrest demonstrated how to build solo playing from basic chords to rich accompaniments using inversion, syncopation, and style variations. He shared a shortcut for adding 7ths and 2nds by moving the root note up or down. How inversions help with smoother playing, especially in basslines. Forrest recommended fake books and lyric sheet websites (like Ultimate Guitar) as resources for lead sheet practice and repertoire building. Links Mentioned Forrest Kinney Website Blog: What’s the Difference Between a Chord Chart and a Lead Sheet? Blog: 9 Reasons Why Playing Lead Sheets is Essential for Piano Students Special Offer for Podcast Listeners Go to topmusic.co/lead and get access to Forrest Kinney's Taking the Lead Course for only $49 with 1 year access ($100 off the regular price of $149). About Forrest Kinney Forrest Kinney was an educator who taught music for over four decades. He was a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM) as recognized by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). His goal in life was to help others become creative, whole musicians capable of enjoying the Four Arts of Music: improvising, arranging, composing, and interpreting. Forrest lived amongst mossy trees in the mountains east of Seattle, generally preferring what he called “a 19th-century lifestyle.” He was immensely grateful to be able to make his living by creating music and books, and by sharing his belief that creativity is a key to happiness. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable...

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• 410: TEMPO – The New Online Conference from MTNA

  Today, we’re having a chat with Michael Clark, who’s here to discuss MTNA's new online conference, TEMPO, which aims to be more accessible and cost-effective for music educators. We'll dive into the key features of TEMPO, including 40 prerecorded breakout sessions, live Q&A chats, and extensive networking opportunities. Michael highlights the importance of an international reach, unique content, and the flexibility of accessing sessions for two months. Stay tuned as Michael shares key highlights and insights into why this conference is a must-attend event for music educators worldwide. Michael shared about the new online conference from MTNA called TEMPO. He described his role in MTNA and as an assistant professor at Baylor University. His project "Piano Tricks," focused on fingering redistributions for piano pieces. The importance of TEMPO being an accessible and cost-effective online MTNA conference. How is TEMPO different from MTNA’s national conference? What are some of the highlights of TEMPO? How can listeners attend and register? He shared some of the topics that the sessions will cover, including international repertoire. Guest Links Michael's Website: MichaelClarkPiano.com Michaels' Instagram: @michaelclarkpiano Michael's YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@michaelwinstonclark Links Mentioned Click here to find out more about TEMPO and use code TOP25 at checkout for 20% off registration. (The conference is scheduled for April 25-26, with early bird registration available until April 15) TopMusicPiano Podcast 061: Finding Your Creative Voice with Leila Viss Today's Guest Michael Clark is a pianist, teacher, and scholar noted for his “natural, clear, and nuanced” performances (Piano Magazine). An advocate for the music of Florence Price, he made the first studio recording of her complete piano waltzes for Navona Records, edited the first publication of twenty of her intermediate pieces for Hal Leonard, and has performed her works around the United States. Clark also researches traditions of piano fingering and is the founder of PianoTricks.net, an online database of fingerings and redistributions for over 1000 passages from the piano repertoire. He serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued...

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• 409: Using Notion to Organise Your Studio and Life with Amy Chaplin & Joy Morin

  Today, we dive into the world of digital organization with Amy Chaplin and Joy Morin, two passionate music educators who have transformed the way they manage their studios and lives using Notion. They share how Notion helps streamline workflows, reduce scattered files across multiple platforms, and keep everything organized in one place. They also explore why this all-in-one tool is revolutionizing productivity and discuss their Notion for Teachers workshop, designed to help educators set up their Notion pages efficiently. Plus, they wrap up with their top three productivity tips for teachers. If you’re looking to organize your studio and life more effectively, this episode is packed with insights to help you get started! Amy and Joy shared their thoughts on productivity and efficiency. The importance of balance and avoiding the ‘hustle and grind’ mindset. How apps should support the way we work rather than dictating our workflow. Why Notion stands out as a powerful, customizable tool for organization and productivity. Why Amy transitioned from Evernote to Notion. Importance of re-evaluating tools and workflows to ensure they align with evolving needs and preferences. Joy highlighted the flexibility of Notion, making it a great option for users looking for a customizable note-taking and project management tool. The differences between Notion and project management tools like Trello, Asana, and Monday. How they Notion for professional tasks, such as podcast planning and project management. The use of Notion for personal tasks like travel planning and creating gift ideas for Christmas. Amy and Joy shared their top three productivity tips for teachers. Links Mentioned TopCast Episode 14: Harnessing the Power of the Internet with Joy Morin TopCast Episode 372: How to Organise Your Music Studio and Life with Amy Chaplin Forbes Article: $10 Billion Productivity Startup Notion Wants To Build Your AI Everything App Guest Links Mentioned Organize Your Life With Notion Workshop Notion Workshops Waitlist Joy Morin's Website: ColorInMyPiano.com Amy Chaplin's Website: PianoPantry.com Blog posts: An Introduction to Notion – A Customizable Digital Workspace to Organize Everything in Your Life Your Qs Answered and How I Use Notion to Manage My Piano Studio (Joy Morin) 40 Ways to Use Notion as a Music Professional (Joy Morin)

