TopMusic Piano Podcast

After last week's conversation about transitioning to group teaching, I wanted to continue the discussion by exploring what group piano can actually look like. In this episode, I’m sharing the different group teaching models I've experienced, from preschool classes and piano labs to buddy lessons and multi-level groups, and why the best approach is the one that fits your students, your space, and your teaching style.
Rachel explored several approaches to teaching group piano lessons.
She shared how her view of group teaching has changed over the years.
She explained how college piano labs differ from modern group studios.
The value of adapting group lessons to your own teaching space.
How preschool group classes build strong musical foundations.
She explained how play-based activities support young beginners.
How multi-level group lessons can combine individual and collaborative learning.
The benefits of buddy lessons for selected students.
Rachel encouraged teachers to add performance classes or practice labs to their studios.

Links Mentioned
TMPP Episode 045: Preschool Piano for Better Business with Amy Elmore
TMPP Episode 047: A Review of Preschool Piano Methods with Abigail Proffitt
TMPP Episode 093: Debunking the Myths About Group Lessons with Jessica Homewood
TMPP Episode 112: Preschool Teaching and TopMusicLive with Laura Kahar
TMPP Episode 123: Making the Pivot to Group Teaching with Mandy Goldbach

About Rachel Ehring
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 as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

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 Fridays 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

When I first heard about group teaching, I wondered how it could possibly provide the same individual attention as private lessons. In this episode, Mandy Goldbach shares how she successfully transitioned her studio to a small-group model, why it has transformed both her students' learning and her business, and what teachers should know before making the switch themselves.
Mandy shared a brief overview about her music teaching studio.
How teaching the same private lesson repeatedly inspired her to explore group teaching.
She explained how group lessons brought more energy and variety to her teaching.
How multi-level groups allow students to progress at their own pace.
The benefits of using keyboards and headphones for individualized instruction.
Why ensemble activities build confidence and strengthen social connections.
How group lessons help reduce performance anxiety through regular peer performances.
Mandy described how students learn valuable independent practice skills during lessons.
The importance of balancing structured teaching with flexible learning.
She explained why group lessons appeal to today's busy families.
How group teaching increased both student engagement and retention.
She shared how investing in keyboards quickly paid for itself through studio growth.
How group teaching created opportunities to grow her business sustainably.
She encouraged teachers to experiment with partner or group learning before making a full transition.

Links Mentioned
Mandy's Website:Crescendo Studio SC
Mandy's Instagram page:@crescendostudiosc
Mandy's Facebook page:Crescendo Music Studio SC

Studio Equipment Recommendations
Keyboard, music stand, pedal:amzn.to/4oYcoRn
Keyboard stand:amzn.to/4eVWhPs
Adjustable piano bench:amzn.to/4gXIhqW
Step stools:amzn.to/4v7Tvwu
Headphones:amzn.to/4gBtjqP
Male to female headphone adapter:amzn.to/4wmHK6n

Today's Guest
For nearly two decades, Mandy Goldbach has been equipping musicians of all ages with the skills and confidence to make music a meaningful part of their lives. After relocating from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Greenville, South Carolina, in 2018, Mandy continued building a thriving music studio while serving in worship ministry with her husband and raising their two children. In 2024, she reimagined her studio by transitioning from traditional private lessons to a small-group piano model—a move that has fueled more than 400% growth in just two years. Today, Mandy is a Steinway Educational Partner and an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, South Carolina Music Teachers Association, and Greenville Music Teachers Association, where she serves as Social Media Chair and Co-Chair of Outreach. She loves helping her students discover fresh, engaging ways to learn music while being an active part of the music teacher community.
About Rachel Ehring
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 as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

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 Fridays 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

