Recently, we compiled a list of music-educator-themed podcasts to help readers make it through their daily grind.
But—almost just as recently––we realized a steady diet of audio-only content might cause music teachers to miss out on crucial intel.
Why’s that? Because, as teachers know all too well, learning can be as visual as it is auditory.
Even in the case of music.
No amount of describing good posture can equal a video demonstration on how to stand or sit up straight while playing. And great sound, more often than not, is a mix of live motion and mental imagery.
Also? Videos are seriously fun to watch.
But fair warning:
High-profile YouTube channels that focus solely on the ins and outs of music studios are somewhat thin on the ground. A simple “music teacher” search can yield a ton of lesson streams with educators offering pointers to student viewers in near real time. Or it can result in a lineup of smaller, homespun channels with fewer resources, making for occasional clunky viewing.
So, we made an executive decision and limited our list to channels that:
- Include content aimed at teachers or provide tangible tips for educators that can be reproduced in the studio.
- Have 10,000 followers or more.
- Represent piano, string, woodwind, or vocal teachers, or speak to music educators as a whole.
With this in mind, we’re bringing you our top five choices––again, in no particular order––for enjoyable, informative, music-ed and music-ed-adjacent YouTube channels to check out in 2025.
Colourful Keys
Host: Nicola Cantan
Given her Vibrant Music Teaching business and accompanying podcast, we’re not really sure where Nicola Cantan finds the time for YouTube, but we’re loving her sunny, upbeat, illuminating channel all the same.
Appropriately dubbed “Colourful Keys,” Cantan’s videos see her lending her energetic attitude, multi-colored fashion sense, and trademark Irish brogue to presentations on teacher-friendly topics such as motivational strategies; finding and retaining students; and interactive games for novice musicians. Her easygoing manner and casual-yet-comprehensive advice make her a must subscribe for studio teachers at any point in their career–-particularly as she’s one of only a handful of renowned studio-centric YouTubers in the field.
Begin with: 8 FAST Ways to Grow Your Music Studio
From its opening TikTok-style sketch (during which Cantan plays both roles in a cheeky dialogue) to its thoughtful rundown of tricks for recruiting new students without the dreaded “word of mouth” network, this vid is a great place for new teachers to start. Even seasoned educators might get one or two unexpected tips out of it, especially if they’re less tech savvy than the average studio bear.
Nahre Sol
Host: Nahre Sol (sometimes known as “Alice”)
Pianist, composer, and visual artist Nahre Sol occupies a unique space in musical ed YouTubing: a sort of…*ahem*… soulful, kaleidoscopic combination of keyboard practices, cathartic confessionals, compositional experiments, music history musings, and general—albeit it erudite––fangirling. (Pretty sure those words have never been strung together in that order, but such is the magic of Sol.)
A Juilliard- and Glenn-Gould-School-educated musician, Sol’s interests run the gamut from K-pop to Claude Debussy, and her videos frequently feature mashups of wildly different styles from across the centuries. And while not strictly a teachers’ channel, Sol’s feed can provide educators with:
- helpful hints on boosting practice sessions
- ideas for conceptualizing harmonies
- gentle words of artistic encouragement
…and so much more.
Begin with: “Too Much Technique” Is a Thing
A quest to write some tunes for a friend turns into a love letter to music making in this uplifting 15-minute vid, packed with smiles, symphonic surround sound, and a catchy nod to Steve Reich. Sol’s musical home is the piano, and this clip makes no bones about it, yet the video’s theses on the pitfalls of complexity and the pleasures of simple creativity can be applied to any instrument. Plus, Sol and her co-starring colleague from Juilliard seem like an exceedingly good hang.
Cheryl Porter Vocal Coach*
Host: Cheryl Porter
With over 12 million followers and a team of at least 13 behind her, “Mama” Cheryl Porter is probably the most widely known and professionally produced of our picks. But we’re acutely aware that, in the age of American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and The Voice, popularity and high production values can sometimes breed suspicion among the conservatory set.
Never fear, classical singing teachers. Mama Cheryl knows what she’s doing.
With a background in opera and a few decades of teaching in Italy to her credit, Porter has the vocal bona fides you’d expect from any reputable classical instructor, allowing her to deploy an elegant, agile, and healthy technique in her many viral video sessions with aspiring pop singers. Not to mention her pedagogical methods, which are relentlessly positive and authentically supportive from start to finish. (Even when she jokingly corrects her students, there’s a giggly “I’m laughing with you, not at you” subtext that’s super endearing.) Vocal educators can crib from her library of peppy “shorts,” featuring warm-up ideas and prop-fueled visualization practices (Porter’s infamous boxing gloves are never too far off camera), while non-singing teachers can take notes on Porter’s seamless way of blending quality instruction with pure, unadulterated joy.
*For those who cringe at how the term “coach” gets thrown around these days, put your minds at ease: Classical singers would probably refer to Porter as a “teacher” rather than a coach, but she does her fair share of traditional “coaching,” too. (She’s a total stickler for rhythm, pitch, and phrasing.)
