Piano Parent Podcast: helping teachers, parents, and students get the most of their piano lessons.

Can your piano kid find the right notes without looking at their hands?

In episode 383, we're exploring proprioception—your body's ability to sense its position and movement without relying on sight. From riding a bicycle to Patrick Mahomes' famous no-look pass, this fascinating sense plays an important role in everyday life AND piano playing!

Discover why beginning students constantly look between their music and the keyboard, how to help them become more confident finding notes, and a simple hand-towel trick you can try during practice this week.

Read the Cleveland Clinic article: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/proprioception

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/383

Rowena Sidler grew up playing piano entirely by ear—and quit traditional lessons after only ten weeks because reading music was so frustrating. Years later, her background in education, computer science, and memory techniques inspired her to create Noteology, an app designed to make note reading more memorable and intuitive.

Rowena and Shelly talk about memory palaces, intervallic reading, quirky characters (including a winged camel!), helping parents learn alongside their piano kids, and the ultimate goal: raising lifelong music makers.

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/382

In this special episode, Shelly reacts to Eric Church's memorable 2026 commencement speech at the University of North Carolina. Using the six strings of a guitar as a metaphor for life, Church shares timeless lessons about faith, family, resilience, community, and finding your unique voice. Shelly explores how these principles apply not only to graduates, but also to piano parents and the young musicians they're raising. A thoughtful conversation about staying "in tune" with what matters most.

Episode 380 continues the Piano Parent Podcast tradition of celebrating every "zero" episode with a list of 10 things. This time, Shelly shares 10 Life Rules for Young Musicians from Robert Schumann.

These simple but powerful ideas encourage piano students and parents to keep learning, stay humble, care for their instruments, sing more, work well with others, and focus on musical expression instead of just technical skill.

Shelly reflects on how these rules connect to piano lessons, recital preparation, and ensemble playing. The episode ends with Schumann's beautiful reminder that being musical means music lives in your heart and mind—not just in your fingers.

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/380

Even though this is the Piano Parent Podcast, Shelly realizes she hasn't featured nearly enough actual piano parents on the show!

In this episode, Shelly talks with Kristen Pennington, a homeschool mom and parent of one of Shelly's piano students. Kristen shares the challenges and victories of helping her son Barrett learn piano—especially when frustration and negative self-talk begin to creep in.

Together they discuss:

• How to recognize when a child is discouraged
• Why attitude matters more than perfect performance
• A simple "good attitude chart" that helped Barrett push through frustration
• The importance of praising effort instead of perfection
• How piano lessons build confidence, resilience, and life skills far beyond the keyboard

If your child has ever said, "I can't do this," this episode will give you encouragement and practical ideas to help them keep going.

"Don't cry. Just try."

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/379

In this episode, Dr. Michael Clark joins me to share the fascinating story of composer Florence Price and the rediscovery of her music. We also talk about supporting young pianists, meaningful practice habits, and why exploring a wider range of composers can enrich your child's musical journey.

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/378

Preparing for a spring piano recital? Memorizing music can feel overwhelming for many students—but it doesn't have to be!

In this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast, Shelly shares three fun and effective strategies she uses in her studio to help piano kids memorize music with confidence.

You'll learn how to help your child:

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Identify patterns in their music

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Practice starting in different places

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Use games to make repetition fun

These simple techniques can help students feel more prepared for recitals, auditions, and performances.

Whether your piano kid needs to memorize a recital piece or just wants to keep favorite songs ready to play, these strategies will make practice smarter and more enjoyable.

What makes piano lessons finally click for a child?

In Episode 376, composer and teacher Susan Staples Bell shares how jazz, improvisation, and storytelling transformed her own musical journey — and how those same tools can help your child fall in love with piano.

If your student feels bored, stuck, or unmotivated, this conversation offers practical encouragement and creative ideas to reignite their spark.

Sometimes the breakthrough isn't more practice — it's a new approach.

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/376

In this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast, we're talking about practical ways to help your child grow in responsibility, confidence, and problem-solving—both at the piano and in everyday life.

You'll learn: • How teachers encourage independence during lessons • Simple daily habits that build responsibility • Why natural consequences are powerful teachers • How to support practice without doing everything for your child

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/375.

