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Artwork for The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

Tim Topham
Music Education
Improvisation
Piano Teaching
Piano Education
Teaching Strategies
Topmusic
Music Teaching
Teaching Methods
Music Pedagogy
Topmusicpro
Topmusic Pro
Collaborative Piano
Quarterly Planning
Rote Teaching
Music Learning Theory
Composition
Piano Marvel
Music Composition
Neurodivergent Students
Piano Pedagogy

The original podcast for growth-minded instrumental music and voice teachers since 2015. Our mission at TopMusic is to empower music teachers to find and nurture their innate creativity so they can teach lessons that are innovative, integrated and inspiring, and that will have a positive, life-long impact on their students. Tune in weekly as we interview teachers and creators from around the world... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes483Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

Latest Episodes

What if your youngest students could play real songs in lesson one, without reading a single note? Today I’m chatting with Andrew Ingkavet, the creator of the Musicolor Method. Andrew uses color to get pre-readers playing and feeling like musicians f... more

When a student says “I don’t know”, it doesn’t always mean they don’t know. Today, I’m chatting with Georgina Wilson, creator of Busy Little Turtle and Marketing Manager for TopMusic, about using games and off-bench activities with beginners. She sha... more

Most of us weren't taught to sing in our own lessons, so it's no wonder singing feels awkward to teach. Today, I'm sharing a conversation I recorded with voice teacher Nikki Loney back in 2021, and the message is just as relevant now. We talk vocal r... more

Five methods in four weeks taught Tim and Ian a lot, but one question kept surfacing: what about the adults? Today Ian Belloso returns, not as co-host this time, but as the guest, to synthesize everything from last month's playing-based series. We ta... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Georgina Wilson
Piano teacher and creator of quirky, creative music teaching resources
Busy Little Turtle
Episode: 483: 6 Free Music Games for Your Piano Lessons with Georgina Wilson
Nikki Loney
Voice teacher and founder and CEO of FULL VOICE Music
FULL VOICE Music
Episode: 482: Singing with Beginners: Kazoos, Clapbacks and Confidence with Nikki Loney
Ian Belloso
Pianist, composer, music producer, educator; founder of Piano Belloso Music and Techier Teacher
Piano Belloso Music; Techier Teacher
Episode: 481: What 5 Playing-Based Methods Taught Us (And What They Didn’t Say About Adults) with Ian Belloso
Andrew Ingkavet
Creator of the Musicolor Method
Musicolor Method
Episode: 481: What 5 Playing-Based Methods Taught Us (And What They Didn’t Say About Adults) with Ian Belloso
Bec Stewart
Community Manager and Head of Certification at TopMusic; former Yamaha teacher and trainer
TopMusic
Episode: 480: Listen, Sing, Play, Read: Exploring the Yamaha Approach with Bec Stewart
Krista Jadro
Owner of Music Learning Academy, GIML and Music Moves for Piano advocate
Music Learning Academy / GIML
Episode: 479: Teaching Piano the Way Kids Learn to Talk with Krista Jadro
Kendra Zimmerman
Suzuki Piano Teacher, owner of Toccata Music Studios
Toccata Music Studios, Greenville, South Carolina
Episode: 478: Suzuki Piano Beyond the Books: Adapting the Method to the Child with Kendra Zimmerman
Neil Moore
Founder of the Simply Music Method
Simply Music
Episode: 477: Lowering the Bar, Widening the Door: Playing-Based Teaching with Neil Moore
Angeline Bell
Malaysian pianist, teacher and composer based in Crawley, West Sussex, UK
Bell Piano School
Episode: 476: Silent Films, Silly Lyrics and Hungry Hippos: Creative Composing Sparks with Angeline Bell

Host

Tim Topham
Host of The TopCast; intro and show narration in many episodes

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 245 ratings
  • A masterful host who brings out the best in his guests!

    As someone who was recently featured on Tim's TopCast podcast, I can't recommend it highly enough! Tim is a truly exceptional host who knows exactly how to make his guests feel comfortable while asking insightful questions that bring out the best of their expertise.

