A year and a half ago we wrote a post with a formula that relates to the success of your piano studio. The formula went a little something like this:
Practice + Progress = Happy Kids = Happy Parents = Successful Studio
While not particularly mathematical, or algorithmically correct, this formula is absolutely true AND absolutely dependent on one single factor… practice!
Without home practice the entire formula falls apart.
But There Was One Thing Missing…
Now, when I wrote that post back in January of 2013, the formula perfectly illustrated my point, but for today’s post I need to take the formula further. So take a look at the new and updated formula:
Involved parents = Successful Practice
Successful Practice + Progress = Happy Kids
Happy Kids = Happy Parents
Happy Parents = Successful Studio
The key addition, of course, being “involved parents”. Much of your piano studio’s success hinges on this one single factor. Which is why, when we work with piano teachers, one of the first things we advise is to strive to help parents be active participants in the piano lesson process… even if they have absolutely no musical background.
What “Non-Musical” Parents Can Do To Help
Most of your piano students will come from “not-so-musical” parents. Their ability to help with piano technique or instruction is limited to such phrases as “Julie, it’s time to practice piano!” or, “Julie, did you remember to practice piano?”, or “Oh my gosh Julie, your lesson is in 10 minutes, quick, practice!”
But it doesn’t have to be this way. By simply sitting with their children for the first 5 minutes of a practice session and using our Piano Parent Cheat Sheet, not-so-musical piano parents can have a huge impact on their children’s musical success.
Laminate the following question cards and send them home with your not-so-musical piano parents (note… we’ve also included a blank set of cards so you can customize your own set of questions). Ask them if they would mind sitting with their children for the first five minutes of daily piano practice and having a little chat… using the question cards as a jumping off point for the discussion.
And then, wait for your students to return the following week. If their parents have indeed taken a few minutes of their day to get involved with piano practice, I’ll bet you’ll see some serious progress… which, in the long term, means serious success for you!
The Method Book That Makes It Easy For Parents
One of our goals when writing the WunderKeys method book series was to make it easy for parent to be involved with home practice. Our books are laid out in a “read-aloud” way that makes it easy for parents to be a part of home piano practice during the week by knowing exactly what was covered during lesson time and are not at all intimidating or confusing even for parents who know nothing abotu the piano. Combine this with our professional-looking piano parent information materials and you are setting your students up for success! Find out more about WunderKeys at www.wunderkeys.com.
Denise says
Wow! This made my day! I have been thinking of ways to involve parents more and this is just great! I found it difficult to get parents to look at the assignment book I use, so I developed an honor roll point system (thanks to the example set by my piano teacher). There are points given for many things and “parent signature” on the weekly assignment sheet is 10 points. This ensures that the parent has looked at the assignment sheet and read any message I leave them. Boy, to the students make sure to get mom’s signature every week! Thanks again for today’s printable. I know it will be well-used! 🙂
Rachel says
I LOVE this. Printing and laminating this weekend!
Debbie says
excellent idea
thanks
Josephine says
This is AWESOME. Thank you!
Sandra says
I love your graphics here! Very eye-catching.
Linda says
Why didn’t I think of this??
Stacy says
These are great! I was thinking yesterday of ways to get parents more involved! Thank you!!
Milla says
These are wonderful! Do you give a set to each student? That would be a whole lot printing and laminating to do!
Leigh says
Awesome! Thanks for this idea!
Faith says
Wow! As always, your ideas are so incredibly on time! A parent emailed me, wanting to help her children to practice better, and I was able to email back encouragement, and include the parent cheat sheet. Thanks so much for all you do to inspire piano teachers!
Janice says
Great idea – one I know will make a difference in my younger students’ practice habits! I did print and laminate and cut out pages of the cards, but I’m thinking it might work just as well to forget about the laminating and the cutting (expensive and time-consuming) and simply put the entire page of suggestions into each child’s folder so that each parent has a copy. I think that will be my next plan…
Karen Van Sickle says
I am going to print and laminate for my parents as a “Christmas gift” to them.
Andrea says
Great idea Karen!
Susan says
This is now in all my students “practice bag” that I send home with them each week. Thanks for so many great resources!
Carolyn says
Is there any way to make this a word doc so I can type in the blank ones? I love this idea and needed something fresh to help my parents….
Qadeer says
Where do I find the questions?
Andrea says
Hi Qadeer – there is a blue link in this post that says “laminate the cards…” – that’s where you’ll find the question cards.