Table of Contents

Contents
Acknowledgments
Part 1. Enriching Lives
1. Transform Your Teaching Style: The Music for Life Method
2. Focus on Relationships First
3. Instill Pride and Respect
4. Show Students Your Commitment to Excellence
5. Promote a Love of Learning and Independence
6. Create an Atmosphere of Achievement
7. Attitude Is Everything
8. Make Practice a Priority
9. Increase Success with the Music for Life Notebook System
10. Energize Students with Goals
11. Recognize and Reward Results and Effort
12. Foster Happy, Confident Students
13. Host Fun Musical Events
Part 2. Making Music
14. Use Practice Tricks for Fast Results
15. Musicality Makes the Difference
16. Multiply the Fun in Chamber Music
17. Take the Fear Out of Memorization
18. Help Students Become Confident Sight Readers
Part 3. Tackling Your Toughest Teaching Challenges
19. In the Beginning
20. Make Learning Fun (and Less Painful) for Adults
21. Troubleshoot Problems and Turn around Complaints
22. Prepare Students for Performance
23. Conquer Stage Fright
24. Ace the Audition
25. When It's Time to Say Goodbye
26. Ask the Teacher
Part 4. Running Your Private Music Studio
27. Establish Your Private Studio and Develop a Business Plan
28. Get Paid What You're Worth
29. A Life in the Arts: Is It for You?
30. Make the Teacher's Life Easier
For Further Reading
Index

Promotional Information

A comprehensive guide to being an inspiring and successful music teacher

About the Author

Bonnie Blanchard holds music and teaching degrees from the University of Washington. She has long been respected in the Pacific Northwest as a versatile freelance musician, yet she is best known as a dynamic instructor with unique teaching techniques that create skilled musicians with a lifelong love of music. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
Cynthia Blanchard Acree is co-author (with Cliff Acree) of The Gulf Between Us: Love and Terror in Desert Storm. The dual memoir was featured as a "Today's Best Nonfiction" excerpt in Reader's Digest. She lives in San Diego, California.

Reviews

"A unique book that goes beyond instrumental instruction to show step by step what makes a good teacher with skilled, committed students. Beginning and experienced teachers will find new tricks and inspiration here, to rekindle their love of teaching and music. Bonnie's tips and stories will show how to run a studio, motivate students, deal with stage fright, teach artistry, and involve the whole family in music. This book is serious about music, but it's also fun--something that should always be part of good music instruction." Sir James Galway