Venturing into piano parties or summer camps? Good for you!
Group piano parties are a fabulous opportunity for student networking and community building. These two factors mean piano parties are also a fabulous opportunity for growing your studio through word-of-mouth and student retention (two “golden phrases” for piano teachers). Piano lessons don’t have to be a solo activity… in fact, during group piano parties it can even be a team sport!
Previously we shared how to play Keyboard Krazies and Keyzie Relay. Today it’s all about that bass… I mean… rhythm as I show you how to play Rhythm Squeeze… a game you can prep in literally 30 seconds.
How To Play Rhythm Squeeze
Split your piano students into two lines and sit them on the floor facing each other. Each line of students holds hands. Place a beanbag or other small object on the floor in between the two lines.
To start, draw one measure of rhythm on a small card and show it to the student at the head of each line, keeping it hidden from the other students. On the word “Go!”, each “line leader” must squeeze her partner’s hand according to the displayed rhythm. This student then quickly squeezes the rhythm into his second partner’s hand who then squeezes the hand of the next person in line.
When the student at the end of each line gets the “rhythm squeeze” they race to grab the beanbag. The first person to grab the beanbag then claps the rhythm. If correct, his team team scores one point. If incorrect, the opposing team scores one point.
The first team to 5 points wins. *If students don’t want to hold hands, the rhythm can be tapped onto their knee by their neighbour… assuming they are all sitting cross-legged.
What Do Your Group Piano Classes Look Like?
We’d love to know how you entertain a group of piano students for a couple of hours. In the comments below tell us a little something about your own group piano classes. How are they structured? Who do you invite? Do you have a game that works wonders every time?
Paula says
Thanks for sharing this fun rhythm game! We are going to try it at our class next week!
At group class we have each student perform a piece. While performing, the other students draw how the piece makes them feel (happy, sad, excited, etc) and then they share with the group. Sometimes we have them look for specific rhythm, articulation, or chord qualities in the piece and share.
Then we play group theory games which are always so much fun!
Andrea says
I like this artistic addition to a masterclass-type setting Paula! Thanks for sharing.
natalie whittington says
at our group lessons, we divide up into teams of 3 or 4 and rotate to different stations like theory, games, composition and performance. i usually get a couple of my teen students to help with my preK and elementary. they love playing and learning together. thanks for the new ideas!
Katrina Palsky says
i LOVE group lessons. i do four in a year. each one is themed according to ongoing studio projects — if I have been doing a rhythm focus, the group lesson following that focus is all about rhythm. i did a music history lesson last year where we made a lapbook (used some Joy Morin material that I bought). often students get to casually perform for each other at group lessons too. group lessons are gold — they are very fun.
Jennifer says
Fun, a rhythm version of telephone! I’ll have to remember this one! Another way they can tap is on the students back. Then the student isn’t seeing either. 😉 I do quarterly group lessons and camps twice a year. Games are so fun! Thanks for sharing!
Sunni moe says
All of these are such great ideas !!! I have 4-5 master classes (group lessons) each year and like Paula does I start with all the kids playing a song for the other students as they respectfully listen and then they all clap and encourage after each piece also they hear others playing and they many times say ,”I want to play that song “! Since its in front of peers they come very prepared so lots of practice before these master classes- we also study a famous composer or pianist each class – after that I have level- appropriate individual theory packets I have made up for each student and they sit all over my main floor of my home working on that while I serve them a yummy snack or treat it’s a fun evening with a lot of energy and laughs ! I divide my students in two groups- K-6 th grade and 7-12 grade and each group come for one and a half hours thanks for all your partnerships and wisdom!
Robyn says
I also do then 2-4 times a year 🙂 I always include playing time on piano (this time is group ensembles!) rhythm & note reading games and then some listening/composition activities. Sometimes I mix the ages but this time I’m grouping them by level/age.
marian says
I’d love to hear your group ensemble ideas for group lessons. I often have students sightread a 2 piano 8 hand piece, or create a mixed rhythm instrument, melody, harmony piece together.
Louise says
I wonder if you charge extra extra for the group or if it is just included in the monthly or semester charge? Last winter I did for group lessons, and for the October and December lessons we tacked on a “parent show” in the studio. So much more relaxing and informal and fun than a formal recital, and more opportunity to innovate and not be perfect.
This summer I’m doing piano camp, and I bought white plain canvas tote bags for each student. I painted “piano camp” on each one, then let each student decorate them with fabric paint and markers. Now they all have a beautiful piece of art they are so proud of to carry to piano camp. And I get some great advertising!
Marilyn says
I have never had a group piano party. How many students do you have in each group?
Heather watson says
My students & parents love group lessons! Once we used the carnival of the animals- they listened to excerpts then tried to guess the animal. Then we looked at the score to see how the music was written to create the animal it kept them all engaged! Lots of great resources available these days thanks
Sarah says
I love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing!
Rosie Keefe says
I do about 2-3 group classes also. Depending on what we are going to do, there may be an extra charge if I have to buy materials. Otherwise it is included in their regular fee. My classes are 2 hours with the first half hour playing for each other, followed by an hour of fast moving games that students at all levels can participate in. The final half hour is refreshment time. I have lots of prizes for them as an incentive to come when there is a class.
Michelle says
My students love group lessons. I usually do 4 a year around the holidays and spring break week. This year I only needed to do 2 and my students were disappointed. I have done things from setting up 5-6 keyboards for ensembles, to Music History lessons/lap books, Rhythm cups. You name it I’ve probably done it. The kids really like them. I’ve been tempted to try them on a once a month like I’ve heard some teachers do. I think it would be a great way to introduce a theory concept in-depth and then do small follow up topics in the next 3 lessons. But they ARE fun! 🙂
Beth says
I teach 5 50 minute group classes each week, so I am always looking for ideas for group classes to make them fun. We can have between 3-6 students in each class. We use headphones so that they can work on their individual pieces and then at the end of class we generally do a game. We occasionally do ensemble music and worksheets, but so much of our time each week is working on their music. I do 4 “fun weeks” a year- Halloween, Christmas, Valentines and then one the last week of the school year.
Rita says
Hello Beth, I see that you teach group lessons I’ll begin mine in 2 weeks. Do u teach everyone the same lessons or do you let the individuals move at their own pace. How r ur 5 classes broken up by age? I will have ages 5-6, 7-8, 9-13,14-16 and 17+. Any group tips u may have would b helpful . Thanku
Barbara says
I have quite a few simeultaneous sibling lessons and require that they sing what they play. They love to sing what their siblings play. I also have quite a few interactive music note reading, rhythm, theory and piano playing games on computer and tablet which they love to do in groups but also individually with the aid of headphones. For music that does not have words, I let them make up words as homework which encourages them to explore not only their lesson but their sibling’s as well. This is a daily thing with me so I am always open for more ideas.
Emily Ferrell says
I have held a group “lesson” just before Christmas break for the last 20+ years. It’s my gift to the kids, so it’s a “free” lesson. They all come to my house, they each play a Christmas song for each other (I don’t care which one it is so we may hear repeats), then we eat all kinds of fun foods and watch Elf. Sometimes I have a music related Christmas craft for them to do, or I bring out prompts and they can take photos of themselves and buddies. The week of our recital, we meet for a group lesson. This helps with just relaxing after working so hard for recital. Since I don’t charge for recital, this helps so I don’t loose any $ that week. And our last lesson of the school year is in two days. It will be a group one. I was looking for one more game to play so I’m liking this one-thanks for the idea. We will have about an hour of rotating stations and then we end with one big ice cream party.