The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

One of the most exciting things we did this year was launch our first-ever TopMusic Composition Competition — and the response blew me away! In this episode, I’m sharing the replay of our live winner announcement, where I performed each winning piece and celebrated the creativity of our global piano community. You’ll hear from students as young as five years old who submitted original, notated works with impressive musicality. I also talk about how milestones like this competition can motivate students to compose, improvise, and truly engage with the structure of music in a meaningful way. Tim announced the winners of the first-ever TopMusic Composition Competition.The competition featured four categories:Mini Maestros (ages 5–10)Rising Composers (11–14)Creative Visionaries (15–18)Adults Entries were judged based on PDF scores, not video/audio performance. Winners' compositions will be published in the March 2026 issue of TopMusic Sheets. Tim played each winning piece live during the announcement session. Judges praised students’ use of dynamics, structure, creativity, and notation clarity. Honorable mentions were awarded to encourage more creativity and expression. Teachers of winning students were recognized for supporting creative teaching. Tim highlighted the importance of milestones in creative music education. How the competition helped foster confidence and real-world experience for students. Future plans include featuring more composers in the monthly sheet music packs. Tim encouraged more teachers to participate in the next competition round. Links Mentioned Find out more about TopMusicSheets here.Download your latest TopMusic Magazine here. 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

We’ve all been there—navigating the headache of rescheduled lessons, disappointed parents, and the pressure to make up for every missed session. In this episode, I'm chatting with Jonathan Roberts, director of South Shore Piano School, about why giving make-up lessons may be hurting your studio more than helping. We unpack the emotional and financial cost of flexibility, how to shift toward professional boundaries, and what a sustainable, no-make-up lesson policy actually looks like in practice. Jonathan shared the origins of South Shore Piano School, which now serves over 350 students.He explained why they focus solely on piano lessons to simplify branding, marketing, and SEO.How inconsistent studio policies across schools created confusion and poor teaching cultures.How South Shore Piano School prioritizes teacher well-being, including fair pay and benefits.Why he decided to create a video to clearly and empathetically explain their new no-make-up policy.How the video received overwhelmingly positive responses from parents.The emotional toll make-up lessons take on teachers, from scheduling stress to burnout.The importance of empathy and analogies to help parents understand the teacher’s perspective.How a no-makeup policy actually signals professionalism and earns more respect from families.Jonathan highlighted that options like Zoom lessons, asynchronous reviews, and monthly group make-ups help maintain flexibility without compromising structure.He advised teachers to invest in marketing, especially SEO, to reduce fear around losing students.He encouraged teachers to face the discomfort of policy change as a gateway to healthier, more sustainable studios. Links Mentioned Watch Jonathan's YouTube Video on Makeup LessonsSouth Shore Piano School WebsiteSouth Shore Piano School Facebook PageSouth Shore Piano School Instagram:@sspianoschoolDownload your latest TopMusic Magazine issue here Today's Guest Jonathan Roberts is a pianist, entrepreneur, and content creator who serves as the owner and director of the South Shore Piano School in the Boston area, where he leads a team of 10 teachers serving more than 350 students. A passionate advocate for music educators, Jonathan has built SSPS on a foundation of supporting teachers with fair pay and meaningful work, while fostering a transparent, community-centered approach to music education for students and families. In addition to his leadership at SSPS, he is an examiner and U.S. ambassador for the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Certificate Program, as well as immediate past-president of the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association. 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

It was such a pleasure catching up with Katherine Fisher again. In this episode, we revisit her groundbreaking Piano Safari method and explore how it has evolved to meet the needs of today’s students. We're going to dive into beginner piano technique, discuss why rote teaching and intervallic reading are so powerful, and explore creative ways to build technical foundations through movement, rhythm, and imagination. Katherine’s insights are grounded in deep pedagogical research and a passion for helping teachers inspire young pianists. Katherine shared how Piano Safari began with research-based pedagogical practices blended in a creative way.The importance of using rote pieces alongside reading to support beginner students.Why Piano Safari’s unique blend of intervallic reading and rote learning sets it apart from traditional methods.How early use of intervallic reading supports long-term music reading fluency.The value of teaching rhythmic patterns through animal rhythms to build recognition and fluency.How Piano Safari integrates storytelling and play-based learning to reinforce melodic contour.The importance of starting beginners with non-legato to develop a healthy, tension-free technique.The benefits of rote teaching and offered strategies for memorization and creative exploration.She encouraged students to transpose rote pieces early on to develop keyboard awareness and flexibility. Links Mentioned Piano Safari WebsiteTeaching Piano Safari Facebook GroupPiano Safari YouTube channel:www.youtube.com/@pianosafari346TTTV071: Exploring Piano Safari with Dr Julie Knerr and Katherine FisherGet access to Teaching Advancing Pianist Course TopMusicPro Member Links 10% off Piano Safari Today's Guest Katherine Fisher serves on the piano faculty of the Ohio University School of Music in Athens, Ohio where she teaches applied piano and piano pedagogy, coordinates the group piano program, and mentors graduate teaching assistants. Katherine is internationally recognized in the field of piano pedagogy as a creator of the innovative method Piano Safari. Along with co-author Julie Knerr Hague, she has published well over one hundred books and pedagogical materials. The Piano Safari method and its supplemental teaching material is distributed throughout the world and is used by thousands of piano teachers and students. 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...