Every piano method reflects the values behind the person who created it. Today, I'm chatting with Andrea Humphrey to explore the story behind the Kindred Piano Method, a series that blends solid piano pedagogy with music from underrepresented composers and cultures, helping teachers create more inclusive and meaningful learning experiences for every student.
Andrea shared how 30 years of teaching shaped the Kindred Piano Method.
She explained how the events of 2020 inspired her to rethink traditional method books.
Andrea described why representation in music education matters for every student.
How one student's experience sparked the creation of an entirely new method.
Andrea explained how family songs became the starting point for building the repertoire.
The importance of including music from diverse cultures and traditions.
Andrea discussed combining traditional pedagogy with inclusive musical experiences.
She shared how landmark notes and sight reading are introduced early in the method.
Why the lesson books include integrated theory instead of separate workbooks.
Andrea reflected on the four-year journey of writing, designing, and publishing the series.
How conferences and teacher feedback continue to shape the future of the method.
Andrea shared her vision of collaborating with composers from around the world.


Links Mentioned

Andrea's website:Kindred Piano Method
Andrea's Instagram page:@kindredpiano


Today's Guest



Andrea Humphrey (she/her) is the author of the Kindred Piano Method series and has been a piano instructor for over 25 years. After earning a music therapy degree from the University of Minnesota, she began teaching advanced keyboards and music theory at a technical college while opening a private piano studio for younger students.

Her musical world expanded years later during an extended assignment in India with her husband and children, where she continued her work as both an instructor and pianist. It became one of the highlights of her career as a music educator, deepening her belief in the value of making music education diverse and available to all.

Today, through the Kindred Piano Method, Andrea connects piano students with traditionally underrepresented composers and gives instructors an inclusive, instructor-friendly method they can confidently send into any student's home.
About Rachel Ehring

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 as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music


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 Fridays 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

Helping students become confident note readers is one of the biggest challenges in piano teaching. In this episode, I'm talking with Rowina Seidler about how memory champion techniques inspired the creation of Noteology®, an innovative app that combines storytelling, visual memory, and keyboard geography to help students learn note reading in a completely different way.
Rowina shared how her own struggles with note reading inspired her to create Noteology®.
She explained how memory champion techniques can accelerate note recognition.
Why traditional note mnemonics can slow down the reading process.
She highlighted the value of creating memorable stories to teach note names.
Rowina explained how visual imagery helps students retain musical information.
She shared how memory palace techniques create stronger long-term recall.
Rowina described how the app connects note reading with keyboard geography.
How students gradually remove visual supports as confidence grows.
The importance of learning intervals alongside note recognition.
Why guided instruction is more effective than independent reading of the stories.
How a short daily review helps transfer learning into long-term memory.
Rowina shared how the app supports children, teens, and adult beginners alike.
Rowina encouraged teachers to explore creative approaches that make note reading more engaging and memorable.


Links Mentioned

Rowina's website:noteology.app
Rowina's Facebook page:Noteology App


Today's Guest



Rowina Seidler is a London-based educator with a longstanding fascination with pedagogy. A lifelong piano enthusiast, she created the Noteology® app after discovering a way to teach her children 29 notes in 5 days using the techniques of memory champions.
About Rachel Ehring

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 as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music


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 Fridays 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

What happens when piano teachers meet in person? In this episode, I reflect on our first-ever TopMusic Local coffee meetup and share why face-to-face connections can be so valuable for teachers. From meaningful conversations to new friendships and fresh ideas, this experience was a powerful reminder that teaching doesn't have to be a lonely profession.
Rachel shared highlights from the first-ever TopMusic Local coffee meetup in Orange County, CA.
The value of meeting fellow piano teachers in person to build meaningful professional connections.
How small gatherings can create deeper conversations and stronger relationships.
Rachel introduced several local teachers and the unique strengths they bring to their studios.
Why piano teachers often understand each other’s challenges and successes.
The importance of finding and embracing what makes your teaching approach different.
How comparing yourself to other teachers can distract from your unique strengths and studio vision.
Rachel encouraged teachers to view fellow piano teachers as colleagues rather than competitors.
The benefits of connecting with local teachers for support and professional growth.


Links Mentioned

Find out more about TopMusic Local Music Teacher Meetup here
Find out more about the 12-Week Studio Transformation (12WST) here.
TMPP 028: Music and Magic Journals with Tweena Vuong


About Rachel Ehring

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 as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.
Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music


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 Fridays 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