About
Piano Teacher Retreat is a three-day workshop for piano teachers looking for rejuvenation, growth, and reinvigoration. I invite you to experience stimulating workshop sessions, small group interaction, relaxing conversation with other teachers, great food, and more. I hope you'll join us for this unique experience.
Theme for 2026:
BY OUR OWN EARS: HEARING WHAT WE TEACH
Have you ever wished you could better “hear” and “think in music” — and wondered how to nurture those same skills in your piano students? Join us for a three-day retreat led by Joy Morin, designed to awaken and strengthen your inner musician. You’ll experience an immersive, interactive approach to musicianship shaped by the research of music learning theorist Edwin E. Gordon and the teaching approaches that have grown from it.
During our time together, you can expect listening, movement, and musical interaction — plus guided discussion with fellow piano teachers. Each activity is introduced in an approachable, teacher-friendly way, with clear explanations throughout. You’ll leave with practical steps for your teaching and a flexible framework you can use with students of many ages and levels, primarily off the bench, with thoughtful connections to the piano throughout.
Along with focused learning time, you’ll enjoy relaxed social time and delicious homemade meals catered by foodie and piano teacher Amy Chaplin. The setting is a peaceful historic home in southeast Michigan, complete with themed guest rooms and a pool.
No prior experience with Gordon’s work is required — just a willingness to participate and be curious.
Have you ever wished you could better “hear” and “think in music” — and wondered how to nurture those same skills in your piano students? Join us for a three-day retreat led by Joy Morin, designed to awaken and strengthen your inner musician. You’ll experience an immersive, interactive approach to musicianship shaped by the research of music learning theorist Edwin E. Gordon and the teaching approaches that have grown from it.
During our time together, you can expect listening, movement, and musical interaction — plus guided discussion with fellow piano teachers. Each activity is introduced in an approachable, teacher-friendly way, with clear explanations throughout. You’ll leave with practical steps for your teaching and a flexible framework you can use with students of many ages and levels, primarily off the bench, with thoughtful connections to the piano throughout.
Along with focused learning time, you’ll enjoy relaxed social time and delicious homemade meals catered by foodie and piano teacher Amy Chaplin. The setting is a peaceful historic home in southeast Michigan, complete with themed guest rooms and a pool.
No prior experience with Gordon’s work is required — just a willingness to participate and be curious.
Past Themes:
2024: EXPLORING IMPROVISATION AND COMPOSITION IN PIANO LESSONS (see recap here)
2023: EXPLORING NOTE + ROTE LEARNING IN PIANO TEACHING (see recap here)
2019: TEACHING RHYTHM FROM AN EAR TRAINING PERSPECTIVE (see recap here)
2018: PIANO TECHNIQUE FOR BEGINNERS (see recap here)
2017: PIANO METHODS (see recap here)
2023: EXPLORING NOTE + ROTE LEARNING IN PIANO TEACHING (see recap here)
2019: TEACHING RHYTHM FROM AN EAR TRAINING PERSPECTIVE (see recap here)
2018: PIANO TECHNIQUE FOR BEGINNERS (see recap here)
2017: PIANO METHODS (see recap here)
Biography
Joy Morin operates an independent piano studio in Southeast Michigan and writes for piano teachers at ColorInMyPiano.com. Her passion for piano pedagogy has led her to a variety of endeavors including teaching, presenting, adjudicating, and authoring self-published resources for piano teachers. In 2017, she founded Retreat at Piano Manor — a getaway experience she hosts for growth-minded piano teachers (pianoteacherretreat.com).
Joy has presented at MTNA and NCKP national conferences; at state conferences in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Oregon; and at local meetings sponsored by MTNA chapters across the Midwest. Her writing has also appeared in Clavier Companion and American Music Teacher.
Joy holds a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Central Michigan University, a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Hope College, and an Associate of Music in Piano Performance from Grand Rapids Community College. She currently serves as Secretary on the executive board of the Gordon Institute for Music Learning (GIML). With over twenty years of private teaching experience, Joy has also taught university class piano for music majors and group keyboard classes for children and adults at the YMCA in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Learn more about Joy at joymorin.com/about.
Joy has presented at MTNA and NCKP national conferences; at state conferences in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Oregon; and at local meetings sponsored by MTNA chapters across the Midwest. Her writing has also appeared in Clavier Companion and American Music Teacher.
Joy holds a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Central Michigan University, a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Hope College, and an Associate of Music in Piano Performance from Grand Rapids Community College. She currently serves as Secretary on the executive board of the Gordon Institute for Music Learning (GIML). With over twenty years of private teaching experience, Joy has also taught university class piano for music majors and group keyboard classes for children and adults at the YMCA in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Learn more about Joy at joymorin.com/about.