The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

The original podcast for growth-minded instrumental music and voice teachers since 2015. Our mission at TopMusic is to empower music teachers to find and nurture their innate creativity so they can teach lessons that are innovative, integrated and inspiring, and that will have a positive, life-long impact on their students. Tune in weekly as we interview teachers and creators from around the world and unpack fun and exciting ideas to maximise your teaching and studio business success.

Episodes

429: Piano Method Navigator with Anna Beth Rucker

August 25, 2025 • 50 mins
Method books can be incredibly helpful or incredibly overwhelming. Today, I’m having a chat with Anna Beth Rucker, the creator of Piano Method Navigator, a free online tool that helps teachers explore and compare method books with clarity. We dive into how this resource came to life, what it offers, and how it can support better decision-making no matter what stage of teaching you’re in. If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to choose t...
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    428: What’s Piano Marvel All About? With founders Heidi and Aaron Garner

    August 18, 2025 • 61 mins
    Technology can’t replace the heart of great teaching, but when used well, it can supercharge our impact. Today, I’m chatting with Aaron and Heidi Garner, the founders of Piano Marvel and sponsors of this month’s podcast. We dive into their inspiring startup journey, explore how their platform supports practice, sight reading, and studio efficiency, and unpack why it’s more relevant than ever in today’s teaching landscape. Whether y...
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    427: A Peek Inside Our Practice Hacks Course from Noa Kageyama

    August 11, 2025 • 19 mins
    Let’s be honest, teaching students how to practice well is one of the most important things we do, and also one of the hardest to make stick. That’s why I’m so excited to spotlight our “Practice Hacks” Course by Noa Kageyama, now available on the TopMusic Courses platform. In this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes look at the course, explore what makes practice effective, and reflect on the mindset shifts that can completely cha...
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    426: How Ambre Hammond Makes ASTONISHING Progress Teaching Scales in Lesson 1!

    August 4, 2025 • 51 mins
    What if your beginner students could master all 24 scales in just a few weeks? Today, I’m chatting with the incredible Ambre Hammond, whose high-energy, no-limits approach to piano teaching is turning heads and transforming students. We dive into how she introduces advanced technique from lesson one, keeps things joyful and motivating, and uses creative challenges to make even Hanon exercises exciting. If you’ve ever wondered how t...
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    425: Organising All the World’s Piano Music in one Database? Meet William Perry

    July 28, 2025 • 38 mins
    Repertoire can make or break a student’s motivation, and yet finding that just-right piece is one of the toughest parts of our job. In today’s episode, we’re having a chat with William Perry, the mastermind behind Piano Music Database, a powerful tool designed to help teachers discover ideal pieces using filters like rhythm, level, mood, and more. From public domain gems to modern compositions, this is a game-changer for anyone sea...
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    424: Creative Rote Teaching with TopMusicSheets Composer Laura Abshier

    July 21, 2025 • 48 mins
    Too often, rote teaching is dismissed as basic or shallow. But in this episode with Laura Abshier, you’ll never see it the same way again. As one of our TopMusicSheets composers, Laura brings a fresh, imaginative approach to beginner teaching that's grounded in Music Learning Theory. We're going to explore her collection, learn how she uses movement, singing, and improvisation, and discover just how rich rote-based learning can be ...
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    423: The 4 Curriculum Models with Merlin Thompson

    July 14, 2025 • 54 mins
    What if your role as a music teacher didn’t start and end with the method book? In this chat with Dr. Merlin Thompson, we're exploring how the curriculum models we choose can shape our students’ lifelong connection to music. From teacher-led to student-driven approaches and everything in between, Merlin offers a fresh perspective on how to rethink curriculum planning, repertoire, and even our own identity as teachers in the 21st ce...
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    422: All About Urtext Editions with Dr Mario Aschauer

    July 7, 2025 • 57 mins
    If you've ever wondered what exactly an Urtext edition is, or why it matters, you’re not alone. Today, I'm chatting with musicologist and editor Dr Mario Aschauer to explore what goes into creating these “original” scores and why they’re more complex and more fascinating than they first appear. From Beethoven’s messy handwriting to Mozart myths, this episode will open your eyes to how much history, detective work, and musical curio...
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    421: Announcing TopMusic Courses

    June 30, 2025 • 11 mins
    I’m so excited to finally share something we’ve been working on for a long time—our brand new TopMusic Courses platform. This isn’t just a redesign; it’s a complete rethinking of how we support teachers with practical, inspiring, and flexible professional development. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, reignite your teaching mojo, or explore something totally new, there’s a course waiting for you—and now you don’t need ...
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    420: Open Letter to Parents of Piano Students

    June 23, 2025 • 16 mins

    Too often, I see well-meaning parents unknowingly limiting their child’s potential by holding onto outdated ideas of what music lessons should be. In this episode, I’m sharing a personal message I wrote to help shift that mindset—an open letter to piano parents. It’s a heartfelt invitation to move beyond exam-driven expectations and embrace a more creative, joyful, and lasting approach to learning music. Drawing on my own experienc...

