077: Parent, Teacher, Student: The Practice Triangle with Holly Hornyan

Building a solid practice routine and involving parents in the process are key to student success, as Holly Hornyan, founder of Clever Keys Music Lessons, knows all too well. In this episode, Holly shares her insights on how to help students develop good practice habits and how to communicate effectively with parents to support their child's musical growth. Whether it's through setting realistic goals, creating a dedicated practice space, or fostering strong parent-teacher relationships, Holly’s approach helps both students and teachers thrive.

1. Holly shared a brief overview of her background and her music teaching studio in Phoenix, Arizona.
2. Establishing a daily practice routine and creating a dedicated practice space at home.
3. Strategies for communicating with parents to ensure effective practice.
4. The significance of having open lines of communication between teachers and parents.
5. Holly recommended using tools like practice trackers and setting realistic practice goals for both students and parents.
6. The role of modeling good practice habits and demonstrating effective practice strategies.
7. Her experience using short-term challenges to motivate students before recitals.
8. A parents' guide to piano practice, which helps parents set up practice routines and stay involved.
9. Importance of seeing parents as allies in the teaching process to support student success.
10. How building strong relationships with parents makes the teaching experience more enjoyable for both the teacher and the student.

Links Mentioned

1. Holly's Website: Clever Keys Music Lessons
2. Holly's Instagram Page: @cleverkeysmusiclessons

Today’s Guest

Holly Hornyan is a passionate piano educator based in Phoenix, Arizona, with over 16 years of teaching experience. After earning her Master of Arts in Teaching Music from the University of Southern California, Holly began her career in K–8 general music and choir before transitioning to what she loves most: teaching beginning students to play piano. She’s also a graduate of The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Teaching Elementary Piano course and has been featured on the Music Studio Startup and Dynamic Piano Teaching podcasts. Holly is known for her practical, parent-friendly approach to music education - helping young students thrive by equipping families with tools for effective, low-stress home practice. She believes that every child is musical and is committed to making piano learning fun, accessible, and confidence-building.

About Rachel Ehring

Dr. Rachel Ehring is a pianist, teacher, music administrator, and lover of piano teaching gadgets. She holds a DMA in Collaborative Piano from the University of Colorado Boulder and a MM in Accompanying from the University of Kansas. She currently serves as Director at St. John’s Conservatory of the Arts in Orange County, CA. Previously, she held positions at Concordia University Irvine and Henderson State University. Rachel is passionate about empowering music teachers to create engaging and exciting lessons for students of all ages. When she isn’t playing the piano, you might find Rachel reading books with her son or walking her beagle Frieda.

1. Visit her website at RachelEhring.com
2. Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
3. Visit her YouTube channel: @dreamlavendermusic6694
4. Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

Thank you for tuning in!

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