Today, I Confess: It’s Been a LONG Time!
WOAH, teacher friends! It’s been ages since I’ve sent a Piano Teacher Confession your way.
Pro Tip: It’s perfectly acceptable to take time off for the holidays. That said, it’s better if you go ahead and PLAN to take the time off, or else you’ll risk feeling behind for a month+. Ask me how I know. š
I’ve been racking up conversation topics for Piano Teacher Confessions for weeks. We’ll resume business-as-usual next week, but for now: let’s do a list of 8 Things I Want To Tell You, shall we?
8. I officially re-brandedĀ One Thought ThursdaysĀ toĀ Piano Teacher ConfessionsĀ one year ago.Ā I continue to enjoy this angle to my writing, and I hope you do, too! If you’re interested in reading any of the archives,Ā they can be found here.
7. Consider this your annual reminder thatĀ January is a Gift.Ā This is your time to make changes to anything driving you crazy.Ā Late payment policy? Shoes on (or off) in the studio?Ā The New Year is the most socially acceptable time to make changes, so consider your options wisely!
6. I’ve begun my annual re-reading of Brene Brown’sĀ Gifts of Imperfection.Ā It is a short book but packs a major punch to multiple layers of Creative/Teacher/Human life. Reading these words every January helps me focus on all the human elements of our work I hold dear.
I thought about leading another book study this year but my calendar saidĀ no, thanks. š If you decide to give it a try, let me know what you think! Video discussions from our 2024 study are still available over in theĀ SuperFriends Community on Patreon!Ā
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5. A lot of us take a break from podcasts in December.Ā In case you missedĀ Episode 240, I shared some vulnerable thoughts about what I’m re-thinking lately.
PS: That reminds me of another worthy read, Adam Grant’s,Ā Think Again. Very timely for all of us with many applications to Teacher Life.
4. Speaking of December Episodes:Ā In case you missed it, Amy Chaplin and I tag-teamed my two favorite questions once again this year. We discussedĀ What’s Not WorkingĀ inĀ Episode 239 of Beyond MeasureĀ andĀ What IS WorkingĀ inĀ Episode 173 of the Piano Pantry Podcast.
3. If you’d like one single place to keep track of What’s Working/Not Working in your studioĀ (plus other studio notes), check out my oldie-but-goodieĀ Weekly Reflections Journal. It’s FREE. I print several at a time and keep them in a binder for easy review.
2. If you’re on the hunt for THE perfect planner, I’ll say this: The best planner is the one you’ll actually use. That has a lot more to do with routine than product.
That said, my favorite planner isĀ the Monk Manual. It’s the perfect blend of reflection/practicality and comes withĀ surprisingly thoroughĀ customer support to make sure you’re getting the most from your purchase.
Cue the drumroll! Last but CERTAINLY not least on my Top 7 Things To Tell You…
1. I’m releasingĀ a NEW resourceĀ TODAY for teachers looking to sharpen their skills when transitioning students to reading on the staff.
I made the announcementĀ on today’s podcast episodeĀ and am ecstatic to release this resource that has been in the worksĀ for years.
I’ve declared 2026 my year to go all-in on CREATING so releasing this into the world feels like a BIG step in the right direction. š
You can read all about Building Better Music ReadersĀ by clicking here.
Please note: Today’s release is limited in number so we can run a 12-week trial group. If you want to lock in the best price in exchange for being my guinea pig, I’d recommend signing up soon. We start NEXT WEEK! š
š„ May we embrace the kind of New Years Energy that makes us feel like our most capable selves, as opposed to the (other) kind that makes us feel like we’re not measuring up. š„
