Today we’re heading to the UK to visit Becs Leighton. Becs had a successful career and one that she enjoyed before she gave it up to go all in with teaching and find a better life-balance for her and her family. I hope you’ll be inspired by her bravery and passion, I know I was!

Becs Leighton is a piano and flute teacher based in Bingley, West Yorkshire. She teaches from a studio in her back garden, and she teaches all ages from 4 to retired-a-long-time-ago! She is also one of the 2 Musical Directors of Bradford and Airedale Youth Choir, and occasional MD for theatre productions. Her core teaching values are built on her belief that music is for everyone - it should be inclusive, collaborative, individualised, inspiring and fun. She absolutely LOVES her job and is super geeky about putting theory into practice, so you'll find her on any training courses that help her understand more about piano and flute pedagogy, vocal coaching, and how our brains work!

• Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com

Today we’re visiting with Lisa Kisselstein in New York. Lisa is the definition of a lifelong learner in my book, she’s constantly questioning and seeking out answers and, as we discuss, admitting when she doesn’t know something yet. I know you’ll love our conversation and that it’ll give you an energy boost for your day.

• Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com
• TopMusic: topmusic.co
• Sara Campbell: savvymusicstudio.com
• Tiny Finger Takeoff: vibrantmusicteaching.com/courses/tiny-finger-takeoff
• Practice Pro: vibrantmusicteaching.com/courses/practice-pro

Today we’re heading to Seattle to chat to Aura Ruddell. Aura’s diverse studio sounds like exactly the place I want to learn! Content warning that you may have an urge to head back in time and sign up for lessons with her too. ;)

Aura Ruddell is a musician and the owner of Cicada Music School, an inclusive music and piano studio in Seattle for students of all ages and backgrounds.

www.cicadamusicschool.com

• Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com
• www.cicadamusicschool.com

Today we’re heading to New Jersey to hear from Marcia Kravis. Marcia’s journey from harpsichordist to piano teacher is a fascinating one with lots of lessons about enjoying the longer route on the way.

Marcia teaches children ages 4 - 80 in Philadelphia, USA. Because her piano lives out of town, she bicycles to her students’ homes to teach them. Trained as a harpsichordist, she plays baroque music professionally.

• Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com

Today we’re heading to Singapore to visit Mei Po Sum. She hasn’t always lived there, though…far from it. Her story gave me instant itchy feet for travelling and, even more that, many flashbacks to my beginning years of teaching when I let parents run my studio. If you can relate, I think you’ll appreciate Mei Po’s perspective.

Mei Po has played the piano since she was a young child and is embracing her purpose as a piano teacher since leaving the corporate profession. Her mission is to instil a love of learning in her students so that their journey with piano will stay with them for life, even after they stop having lessons. Being based in the international hub of Singapore gives Mei Po the opportunity to teach students from different backgrounds, and she loves the diverse personalities that she interacts with each week. In her spare time, Mei Po loves to travel, cook, and indulge in her favourite books and tv shows.

• Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com

Today we’re visiting Juanita Stauffer in Alberta, Canada. I’m hoping to meet Juanita in real life when covid finally allows me to attend the Alberta Piano Teacher’s Association conference but until then it was such a pleasure to chat with her virtually. I think Juanita’s advice about sticking to your policies might hit home for you in a way that this hasn’t rung true before.

Juanita Stauffer teaches a great group of students in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in her private piano studio. She enjoys making music with her students, playing cello in a community orchestra, reading, knitting, baking and gardening. Juanita is the president of the Alberta Piano Teachers Association and loves to encourage other teachers in their teaching endeavours.

• Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com

Today we’re visiting Graham Diesel in South Africa. Graham has been thrown into the deep end of teaching over and over and has some great insights on the differences between the classroom and the private lesson.

• Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com

Today we’re going to hear from Fiona Cockling in England. Like me, Fiona didn’t study music at university and she sometimes deals with self-doubt when talking to other teachers online. Listen to hear how she manages these thoughts and finds balance in her studio.

Fiona has lived and worked in the north east of England for almost 2 decades and teaches students from age 3 to retired adults. She also plays church organ on Sundays and has played the clarinet in orchestras and wind bands.

• Vibrant Music Teaching: vibrantmusicteaching.com