127: How to Include Composition in Lessons with Amy Ferguson

Composing isn't just for the musically gifted few, it's a skill every piano student can build with the right guidance. Today, I'm chatting with Amy Ferguson, a piano teacher of over 30 years who calls herself a lifelong composer. She shares her own creative process, why she believes composing belongs in every studio, and practical activities you can try with students at any level. Amy also offers a free printable to help students write their very first piece.

• Amy shared how she won a Kawai piano through Pianist Magazine's composer competition.
• She described herself as a lifelong composer, tracing it back to a childhood tape recorder.
• Her compositional style favors patterns, simple notation, and a big sound.
• She emphasized storytelling as key to helping students connect emotionally with music.
• She named Danny Elfman's Nightmare Before Christmas score as a major influence.
• Amy outlined three reasons composing matters: theory, ownership, and true artistry.
• She noted that composing confidence carries over into students' other repertoire.
• She shared an activity where students traded favorite-things cards and composed for each other.
• Some holiday prompts, like Halloween for minor keys and Mother's/Father's Day gifts.
• Amy walked through her free "Big Question" printable for a student's first notated piece.
• She highlighted her Escape Series, teaching navigation terms like repeat signs and codas.
• Amy encouraged teachers to keep composing open-ended and rule-free.

Links Mentioned

• Amy's website: https:www.amyfergusonstudio.com
• Amy's YouTube channel:www.youtube.com/@AmyFergusonStudioMusic
• Amy's Facebook page:Amy Ferguson Studio
• Find out more about Four Chord Composing Course here.

Today's Guest With enthusiasm and endless passion for music, Amy Ferguson has spent her lifetime sharing and creating music on the piano. ​She received her first piano as a Christmas gift from her parents when she was 1 year old and as a young child she loved to record herself making up songs into a little tape recorder. She’s been happily composing music ever since! Amy studied piano under the direction of Mrs. Elaine Beckstrand and Dr. Yu-Jane Yang. In college she studied Piano Performance, Piano Pedagogy, and Secondary Music Education. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with high honors from Weber State University. She has had over 30 years of piano teaching experience and is an active member of the Utah Music Teachers Association, Music Teachers National Association, and National Federation of Music Clubs. Amy is an experienced accompanist, composer, and arranger, and enjoys sharing these skills with others. She composes and arranges piano repertoire for her students and has recently had the opportunity to write school spirit songs for several new local public schools. Her compositions have received both state and national recognition. November was the state-winning entry in the 2022 UMTA Composition Competition, and Relámpago won the 2026 Pianist Magazine National Composition Competition. Purchasing digital studio licenses of her music is now available at her online shop AmyFergusonStudio.Com. As a teacher, Amy has the special ability to customize lessons and musical experiences to each unique individual, guiding her students to be successful at not only playing the piano, but developing a love and enjoyment of the piano. Amy is married to her high school sweetheart, who is an incredible jazz pianist, and together they are parents to four amazing kids. Amy also enjoys gardening, raising chickens, outdoor walks, sewing, homemaking, botanical gardens, studying the gospel, yoga, embroidery, national parks, and listening to classical music loudly in the car. 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.

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

Thank you for tuning in! Consider implementing the ideas from this podcast by writing several actionable steps for your teaching practice if it’s inspired you. If you enjoyed today’s show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, which helps other teachers find our show. Stay updated by subscribing to this show, and get automatic delivery to your device every time a new episode goes live! We publish on Fridays weekly. TopMusicPro 14-Day Free Trial Heard about TopMusicPro Membership? As a valued podcast listener, I’d like to offer you a special chance to try our community free for 14 days. You can access a treasure trove of teaching resources, professional development courses, and creative lesson ideas. Click the link below to access your exclusive 14-day free trial for our Studio Membership. TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIAL