If you’ve been a piano teacher for any length of time, you’ve undoubtedly heard about countless “must have” teaching tools for your studio. From flashcards to beanbags, from rhythm cups to theory games, and from play-a-long CDs to MIDI files – you’ve seen it all! Of course, sometimes these tools really DO work – especially with that “difficult to reach” student – and offer some powerful rewards. Often, though, they just find a cozy spot on your studio shelf where they collect dust for what seems like an eternity. How, then, do you know which new “tech tools” will actually HELP you teach and which ones will just drive you nuts over time? Well, that’s where we come in. Thanks to our personal relationships with piano teachers all over Arizona and beyond, we have compiled a list of highly effective tools for modern piano teachers… and – before you start to worry that you’re not “tech savvy” enough to learn these – I recommend you give them a try. Most of these tools are quick and easy to use – especially with the right support from your local Riverton Piano Company store. …so here’s a properly vetted list of REAL tools today’s piano teachers are raving about:
A Roland Digital Piano
We all wish we could play on concert grand pianos every day, but the truth is that modern digital pianos are outselling acoustics over 8 to 1. In simple terms, this means your students are going to own digital pianos and they expect you to know how to make the most of their practice time with one! This doesn’t mean you have to immediately discard your beloved acoustic piano. It just means you should have a digital piano in your studio AS WELL. They are great for warmups (having a student come in early and get his fingers moving before you start the lesson is a powerful way to get him focused and ready… and you can do it all with headphones while you work nearby!). Roland digital pianos, in particular, have tremendous actions and a customizable piano sound that can suit even the most discerning pianists! That’s why so many professional players use Rolands on stage and why – if you look closely – you’ll see Roland pianos at the Grammy’s and on stage at Carnegie Hall! …and with over 300 built-in instruments, easy recording options, wireless Bluetooth connectivity, and the best music learning apps in the business, you’ll really “grow into” your Roland digital piano over time. Many teachers I work with today can’t imagine teaching piano lessons without one! The most popular Roland we see in lessons studios today is the Roland HP704. Watch this quick video to learn more about it.
An iPad
Believe it or not, I am an Android user myself, but I have to admit that Apple has THE BEST music apps for theory, note recognition, sight reading, repertoire, ear training and much more. Especially if you use the Faber and Faber Piano Adventures lessons books, you NEED an iPad! Just look at how amazing the Piano Adventures player app is:
No doubt you still have a ton of “play along” CDs in your studio that you didn’t use because the backing tracks were too fast or in the wrong key. AnyTune (for iPad!) changes all of that. Now, you can take ANY CD, reduce the vocals, transpose it and adjust the tempo to match your print music. Can you believe that?! You can create a play-along track for ANY song your students want to learn – whether the publisher made a play-along CD or not! …and – better yet – you can control the tempo and transposition features INDEPENDENTLY – meaning you can actually USE those backing tracks (like really cool metronomes) in your lessons! You just adjust the tempo to the speed they can handle and you’re off! …and you can even run those backing tracks through your Roland with Bluetooth, giving you the power to use them with our without headphones whenever you want! Just imagine what your students could do if they had that kind of motivation for their weekly practice… Here’s our short video on AnyTune:
A Microphone and the Roland GO:Mixer Pro-X.
Easily add a microphone to any HP/LX/GP Series Roland digital piano with the Roland GO:Mixer Pro-X. This SUPER affordable device gives you the power to record vocals, guitars, bass guitars, keyboards, and more to your USB flash drive! …and, yes, you can record these instruments/vocals ON TOP of your backing tracks from AnyTune or Piano Adventures Player! See how easily these tools fit together?! Finally, connect the GO:Mixer Pro-X to your iPad or smart phone and you can LIVESTREAM your lessons with HD quality audio! Record auditions, capture compositions, expand your lessons – just LOOK at what this simple little tool can do for you:
The Roland V-02 HD MK II Video Mixer.
At first, you might think I’ve just thrown you for a loop on this one… but hear me out. If you could teach virtual lessons during the day and in-person lessons in the afternoon/evening, you could dramatically expand your studio’s reach. You could also “future-proof” your business in case another pandemic comes around. You COULD just use Zoom and your notebook or tablet’s camera/microphone, but – if you’ve ever tried to do that – you know the video and audio quality are terrible… and it’s hard to charge much for “terrible.” That’s where the Roland V-02 HD MK II Video Mixer comes in. It’s simple, two camera operation makes it EASY for you to stream crisp and colorful HD video whenever and wherever you want. Just plug your tablet, smart phone, camera or camcorder into the box via HDMI (as well as a TV or laptop to use as a monitor) and you’re ready to go! When Button 1 is red, Camera 1 is on. When Button 2 is red, Camera 2 is on. You don’t need ANY video streaming experience to use this… and it even has an optional pedal for hands-free switching! Better yet – you can engage “picture in picture” mode and show your students what your hands are doing on the keys WHILE they see your face! Want great audio as well? Plug in your Roland GO:Mixer Pro-X and you can stream high quality audio along with your HD video! Give virtual seminars, summer camps or master classes! Catch up with a student who doesn’t feel well! Protect your income and grow your studio with the Roland V-02 HD MK II Video Mixer. Look how easy it is to use!
BONUS TOOL:
Ok. I know there’s at least ONE of you out there that isn’t interested in doing anything “techy.” That’s ok. I think you’re going to miss out on some powerful motivational tools and teaching opportunities, but I’m not going to give up on you. For you, I have one bonus option: The Roland CD-2u. This little device is the perfect companion for any acoustic piano. It’s built-in stereo microphones take some of the most incredible recordings of string instruments, choirs, acoustic pianos and more that I have EVER heard. Don’t take my word for it, though, watch the video below and see for yourself. Better yet – the device comes with a simple remote control. Start and stop your recording from the conductor’s stand or while your student is looking away. Record your own backing tracks and transpose them with the CD-2u! You can even speed up and slow down play-along CDs or reduce the vocals on REGULAR CDs! This device can do as much as some of the new iPad apps without all that “digital” stuff! You can even run it from batteries! Take a look:
Modern piano studios don’t have to be cluttered or lined with books. With these simple tech tools, a little enthusiasm and the support of a piano store like Riverton, you can teach ANY student (local or remote) with ease! …and you can motivate them in ways you never could before!
Our teacher partners have been using these tools for years. If you’d like some personal suggestions, some inspiring ideas or just a shoulder to cry on, contact your nearest Riverton Piano Company store and let us help you modernize your piano studio. Your students and their families will thank you for it!