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    419: Teaching Masterclass with TopMusicSheets Composer Anna Robinson

    June 16, 2025 • 40 mins
    In this episode, we’re chatting with TopMusicSheets composer Anna Robinson for a deep dive into the teaching strategies behind her engaging, pedagogy-rich pieces. Anna shares how her compositions are often sparked by her students’ needs, interests, and even their pets—and how fun, pattern-based writing can make tricky concepts more accessible. We explore how she uses rhythm phrases, movement, and articulation from the very first le...
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    418: Setting Up Automated Monthly Studio Billing

    June 9, 2025 • 20 mins
    In today’s show, I’m walking you through exactly how to set up automated monthly billing in your music studio, a change I made that’s saved me hours of admin time and created consistent, predictable income. I’ll break down the full process step by step, from calculating your rates to including admin expenses and using software to automate the entire system. If you’ve been curious about making the switch, this episode will help you ...
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    417: Being a SAVVY Music Teacher with David Cutler

    June 2, 2025 • 45 mins
    In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Dr. David Cutler, an award-winning composer, pianist, educator, and one of the world’s leading voices in arts entrepreneurship. David is back to share fresh insights from his upcoming book, The Savvy Musician 2.0. We explore how music teachers can amplify their income, impact, and inspiration while building innovative and fulfilling careers. From creative performance practice to defini...
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    416: Bundling: How to Position Your Music Studio for Value, Not Price

    May 26, 2025 • 17 mins
    Today, I’m diving into one of the most effective ways to stand out in a crowded teaching market: bundling. If you’ve ever felt pressured to lower your rates to compete with the teacher down the street, this strategy is for you. I’ll show you how to reframe your offer so families focus on the value and experience you provide—not just your hourly rate. From lesson extras and welcome packs to creative group events, bundling can transf...
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    415: Quick and Free Ways to Find Music Students

    May 19, 2025 • 13 mins
    In this solo episode, I’m sharing some of my favorite fast, free (or super low-cost) ways to find new music students with a little help from my AI co-hosts, Jono and Sarah. Whether you’ve got a few schedule gaps or you’re starting fresh in a new area, we’ll walk you through practical, actionable ideas for studio growth, from referral strategies and community outreach to online tools that boost visibility. Just pick one and try it o...
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    414: Pattern-Based Teaching with TopMusicSheets Composer Juan Cabeza

    May 12, 2025 • 45 mins
    Great music teaching isn’t just about what’s on the page, it’s about what students can create beyond it. In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Juan Cabeza, our featured TopMusicSheets composer and a passionate educator from Madrid. Juan shares how his love of pattern-based teaching led him to compose music that supports creativity, improvisation, and confident reading—pieces designed to be pulled apart, explored, and...
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    413: Should You Add Early Childhood Music Classes to Your Studio? A Chat with Olivia Riddell

    May 5, 2025 • 44 mins
    Olivia Riddell shares her passion for early childhood music education and the unique benefits of starting musical training at a young age. Drawing on her experience with Music for Young Children (MYC), a globally recognized program founded by her parents, Olivia explains how movement, play, and exploration form the foundation of lifelong musical engagement. She discusses the importance of delaying reading, involving parents, and te...
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    412: Cracking the Code: Studio Business Lessons from My Chiropractor

    April 28, 2025 • 33 mins
    In this solo episode, I’m sharing some surprising business lessons I picked up, not from another music educator, but from a recent visit to my chiropractor. From clever onboarding to creative pricing and streamlined systems, I’ll walk you through how this experience got me thinking differently about how we run our studios. If you’re looking for fresh, practical ideas to help you stand out and grow your teaching business, this episo...
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    411: Forrest Kinney’s Framework for Playing and Teaching Lead Sheets

    April 21, 2025 • 69 mins
    In this special episode, we’re honored to share with you a webinar with the late Forrest Kinney, one of the most thoughtful and inspiring voices in music education. With warmth, wit, and deep insight, Forrest walks us through his framework for teaching and playing from lead sheets—starting with ear-based learning, nurturing creativity, and progressing to rich styles and arrangements. His heartfelt belief that all students can impro...
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    410: TEMPO – The New Online Conference from MTNA

    April 14, 2025 • 18 mins
    Today, we’re having a chat with Michael Clark, who’s here to discuss MTNA's new online conference, TEMPO, which aims to be more accessible and cost-effective for music educators. We'll dive into the key features of TEMPO, including 40 prerecorded breakout sessions, live Q&A chats, and extensive networking opportunities. Michael highlights the importance of an international reach, unique content, and the flexibility of accessing...
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