TopMusic Piano Podcast

Tim Topham
TopMusic Piano Podcast

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.

  1. 2D AGO

    062: Inspiring Creativity with Juan Cabeza

    In today’s episode, Spanish pianist and teacher Juan Cabeza shares how his traditional classical training led him on a journey to redefine piano education through creativity. From discovering the power of pattern-based teaching and improvisation to building a vibrant community of teachers in Madrid, Juan offers a fresh perspective on holistic music learning. He discusses the value of ensemble playing, the inspiration behind his Piano Train Trips series, and the process of creating his online course, Piano Patterns in Harmony. Whether you're looking to rethink your teaching or bring more creativity into your studio, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration. Juan shared an overview of his background as a piano teacher and composer from Madrid. The importance of teaching students to play by ear, improvise, compose, and arrange from the start. He reflected on how group teaching pushed him to explore new, more holistic methods. How the idea of “create to learn” inspired him to focus on improvisation and hands-on discovery. He shared that Music Learning Theory (MLT) also influenced his shift toward a more creative approach. How his blog and compositions led to his first books being published by Piano Safari. The benefits of forehand and ensemble playing, including rhythm, flow, and fun He shared about the teacher meetups he hosts in Spain to share ideas and build community. Why playing together helps students listen better, relax, and build confidence on stage. Juan recommended favorite ensemble books like Keyboard Crocodile and Melodic Explorations. He introduced his course, Piano Patterns in Harmony, for learning harmony through improvisation. How pattern-based learning helps students grasp theory and repertoire more quickly. Guest Links Mentioned Juan's website: Me Gusta El Piano Piano Patterns in Harmony Course Juan's books on Piano Safari Blog Post: Piano Repertoire for 4 or More Hands Resources Mentioned Forrest Kinney's The Art of Improvising The Pianist's Guide to Historic Improvisation by John Mortensen Paul Harris's Simultaneous Learning Garreth Brooke’s website: Piano Creativity Today’s Guest Juan Cabeza is a pianist, pedagogue and composer. He teaches private and group piano students at his studio, in Madrid, where he specializes in students in the elementary and intermediate stages of study. As a result of his research in piano pedagogy, Juan created a blog, megustaelpiano.com. Here he expresses his ideas about teaching and learning piano, provides teaching resources, and suggests interesting piano repertoire. Juan Cabeza is the author of Piano Train Trips, Miniatures and the two Diversions books published by Piano Safari. He has translated into Spanish the Piano Safari Method and Create First by Forrest Kinney. He has also created the online improvisation course Piano Patterns in Harmony, which has been recently nominated for The Art of Piano Education

    51 min
  2. APR 11

    061: Finding Your Creative Voice with Leila Viss

    In this inspiring episode, Leila Viss shares how nearly 40 years of piano teaching, church musicianship, and personal resilience have shaped her creative voice. She opens up about her journey through trauma, healing, and the power of expressive arts—introducing tools like her Cupcake Improv Pack and the Creativity Pyramid. From hands-on group pedagogy at MTNA to guiding students from improvisation, Leila encourages teachers to embrace curiosity, let go of perfectionism, and find their own “bliss station.” Whether you're stuck in an improv rut or just need a creative spark, this conversation will leave you energized and ready to reconnect with your musical imagination. Leila shared an overview of her background and her piano teaching journey. The importance of group piano pedagogy, which was a highlight in her MTNA conference experience. She encouraged teachers to attend conferences, a great place for networking and community-building. Why creativity is essential for pianists and all musicians. Leila introduced her Creativity Pyramid model. How curiosity, when balanced between fascination and fear, helps unlock creative potential. The importance of letting go of perfectionism as a step in creative growth and personal exploration. She highlighted a powerful research from Dr. Martha Beck. How music became a grounding and healing force for both her and Carter during their recovery. Leila introduced her creative teaching resource, the Cupcake Improv Pack. Rachel shared how the Cupcake Improv helped her explore fresh musical ideas. The power of naming musical patterns to help students remember and reuse them. Guest Links Mentioned Leila's website: www.LeilaViss.com Leila's Instagram page: @leilaviss Leila's Facebook page: Leila Viss, 88PK  Leila's YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@leilaviss Leila's Book: Found in the Wake: Rising from the Depths of a Devastating Boat Strike Cupcake Improv Links Mentioned TopCast 409: Using Notion to Organise Your Studio and Life with Amy Chaplin & Joy Morin Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life's Purpose by Martha Beck Today’s Guest Leila Viss creates imaginative, tech-savvy resources for her in-person and online piano studio and website. She founded Space to Create where she empowers pianists and teachers to connect with their creativity through improvisation, composition, and arranging. A longtime church musician and dynamic speaker, she co-authored Found in the Wake, a memoir of loss and resilience. Viss is Colorado’s 2024 MTNA Foundation Fellow and a 2025 Frances Clark Center Outstanding Service Recognition Award recipient. 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

