Creative Piano Pedagogy
This podcast is an enriching resource designed specifically for piano teachers and music educators working with out-of-the-box students: students with disabilities, physical or learning differences, gifted and 2-E learners and neurodivergent students. Each episode delves into innovative teaching strategies, offering insights and practical solutions that promote creativity, inclusivity, and approaches teaching from a positive and student-first environment.
Pedagogue, researcher and music educator Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Everhart will demystify topics such as technique, communication, piano methods, understanding behaviors, autism, ADHD, dyslexia and much more- all with a focus on encouraging teachers to meet the diverse needs of their students and inspiring them to embrace new ideas and cultivate the musical potential of every learner.
Episodes
23 episodes
23- Boundaries with Heart: Using Proactive Teaching to Create a Positive Lesson Environment
What if the real breakthroughs in your piano studio have less to do with scales and more to do with the space between the notes—how we set boundaries, model calm, teach appropriate social skills and communication, and design lessons that st...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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32:20
22- Decoding Dyslexia with Dr. Olivia Colomaio, part 2
In this second episode on dyslexia with Dr. Olivia Colomaio, we explore how dyslexia shows up in piano study and share tools that replace quick fixes with sound-first learning and real transfer. Practical strategies, honest self-assessment, and...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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21:34
21- Decoding Dyslexia with Dr. Olivia Colomaio, part 1
In part 1 of the conversation with Dr. Olivia Colomaio, we dive into what dyslexia actually is, why it’s often misunderstood, and how those myths affect piano teaching and our students. Olivia shares research, lived experience, and practical wa...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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31:32
20- What Worked For My Studio in 2025
We share eight concrete (but easy) changes that made teaching calmer, more creative, and more student-centered in 2025, from consolidating schedules to story-driven composition. Along the way, we explore deeper questioning, smarter research hab...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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17:13
19- Teacher Questions: Grace over Grind and Neurodiversity in Music Lessons
Teaching doesn’t require superhero energy; it requires humane rhythms, clear anchors, and courage to pivot. We sit down to unpack the real weight of lesson planning during a busy season, how we manage exhaustion without guilt, and why lowering ...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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18:23
18- Lessons from Gifted/Neurodivergent Students about Flexibility, Stickers, Lunch, and Kindness
What if the most powerful teaching shift is letting go of how the lesson “should” go? We unpack four hard-earned insights from years of teaching gifted and neurodivergent piano students—ideas that lower stress, boost engagement, and bring the j...
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12:50
17- Practical Strategies For Navigating the Holidays in a Neurodivergent Studio
The holidays can be magical—and completely overwhelming. Between school concerts, studio plans, nonstop decorations, and family expectations, our students’ senses get flooded and their routines get disrupted. We talk frankly about what actually...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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32:41
16- From Solo Project To Partnership: Chat with Elizabeth and Tara
Big shifts are brewing at Creative Piano Pedagogy, and we’re inviting you behind the scenes! After five years of building resources solo, we’re leveling up into a true partnership that pairs big-picture creativity with sharp systems and operati...
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25:01
15- Label vs. Student: Intake, Assessment and Diagnosis for Neurodivergent Students with Tara Mock
This episode challenges the myth that teachers need a diagnosis to teach well and offers practical ways to create a welcoming intake, read the learner in real time, and build trust with parents who value privacy. We share scripts, stra...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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44:05
14- ADHD at the Piano: Myths, Methods, and Mozart
What if the “wiggles” are actually your student’s brain doing its best work? Elizabeth opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD at age three and the unexpected way piano became her first tool for focus, self-regulation, and joy. From c...
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25:29
13- The Wide Spectrum of Autism: Beyond the Myths
What does autism really look like in the piano studio? Autism Spectrum Disorder exists on a continuum as varied as the individuals who experience it. We explore why nonverbal doesn't mean unable to understand, why avoiding eye contact doesn't s...
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20:35
12- Teaching Beyond Assumptions and Neuro-Spicy Takes on Neurodiversity with Tara Mock
In this eye-opening conversation, host Elizabeth Davis-Everhart welcomes piano teacher Tara Mock, who brings 30 years of teaching experience alongside her perspective as a parent of neurodivergent children. Together, they challenge the common m...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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31:12
11- New series: Deconstructing Misconceptions of Gifted/Neurodivergent Learners
Welcome to the first episode in our groundbreaking new series about gifted and neurodivergent learners at the piano: Deconstructing Misconceptions of Gifted and Neurodivergent Learners! Have you ever caught yourself making a snap judgmen...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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11:50
10- Summer Series: Planning to Pivot- Adapting in Music Lessons for Neurodivergent Students
The hardest truth about teaching neurodivergent students is the unpredictability. You never know which "version" of your student will arrive each week—focused and ready for challenges, anxious but willing, or struggling with concepts they maste...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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22:11
09- Summer Series: Popping Bubbles, Swatting Flies, and Creative Approaches for Coordination/Finger Control
Ever had a student struggle with hand coordination and finger control despite their best efforts? You're not alone. This deep dive into the fascinating connection between neurodiversity and piano technique reveals why many students—particularly...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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21:21
08- Summer Series: Navigating Student Overwhelm/Meltdowns in Music Lessons
Emotional struggles in piano lessons can transform a beautiful learning experience into a source of stress for both students and teachers. How do we handle those moments when a student becomes overwhelmed or has a meltdown at the keyboard? Draw...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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25:55
07- Summer Series: Squirrel! Teaching Students with Short Attention Spans
Are you struggling to teach piano students who seem to bounce from one thought to another? Wondering how to keep young learners engaged or help your neurodivergent students thrive? This deep dive into teaching students with short attention span...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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25:36
06- Summer Series: Creative Communication for Students with Speech/Language Delays
Struggling to connect with students who have speech and language difficulties? You're not alone. In this illuminating episode of the Creative Piano Pedagogy Podcast, Dr. Elizabeth Davis Everhart launches a summer series, "So, I Have This Studen...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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21:01
05- Balancing Fun and Routine: Summer in the Adaptive Music Studio
Summer brings a welcome change of pace for most piano teachers, but those of us teaching neurodivergent students face unique considerations that deserve thoughtful attention. While neurotypical students typically thrive with relaxed summer sche...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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22:01
04- Beyond the Curved Finger: Rethinking Piano Technique, part 2
Playing piano is a much more physical activity than most people realize, requiring complex coordination that many of us take for granted. For neurodivergent learners, the physical aspects of piano playing often become unexpected obstacles. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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27:29
03- Beyond the Curved Finger: Rethinking Piano Technique for Neurodivergent Students
The journey of teaching piano technique to students with disabilities presents unique challenges that require creativity, patience, and a willingness to adapt. Traditional approaches—filled with flowery language about rainbows and waterfalls—si...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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11:36
02- Adapting to Individual Learners with Lesson Pacing Strategies
What if the pace of your piano lessons could unlock the true potential of your students, especially those who are neurodivergent? Join us as we dig further into adapting our teaching approach by unveiling the often-overlooked art of lesson paci...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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18:00
01- Embracing Change: The Art of Adaptive Piano Teaching
Unlock the secrets to becoming an adaptive piano teacher in our very first episode of the Creative Piano Pedagogy Podcast, hosted by me, Dr. Elizabeth Davis Everhart. Ever struggled to keep up with the ever-evolving needs of your students? Toge...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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11:58