091: Teaching Technique and Collaboration with Scarlette Kerr

Scarlette Kerr brings both warmth and wisdom to her piano teaching philosophy. Drawing from her experiences as a collaborative pianist and educator, Scarlette shares how connection, movement, and mindful technique shape her approach. In this episode, she discusses the benefits of group learning, ways to foster healthy technique from the very beginning, and how empathy and flexibility can help every student thrive both musically and personally.

1. Scarlette shared how she built her private studio, Music at 906, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
2. How teaching group lessons gives her and her students mental breaks and shared energy.
3. Her background as a collaborative pianist and how it shaped her teaching approach.
4. She highlighted how collaboration teaches connection, teamwork, and musical unity.
5. How her students perform collaboratively with drums, bass, and even family members in recitals.
6. Why these experiences reduce performance anxiety and make learning more joyful.
7. Her approach to teaching technique through audiation and large body movement.
8. How she uses singing, chanting, and movement to internalize rhythm and phrasing.
9. Why teachers should avoid pushing technical skills too soon and instead focus on body awareness.
10. How to prevent maladaptive habits, such as shoulder tension when playing large intervals.
11. Strategies for retraining transfer students with open dialogue and gentle comparison between old and new techniques.
12. The importance of developing both physical and mental health in piano practice.
13. How flexible expectations and consistent encouragement help students enjoy lifelong playing.

Links Mentioned

1. Scarlette's website:Musicat906.com
2. Scarlette's Instagram page:@musicat906

Today's Guest

Scarlette Kerr lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she runs her private piano studio, Music at 906, and occasionally works as a collaborative pianist. She has given presentations at state, national, and international levels pertaining to audiation and technical development in piano students. She is the 2025 recipient of the North Carolina Music Teachers Association’s Independent Music Teachers Scholarship and the 2020 recipient of the Music Studio Startup Grant Competition. Scarlette received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with an Emphasis in Accompanying from James Madison University, and her Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy with an Emphasis in Injury-Preventive Keyboard Technique from Salem College and has certifications from the Music Teachers National Association, The Gordon Institute for Music Learning, and The Lister-Sink Institute.

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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