This content was created by The Piano Pod with Yukimi Song. This content was uploaded by The Piano Pod with Yukimi Song. This is a YouTube trailer/preview titled "Official Trailer ✅: Season 4 Episode 12 feat. Tim Topham, TopMusicCo" (created 2024-02-17). It contains a short conversational excerpt between Tim Topham — a music educator and CEO of Top Music Co. — and The Piano Pod with Yukimi Song. Tim discusses early piano-lesson habits (e.g., starting on middle C) and advocates more creative, integrated lesson approaches; he promotes his book "No Book Beginners" and offers a framework and lesson plans to help teachers engage students. The Piano Pod host promotes an upcoming full conversation with Tim on Tuesday, February 20 at 8 PM Eastern, streaming on The Piano Pod’s YouTube channel and podcast platforms. The clip functions as a promotional interview/trailer aimed at piano teachers and learners.
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When you had your first piano lesson, did your piano teacher open a method book and point to middle C and show you where to put your thumb on middle C? And they were probably held for 2 counts each and you would be playing middle C. 1, 2, 1, 2. If you're lucky, you might use your left hand. 1, 2. And that was kind of lesson 1. Was that lesson 1 for you? Well, if I asked that question to— I was in fact speaking at a conference yesterday. It was about 35 teachers. And yes, about 90% of their hands went up to say yes, that is how I was taught. And so my question is, keep your hand up if you think that's the most imaginative, creative, musical, fun, exciting, enjoyable way that you could possibly start a music lesson with a student today. And of course, all the hands go down. I mean, no one in their right mind would think that's a good way to engage students and excite them in this journey they're starting when they are the most enthusiastic they'll ever be in that first lesson. My goal for the book is I want more students in the world continuing their piano instruction. I want more teachers enjoying the process of teaching so they do more of it and they have fun with it. So, here is your framework. Here are your lesson plans. Go for it. Have fun with it. Anyone can do it regardless of how little creativity you think you have inside you. I mean, there's so much that's changed in 10, 15 years. Family dynamics have shifted, have changed. Students' leisure time has changed. Technology has impacted everything. And it's changed things like students' ability to focus and what students expect of their learning. And this goes to classrooms as well. We are seeing a trend that adding creative aspects to lessons, we've seen a huge shift towards people and organizations embracing creativity. That is a trend that I'm super delighted that is happening. I believe that creative activities are best done or explored in lessons when they're connected somehow with a learning outcome. It's about integrating creativity and not just creativity, but connecting multiple parts of a lesson together for a student.
Join me in an exclusive conversation with the incredible Tim Topam, music educator and CEO of Top Music Co. Our discussion revolved around his recently released book, "No Book Beginners," which encapsulates his experiences as a music educator and is a valuable resource for music teachers. Join us this Tuesday, February 20th, at 8 PM Eastern for an enchanting conversation with Tim, streaming on The Piano Pod's YouTube channel and available on your favorite podcast platform. Like this video, spread the word, and don't forget to follow The Piano Pod on social media. The links are in the description. Catch you on Tuesday!