    34 min
  3. APR 4

    060: Successful Online Teaching with Megan Maxwell and Lani Lammoglia

    In today’s episode, we’re chatting with Megan Maxwell and Lani Lammoglia from Little Chords to discuss the world of successful online teaching. With their vast experience in early childhood music education, Megan and Lani share insights on blending digital and physical learning formats to engage young students effectively. They delve into their tech setup, the challenges they faced transitioning online, and how they've managed to cultivate vibrant, interactive music classes. Plus, they discuss their innovative approach to teaching preschoolers online and their newly published children's book designed to make music education fun and accessible. Join us as we explore these topics and more, offering a treasure trove of information for educators looking to optimize their online teaching methods. Megan and Lani shared their extensive backgrounds in music education and early childhood development. The importance of blending digital and physical learning for young students. They recounted the founding of Little Chords, emphasized the impact of online lessons, and their adaptation during the pandemic. The initial challenges and mistakes made in their online teaching journey. Their current successful model, featuring small, interactive classes and monthly masterclasses. Lani discussed the creativity involved in making engaging and effective resources for children. Their approach to making online preschool education effective, emphasizing flexibility and playfulness. Their tech setup, including the use of Zoom, OBS, and Canva for interactive lessons. Lani spoke about their combination of teaching Spanish language and music. The value of small group classes for enhanced student interaction and learning. Their method of gradually introducing piano technique to young students online. They talked about their newly published book for piano students, which integrates playful learning. Links Mentioned Little Chords Website Little Chords Instagram Page Blog: Quality Online Piano, Keyboard, and Voice Lessons: Studio Technology that's Family Focused Today’s Guest With 20 years experience teaching piano, voice, and early childhood classes, Megan Maxwell combines her Early Childhood Development degree with extensive music studies. She creates interactive resources that blend digital and physical learning for young students. She focuses on the critical developmental years where children's curiosity can be channeled effectively,' Her innovative approach supports hands-on learning without keeping children glued to screens, making music and language education accessible for children, parents, and teachers. Lani Lammoglia combines 14 years of teaching experience with her Early Childhood Psychology background from Venezuela and graduate studies in Flute and Vocal Performance. Beginning her own musical journey at age 5, she understands the value of early music education. 'Teaching is never boring with little kids. She loves meeting children where they are and guiding them to discover the joy in learning. Her innovative resources blend digital and physical elements that enhance online lessons while providing engaging materials for between-session learning, creating an interactive experience that supports children's curiosity without excessive screen time. About Rachel Ehring Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and

    36 min
  4. MAR 28

    059: How to Feed a Piano Teacher with Sarah Kenner

    Finding time to cook can be a challenge for busy music teachers, but Sarah Kenner has made it her mission to help. As a professional violinist and the creator of The Hungry Musician, she shares practical tips for meal planning, simple recipes, and ways to make cooking more manageable for musicians. In this episode, Sarah discusses how to balance a busy teaching and performing schedule with healthy eating, why meal prep doesn’t have to be overwhelming, and how creativity in the kitchen can inspire creativity in music. Whether you love to cook or struggle to find the time, Sarah’s insights will help you nourish both yourself and your music. Sarah shared how she combines her passions for music and cooking. How her journey started when she realized the need for a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. The importance of meal planning and cooking as a way to improve focus, efficiency, and well-being. How musicians can make cooking easier by prepping ingredients in stages throughout the day. Why setting realistic cooking goals and allowing flexibility in meal choices leads to success. Semi-homemade cooking and using pre-prepped ingredients to save time without sacrificing nutrition. How busy music teachers can simplify cooking with one-pot meals and batch cooking techniques. Why meal prepping doesn’t have to be done all at once. How quick and easy meals don’t have to mean unhealthy choices. The connection between creativity in cooking and creativity in music, and how both require improvisation and problem-solving. How experimenting with ingredients can make simple meals feel elevated and special. Why musicians should embrace cooking as a creative outlet and a way to care for themselves. Links Mentioned Free download: A Musician's Guide to Cooking in Cut Time at TheHungryMusician.com Sarah's Instagram Page: @hungrymusician Sarah's Tiktok Page: @hungrymusician TopCast 407: The Power of Storytelling with Andrea Dow from Teach Piano Today Today’s Guest Sarah Kenner is a violinist and culinary content creator based in the NYC area. Specializing in historical performance, she has been hailed as a "fireworks soloist" and regularly performs on baroque violin with renowned groups including The English Concert, Trinity Wall Street, TENET Vocal Artists, Tempesta di Mare, and New York Baroque Incorporated, and made her Lincoln Center solo debut in 2018 with Juilliard415. Other notable appearances include BachFest Leipzig, the Festival Dans les Jardins de William Christie, and on the Academy Award-winning score of the 2019 film, Joker. She holds degrees from Temple University, Manhattan School of Music, and The Juilliard School. For almost 15 years, Sarah has enjoyed creating culinary content for her popular food and recipe blog “The Hungry Musician.” On this platform, she offers delicious recipes, kitchen tips, and cooking classes with the goal of making cooking more enjoyable and accessible, especially to musicians. 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....

