Creative Piano Pedagogy
This podcast is an enriching resource designed specifically for piano teachers and music educators working with out-of-the-box students: students with disabilities, physical or learning differences, gifted and 2-E learners and neurodivergent students. Each episode delves into innovative teaching strategies, offering insights and practical solutions that promote creativity, inclusivity, and approaches teaching from a positive and student-first environment. Pedagogue, researcher and music educator Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Everhart will demystify topics such as technique, communication, piano methods, understanding behaviors, autism, ADHD, dyslexia and much more- all with a focus on encouraging teachers to meet the diverse needs of their students and inspiring them t...
33- Visual Processing Disorders and Troubleshooting Music Reading
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Since music reading is a natural part of the piano learning process for most students, it can be frustrating when it's just not clicking or doesn't come easily for students. What if it's not an issue of "My student can't read music" or "My student will not read music" and what might the other factors be that are contributing to the confusion?
In this episode, podcast host and renowned piano pedagogue Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Everhart breaks down Visual Processing Orders, sharing factual examples of how VPD may impact students' music learning. Elizabeth...
32- 3 No-fuss Tips for Including Ear Training in Lessons
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What's the big deal about Ear Training, and what benefit (if any) does it provide to piano students? Music teachers often forget to educate the ear in the same ways we help students develop healthy technique, a sense of rhythm, or reading music.Â
In this episode, Elizabeth breaks down Ear Training by defining it and giving practical examples of how educating the ear helps students progress in other musical skills. The episode concludes with an encouragement for teachers with 3 practical tips for using Ear Training with their own students, r...
31- The Perfect Recipe for Sight-reading and Critical Thinking in Piano Lessons
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When a new preteen student was unsure of what music she even liked, Elizabeth tried something different: she had the student sight-read a stack of new pieces and rate each one like a restaurant critic, choosing 1 to 5 stars. The result? A hesitant student turned into an eloquent critical thinker who begged to do it again the following week. In this episode, Elizabeth breaks down why the activity worked so well and challenges teachers to find similar "ins" through their own students' quirky interests.Â
Registration for the Piano Teachers Book Club is o...
30- 6 Tips to Refresh Your Mindset for the New School Year
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After a fantastic summer break and the Piano Teacher Reset Virtual Retreat, the podcast is back and packed with realistic, practical tips to take the pressure off yourself and set a warm, supportive tone in your studio for the upcoming school year!
Community Updates: Announcing a brand new seasonal format for the Piano Teachers Book Club!Warm Welcomes, No Guilt: How to welcome returning students back without negativity Adapting to Transitions: Navigating back-to-school schedule shifts, changes to students' routines, and growing with our ever-changing students as t...29- Building Up Others: A Summer Encouragement & Challenge
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It is common for the independent studio teacher to be quite isolated. We have to be intentional about creating our communities and connecting with our colleagues, and often our colleagues also include our former teachers and past students (or current students!). In our technology-heavy world where we are "connecting" with people behind a screen, it can be easy to tear each other down rather than build each other up, especially in the pursuit of a bigger platform. Join Elizabeth and Tara as they discuss how we can build up our colleagues rather than...
28- Pachelbel vs. Perfectionism: Finding Joy in Improvising with Dr. Louie Hehman
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Improvisation intimidates a lot of classically trained piano teachers, not because we lack musicianship, but because we assume we need to sound brilliant on day one. Dr. Louie Hehman joins me to break that myth wide open and to show how improvisation can start with the simplest materials: two chords, a familiar bass line, or even five black keys. We talk about why “wrong notes” are not disasters, how recovery is a skill you can teach, and how lowering the pressure actually raises the joy at the piano.Â
We dig into what...
27- Respect, Clarity, Relationships and Teaching Teen/Adult Neurodivergent Students
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Elizabeth and Tara share practical ways to teach older neurodivergent piano students with more respect, less fear, and better results. We focus on clear expectations, collaborative communication, and adult-appropriate materials so teens and adults leave lessons feeling confident instead of overwhelmed.
If you want more inclusive teaching strategies for ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other learning differences, this one will leave you with scripts and next steps you can use immediately. Subscribe, share with a teacher friend, and leave a review so more piano teachers can find these tools!
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26- Purposeful Teaching and Building Lifelong Musicians with Dr. Christina Mathis
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Piano teaching gets a lot easier once you stop treating every missed practice session like a personal insult! I’m joined by Dr. Christina Mathis, founder and director of Carey Music Academy at William Carey University, to talk about what it looks like to teach with infectious joy and humor while still honoring the reality of busy schedules, neurodivergent learners, adult beginners, and stressed-out college students.
