• Tim shared his personal experience switching to monthly billing in his own studio.
• The benefits of monthly billing, including consistent income and automated payments.
• How this model removes the need for invoicing and chasing late payments.
• The importance of using software like My Music Staff to streamline billing.
• The 4-step process of setting up monthly billing.
• Tim encouraged teachers not to undercharge and to price confidently based on their value.
• He suggested bundling costs like recital fees and materials into the monthly charge for simplicity.
• The value of automation was emphasized—once set up, teachers no longer worry about billing.

• Download your Free Monthly Billing Template
• Find more about Fons here

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• David shared his new book The Savvy Musician 2.0, a sequel to his widely influential original.
• Why success is not about choosing between money and meaning but about aligning all three.
• He highlighted that being “savvy” means being strategic, creative, and intentional.
• The value of cross-industry inspiration as key to fresh thinking and innovation in music education.
• How listening to diverse stories helped him discover unexpected, deeply inspiring ideas for the book.
• David noted that innovation often comes from applying ideas in new contexts.
• He challenged the perception that classical musicians should only recreate composers’ intent.
• The concept of Creative Performance Practice, which invites students to co-create with composers.
• How teachers can help students build ownership and decision-making by embracing creativity.
• The limitations of popular terms like “entrepreneur” or “innovator” and why “savvy” is more inclusive.
• He encouraged music teachers to ask better questions that unlock bold, unconventional answers.
• David predicted that by 2050, music education will rely on immersive virtual environments and AI, but human creativity will remain irreplaceable.
• He emphasized that savvy teachers of the future will be those who help students develop the human skills that technology can’t replicate.

• David's Website: SavvyMusician.com
• David's Book: The Savvy Musician 2.0: Amplifying Impact, Income, and Inspiration
• David's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/drdavidcutler
• David's LinkedIn Profile: www.linkdin.com/in/davidjcutler
• The Puzzler Company

• TTTV043: Building Impact and Income with David Cutler
• TopCast 412: Cracking the Code: Studio Business Lessons from My Chiropractor
• TopCast 416: Bundling: How to Position Your Music Studio for Value, Not Price
• If you’d like to read David’s full article, download your copy of TopMusic Magazine, free at topmusic.co/magazine.

• Tim explained that lowering prices isn’t the solution—raising your value is.
• He shared that parents often compare studios on price when all the offerings seem the same.
• The importance of differentiation either through your lesson experience or bundled offerings.
• Identifying your “zone of genius” and build their studio around what energizes them.
• How to structure standout lessons like focusing on specific students or unique teaching methods.
• Bundling as a strategy to include extras like group classes, welcome packs, and app subscriptions.
• Why bundling shifts the conversation from “Why so expensive?” to “Wow, that includes everything?”
• Marketing your studio as a full musical experience and not just a service.
• Real-world examples of how to reframe your pricing with bundled value and perks.

• Make More, Teach Less with Pairs, Buddies and Labs Course

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• Tim shared some practical, low-cost ideas for finding new students fast.
• He introduced the “Find Students Fast” checklist, available as a free download for music teachers.
• Jono and Sarah explained that your current students and their families are your best starting point for referrals.
• The value of testimonials, reviews, and word-of-mouth as powerful trust-builders.
• Optimizing your Google Business profile and Facebook page for local visibility.
• Offering events like “Bring a Friend Day” or casual group sessions to attract new interest.
• Connecting with school teachers, music stores & local groups to build long-term referral networks.
• They recommended joining local teacher directories and online platforms.
• The value of old-school promotion like flyers, signs, and community noticeboards.
• Tim encouraged teachers to take just one actionable idea and try it this week for results.