Begin with: KAYCEE WONDERLAND Sings Wicked DEFYING GRAVITY w/Vocal Coach!!
We caved and hopped on the Wicked bandwagon here. But despite the ubiquitous nature of “Defying Gravity,” we were pleasantly surprised at Porter’s fresh approach to navigating the Broadway classic. In a format borrowed from James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke, Porter rides along with nearly-as-popular YouTuber Kaycee Wonderland, who belts out Elphaba’s anthem with intermittent firm-yet-loving interjections from “Mama.” Porter’s advice is transformative (see her vibrato stabilizing exercise at timestamp 1:50), and the sheer glee she derives from watching Wonderland’s confidence take flight is truly heartwarming.
Just Another Flutist (JAT)
Host: Joanna Soh
Much like the other content creators on our list, performer and educator Joanna Soh has an obvious musical specialty. (She’s a flutist, in case that wasn’t clear). Yet, also much like the YouTubers we’ve mentioned, Soh has a knack for speaking to all musicians through her videos. Sometimes this happens organically, as in her live practice sessions including universal commentary on life behind the music stand, for example. But sometimes it’s by design, as in her 2023 interview with composer Carlos Eiene, in which the two banter about age-old musical challenges, such as when and how to leverage technical “shortcuts” in performance.
Don’t get us wrong, there’s plenty of flute-specific content here (hello, flute model reviews!). And JAT videos are likely to have asides on air stream and embouchure that’ll go over non-woodwind heads. Still, Soh’s keen observations and vulnerable outpourings on sight-reading, self-care, and everyday stressors are instantly recognizable to any musician, and her channel can serve as a handy emotional toolbox for teaching and performing.
Begin with: Practicing the flute under prolonged stress
“I think it’s very unfair to expect a constant, linear, upward trend: That’s not how life works.”
This statement alone is worth a permanent subscribe, but, in truth, the whole video is a massive testament to what makes “Just Another Flutist” a great addition to your regular YouTube roster. In this poignant, seven-minute clip, Soh opens up about her artistic progression––and regression––during a period of immense stress. Her clear-eyed honesty gives way to some solid advice for musical educators and professionals, and her eagerness to extend “grace” to similarly affected colleagues helps viewers feel like part of a compassionate community.
European String Teachers Association (ESTA) UK
Host: Various
String teachers, we haven’t forgotten you.
While ESTA isn’t your standard, slick, direct-to-camera YouTube channel, we thought it deserved a spot on our list for its earnestness and careful analysis––delivered by educators, for educators.
As you’ve probably guessed, ESTA’s videos primarily exist as companions to the British wing of the European String Teachers Association, which means there’s no shortage of promotional material for organization-sponsored courses, camps, and conferences. But there’s also lots of useful fodder for string teachers and/or those interested in string culture: from a recorded webinar on how to teach groovy improv to an informal conversation in defense of the electric violin (did you know there’s a Fender model that dates back to the 50s? We sure didn’t).
ESTA’s posting cadence is somewhat erratic (often timed in conjunction with ESTA events), and its production style is eclectic, but its overall output is a delightful exchange of ideas with enough expert reporting and evocative playing to keep string teachers and friends coming back again and again.
Begin with: VIBRATO: The Key to Unlocking Endless Expression
One of a series of short-form videos from Joanne Green of the Wells Cathedral School and Nicole Wilson of the Royal Academy of Music, this post guides educators through step-by-step, finger-by-finger techniques for teaching violin vibrato. One particularly insightful takeaway from Green: “The most important thing about vibrato is: You are controlling it, not ‘it’ is controlling you.” (To we can just hear all singers saying, “If only.”)
Honorable Mentions
Other channels we found enlightening and entertaining include:
Andrew Huang
Well known for his lively experimental videos on composition and sound design, Huang’s channel also features some hidden music ed gems such as this vid on dividing and conquering weird time signatures.
Inside the Score
If you or your students get amped up about music history deep dives, look no further than this channel: a series of mini courses on subjects like famous composers, symphonic structure, and captivating film scores. (Their video on Nadia Boulanger proved an excellent resource for our own profile on the legendary instructor.)
The Tattooed Piano Teacher
We’re breaking our own rule here as this lady only has 2.3K followers, but we think she merits more. A studio teacher with 20 years of experience, charming host Phoenix is a personable entrepreneur who provides hands-on advice for enhancing lessons along with innovative blueprints for growing your studio business. (Free digital and printable goodies abound!)
VoxGuru
Carnatic specialist Pratibha Sarathy harnesses findings from Eastern and Western vocal studies to offer pointers on vocal care, intros to Indian classical ragas (modes), popular song tutorials, and more.
Happy viewing, teachers!
We hope you can put our selections to good use.
Got a favorite channel we didn’t touch on? Feel free to reach out via email or socials and tell us about it. (Any excuse to head down a musical YouTube rabbit hole is a good one!)