Christina shares how she helps students build sustainable practice habits, stay creative when life is packed, and find joy in the process, not just the “big...
25- Awareness, Acceptance and Accessibility in The Music Studio with Tara
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Awareness is a start, but it’s not the finish line. Tara Mock joins me to unpack three words we hear constantly in music education and piano pedagogy right now: autism awareness, autism acceptance, and accessibility. From there, we move into what accessible teaching actually looks like for neurodivergent piano students and for learners with invisible disabilities.Â
Tara shares lived perspective around Tourette syndrome and the complicated reality of concert etiquette, judging processes, and policies that unintentionally exclude. The takeaway is simple but demanding: accessibility is not an option, and...
24- Preparing Students for Recitals and Adjudicated Events (without losing the joy)
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Recital season can bring out the best in a studio and the most stress in our students. We’re taking a fresh, practical look at performances, festivals, and adjudications with one guiding question: does this experience help a student leave feeling joy, momentum, and pride in their music, or does it pile on fear that makes them want to quit? I share how I decide when an adjudicated event is a great fit and when it is simply not worth the anxiety, and you’ll also hear my perspective after more than two deca...
23- Boundaries with Heart: Using Proactive Teaching to Create a Positive Lesson Environment
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What if the real breakthroughs in your piano studio have less to do with scales and more to do with the space between the notes—how we set boundaries, model calm, teach appropriate social skills and communication, and design lessons that students can actually navigate?Â
We start with the gap most teachers feel but rarely name: students arrive with different developmental ages than their birthdates suggest. That mismatch can make a brilliant nine-year-old look like a distracted preschooler unless we plan for social-emotional learning. You’ll hear how a simple routine (paire...
22- Decoding Dyslexia with Dr. Olivia Colomaio, part 2
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In this second episode on dyslexia with Dr. Olivia Colomaio, we explore how dyslexia shows up in piano study and share tools that replace quick fixes with sound-first learning and real transfer. Practical strategies, honest self-assessment, and effort-based awards help students grow skills and confidence without gimmicks. If you’ve wondered how to support dyslexic pianists with compassion and precision, this conversation gives you a map you can use today!
Don’t forget to share this with a teacher friend that you think might enjoy it!Â
Check out The D...
21- Decoding Dyslexia with Dr. Olivia Colomaio, part 1
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In part 1 of the conversation with Dr. Olivia Colomaio, we dive into what dyslexia actually is, why it’s often misunderstood, and how those myths affect piano teaching and our students. Olivia shares research, lived experience, and practical ways teachers can adapt without waiting for a diagnosis, while we urge more empathy for families navigating dyslexia and neurodiversity.
We also talk openly about why parents may not disclose diagnoses, the emotional journey of seeking answers, and how music teachers can approach families with respect, curiosity, and care. Most importantly, we offer pr...
20- What Worked For My Studio in 2025
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We share eight concrete (but easy) changes that made teaching calmer, more creative, and more student-centered in 2025, from consolidating schedules to story-driven composition. Along the way, we explore deeper questioning, smarter research habits, and small rituals that fuel focus and joy.
If you’re ready to teach with more intention and less noise, this conversation offers concrete steps and tools you can try this week. Subscribe, leave a review if this helped you, and share the episode with a colleague who could use a calmer, more creative start to their teaching ye...
19- Teacher Questions: Grace over Grind and Neurodiversity in Music Lessons
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Teaching doesn’t require superhero energy; it requires humane rhythms, clear anchors, and courage to pivot. We sit down to unpack the real weight of lesson planning during a busy season, how we manage exhaustion without guilt, and why lowering the pressure can raise the music. From the “sacred 45” minutes that protect our focus to the 15-minute pauses that keep us present, we share small rituals that sustain big care.
We also tackle neurodivergent-friendly strategies with honesty and warmth. When plans flop, we don’t panic—we adapt. Along the way, we invite y...
18- Lessons from Gifted/Neurodivergent Students about Flexibility, Stickers, Lunch, and Kindness
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What if the most powerful teaching shift is letting go of how the lesson “should” go? We unpack four hard-earned insights from years of teaching gifted and neurodivergent piano students—ideas that lower stress, boost engagement, and bring the joy back to the bench.
If you teach music, special education, or any special learner, these stories and strategies will help you teach with calm, clarity, and heart. Listen, try one idea this week, and tell us what changed. If the conversation helped, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quic...
17- Practical Strategies For Navigating the Holidays in a Neurodivergent Studio
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The holidays can be magical—and completely overwhelming. Between school concerts, studio plans, nonstop decorations, and family expectations, our students’ senses get flooded and their routines get disrupted. We talk frankly about what actually helps neurodivergent learners during this season and how we, as teachers, can be the steady, calm center when everything else speeds up.