• Download your Find Students Fast: The Essential Music Teacher Marketing Checklist here

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• Juan shared his passion for composing pattern-based piano pieces to support student learning.
• How pattern-based pieces help students read, improvise, compose, and perform more confidently.
• He demonstrated how simple changes in rhythm, direction, or hand position can transform a piece.
• How understanding musical patterns helps students play more fluently and memorize more easily.
• The value of teaching patterns from the start as key to developing strong sight readers.
• How his music encourages creativity and motivates students through ownership of their learning.
• How his compositions use just a few notes or hand positions, making them highly adaptable.
• He suggested using these pieces to teach transposition, rhythmic variation, and full-keyboard exploration.
• The importance of improvisation was stressed as a powerful teaching tool.
• His journey into composing, influenced by Forrest Kinney and the Piano Safari method.
• How student recitals and parent feedback encouraged him to publish his compositions.
• He encouraged teachers to view his pieces as starting points for creativity, not fixed endpoints.

• Juan’s website: Me Gusta El Piano
• Juan’s books on Piano Safari
• TopMusic Piano Podcast 062: Inspiring Creativity with Juan Cabeza
• Find out more about TopMusicSheets here
• Become a TopMusic Content Partner today

• Olivia shared that early childhood music education typically spans ages 2 to 8.
• How younger children absorb music more naturally through movement, play, and exploration.
• The importance of starting music education at age 2 or 3.
• How younger learners are less self-conscious and more open to experimentation.
• Why teaching should begin with exploration and experience, not with books or reading.
• She encouraged teachers to delay formal reading and instead focus on movement and creativity.
• The importance of involving parents as children mirror their parents’ attitudes and behaviors.
• Olivia introduced Music for Young Children (MYC), a structured early childhood group music program founded by her parents in 1980.
• She described MYC’s program and use of multi-sensory learning to engage young learners.
• She highlighted that MYC graduates often achieve level 3 piano and level 5 theory by age 8.
• How MYC is a closed curriculum, and teachers must complete training to access materials.

• Olivia's website: Music for Young Children
• Free Download: Early Childhood Music Program Comparison Handout
• Leave a review for TopCast

• Tim shared how a visit to a chiropractor inspired powerful lessons for music studio owners.
• He explained that great teaching alone isn’t enough—smart business strategy matters.
• How a simple Google search and strong online presence helped him choose a practitioner.
• The importance of SEO, good website design, and glowing reviews for building trust.
• Key takeaways: SEO visibility, reviews, clear calls to action, special offers, and easy booking systems.
• How an automated email and smooth onboarding created a great first impression.
• Using tech or simple tools to make that first experience more memorable and modern.
• The value of studio systems and consistent onboarding processes.
• Tim recommended booking follow-up sessions right away to increase retention and build momentum.
• Creative scheduling, like offering two or more lessons in the first week for stronger engagement.
• The importance of bundling and creative pricing as a way to stand out and increase revenue.
• Offering personalized folders and curriculum plans to show professionalism and vision.

• No Book Beginners Book
• Kawai's The Educator's Opus Conference 2025

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• Tim shared his goal of creating “all-rounder musicians” who can play by ear, accompany, transpose, improvise, and use lead sheets confidently.
• Why skills like transposing, improvising, and reading lead sheets matter.
• He highlighted how chord work improves reading, composing, and playing flexibility.
• The importance of introducing lead sheet reading even if teachers haven't taught it before.
• Forrest explained a lead sheet as melody plus chord symbols.
• He highlighted that chords represent flexible families of notes, not just fixed triads.
• How lead sheet skills can lead to diverse career opportunities.
• The value of ear training and improvisation from the first lesson.
• How to prepare beginners through ear games, bass note additions, and transposition before introducing notation.
• The importance of left-hand styles in creating rhythmic impact.
• Forrest demonstrated how to build solo playing from basic chords to rich accompaniments using inversion, syncopation, and style variations.
• He shared a shortcut for adding 7ths and 2nds by moving the root note up or down.
• How inversions help with smoother playing, especially in basslines.
• Forrest recommended fake books and lyric sheet websites (like Ultimate Guitar) as resources for lead sheet practice and repertoire building.

• Forrest Kinney Website
• Blog: What’s the Difference Between a Chord Chart and a Lead Sheet?
• Blog: 9 Reasons Why Playing Lead Sheets is Essential for Piano Students

• Go to topmusic.co/lead and get access to Forrest Kinney's Taking the Lead Course for only $49 with 1 year access ($100 off the regular price of $149).