070: Cultivating a Positive Studio Culture with Jessie Hill

How do we create a studio environment where students support each other instead of competing? In this episode, we're having a chat with Jessie Hill about building a culture of encouragement—one where students cheer each other on, give thoughtful feedback, and learn that kindness and music go hand in hand. Jessie shares how she uses simple strategies like compliment cards, intentional praise, and reflective group discussions to make her studio a place where students feel seen and valued. We also talk about her creative resources for teaching note reading and rhythm, and how she balances strong pedagogy with a whole lot of heart.

• Jessie shared a brief overview of her music studio from her home in Tennessee.
• Her note-reading approach using nine landmark notes and intervallic reading, instead of mnemonics.
• She emphasized teaching note reading as a long-term process, aiming for accuracy over speed.
• Using worksheets and visual aids to help students find notes using known landmarks and intervals.
• The importance of cultivating a supportive studio culture was a key theme of the conversation.
• Studio culture as how students and teachers think about and interact with one another.
• Why comparison is human nature, but teachers can model encouragement over competition.
• A recital idea where students write compliment cards to one another to celebrate their strengths.
• Gving specific praise rather than vague compliments to foster genuine encouragement.
• The idea of using the poem “Am I a Builder?” as a studio theme to encourage kindness and support.
• The importance of intentionality in preventing negativity and promoting positive interactions.
• Her creative teaching resources, like Interval Wars and Rhythm Tumble.
• Practical studio organization tips.

Links Mentioned

• Jessie's website: Hill Piano Studio
• Jessie's Instagram page: @hillpianostudio
• TopMusic Piano Podcast Episode 069: The Note Reading Struggle is Real

Today's Guest Jessie Hill is a dedicated piano teacher based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where she teaches from her welcoming home studio. As a mother of four daughters, Jessie understands the challenges families face when choosing extracurricular activities, and she’s passionate about making music education a lasting and meaningful choice. With a firm belief that piano is a lifelong skill that grows with you, she inspires students of all ages to discover joy, confidence, and lasting progress through music. Jessie’s teaching philosophy emphasizes strong foundational skills in music reading, rhythm, and technique, supported by a thoughtfully chosen method book series. She also enriches her students' experience through recitals, group lessons, and festival opportunities, creating a vibrant and supportive learning environment for every child. 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...