Tara Mock Piano Studio

12/13/2024

Part 2 of a list of ideas of what to get your friends and family who are music-lovers and/or taking piano lessons!

A fun and fantastic way to encourage your loved one, child, significant other, or friend in their journey to learn piano is to give them a gift to encourage their passion! Some of these gifts will be very useful tools during practice sessions and others will be fun and motivating! Here is Part 2 of

12/02/2024

If you are wondering what to get for the piano student in your life for Christmas, here is part 1 of some gift ideas!

A fun and fantastic way to encourage your loved one, child, significant other, or friend in their journey to learn piano is to give them a gift to encourage their passion! Some of these gifts will be very useful tools during practice sessions and others will be fun and motivating! Here is Part 1 of

11/11/2024

I updated my studio website in the last couple of weeks! Many thanks to Melissa Johnson and her amazing photography for some studio photos!

Welcome to Tara Mock Piano Studio! Welcome to my studio! I enjoy teaching all levels of students from 4 years old and up, including adults! I personalize my teaching style and methods to the individual learning style, personalities, and capabilities of my students.  My expectations of my stu

10/28/2024

07/22/2024

One of the podcasts I recorded recently is out TODAY! (Does anyone else get nervous just listening to their own voice? 😳) I'm so thankful Jaclyn Dawn gave me the opportunity to be a guest on her podcast The Music Teacher Master Mind to talk about Teaching & Parenting Neurodiverse Students.
I would love to hear any feedback, ways to improve, and answer any questions! Thank you SO much, Jaci, for having me!!

‎Show The Music Teacher Master Mind, Ep COPI of the Week: Teaching & Parenting Neurodiverse Students with Tara Mock - Jul 22, 2024

04/30/2024

Fellow piano teachers and parents with neurodiverse students…this would be a great addition to your library! Many of our neurodiverse learners have difficult with sensory processing. They may seek sensory input sometimes and other times they may need a break from sensory input! This gem of a book came from one of my children’s occupational therapist. It’s a great reference book providing scenarios with explanations then practical solutions.

I shared one example here that is important to us as teachers - TOUCH. Be cautious when touching neurodiverse students. A good general rule is to remember that they do not like to be touched. Two of my own family members are adamant about this. If you feel it is necessary for an important demonstration, ask permission. Respecting personal space is vital.

It’s good advice for any student as well! Students need autonomy over their space and body. Help them learn how to advocate for themselves by always, always asking.

This is a very broad topic but I think vital for us to know as teachers since our craft is by and large very sensory-focused. How can we help our students who have difficulty with sensory processing? What has helped you in your studio?

I’m only recently diving into this topic as it deeply affects one of my children and we are learning so much about how it helps and how to regulate the nervous system!

04/05/2024

Fantastic article by Dr. Elizabeth Davis, an adaptive piano specialist! This concept is so important to understand during Autism Awareness month!

📣 New blog post today! “What’s a spectrum…and why does it matter?” 🤔

April is Autism Awareness Month so we’re looking at some of the specifics about autism, starting with the whole ‘spectrum’ thing and how it applies to us as music and piano teachers. You won’t want to miss this one! 🤯

Whether you’re new to teaching students with autism or have been for years, I bet you will learn at least one thing from this post! 🤓

👉 Click the link to read! https://elizabethdavispiano.com/2024/04/05/whats-a-spectrum/
I’d love to hear from you- what info about autism + music teaching do you want to see the rest of April? Drop a comment below! 👇

02/12/2024

Meet Remi. Remi is Savannah’s new service dog. She will be in training for a year and Savannah gets to be involved in the training process. The trainer, Megan, is incredible and lives locally. She ventured out for the first time this weekend with the trainer and she and Remi did GREAT. Triumphant Tails

02/02/2024

I was interviewed for a new piano podcast hosted by Dr. Rachel Ehring! This was a new experience for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Take a listen if you have a moment!

‎Show TopMusic Piano Podcast, Ep 002: How to Have Conversations With Parents of Neurodiverse Students with Tara Mock - Feb 2, 2024

01/08/2024

As a parent of two teenagers who are neurodivergent and as a piano teacher of students who are neurodivergent, here are a few tips on how to talk with a potential student’s parents.

1. “What do you love about your child?” We parents are continually advocating for our child and typically have many conversations about their symptoms, diagnoses, and next steps. We often encounter judgment and misinformation and it is exhausting. My first question is to ask them about what they love about their child! What are their gifts, talents, and special interests? Who are they as a person? What makes them laugh and smile? This is a bright spot to us parents - when someone wants to truly know my child. As a teacher, take notes! This information will be vitally helpful in future lessons!

2. “What should I know about your child that would help me teach them better?” Credit to for this gem! Often parents will not mention nor have pursued a diagnosis. I do not ask nor judge their individual choices. I can adapt to a student as I get to know them. It is a very difficult thing to do as a parent to pursue a diagnosis, and it can be difficult to accept, and a grieving process can be involved. Every parent’s journey through this process is different. I leave it to the medical professionals to diagnose. Instead, a beautifully-worded, open-ended question such as this invites the parent to share what will help you as a teacher to teach their student.

3. I tell parents that it is important that they interview ME as much as I interview them. Neurodivergent learners are often going to many appointment with doctors and therapists and tutors. One of my priorities is that they have a good rapport with me and vice versa. I want my studio to be a place of creating music with joy, a respite from the work of navigating what can be a challenging world to them. It is more than ok if I am not the right teacher for the student and their family!

What has helped YOU talk with parents of students who learn and experience the world differently?

10/23/2023

Student families!! Check your inbox!

10/23/2023

What an amazing opportunity right here in Clayton! And, students, do you see that little tidbit at the end of the program? Audience-guided improvisation! THIS THURSDAY!