    43 min
  5. MAR 21

    058: What Piano Teachers Need to Know About Accompanying with Cori Belle

    In this episode, Cori Belle shares her journey from high school accompanist to accomplished collaborative pianist. She talks about how strong solo skills, sight-reading, and learning by doing shaped her accompanying career. Cori offers practical advice for piano teachers who want to prepare their students for accompanying roles, including the importance of listening, balance, and rhythm. She also discusses building relationships with choir directors, adapting to different instruments and voices, and how duet playing and chord knowledge support ensemble skills. Whether you're new to accompanying or want to strengthen your teaching, Cori brings thoughtful, actionable insights. Cori shared how she started accompanying in high school and quickly fell in love with collaborative playing. She explained how strong solo piano skills supported her growth as an accompanist. The importance of sight-reading and learning on the job. Why collaboration and sharing music stood out in her experience. How foundational skills like balance, phrasing, and steady rhythm are crucial to prepare students for accompanying roles. She suggested exposing students to accompanying through listening and role models. How duet playing helps build ensemble skills. Why sight-reading and chord knowledge prepare students for real accompanying work. Key differences between accompanying singers, wind players, and string players. How strong relationships with choir directors are essential for successful choral accompanying. Cori introduced her digital resources for piano teachers and accompanists. Links Mentioned Cori's website: CoriBelle.com Cori's YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@Corigirl12 Cori's Instagram page: @coribellepiano Today's Guest Cori Belle is a concert pianist specializing in the fields of collaborative piano and choral music. She is a frequently sought-after collaborator for both vocalists and instrumentalists and maintains a private piano studio in the Seattle area. Cori is the founding artistic director and performing member of Indie Musikhaus house concerts. Her self-recorded and self-produced solo classical album, Commonplace Beauty, received critical acclaim. International Piano called it “a beautifully constructed programme.” Cori is an educator at heart and loves helping other musicians get better at what they do. She creates digital resources for piano teachers and collaborative pianists, offers coaching for choral accompanists, and blogs about creating a life of music around family life. 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: a

    40 min
  6. MAR 14

    057: Performing in the Context of YouTube with Annique Göttler

    Performing on YouTube presents unique challenges and opportunities, and Annique Göttler has embraced both as a classical pianist and content creator. In this episode, she shares how she balances traditional concert performances with digital content creation, the lessons she’s learned from growing her YouTube channel, and how storytelling and audience engagement play a crucial role in modern musicianship. Annique also reflects on her classical training, the discipline required for success, and why musicians today should embrace online platforms to share their artistry with the world. Annique shared her journey as a classical pianist and content creator based in Stuttgart, Germany.The impact of traditional Russian-style piano training on her disciplined approach.How she built her career through concerts and social media instead of waiting for opportunities.The importance of organizing her own concerts for greater artistic freedom.How changing teachers at the right time helped her push her skills further.Her education in Stuttgart, including her bachelor's, master's, and concert exam degrees.Studying information science, which introduced her to social media marketing.How COVID-19 led her to start a YouTube channel, which grew unexpectedly.She revealed her viral “One Minute, 10 Minutes, One Hour” practice challenge videos.The benefits of live streaming performances.Balancing YouTube content creation with concert preparation.The importance of live streaming as a way to simulate performance pressure.Advice on improving YouTube success, including engaging thumbnails and strong storytelling.Annique encourage more professional musicians to embrace digital platforms to share real expertise. Links MentionedAnnique's Website: Annique-Piano.comAnnique's YouTube page: Heart of the KeysAnnique's Instagram page: @anniquegoettler Today's Guest Annique Göttler was born on August 9th 1995 in Germany. She received her first piano lessons at the music school in Herrenberg at the age of five. In Herrenberg she finished high school while studying at the music school in Stuttgart from 2007 until 2013. After finishing her Bachelor (2017) and Masters degrees (2020) at the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts, she continued studying the concert exam at the same university. Annique has won a number of competitions and has performed on concert stages throughout Europe. About Rachel EhringDr. 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.comVisit her Instagram page: @rachelehringVisit her YouTube channel: a href="https://www.youtube.com/@dreamlavendermusic6694" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    33 min
  7. MAR 7

