Episodes

  • 092 - Beauty, Artistry, and Intention (A Tribute to Marvin Blickenstaff)

    092 - Beauty, Artistry, and Intention (A Tribute to Marvin Blickenstaff)
    Feb 11 2026

    At the end of January, we lost a wonderful musician, teacher, and pedagogue, Marvin Blickenstaff. You’ve probably heard me talk about Marvin on the podcast before—he had a profound impact on my teaching.

    With a career spanning over six decades, Marvin dedicated himself to serving piano students and teachers worldwide. He valued deep emotional expression at the keyboard and a human connection through the music. He once said, “The only reason that music exists is to express who we are and how we feel.”

    Today, I’m sharing some of the most important things I learned from Marvin and how they show up in my teaching and practice.

    For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

    Resources Mentioned

    *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!

    The New School for Music Study

    Inspired Piano Teaching (Marvin Blickenstaff)

    Ep. 041 - Focus On the Music

    Ep. 074 - What a First Piano Lesson Looks Like (Here’s My Lesson Plan)

    Ep. 076 - 7 Things to Carry Into the New School Year

    Ep. 079 - From Technique to Musical Identity: Six Things I’m Focusing on in Lessons

    Ep. 084 - Recital Recap & Year-End Reflection

    Learn Faster, Perform Better (Molly Gebrian)

    Ep. 089 - The Science of Practicing: What I’m Learning from Molly Gebrian’s Book

    A Quick Warm-Up Routine for Piano Accompanists

    If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

    Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

    Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together:

    1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come.

    2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics.

    3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings
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    15 mins
  • 091 - Seven Black Composers in the Piano Teaching Repertoire

    091 - Seven Black Composers in the Piano Teaching Repertoire
    Jan 14 2026
    February is Black History Month—a time to honor and celebrate the contributions of African Americans. As a music teacher, this prompts me to pause and evaluate what I’m teaching, but also why. I ask questions like:How much diversity is present in my students’ method books and repertoire?Which pieces should we skip due to their complicated history?How can I make more thoughtful, informed choices about the music I put in front of my students—choices that are pedagogically sound and historically responsible?This year, I want to focus more on the existing repertoire and the creators behind it. In this episode, I’m going to introduce you to seven Black composers of elementary and intermediate piano repertoire.For show notes + a full transcript, click here.Resources Mentioned*Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!Ep. 045 - The Blues Composition Project“This Is What Diversity Sounds Like” by Linda Holzer (Piano Magazine)RCM Celebration Series Preparatory A Piano RepertoireA Collection of Florence Price’s Teaching Music, Vol. 23 Sketches for Little Pianists (Florence Price)RCM Celebration Series Level 7 Piano RepertoireExpanding the Repertoire: Music of Black Composers, Levels 1 and 2 (compiled & edited by Dr. Leah Claiborne)Arise & Shine: Piano Music by Black Composers for Kids2022 RCM Piano SyllabusFive Animal Sketches (William Grant Still)Portraits in Jazz (Valerie Capers)Piano Music of Africa and the African Diaspora, Vol. 1 (compiled & edited by William Chapman Nyaho)RCM Celebration Series Level 6 Piano RepertoireRCM Celebration Series Level 6 Piano EtudesIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyewWhenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together:1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come.2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics.3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings
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    15 mins
  • 090 - Nine Supplemental Books for Elementary and Early Intermediate Piano Students

    090 - Nine Supplemental Books for Elementary and Early Intermediate Piano Students
    Dec 17 2025
    It’s my last week of teaching for the year, and I've been reflecting on the supplemental books that have been most successful with my elementary and early intermediate students this year. The new year can be a great time to start fresh: with new repertoire, new technical routines, or new creative challenges for our students.As we prepare for the Spring semester and look forward to lessons resuming in January, I want to share nine collections I’ve been using with my students this year. Some are etudes based on specific technical patterns, others are solo repertoire books. Most of these are available through Piano Safari, though they can be used alongside any method book. For reference, my elementary and early intermediate students are in Piano Safari Levels 1-3 and range from 2nd-7th grade.If you're looking to refresh your teaching materials for January or add some variety to your studio library, I hope you'll find a few gems here that spark your interest.For show notes + a full transcript, click here.Resources Mentioned*Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!Miniatures (Juan Cabeza)Piano Safari Level 3Through the Windowpane (Chee-Hwa Tan)A Child’s Garden of Verses (Chee-Hwa Tan)Diversions, Books 1 and 2 (Juan Cabeza)Free download: 12 Variations on Diversion 12 (Juan Cabeza)Friends at Last (Amy Glennon)Here Comes Treble (Amy Glennon)Audio recordingsPiano Safari Level 1The Kitchen Suite, Op. 26 (Charles Stier)21 Amazingly Easy Pieces (Barbara Arens)If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyewWhenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together:1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come.2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics.3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings
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    15 mins
  • 089 - The Science of Practicing: What I’m Learning from Molly Gebrian's Book

