Episode Details

Sarah Molenaar has built a teaching career that blends tradition with innovation. Based in Ottawa, she balances a thriving studio, published resources, and a passion for helping both students and teachers succeed. In this episode, Sarah shares her top piano apps, from Note Rush to ForScore, and explains how technology, games, and organization strategies can transform lessons into engaging, effective experiences for every age.

1. Sarah shared her journey from music education studies to full-time teaching in Ottawa, Canada.
2. How she balances teaching 25–30 students weekly with writing and arranging.
3. The importance of mentoring new teachers by offering resources and guidance.
4. Sarah shared how she uses apps for short off-the-bench activities with children under 14.
5. Why apps like Note Rush make note reading fun and addictive for students.
6. The value of Rhythm Swing for drilling rhythm patterns with engaging backing tracks.
7. The benefits of using Boom Cards for practice, though setup can be a challenge for families.
8. Sarah described the value of MusiClock for improvisation and scale practice with backing tracks.
9. She highlighted Tenuto and Music Tutor as excellent apps for teens and adults.
10. Sarah shared why teachers starting with apps should prioritize Note Rush and ForScore.
11. How ForScore allows annotation during lessons and easy sharing of notes with students.
12. She highlighted advanced apps like PolyNome for polyrhythms and IMSLP for accessing scores.
13. How organizing resources, from apps to physical games, helps students stay motivated.

Links Mentioned

1. Sarah's website: www.sarahmolenaar.com
2. Sarah's free resources: www.sarahmolenaar.com/freebies
3. Sarah's Facebook page: Sarah Molenaar, pianist
4. Sarah's Instagram page: @sarahmolenaar and @pianostudioevolution
5. Sarah's Youtube Channel

Today's Guest

Sarah Molenaar is a pianist, teacher, and author. She has performed solo recitals, released several albums—including Hommage à Chopin, Under