    056: Unlocking Musicality in Piano Students

    Musicality is what transforms notes on a page into expressive, engaging performances, yet many music students struggle to develop it naturally. In this solo episode, we're diving into practical strategies for helping students unlock musical expression from the very beginning. From following dynamic markings to using storytelling, visualization, and phrasing techniques, I'm going to share simple yet powerful ways to make every piece more musical. Whether you're working with beginners or advanced students, these tips will help bring their playing to life. Why  musicality is one of the most important skills students can learn, preventing robotic performances. Importance of following musical markings like dynamics and ritardandos from the very beginning. How using stories and imagery can help students connect emotionally with the music. How visualizations can also help students with performance anxiety. She recommended practicing musical elements like dynamics and articulation separately from pieces to build awareness. Using sound effect stories as a tool to teach dynamics and articulation in a fun and engaging way. How strategic use of timing can enhance musical phrasing and assist with technical challenges. How singing phrases can help students understand shaping and expression. Importance of teaching texture and helping students differentiate between melody and accompaniment. Links Mentioned TopMusicPiano Podcast 001: Using Stories in Beginner Piano Lessons Max's Galactic Adventure Sound Effect Piano Story 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...

    19 min
  8. FEB 28

    055: Catching Up with Composer Chrissy Ricker

    Composer and piano teacher Chrissy Ricker joins us today to share insights into her creative process, teaching philosophy, and passion for composing engaging music for students of all levels. She discusses how she integrates improvisation into lessons, the inspiration behind her compositions, and the importance of creativity in piano education. Chrissy also introduces her latest publications, shares free resources available for teachers, and offers practical tips for helping students build confidence in their musical expression. Chrissy shared her journey as a pianist, teacher, and composer based in North Carolina. How she started writing music for her students and eventually pursued publishing. She highlighted her extensive catalog of original compositions and arrangements, including video game and film music. The importance of creativity in piano lessons and how it helps students develop musicianship. Some insights on how teachers can integrate improvisation into lessons through small, structured activities. Using storytelling and black-key improvisation to help students gain confidence. The value of repetition in improvisation exercises to build student comfort and skill. Her transition from teaching to full-time composing and how she continues to engage with students through teachers who use her music. Her approach to composing, preferring to start with a strong title for inspiration. Advice on teaching improvisation to adult students, including using backing tracks to ease performance anxiety. She introduced her latest books, including Better Together, a duet collection, and First Rhapsodies and Reveries, designed for expressive elementary-level playing. Links Mentioned Chrissy Ricker's Website: www.chrissyricker.com Chrissy Ricker's Facebook Page: Chrissy Ricker Music Chrissy Ricker's Instagram Page: @chrissyrickermusic Better Together Songbook First Rhapsodies and Reveries Songbook TopMusic Piano Podcast 013: Using the Piano Pronto Series with Jennifer Eklund Today's Guest Chrissy Ricker is a pianist, teacher, and composer from North Carolina. She holds a Master’s degree in music with a concentration in piano performance and pedagogy. A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), Chrissy enjoys sharing her ideas with other piano teachers. Her articles on piano teaching have been featured in American Music Teacher magazine, and she blogs regularly about piano teaching and composing at her website, chrissyricker.com. A prolific composer and arranger, Chrissy specializes in creating exciting music for piano students of all ages and skill levels. She has published over 40 collections of piano solo and duet music for students that are available from Piano Pronto Publishing and Neil A. Kjos Music Company. Chrissy is also a “Signature Artist” arranger with Musicnotes.com, where she has a catalog of over 1,000 arrangements, from video game themes to pop songs, for pianists at every level. About Rachel Ehring Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of...

    35 min

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About

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.

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