    089 - The Science of Practicing: What I’m Learning from Molly Gebrian's Book
    Nov 5 2025

    One of the things I love about teaching is that we can draw on many disciplines to make our work better—art, psychology, learning theories, and even neuroscience. Recently, I’ve been reading about what brain research can tell us about practicing and how we learn, and it’s fascinating.

    Welcome back to our 2-part series on practicing.

    In part 1, we talked about the art of practicing. I shared what I’m learning from Madeline Bruser’s book, The Art of Practicing, and how I’m carrying these concepts and strategies into my practice sessions and studio.

    In this episode, part 2, we’ll explore Molly Gebrian’s book, Learn Faster, Perform Better. This book is all about the neuroscience of practicing: how we learn, process, and retain information. If you’ve been reading along with us in the Musician & Co. Book Club, you likely have some insights of your own, but I wanted to share what stood out to me and how it’s impacting my practicing and my teaching.

    For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

    Resources Mentioned

    *Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!

    The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music From the Heart (Madeline Bruser)

    Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing (Molly Gebrian)

    Join the Musician & Co. Book Club (it’s free!)

    Sign up for the Lunch & Learn: Practicing Workshop on 11/10 (it’s free!)

    Well-Tempered Clavier, Volume 1 (J.S. Bach)

    Ep. 038 - The Secrets of Interleaved Practice: What We Can Learn From Cognitive Science

    If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>

    Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

    Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together:

    1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come.

    2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics.

    3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings
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    17 mins
  • 088 - The Art of Practicing: What I’m Learning from Madeline Bruser’s Book

    088 - The Art of Practicing: What I’m Learning from Madeline Bruser’s Book
    Oct 8 2025

    This fall, I read two books about practicing: The first is Madeline Bruser’s, The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart. The second is Molly Gebrian’s 2024 release, Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician's Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing.

    Art and science. Because practicing requires both.

    This is part 1 of a 2-part series about practicing and what I’m learning and applying from both books.

    In this episode, part 1, we’ll talk about the art of practicing. I’ll share what I’m learning from Madeline Bruser’s book and how I’m carrying these concepts and strategies into my practice sessions and studio.

    For show notes + a full transcript, click here.

    Resources Mentioned

    Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!

    The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music From the Heart (Madeline Bruser)

    Learn Faster, Perform Better: A Musician’s Guide to the Neuroscience of Practicing (Molly Gebrian)

    Join the Musician & Co. Book Club (it’s free!)

    Well-Tempered Clavier, Volume 1 (J.S. Bach)

    The Perfect Wrong Note: Learning to Trust Your Musical Self (William Westney)

    Ep. 060 - How Do We Approach Mistakes in Music Teaching & Learning?

    If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts.

    Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyew

    Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together:

    1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come.

    2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics.

    3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings.
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    16 mins
  • 087 - 9 Creative Lesson Activities You Can Do with a Broken Arm

    087 - 9 Creative Lesson Activities You Can Do with a Broken Arm
    Sep 10 2025
    It was about this time last year when I got a panicked email from a parent: “Jack broke his left wrist this week. What does this mean for piano? He’s in a cast.”Has this ever happened to you? Some parents may assume that lessons need to be paused during this time. I mean, they can’t play with only one hand… or can they?The answer is yes, and there’s more and more one-handed repertoire available. With a broken foot, we can focus on repertoire that doesn’t use the pedal, or they can learn to pedal with their left foot for a few weeks.But more importantly, what I want to convey to parents (and students) is that playing is only one facet of musicianship. There are so many other things we do in lessons, so many other skills we’re working to develop. It reminds me of something Frances Clark once said, “Teach the student first, the music second, and the piano third.”Today, I’m sharing a list of nine lesson activities you can do with a broken arm. Some of these are specific to piano, but some are relevant no matter what instrument you teach. I hope the next time you find yourself in a situation like this, you’ll have just what you need to continue learning and making music together.For show notes + a full transcript, click here.Resources Mentioned*Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!Sight-Reading and Rhythm Every Day (Helen Marlais)Rhythm Keeper, Vol. 1 (Samantha Steitz & Steve Aho)Ep. 059 - 7 Ways to Practice RhythmEp. 026 - My Favorite Aural Skills Games + ActivitiesEp. 085 - Everyone Can ImproviseEp. 083 - Bernstein and Bill EvansIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyewWhenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together:1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come.2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics.3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings
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    12 mins
  • 086 - Teaching Keyboard Skills to Students of All Ages