In this episode, piano teacher and curriculum creator Dorla Aparicio joins the podcast to share her passion for group piano teaching and the Piano Pyramid method. We discuss how parents and teachers can help students thrive in a musical environment that's doable, structured, and encouraging, no matter the age or level. Whether you're curious about group lessons, struggling with practice battles at home, or wanting fresh ways to support your young pianist — this conversation will inspire and equip you!

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/374.

As part of my New Year's goal to read more classic literature, I've been listening to Black Beauty by Anna Sewell—and I was surprised by how much this 19th-century horse story teaches us about 21st-century parenting.

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/373

We all know and love Joy to the World as a classic Christmas carol — but did you know it wasn't originally written for Christmas? And it's not in Handel's Messiah either! In this episode, I share the fascinating history behind one of our most familiar hymns, how it's connected (and not connected) to Handel, and how its message points forward to something in the future, not just back to the past.

We did it! The PIANOVEMBER 2025 Practice Challenge is complete with over 51,000 practice tallies! 🏆🎉

In this week's episode, Shelly celebrates the top participants, gives shoutouts to amazing teachers, and wraps things up with a fun holiday music mystery replay: Down in History.

Learn more at www.pianoparentpodcast.com/371

Episode 370: 10 Finger Activities for Young Pianists – Shelly Davis brings you ten creative, screen‑free, fun activities to build fine motor strength and coordination in young piano students. Perfect for preschoolers or beginners, these ideas support your child's readiness and growth at the piano. Visit pianoparentpodcast.com/370 for links, downloads, and bonus resources.

Teens and tweens may act like they don't need us—but deep down, they do. In this episode, we talk about why big kids still crave attention, how to reconnect through meaningful conversation, and why monitoring our own screen time is just as important as managing theirs.

🎧 Full episode at: https://www.pianoparentpodcast.com/369

In this episode, Shelly discusses three open-ended questions she regularly asks her piano students to enhance their learning experience.

These questions are designed to empower students to analyze their performances, take ownership of their practice strategies, and decide the progression of their pieces.

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/368

Getting your kid to the piano to practice and them knowing what to practice are two very different things. On today's show we'll talk about....

• How to build a strong habit of practice • The "practice sandwich" technique: fun → challenge → fun • Interleaved / goal‑oriented practice strategies • Why ugly practice is still practice • Motivation tools: incentives, "eat the frog," and more • The PIANOVEMBER Practice Challenge (join us!)

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/367

Human Nature Delays (and How Piano Parents & Students Can Overcome Them) Join me as I explore why we often intend to practice or start something important—but delay instead. We'll talk about the intention‑action gap, share stories of what that feels like, and give you concrete, doable strategies for piano students and their parents.

Learn more at www.PianoParentPodcast.com/366

In this episode of the Piano Parent Podcast, host Shelly Davis chats with Michael Hemsworth, author, educator, and founder of New Songs Music School in California.

Michael shares his journey from piano kid to leading a music school with over 1,300 students, and reveals the heart behind his new book, "Mr. Michael's Music Maker Manual: A Guide for Growing Creative Children." They discuss the power of nurturing creativity, why every child's musical path is unique, and how parents can be strong advocates in their child's artistic journey.

Learn more about Michael's book at https://newsongsmusic.com/manual

Visit Phttps://ianoParentPodcast.com/365

Screens are convenient, but they don't build relationships. In this episode, we explore the overlooked value of playing physical games with your piano kid—games that boost memory, spark laughter, and strengthen your connection (without feeling like practice).

In this episode, Shelly explores the power of playing physical games with your piano kid—and why face-to-face interaction beats screen time every time. Learn how simple card games help your child develop memory, strategy, confidence, and communication. Plus, hear about her new music theory card game, Music Alphabet GARBAGE, launching on Kickstarter July 1st!

You'll learn:

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Why physical play matters in personal development

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How games build trust and family connection

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Ways to use games in restaurants, home practice, and family time

🎉 Plus, I introduce Music Alphabet GARBAGE, my brand-new card game launching July 1st on Kickstarter! Learn how to turn music theory into your next favorite family game.

🔍 Learn More Here: https://www.pianoparentpodcast.com/364 🔔 Follow the game here: Music Alphabet GARBAGE Kickstarter Campaign