Episode129 – Christina Whitlock

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🎙️ Beyond Measure Podcast
🙋🏼‍♀️ Friend+Philosopher to the Piano Teaching Profession
🎶 Nurturing others to a lifelong love of music teaching

What if you’re NOT, actually, behind? Have you

What if you’re NOT, actually, behind?

Have you ever stopped to think about HOW MUCH of MusicTeacherLife is focused on “improvements”?

We are wired to scrutinize progress over 30/45/60 minute lessons, 7 day practice weeks, etc.

…it’s inevitable this fixation on improvement seeps into our approach to life, in general.🤨

Today, I’m wondering what it would be like to acknowledge my desire for growth, WITHOUT it stemming from feelings of inadequacy.

This is the thought I’m pondering in today’s One Thought Thursday. If you’re not subscribed to the e-letter, head to ChristinaWhitlock.com/blog (or DM me for the link!) to read more.

Cheers to EXHALING, my friends! 🥂

Understanding ➡️ Passion ➡️ Growth As mat

Understanding ➡️ Passion ➡️ Growth

As mathematician Larry Martinek once wrote: “With understanding comes passion, and with passion comes growth”.

Growth, friends, is the name of the game. We want students to continue growing, just as we want to continue growing ourselves.

It’s just such a pleasure to be along for the ride with you.🥂

Visit ChristinaWhitlock.com/episode164 for more encouragement

We are the ones who made it. We are the music st

We are the ones who made it.

We are the music students who pushed through all the uncomfortable feelings and played anyway.

We are the ones who continue to put ourselves in vulnerable positions, despite nerves and fear.

We can’t expect ALL of our students to do what we did.

If we *truly* care about creating studios full of lifelong musicians, we have to approach our teaching differently.

We must think about all those who stop short of our own journey.

How do we save these students?

I’ve made it my mission to figure that out. Episode 164 is a good start.

Check it out (and share it with your teacher friends!) at ChristinaWhitlock.com/episode164

Cheers to making the world a better place, friends! 🥂

The REAL reason students don’t practice… As

The REAL reason students don’t practice…

As teachers, we blame lots of things: busy schedules, parenting styles, the solitary nature of learning an instrument, society’s obsession with instant gratification…

…but today, I propose the REAL struggle often boils down to one or more of these emotions:

- Confusion
- Intimidation
- Embarrassment

Episode 164 is inspired by a well-known quote by mathematician, Larry Martinek, who once wrote, “Children do not hate math. They hate being confused, intimidated, and embarrassed by math.”

Recognizing the strong influence of these emotions is ESSENTIAL to keeping students at their instruments.

I hope you’ll check this one out, and I hope you’ll share it with *your* teacher friends. I am convinced this is THE MESSAGE our profession needs to hear this week.

Check out all the details at ChristinaWhitlock.com/episode164

YOWCH! This one stings, I know… This week’s

YOWCH! This one stings, I know…

This week’s episode included a cautionary tale to PianoTeacherWorld:

We get spoiled by the generosity of free offerings by our colleagues, and it can make us reluctant to spend money…even when it’s well worth it.

On the flip-side, sometimes we collect SO much free “stuff”, we end up overwhelmed and don’t use any of it.

I’ve come to believe this: if it’s worth using, it’s worth paying for.

Remembering this mantra has helped me joyfully support my Creator colleagues AND kept me from collecting files, etc. I don’t need.

It’s a win-win for me, and I hope you’ll give it some consideration this week.

Check out ChristinaWhitlock.com/episode163 for a full transcript, links, and more. 🥂

“Ideal clients” are great and all… …but,

“Ideal clients” are great and all…

…but, at the end of the day, the ticket to REAL satisfaction in teaching is to approach every student as brilliant and full of infinite creative potential.

It may sound too good to be true, but I’m here to tell you: it works 98.72% of the time. 😉

(After all, nothing is ever guaranteed in teaching…)

Two summers ago I released an episode of 40 lessons learned in teaching… and this remains one of my very favorites.

Check out episode 81 if you’re interested in the other 39!

HOW DO ARTISTS SPEND THEIR MONEY? Answer: Very C

HOW DO ARTISTS SPEND THEIR MONEY?

Answer: Very Carefully. 🤣

But seriously… today’s episode is inspired by the fact that we all make financial decisions based on what matters most to us.

It’s easy for frugal music teachers (ahem!🙋🏼‍♀️) to fall into the trap of wanting everything for a steep discount (or, for free)… but as Artists Who Support Artists, it’s important to remember it is GOOD and RIGHT to support fellow Creatives when the opportunity avails itself.

Check out my musings at ChristinaWhitlock.com/episode163

Thanks, friends!

We’re talking MONEY 💰in tomorrow’s episode…

I wanted to prime the pump by offering this reminder from Episode 126: COMPASSION and FINANCIAL SACRIFICE are not the same thing.

They *can* be related in proper circumstances, but the idea that teachers should compromise their own security at the slightest inconvenience of a client really gets me worked up. 😅

Be ready for tomorrow’s episode by catching my Encore Replay of Episode 126: Cheers to Mixing Business with Compassion.