    086 - Teaching Keyboard Skills to Students of All Ages
    Aug 20 2025
    Learning to play the piano isn’t just about learning repertoire pieces. It’s about developing a set of keyboard skills that lets you make music anywhere, with anyone, in any style. Technique, performance, and sight-reading are part of it, but so are harmonization, transposition, chord knowledge, and voice-leading. It’s more than the ability to perform what’s on the page; it’s understanding how the music is made.In this episode, I’ll share why keyboard skills matter for students of all ages and a few strategies I’m using in my studio to build them into lessons from the very first year of study.For show notes + a full transcript, click here.Resources Mentioned*Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!RCM Piano SyllabusPiano Safari Repertoire Book 1Diversions (Juan Cabeza)Piano Safari FriendsPiano Safari Sight-Reading CardsSight-Reading and Rhythm Every Day (Helen Marlais)Rhythm Keeper, Vol. 1 (Samantha Steitz & Steve Aho)Ep. 085 - Everyone Can ImproviseThrough the Windowpane (Chee-Hwa Tan)A Child’s Garden of Verses (Chee-Hwa Tan)Free download: 12 Variations on Diversion 12 (Juan Cabeza)Create First! Duet (Forrest Kinney)Free download: 27 Easy Chord Progressions (Tim Topham)If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyewWhenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together:1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come.2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics.3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings
    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • 085 - Everyone Can Improvise (+ 3 Examples From My Studio)

    085 - Everyone Can Improvise (+ 3 Examples From My Studio)
    Jul 23 2025
    When I was in grad school, I took an elective class on Improvisation. I remember shuffling into the 3rd-floor classroom that first day, pulling a blue chair into the semicircle like everyone else, unfolding the desk and preparing to take notes. Everyone was quiet. There was a palpable uncertainty among the group—all classical musicians by training. When had we ever been asked to improvise? No one wanted to be put on the spot.We started by talking about where to start with improvisation. “Improvisation is something we can all do,” our professor, Dr. Christopher Azzara began. “We’re born improvisers.”The challenge sometimes is trusting that creative process. Trusting that we have something interesting and musical to say.Improvisation is a skill like anything else; it can be learned and developed. Of course, there’s safety in writing it down, but learning the fundamentals of improvising and giving yourself time to experiment and practice this can be really fulfilling, especially in teaching.Today, I’m sharing a few simple ways to build improvisation into your teaching practice in meaningful ways, even if it’s new to you. You’ll learn what improvisation is and how to get started, how to find inspiration and musical ideas, and activities to do with your students in lessons. I’ll also share a few examples and recordings from my studio recently.For show notes + a full transcript, click here.Resources Mentioned*Disclosure: some of the links in this episode are affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase through any of them, I will earn a small commission. This helps support the podcast and allows me to continue creating free content. Thank you for your support!Developing Musicianship Through Improvisation, Book 1(Azzara & Grunow)A Systematic Introduction to Improvisation on the Pianoforte(Czerny)Piano Safari Repertoire Book 1Ep. 066 - A Winter Improvisation Prompt for Elementary Piano StudentsPiano Safari Repertoire Book 2Lyric Preludes in Romantic Style(William Gillock)“Chromatic Monochrome” in Moving Pictures (Naoko Ikeda)Ep. 021 - How to Use Praise With IntentionEp. 036 - Let’s Talk About ImprovisingIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review in Apple Podcasts >>Find me on Instagram: @ashleydanyewWhenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can work together:1️⃣ Need fresh teaching ideas? Schedule a quick 25-min. call and we’ll brainstorm on a topic of your choice. Build an idea bank that you can pull from in the months to come.2️⃣ Have questions about teaching or managing your music career? Book a 60-min call and get personalized advice, creative ideas & step-by-step strategies on up to 3-4 teaching/business topics.3️⃣ Develop the skills and strategies you need to plan the year, refine your teaching methods, and manage your time more effectively with a suite of online courses and professional development trainings
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    20 mins