Welcome back to part two of my conversation with Nicola Cantan, piano educator and founder of Vibrant Music Teaching.

In part one, we explored Nicola’s journey and her philosophy around creativity and musicianship in the piano studio. In this episode, we go deeper into practical application and teacher mindset.

We unpack what it really looks like to move from “toe-dipping” into fully “swimming” with Kodály-inspired ideas in piano lessons. Nicola shares simple, manageable ways teachers can begin strengthening musicianship without abandoning repertoire or overwhelming themselves.

We also talk about confidence — because shifting your teaching approach takes courage. Nicola offers honest insight into the mindset changes that matter just as much as the strategies.

And of course, we wrap up with her Nuggets of Fabulous, advocacy advice for piano teachers working solo, and her powerful soapbox moment — the one message she wants piano teachers around the world to hear right now.

Let’s jump back into the conversation.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

💻 https://colourfulkeys.ie/blog

💻 https://vibrantmusicteaching.com

💻 https://vividpractice.com

🎙️ Why I Almost Quit Teaching Music (But Didn't)

💻 Bigger Better Brains

Where to find me:

Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity
Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb

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Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Nicola Cantan — piano teacher, educator, author, and the creative force behind Vibrant Music Teaching.

Nicola helps piano teachers move beyond traditional, note-by-note instruction and into lessons that feel playful, musical, and deeply engaging. She blends strong pedagogy with practical, studio-ready ideas that teachers can implement right away. She’s especially known for applying Kodály-inspired principles to piano teaching in a way that feels clear, accessible, and doable — not overwhelming.

Through her blog, podcast, and professional development resources, Nicola supports thousands of piano teachers around the world. I’ve been especially inspired by the way she describes teachers “dipping their toe,” “paddling,” and eventually “swimming” when it comes to Kodály philosophy in the piano studio — a framework that makes growth feel possible at every stage.

In today’s conversation, we explore her teaching journey, how creativity and musicianship transform piano lessons, and how teachers can build confidence while creating more independent, musical thinkers.

Nicola, welcome to the podcast. I’m so glad you’re here.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

💻 https://colourfulkeys.ie/blog

💻 https://vibrantmusicteaching.com

💻 https://vividpractice.com

🎙️ Why I Almost Quit Teaching Music (But Didn't)

💻 Bigger Better Brains

Where to find me:

Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity
Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb

Support the show

Welcome back to our conversation with Laura Bartolomeo. In part one, Laura shared her journey, her teaching philosophy, and the heart behind her work. In this next segment, we shift into practical takeaways and big-picture thinking—the kind that sticks with you long after the episode ends.

This is our Nuggets of Fabulous section, where Laura shares simple ideas that create meaningful change in the music room. Small shifts. Big impact. The kind of advice every music teacher can use right away.

From there, we move into advocacy. Music educators often juggle tight schedules, limited resources, and a lot of responsibility. Laura offers grounded, realistic advice on how teachers can advocate for their programs and strengthen support—without adding more to their already-full plates.

And finally, we give Laura the floor for her soapbox moment. This is where she says the one thing she believes music educators most need to hear right now.

Let’s jump back in.

Links Mentioned in the Episode:

💻 Oodles of Music Website

💻 Crescendo Music Education Website

📘 Artful - Playful - Mindful by Jane Frazee

📘 The Kodaly Method by Lois Choksy

Where to find me:

Crescendo Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crescendocommunity
Official Crescendo Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrescendoMusicEd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CrescendoMusicEd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescendomusic
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-o-shea-62a3741b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CrescendoDeb

Support the show