If you’re craving a simple, humane approach to the holidays, this conversation gives you the scripts, structures, and small tips that make a big difference. Subscribe, share with a teacher friend who needs a calmer...
16- From Solo Project To Partnership: Chat with Elizabeth and Tara
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Big shifts are brewing at Creative Piano Pedagogy, and we’re inviting you behind the scenes! After five years of building resources solo, we’re leveling up into a true partnership that pairs big-picture creativity with sharp systems and operations. That means better courses, clearer communications, and a brand-new website designed to make it easier to find the tools you need to teach with confidence. Expect offerings that blend evidence-based strategies with simple, practical steps you can use in lessons right away.
To keep things human, we also loosen up with rapi...
15- Label vs. Student: Intake, Assessment and Diagnosis for Neurodivergent Students with Tara Mock
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This episode challenges the myth that teachers need a diagnosis to teach well and offers practical ways to create a welcoming intake, read the learner in real time, and build trust with parents who value privacy. We share scripts, strategies, and a mindset shift: see the student, not the label.
• privacy and dignity as non‑negotiables
• welcoming intake that centers the learner
• improvisation and co‑composition as assessment
• lowering parent defenses with empathy
• labels as hypotheses, not prescriptions
• repertoire choice as motivation and access
• language that invites, not...
14- ADHD at the Piano: Myths, Methods, and Mozart
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What if the “wiggles” are actually your student’s brain doing its best work? Elizabeth opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD at age three and the unexpected way piano became her first tool for focus, self-regulation, and joy. From caffeinated laps at a recital hall to discovering that busy hands can calm a busy mind, this story threads personal insight into practical strategies any teacher can use.
The episode leans into creative problem solving. Through it all runs one idea: teach the student in front of you, not the stereotype. When w...
13- The Wide Spectrum of Autism: Beyond the Myths
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What does autism really look like in the piano studio? Autism Spectrum Disorder exists on a continuum as varied as the individuals who experience it. We explore why nonverbal doesn't mean unable to understand, why avoiding eye contact doesn't signal disinterest in social connection, and why differences in neurological processing aren't deficits but simply different pathways to learning.Â
This episode dismantles common misconceptions that limit our expectations and teaching approaches. Through real-life examples and touching student stories, you'll gain practical insights into creating more inclusive and effective piano lessons.
12- Teaching Beyond Assumptions and Neuro-Spicy Takes on Neurodiversity with Tara Mock
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In this eye-opening conversation, host Elizabeth Davis-Everhart welcomes piano teacher Tara Mock, who brings 30 years of teaching experience alongside her perspective as a parent of neurodivergent children. Together, they challenge the common misconceptions of neurodiversity that limit both teachers and students in the music studio.
From the myth that autistic students can't be social to assumptions about coordination challenges and behavioral issues, this conversation peels away layers of misunderstanding to reveal the unique gifts neurodivergent students bring to music education.
Ready to see your students—all your students—in a ne...
11- New series: Deconstructing Misconceptions of Gifted/Neurodivergent Learners
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Welcome to the first episode in our groundbreaking new series about gifted and neurodivergent learners at the piano: Deconstructing Misconceptions of Gifted and Neurodivergent Learners! Have you ever caught yourself making a snap judgment about a student, only to later discover how wrong you were?
This episode challenges the assumption that difference equals deficit, and encourages teachers to "Jump into the Chute" with their students. (More on jumping into the chute on this week's new blog post!) Throughout this series, we'll hear from experts who will help...
10- Summer Series: Planning to Pivot- Adapting in Music Lessons for Neurodivergent Students
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The hardest truth about teaching neurodivergent students is the unpredictability. You never know which "version" of your student will arrive each week—focused and ready for challenges, anxious but willing, or struggling with concepts they mastered weeks ago. This variability isn't a failure of teaching or learning; it's simply the reality of neurodivergent brains.
Contrary to misconception, adaptive teaching isn't the easy way out. It demands deeper pedagogical knowledge, thorough preparation, and keen observation skills. But its heart remains beautifully simple: know your student, know your pedagogy, and teach to the in...
09- Summer Series: Popping Bubbles, Swatting Flies, and Creative Approaches for Coordination/Finger Control
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Ever had a student struggle with hand coordination and finger control despite their best efforts? You're not alone. This deep dive into the fascinating connection between neurodiversity and piano technique reveals why many students—particularly those with ADHD or autism—find fine motor skills (like piano technique) challenging.
Whether you teach neurodivergent students or simply want to expand your teaching toolkit, these strategies will enrich your studio approach and help every student thrive at the piano.