Transcript and more at ChristinaWhitlock.com/replay126🥂

Hello and Goodbye: the Art of Building Relationshi

Hello and Goodbye: the Art of Building Relationships at the Start and Finish

I had such a great time presenting for the (incredible!) Central East District of OhioMTA this morning. Thanks to @suzannenewcomb for the invitation.

As much as I love being in person with fellow teachers, the ability to accept speaking invitations all over the world (sandwiched between lesson blocks!) brings a wealth of possibilities I am grateful for. 🤍

If you have a local/state organization and are booking speakers for the 2024-2025 year, I’d love for you to check out ChristinaWhitlock.com/speaking for current sessions.

🥂 cheers to growing and learning together in the coming year, friends!

Say it with me now… You can show compassion to

Say it with me now…

You can show compassion to studio families in p l e n t y of ways that do not result in financial hardship for you.

Check out ChristinaWhitlock.com/replay126 for more. 🥂

Compassion ≠ Financial Compromise Sure, there

Compassion ≠ Financial Compromise

Sure, there are times when it *can* have financial implications, but today I’m offering a 15-minute reminder that being a COMPASSIONATE teacher does not have to threaten your financial stability.

As I prepare to release a money-related episode next week, I felt a compelling need to share this episode with you again.

There are many ways to show compassion that do NOT involve financial compromise.

Check out all the details (including a written transcript) at ChristinaWhitlock.com/replay126.

Cheers to Monday, friends! 🥂

Tale as old as time… We think our businesses wi

Tale as old as time…

We think our businesses will thrive when we bend over backwards for those we serve, when really, that just leads to resentment and burnout.

If you want a few good listens this weekend, check out the podcast archives: specially episodes 53 and 126.

Both are linked at ChristinaWhitlock.com/episode126. 🥂

Calling all Teacher Friends! 📣 Could you use s

Calling all Teacher Friends! 📣

Could you use some camaraderie + problem-solving + new tricks for your Teacher Toolbox?

If you have the 11am (eastern) hour free on FRIDAY, 03.29, I hope you’ll join us for a very special TTT. 🤓

And even if you aren’t free… I have it on good authority our replays are a great watch!

Get access to all 13 (and counting) of these sessions when you join the “Let’s Party” tier of my Patreon Community for just $6.

Come be part of the best Teacher Chat this side of the internet! 🥂

We cover THE BEST TOPICS in Teachers Teaching Teac

We cover THE BEST TOPICS in Teachers Teaching Teachers! 🔥

TTT is a monthly bonus for members in the “Let’s Party” tier of my Patreon Community.

We problem-solve student concerns as a group for the first half of the hour, and then we dive into a specific piece of supplemental repertoire and sharpen our TeacherSkills together.

Up this week? The Rite of Fall by Wendy Stevens @composecreate .

SO: if you are part of the Patreon community, I’ll see you FRIDAY!

If you’re not, $6 buys your admission (as well as the replay, if you can’t be there live).

…PS: you’ll also get access to the TTT archives; which is a treasure trove of goodness! 😍

See you FRIDAY, friends! I am counting the seconds. 🥂

A toast from Episode 162 🥂 Head to ChristinaWh

A toast from Episode 162 🥂

Head to ChristinaWhitlock.com/episode162 for 19 minutes of advice on the TeacherTrap of neglecting to state the “obvious”.

Today I’m sharing 3️⃣ (embarrassing!) storie

Today I’m sharing 3️⃣ (embarrassing!) stories to illustrate one important point….

There are times, as teachers, we are really good at stating all the steps. We’ve done the work to break it all down. We know the practice strategies to get our students to their final destination…

…but do our students even know where that destination *is*?

THAT’S the question we’re hashing out today, friends.

🥂 cheers to staying the things that are obvious to us, but less-so to our students.

Head to ChristinaWhitlock.com/Episode162 for a transcript, related links, and more!

The first 5 that come to mind today… 1️⃣ C

The first 5 that come to mind today…

1️⃣ Curiosity is the teacher’s superpower. There is SO MUCH to be discovered by saying, “Tell me more about that.” (see Episode 32)

2️⃣ PLAY is an approach; not a specific activity. (see Episode 152)

3️⃣ Clear is kind. Avoiding difficult conversations helps nothing. (see Episode 139)

4️⃣ Parenting is HARD. Choose to believe the best in your studio families. (see Episode 11)

5️⃣ The success of a lesson does NOT have to depend on how much a student did or did not practice that week. (See Episode 51)

If you find yourself intrigued by these TeacherTruths, check out ChristinaWhitlock.com/foundations.

🥂 to growing together, my Teacher Friends!

It’s the reminder I need CONSTANTLY…

It’s the reminder I need CONSTANTLY…

IYKYK. Merry Christmas to me. 😍

IYKYK. Merry Christmas to me. 😍

It’s the ULTIMATE “if you can’t beat ‘em,

It’s the ULTIMATE “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”…

Today we’re taking a break from COMPLAINING about how sports wreak havoc on our studios and, instead, examining what we have to learn from them.

Lemons into lemonade, my friends! 🍋

You can join me LIVE today at noon, est.

Missed the live? No problem! This session will be recorded and the replay will be available Wednesday.

Let’s GO, Studio Teams! 📣

Register at ChristinaWhitlock.com/sports

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