I taught a student today and his book wouldn't remain open. It occurred to me to put a pink eraser (the 2 inch pink rectangular kind)on the music rack in front of the offensive page.

It worked! I should have thought of that 3 years ago!

Just thought I'd share the idea, and open this thread for any other helpful studio tips.

I text my students (or call the youngin's) and ask:

"Have you practiced yet?"

Surprisingly, I can tell they've all been practicing a lot more. Or are just better readers each week!

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Another little one: if I put books in others on the correct page (for example, they have three books, and I slip in one book on the page they're on in another), I notice that those are the only things they'll tend to stick to. Not sure if it's a big discovery, but hey, it gets them looking at the important (?) stuff!

I think I've got something better. I purchased map weights on the internet. They are very soft leather filled with lead shot. They will hold open any music and won't hurt my piano.

The weights are a nice idea. I just keep other books handy, but this is more elegant.

I hadn't heard of map weights. I'll look for them online.

I can see how the texting can work. My students are a bit young for that, but great idea for middle schoolers and up. I'm hestitant to call...thinking it may be a disturbance to the family.

i don't like to turn pages at the piano but can do it easily on the organ with 3 manuals going at once. I've always used an eraser.. it was there when I started playing at 'my' church. Clothespins were put behind the page that needed to be turned. (that really makes page turns easy).

"in front of the offending page." Or better, "in front of the misbehaving page."