To wrap up our “Streamline Your Studio” month, I’m sharing a special replay of one of my most popular conference presentations from the MTAC Conference. In this session, I'm going to break down practical strategies for saving time, boosting productivity, and running your music teaching business more efficiently. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by admin or just looking to fine-tune your workflow, this episode is full of quick wins you can implement right away to reclaim your time and increase your income. Tim introduced the episode as a replay from his MTAC conference presentation.The session's three core areas: productivity hacks, business time savers, and virtual teams.How to help teachers save time, focus on what matters, and increase income.Calculating effective hourly rates to understand real income after expenses and taxes.How most teachers overestimate their earnings by not factoring in business costs.Strategies for improving effective hourly rate including increasing income and reducing hours.Tim emphasized using software like My Music Staff to automate scheduling and billing tasks.Using cloud storage tools like Dropbox and Google Drive for backups and document sharing.How hiring virtual assistants from countries like the Philippines can be a cost-effective way to reduce admin work. Links Mentioned Find out more about our Lite Membership here.Download your latest issue of TopMusic Magazine here. Member Links Business Systems & Productivity for the 21st Century Today’s Sponsor Opus1 helps music school owners run their schools with ease, confidence, and connection. Created by fellow school owners, our all-in-one platform brings scheduling, billing, communications, and marketing together under one roof. By simplifying admin tasks and improving family engagement, Opus1 empowers music school owners to grow an average of 40% in just 18 months. Join a growing community of schools building stronger businesses — and stronger music programs — with Opus1. Book a Demo of Opus1 here. 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.

442: Selling the VALUE of Your Teaching with Jonathan Kuuskoski

17/11/2025 | 57 mins.

Let’s face it. Talking about pricing can be uncomfortable. That’s why I was to have a chat with Jonathan Kuuskoski, Director of the EXCEL Lab at the University of Michigan, to explore how music teachers can confidently communicate the real value of what they offer. We talked about teaching identities, emotional labor, storytelling, and how to shift conversations with families away from “cost” and toward “transformation.” If you’ve ever felt uneasy about pricing your lessons or explaining your worth, this episode will give you the mindset and the words to make it easier. Jonathan shared a brief overview of his background as the Director of the EXCEL Lab at the University of Michigan.He explained why musicians often struggle with pricing.How building confidence and articulating value are key steps toward charging appropriately.The importance of defining a core philosophy or teaching identity was emphasized.Why teachers should talk less about cost and more about transformation.Jonathan encouraged teachers to shift the conversation from “how much” to “what’s possible.”The benefits of customizing your pitch based on the needs of your ideal clients were discussed.How storytelling helps students and parents understand the real value of music education.How EXCEL at the University of Michigan prepares students for creative careers through coaching.The difference between transactional teaching and building long-term trust.How teachers can present their programs like a unique learning journey, not just a set of lessons.He encouraged educators to reflect on their own success stories as part of their value proposition.The importance of embracing an entrepreneurial mindset in the arts was emphasized.Tips on how teachers can build confidence in pricing and communication. Links Mentioned Jonathan's LinkedIn pageUniversity of Michigan - School of Music Theater and DanceUniversity of Michigan - School of Music Theater and Dance Excel Lab Today’s Guest Jonathan Kuuskoski is Chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and Director of the EXCEL Lab and at University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where he leads their comprehensive entrepreneurship, leadership, management and career development programming. Since 2015, EXCEL has helped launch hundreds of student-led arts projects, while incubating dozens of student ventures and delivering personalized training resources to thousands of aspiring performing arts professionals. To-date, the department has delivered more than $1 million in direct student support funding. Jonathan has presented his work widely, including at the Peabody Institute (Johns Hopkins), Yale University, the Bolz Center for Arts Administration (Wisconsin School of Business), New World Symphony, the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna (mdw), and the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. He has provided commentary on a number of music sector issues for CNN, Forbes, and Inc.com, and his work in the arts entrepreneurship and leadership space has been profiled by CNBC, Crain’s Detroit Business, Symphony Magazine, and other news outlets. His recent publication, “Narrowing the Gap: Implications of Arts Business Training on Artist Labor Market Outcomes” (co-authored with Dr. Christos Makridis, Artivate, Vol. 12), examines the impact of business training on artists’ earnings using U.S. Census Bureau data. Today’s Sponsor