TopMusic Piano Podcast13 Sep 2024

034: Summer Duet Camps with Kirstin Weston

Today, we're having a chat with Kirstin Weston, the talented founder and owner of KW Music Studios, to discuss her innovative summer duet camps that have been a hit with her students. Kirstin, who holds an MFA in Piano Performance from UCI and has a wealth of experience in competitions and collaborative music, shares how her studio in Aliso Viejo, California, has grown to include 140 students and a team of dedicated instructors. We delve into the inspiration behind her duet camps, the impact on her students' musical development, and the unique approach she takes to foster collaboration and connection among her students. Whether you're a music teacher looking for fresh ideas or a parent considering new opportunities for your child, you won’t want to miss this insightful conversation.

Kirsten shared a brief overview of her background and her multi-teacher studio.
The pros and cons of renting a commercial space.
Advice for teachers on running a multi-teacher studio.
She describes how the idea for a duet camp was born from a desire to foster student connection and collaborative skills.
Repertoire and activities included in her duet camp and the outcome and impact to her students.
She discusses more about her duet camps, including flexible pairing, student levels, age requirements and skill improvement among students.
How Kirstin reintroduced community outreach recitals at a local retirement home.
Her upcoming events and a holiday recital in December.
How she balances teaching and family time.
Kirstin shared about her studio activities and meal prep on her Instagram page.

Links Mentioned

Kirstin Weston Instagram Page: @kwmusicstudios
KW Music Studios - Piano Lessons Facebook Page
KW Music Studios YouTube Channel

Today's Guest

Kirstin Weston is the founder and owner of KW Music Studios and offers private lessons in piano performance, music theory, and piano pedagogy in Aliso Viejo, California and online. She manages a team of instructors who offer private lessons for the studio in their home studios or in the student’s homes throughout Orange County. Kirstin received a BA in Piano Performance from UCLA in 2012 and an MFA in Piano Performance from UCI in 2014. She has performed in competitions, master classes, chamber music groups, duet teams, and has been an active member of professional teaching organizations including MTNA, MTAC, and CAPMT. Outside of piano teaching, Kirstin loves spending time with her husband, two kids, and their dog Oreo!

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 https://rachelehring.com/
Visit her Instagram page: @rachelehring
Visit her Etsy shop at Dream Lavender Music

TOPMUSICPRO MEMBERSHIP 14-DAY FREE TRIALThank 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.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(127)

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...

14 Aug 46min

126: When the Rest is the Work

After spending a few days at a retreat with fellow piano teachers, I came home with a completely different perspective on what it means to rest. In this episode, I'm reflecting on why rest isn't just ...

7 Aug 15min

125: Successful In-Home Teaching with Michael Richey

Teaching piano in students' homes isn't a model we hear about very often, but it can be an incredibly successful way to build a studio. In this episode, Michael Richey shares how he grew a thriving mu...

31 Jul 47min

124: What is the Right Way to Teach Group Piano?

After last week's conversation about transitioning to group teaching, I wanted to continue the discussion by exploring what group piano can actually look like. In this episode, I’m sharing the differe...

24 Jul 18min

123: Making the Pivot to Group Teaching with Mandy Goldbach

When I first heard about group teaching, I wondered how it could possibly provide the same individual attention as private lessons. In this episode, Mandy Goldbach shares how she successfully transiti...

17 Jul 34min

122: The Kindred Piano Method with Andrea Humphrey

Every piano method reflects the values behind the person who created it. Today, I'm chatting with Andrea Humphrey to explore the story behind the Kindred Piano Method, a series that blends solid piano...

10 Jul 33min

121: Using Memory Champion Techniques for Note Reading with Rowina Seidler

Helping students become confident note readers is one of the biggest challenges in piano teaching. In this episode, I'm talking with Rowina Seidler about how memory champion techniques inspired the cr...

3 Jul 39min

120: What Happens When Piano Teachers Meet In Person

What happens when piano teachers meet in person? In this episode, I reflect on our first-ever TopMusic Local coffee meetup and share why face-to-face connections can be so valuable for teachers. From ...

26 Jun 13min