Links to teaching tools from this episode:
Pop-it Fidget Toy
Squi...
08- Summer Series: Navigating Student Overwhelm/Meltdowns in Music Lessons
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Emotional struggles in piano lessons can transform a beautiful learning experience into a source of stress for both students and teachers. How do we handle those moments when a student becomes overwhelmed or has a meltdown at the keyboard? Drawing from nearly 20 years of teaching experience, this episode unpacks practical, compassionate approaches to these challenging situations.
Whether you're teaching neurotypical or neurodivergent students, these strategies build a foundation of trust and safety that allows genuine learning to flourish. After all, the greatest honor in teaching isn't just developing musical skills, but...
07- Summer Series: Squirrel! Teaching Students with Short Attention Spans
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Are you struggling to teach piano students who seem to bounce from one thought to another? Wondering how to keep young learners engaged or help your neurodivergent students thrive? This deep dive into teaching students with short attention spans might just transform your approach.
Ready to transform your teaching approach? Discover how to time your lesson pacing perfectly around your student's natural attention patterns, creating productive learning experiences where both teacher and student leave feeling accomplished. Your students with short attention spans aren't incapable of focus—they just need you to un...
06- Summer Series: Creative Communication for Students with Speech/Language Delays
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Struggling to connect with students who have speech and language difficulties? You're not alone. In this illuminating episode of the Creative Piano Pedagogy Podcast, Dr. Elizabeth Davis Everhart launches a summer series, "So, I Have This Student..." dedicated to creative, out-of-the-box solutions for students who don't fit traditional teaching approaches.
We dive deep into practical strategies for teaching music to students with speech and language challenges, exploring both sides of lesson communication. The podcast introduces differentiated instruction as a game-changer, and Dr. Everhart shares innovative ways to let students respond without...
05- Balancing Fun and Routine: Summer in the Adaptive Music Studio
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Summer brings a welcome change of pace for most piano teachers, but those of us teaching neurodivergent students face unique considerations that deserve thoughtful attention. While neurotypical students typically thrive with relaxed summer schedules, our students with disabilities often find comfort in routine and structure - making the summer transition more complex than simply switching to "fun mode."
The podcast explores this delicate balance, acknowledging that the mental preparation for teaching students with special needs remains significant even during summer months. This episode shares creative approaches to summer teaching, including composer...
04- Beyond the Curved Finger: Rethinking Piano Technique, part 2
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Playing piano is a much more physical activity than most people realize, requiring complex coordination that many of us take for granted. For neurodivergent learners, the physical aspects of piano playing often become unexpected obstacles.Â
This episode dives deep into adaptive piano technique, exploring how teachers can modify their approaches for students whose bodies and minds process movement differently. The episode outlines six powerful principles for adapting technique for neurodivergent learners. Connect with the Creative Piano Pedagogy Podcast on social media to see upcoming demonstration videos that will visualize these techniques in a...
03- Beyond the Curved Finger: Rethinking Piano Technique for Neurodivergent Students
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The journey of teaching piano technique to students with disabilities presents unique challenges that require creativity, patience, and a willingness to adapt. Traditional approaches—filled with flowery language about rainbows and waterfalls—simply don't connect with neurodivergent students who think concretely and pragmatically.
Teaching piano technique to students with disabilities requires adaptability, patience, and a willingness to break from traditional approaches while maintaining pedagogical integrity. Success comes through adapting our approach, not by lowering expectations! Learn more in this first episode on teaching technique.
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02- Adapting to Individual Learners with Lesson Pacing Strategies
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What if the pace of your piano lessons could unlock the true potential of your students, especially those who are neurodivergent? Join us as we dig further into adapting our teaching approach by unveiling the often-overlooked art of lesson pacing. In this episode of the Creative Piano Pedagogy podcast, we draw parallels between the rhythm of a lesson and walking speeds, advocating for a teaching style that resonates with each student's unique learning rhythm. By tailoring the tempo of your lessons, you can help students with ADHD and other learning differences absorb information...
01- Embracing Change: The Art of Adaptive Piano Teaching
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Unlock the secrets to becoming an adaptive piano teacher in our very first episode of the Creative Piano Pedagogy Podcast, hosted by me, Dr. Elizabeth Davis Everhart. Ever struggled to keep up with the ever-evolving needs of your students? Together, we explore the art of adaptation in teaching—an essential skill that transforms both educators and learners. Join our conversation as we delve into the Oxford Dictionary's definition of adapting and how it beautifully aligns with the dynamic world of piano teaching. Drawing from my own experiences with managing a home office and mu...