    When discussing my work helping music teachers with effective websites and the FRODO framework, Tim's thoughtful questions allowed me to share valuable insights in a way that would be immediately helpful to his audience. His genuine ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MioBravado
    United States2 years ago
  • Inspiring

    TopCast is the podcast I look forward to listening. Tim invites interesting guests who share their ideas and experience on topics that are relevant to piano teachers. I have enjoyed the diversity of speakers and topics and highly recommend this podcast to teachers of all levels.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Missbg123
    United States5 years ago
  • Fun, exciting and a fabulous resource for all piano teachers

    I found topcast about three years ago when I was looking for inspiration in my piano teaching. Full of inspirational guests from around the world, Tim offers the piano teacher a one stop shop to explore and connect with leading piano teacher around the world. My mind opened up to the many wondering and innovative teaching ideas, which have made everyday teaching day joyful!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eerrtyy
    Australia5 years ago
  • Greats snips of info

    As a teacher sometimes it is too exhausting to keep coming up with fresh ideas.

    ENTER TOPMUSIC PODCASTS

    Great for inspiring teachers with ideas on how to progress different ideas or even just give you an idea to implement in your studio!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sibbs1979
    Ireland5 years ago
  • Highly recommended for music instructors!

    I have listened to this podcast for several years and have grown so much in my teaching from what I’ve gleaned from this podcast. Highly recommend for music teachers of all levels of experience and genres.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    texbj
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Diverse guests and topics; valuable for teachers at all levels.
Consistently engaging host who draws out practical insights for teachers.
High production quality and thoughtful, prep-focused interviewing.
A reliable source of actionable ideas and business strategies for studios.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#195
Canada/Music

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

483: 6 Free Music Games for Your Piano Lessons with Georgina Wilson
Q: Why do kids need games?
Wilson says children now grow up with fast-paced, screen-driven entertainment and may disengage from lessons that feel dull by comparison. Games and student-centered activities help sustain attention and connect music learning to students' interests.
483: 6 Free Music Games for Your Piano Lessons with Georgina Wilson
Q: Can you unpack the idea that when a student says “I don't know,” it doesn't always mean they don't know?
Wilson says it may indicate a genuine gap in knowledge, uncertainty or low confidence, or that the student has zoned out. She recommends reframing the question and finding a more engaging way to approach the material.
482: Singing with Beginners: Kazoos, Clapbacks and Confidence with Nikki Loney
Q: What are some of the initial things that we as instrumental teachers can do with those students?
Loney recommends solfege and hand signs, finding a pitch that feels comfortable for each student, using short call-and-response patterns, and letting students explore their voices without pressure to match a fixed note.
482: Singing with Beginners: Kazoos, Clapbacks and Confidence with Nikki Loney
Q: Tell us about this importance for singing for all instrumentalists.
Loney says singing supports physical well-being, emotional expression and regulation, language development, and musical learning. She emphasizes making singing feel safe because it can be vulnerable, and suggests modeling it and using playful vocal exploration.
481: What 5 Playing-Based Methods Taught Us (And What They Didn’t Say About Adults) with Ian Belloso
Q: How should teachers approach teaching older students or adults given these methods?
Teachers should emphasize student goals, autonomy, and coaching, tailoring approaches to each learner, using play-based learning to engage while integrating reading when appropriate, and leveraging tools like goal setting and habit formation to sustain progress.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A growth-oriented show for instrumental and vocal teachers that blends pedagogy with studio business, technology, and community-building. Episodes frequently explore practical teaching strategies (especially creativity, improvisation, and group formats), scalable studio models, and tools that streamline operations. Listeners can expect actionable ideas such as lab-style lessons, automation for tuition and invoicing, and online teaching strategies, often illustrated with real-world case studies and guest expertise. A notable strength is the practical, community-focused approach, with guests ranging from educators and authors to program founders who share reproducible frameworks for better student outcomes and healthier teaching businesses.

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How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 12 years ago and published 483 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Georgina Wilson
2. Nikki Loney
3. Ian Belloso
4. Andrew Ingkavet
5. Bec Stewart
6. Krista Jadro
7. Kendra Zimmerman
8. Neil Moore

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