371: Meet Our TopMusicSheets Composer of the Month: Jeff Millis

The TopCast: The Official Music Teachers' Podcast

In today's show, we're thrilled to introduce you to our TopMusicSheets Composer of the Month, Jeff Millis. Jeff is a passionate musician who has been composing since his earliest memories of music. He teaches students worldwide through his unique online method, which emphasizes creativity from the very beginning. Jeff’s innovative approach and dedication to crafting enjoyable, pedagogically sound music for students of all levels make him a standout in the world of music education. Join us as we dive into Jeff's journey, his teaching philosophy, and the inspirations behind his diverse compositions. Whether you're a musician, teacher, or simply a music lover, you won't want to miss this inspiring conversation with Jeff Millis.

• Jeff shared a brief overview of his music teaching and composing experience.
• His TopMusicSheets compositions, highlighting their pedagogical value and diversity in styles.
• How he shifted to online teaching five years ago due to logistical challenges of house calls.
• Some techniques that he developed to teach without physical contact with his students.
• His online teaching setup and what his lesson schedule looks like.
• The benefits of online teaching.
• His mentors, influences and film composers that inspired him to appreciate the art and science of emotionally powerful music.
• Jeff's thoughts on minimalist music by composers like Ludovico Einaudi and Philip Glass.
• His view on piano music and his perception of classical music.
• The importance of creativity in music teaching, encouraging improvisation and composing.
• Some alternative methods of assessing music students beyond traditional recitals.
• The significance of recognizing patterns in music as a fundamental teaching tool.
• He shares his experience collaborating with Albert, TopMusicSheets Publishing Director.
• Jeff encourages other teacher-composers to engage with the program, citing the ease and benefits of collaboration.

Guest Links Mentioned

• Jeff Millis website
• Jeff Millis Vimeo page
• Jeff Millis Instagram: @jeffmillismakesmusicians
• Facebook Page: Total Piano Genius (Jeff Millis Makes Musicians)

Links Mentioned

• Find out more about TopMusicSheets here
• Subscribe to TopMusic YouTube channel
• TopMusicSheets Volume 50 (Jeff Millis) Playthrough video
• TopMusicSheets Volume 50 (Jeff Millis) SoundCloud playlist

Today's Guest

Jeff Millis teaches privately online, serving students across the globe with his proprietary method emphasizing musical creativity from the earliest stages. He has been composing since before he knew what “composing” meant and may possibly love creating music even more than playing it! Before any formal training, his earliest exposure to music was in an environment that encouraged improvisation with chords, which gave him a unique perspective in lessons later on and still informs his creative process. Becoming a teacher inspired Jeff to start composing with specific student needs in mind. He considers it a priority to write music for students that is genuinely pleasurable to listen to, even for early skill levels.

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