TopMusic Piano Podcast Podcast Por Tim Topham arte de portada

TopMusic Piano Podcast

TopMusic Piano Podcast

De: Tim Topham
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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.2023 Economía Música
Episodios
  • 086: What Happens When You Double Your Rates with Eric Branner

    086: What Happens When You Double Your Rates with Eric Branner
    Oct 3 2025
    Eric Branner’s story bridges music, entrepreneurship, and education with lessons every teacher can learn from. As a guitarist, founder of Fons, and now host of The Four 40 podcast, Eric shares how doubling his rates transformed his studio, why professionalism matters, and how mindset shapes success. In this episode, he encourages teachers to embrace curiosity, charge their worth, and create thriving communities that honor the value of music teaching.
    • Eric shared his journey as a third-generation music teacher, guitarist, and entrepreneur.
    • How his first guitar teacher created a joyful learning atmosphere in a car battery warehouse.
    • Why teachers should embrace optimism and the privilege of introducing students to music.
    • He explained how teaching skills prepared him to found and run a successful tech company.
    • The value of music lessons in shaping problem-solving skills for careers beyond the arts.
    • Eric highlighted how group classes create community and enrich the student experience.
    • Why charging fair rates elevates both a teacher’s livelihood and professional respect.
    • He shared his own story of doubling his rates, which increased demand rather than decreasing it.
    • Eric emphasized that charging more allows teachers to also give freely to those in need.
    • How founding Fons automated payments, streamlined billing, and removed awkward money conversations.
    • The importance of treating teaching as a respected profession with clear systems.
    • Why building community, equity, and professionalism strengthens studios long-term.
    • He shared insights from his new podcast, The Fourforty (440).
    • He emphasized that developing as an expressive human gives artists an advantage in any career, even in the age of AI.

    Links Mentioned
    • Fons.com
    • Fons Family Facebook Group
    • Eric's Instagram page: @ebranner
    • Eric's Podcast: The Fourforty (440) with Eric Branner

    Today's Guest Eric Branner is a third-generation music teacher, classical guitarist, and entrepreneur. He founded the studio management platform Fons and now serves as Vice President of Business Development at Peaksware. His career bridges performing, teaching, and building technology, and he is known for practical workshops, inspiring talks, and a deep commitment to helping educators build thriving careers. Passionate about blending great teaching with smart business practices, Eric empowers musicians to earn more, streamline their businesses, and expand their impact. 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:
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    46 m
  • 085: 5 Things Saving My Sanity in a Busy Season

    085: 5 Things Saving My Sanity in a Busy Season
    Sep 26 2025
    Busy seasons can quickly push us to the edge, especially when teaching, scheduling, and family responsibilities collide. In this solo episode, I'm going to share five simple but powerful practices that are helping me stay grounded, from leaning on ChatGPT for tricky tasks to creating calming rituals in my workspace. These ideas may inspire you to find your own ways of keeping balance when life feels overwhelming.
    • Rachel shared that fall scheduling at her conservatory creates a hectic workload with 100+ students and new teachers.
    • How taking on extra accompanying duties adds joy but also reduces administrative time.
    • The importance of ChatGPT for unsticking tasks and writing professional messages quickly.
    • Using ChatGPT to solve technical issues like creating a Google Form grid.
    • How sending voice memos instead of long texts saves time and feels more personal.
    • How creating training videos in Canva systematized teacher onboarding.
    • The benefits of keeping physical copies of important forms at her desk for quick access.
    • She highlighted how Fons simplifies billing and scheduling, reducing daily stress.
    • Rachel explained the value of easy go-to meals, like baked potatoes, for busy weeks.
    • Importance of small rituals, like diffusing essential oils and playing soft jazz, for reducing stress.
    • Rachel encouraged teachers to identify their own “sanity savers” during stressful seasons.

    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
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    18 m
  • 084: Creating Well-Rounded Piano Students with Grant Kondo

    084: Creating Well-Rounded Piano Students with Grant Kondo
    Sep 19 2025
    Grant Kondo believes in saying “yes” to every student’s musical journey. From his early experiences in Hawaii to his current studio in San Jose, Grant has combined classical foundations with modern creativity to inspire well-rounded musicians. In this episode, he shares how improvisation, arranging, and flexible teaching approaches can help students of all ages connect deeply with music, while his new book series Skills for the Modern Pianist equips teachers and learners with practical tools for artistry and growth.
    • Grant shared a brief overview of his background and his music studio in San Jose, California.
    • How his early teachers gave him strong sight-reading and classical training.
    • He described the moment in high school when he realized he could not play from a lead sheet.
    • The influence of Forrest Kinney in helping him learn improvisation and arranging.
    • The importance of teaching students all four arts of music: interpretation, improvisation, arranging, and composition.
    • Why his teaching philosophy centers on being a “yes man” who meets students where they are.
    • The value of allowing students to explore different genres like pop, K-pop, classical, and anime.
    • How he tailors method books to fit each student rather than using one program for all.
    • Why he loves teaching adult students who bring diverse goals and musical interests.
    • Why he believes all students should learn both classical and non-classical repertoire.
    • Grant highlighted his new book series Skills for the Modern Pianist.
    • How the books use familiar pieces in multiple variations to teach arranging, improvisation, and theory.

    Links Mentioned
    • Grant Kondo's Website
    • Grant's Books: LifeOffThePage.com
    • Grant's Books "Skills for the Modern Pianist" (US Amazon Link)
    • Grant's Books "Skills for the Modern Pianist" (AU Amazon Link)
    • TopMusic Composition Competition 2025

    Today’s Guest Grant Kondo, is a pianist, educator, and author of Skills for the Modern Pianist, a three-level series designed to bridge classical foundations with improvisation, arranging, and modern genres. Inspired by Forrest Kinney, his innovative approach empowers students and teachers alike to move beyond the page, cultivating creativity, artistry, and a connection to the music they make. Grant runs a private studio in San Jose, CA, USA, and is a trip planning and transportation nerd as he loves anything from planes to trains to cruises! He has served on local, state, and national levels in leadership for Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). 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...
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    38 m
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