In 2008, Yamaha released the CLP-S308PE which offered musicians direct access to the Internet. This was a revolutionary development because it cut out the middleman – the computer. In 2009, Roland released the V-Piano, an innovative digital piano that can be tuned and adjusted just like an acoustic piano. Two years later, the company released the V-Piano Grand, its flagship model for the digital piano products. The V-Piano Grand was an improvement over the V-Piano in sound quality and richness, and it gave musicians greater freedom of expression with improved touch keys.

In 2011, the same year Roland rolled out the V-Piano Grand, musicians could finally connect their digital pianos to their iPads with a USB MIDI adapter. This unlocked an entirely new set of opportunities, including a better interface. In 2012, Roland rolled out its newest technological advancement: Roland Wireless Connect, a network that allowed digital pianos to connect with iPhones through Wi-Fi. That same year, Yamaha released the Clavinova CVP-605, which wirelessly connects to musicians’ iPads, eliminating the need for a USB MIDI adapter.

Earlier in 2014, Yamaha announced the release of P255, the first digital piano that has a control app. Devices equipped with iOS can extend the digital piano’s interface by allowing musicians to save their settings, customize their sound, and organize and sort song content. All users need is an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. As digital pianos continue to improve, musicians will reap the benefits of better sound quality, and especially better connectivity. These technological advancements ensure that digital pianos adapt to changing times, and they enable musicians to remain relevant, taking advantage of the latest technology.

I have this running to-do list on my iPhone and at the veeeery bottom of it..

MAKE ASSIGNMENT SHEET.

(It's been there for awhile....)

Now it's done. I got tired of drawing weekly practice boxes now that we award points for practice in our new incentive program for piano students.   

The first assignment sheet I made contained typical items like "Assignments", "Practice time", and "Questions/Notes for Teacher". I don't remember what sparked this but I went through and changed everything to start with "I" because I wanted the students to take ownership of their assignments & accomplishments. 

Plus, I just think it's more fun & personable for students to fill this out than...."Assignments". 

Also notice the word "work" in the assignment sheet ;). It ain't all rainbows and ponies honey. There's a reason for everything on this assignment sheet!

So what are all the different parts of the assignment sheet and the thinking that went behind all of it?

Is your son ready to start piano lessons? He’s shown interest in music, he’s exploring the piano/keyboard at home, he’s got friends taking piano lessons and you want to find a piano teacher for him.

Here it is, #1 mistake parents make choosing their children’s first piano teacher: play well = teach well.

It’s so easy to make this mistake I used to think the same thing. Here was my checklist for why I’d be a great piano teacher back in college:

Not so fast young grasshopper. The graduate program in piano pedagogy opened my eyes to just how much there is to teaching piano.