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• 408: A Simple Website Solution for Music Teachers with Demitris Maddox

  In this episode, we’re chatting with Demitris Maddox to explore the key elements of a successful website for music teachers. Demitris shares how he developed a streamlined approach to website design that helps studios attract more students. We discuss the importance of clear messaging, an engaging hero section, and user-friendly navigation that encourages visitors to take action. He also highlights common website mistakes and simple fixes that can make a big difference. Demitris shared insights on building a strong online presence for music teachers. The importance of having a professional website to attract students. He highlighted how a well-designed site can showcase your teaching style and credentials. The value of clear, engaging content was emphasized to keep visitors interested. Why an easy-to-navigate layout improves user experience. How search engine optimization (SEO) can help teachers reach more potential students. Tips on integrating scheduling tools to streamline lesson bookings. The importance of mobile-friendly design was stressed for accessibility. How testimonials and reviews build credibility and trust. He encouraged teachers to update their websites regularly to stay relevant. Links Mentioned Learn more about TopMusicSheets here Learn more about TopMusicGames here Demitris Maddox's website: ProvideImpact.com Hero Section Henry Today's Guest Demitris Maddox began his journey in 2016 helping his girlfriend build her thriving piano studio. Drawing from years as the Chief Marketing Officer of that successful studio, where he also provided website services for other music studios along the way, Demitris is now the confident founder of Provide Impact, where he helps private music studios attract more students through his Impact Method which focuses on optimized websites and online marketing. When he's not in the kitchen experimenting to find the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe, he's on a mission to help private music studios elevate their online presence to attract more students and grow their business. He's put together a free quiz for music teachers who want to know how ready they are for a professional music teaching website. Check it out at MusicTeacherQuiz.com Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Mondays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL

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• 407: The Power of Storytelling with Andrea Dow from Teach Piano Today

  In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Andrea Dow from Teach Piano Today. Andrea shares her unique approach to piano teaching, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, creativity, and building strong teacher-student relationships. We dive into how she and her husband Trevor started Teach Piano Today, how they developed their popular WunderKeys method, and how they’ve kept students engaged through imaginative, game-based learning materials. Andrea also opens up about her own teaching journey, the early influences that shaped her, and how she balances creativity with family life. You’ll come away inspired by the power of storytelling in piano education and how it can transform your studio. Andrea shared a brief overview of her background and reflected on her early podcasting experience. She shared her introverted nature and challenges balancing family life. How piano teaching has evolved toward business and entrepreneurship. How transitioning from Suzuki to traditional methods shaped her musical path. Andrea shared how she grew her teaching studio to over 350 students before eventually selling it. The importance of teacher-student relationships. How she and her husband Trevor started Teach Piano Today in 2011, motivated by the disparity between classroom learning materials and piano resources. The storytelling approach in the WunderKeys method, which enhances student engagement and emotional expression. She emphasized starting composition and improvisation early in lessons. The value of integrating composing and improvisation early in lessons to foster creativity. She shared how Trevor’s background supports their resource design. The importance of game-based learning to build rapport, reduce fear of failure, and reinforce concepts in a fun, memorable way. Why games are helpful for all ages, including teens and adults. Links Mentioned Learn more about TopMusicSheets here Learn more about TopMusicGames here Guest Links Mentioned Teach Piano Today Website WunderKeys Website Teach Piano Today Facebook Page Teach Piano Today Instagram Page Today's Guest Andrea Dow, together with her husband Trevor, are the composers, authors, and educators behind TeachPianoToday.com and WunderKeys. Their collaborative work has transformed piano education, providing teachers with imaginative resources that engage students of all ages. From quirky piano books to game-based learning materials, Andrea and Trevor's creations inspire piano teachers worldwide to bring creativity and joy into their lessons. Over the years, they have published 207 piano books, each designed to motivate students and make learning music fun. Andrea and Trevor live on Vancouver Island off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. When not composing or creating, Andrea and Trevor balance family life with two teenage daughters, and spend most of their time at the hockey rink or track. Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find...

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