I have found myself using a lot of audio and video recording in my piano lessons lately… so to shake things up a bit, I challenged myself to see how “still” photography could also have its place in my lessons. The challenge is still ongoing, and as I prepare to welcome back ALL of my students after summer break, these five fun and effective ways to use photography will be at the top of my to-do list!
5 Reasons To Make Your Camera A Piano Lesson Sidekick…
1. Posture Pics – During a very first piano lesson, after a discussion of proper posture on the bench, take a picture of your student sitting at the piano correctly and then one of him sitting incorrectly (as exaggerated as possible). At the following lesson, paste the photographs side by side onto a piece of paper and create a piano posture “before and after” diagram.
Next, have your student draw lines from various points of the good posture photo and label it with statements such as “feet flat on the floor”, “arms parallel to the ground” etc. Have your student then draw lines from the poor posture photo and label it with statements such as “slouching shoulders”, “fallen wrists” etc. This is a fun way to review posture… and to ensure a perfect visual will be waiting in his binder when your student needs a little reminder!
2. Artsy Articulations – Fold a piece of paper into 4 squares. In each of the 4 squares write the name of an articulation mark (staccato, tenuto, accent, slur etc.). Send it home and instruct your student to take a picture of any object or living thing that could be representative of each mark and paste the picture in the appropriate square. For example, a picture of sand fleas would make for an appropriate representation of staccato.
3. Theory Pix – As a “studio-wide” theory activity, take an up-close picture of a single measure of music. Email this picture to your students or include it in your studio newsletter.
Ask your students to look at the picture and bring back the following information to their next lesson:
- Their guess at the time signature of the piece.
- The note names they see within the bass clef of the measure.
- The definition of any dynamic markings or Italian terms.
- The name of the harmonic or melodic intervals they can see in the treble clef.
4. Where Do My Hands Go? – It has happened to us all… a beginning piano student with “not-so-musical” parents misses an entire week of practice because he forgets where to put his hands on the piano keys. Fix this problem by photographing your student’s hands in the starting position of his newest piece. A simple click and an emailed pic ensures that his parents have a very clear visual of “where his hands go”.
5. Motivating Piece Titles – If you’ve ever flipped the page in a method book and felt your student “deflate” beside you because it “looks boring” or “has a boring title”… this is your solution! Take a head-shot of each of your students at their first lesson of the year. Print several sheets of wallet-sized photos of each student and keep them on hand.
A piece can become an instant favorite when it speaks to your piano student directly… and there’s no better way than by putting your student directly “in” the piece. See below for an example of how I’ve used this. Some pictures work better than others 😉 but for those that don’t lend themselves as easily, adding a “stick figure” body and some fun sticker accessories can do wonders!
Click Away and Make Those Memories Last!
Including great photo visuals in your lessons is one more way you can add interest and effectiveness to your teaching. Embracing technology doesn’t mean you need to completely change the way you teach, but rather use it to compliment what you already do well. So, choose your favorite idea and give it a try this coming teaching year… you never know what may “click”!
Note: Always remember, when using photography in your piano studio it is very important to get parent permission and media release forms!
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Stacey says
I have been using the ‘where do my hands go’ pic for ages now! Thank goodness for smart phones!
Eva Martin says
Love the ideas, thanks! I use videos to help my students work on posture, hand placement, phrasing and dynamics. I videotape a short section of their piece an the directive is that they should tell me three things they like about what they see, and one thing they want to work on. Or I ask them to tell me if they heard the crescendo, diminuendo, staccato and so on. Works beautifully !
Kelly Koch says
Love this. Every year I try to do a “wrong way-right way” posture pic. I put them in filmstrip frames and hang the “right way” photos. Some of my students were 5 when they began, and are now in middle school! I also use video IN LESSON and send it to the mom when the student gets a tricky part just right. Thanks so much for these other cool ideas!
Andrea says
You’re welcome Kelly – and isn’t it amazing to see the kids grow so fast ? (Makes me feel impossibly old sometimes!)
Merri-Lynn Raddatz says
I first want to say THANK YOU for sharing all your great ideas. I have implemented quite a few. I have been doing the snap shots of hand positions for a while. I also use different finger exercises such as Hanon or scales and video my hands playing them one octave and emailing them or putting them on my Facebook page for students to access. It works great for the visual learners.
Andrea says
Great video tip Merri-Lynn – I can see that being a big help with technical exercises etc.
Jackie says
From Uk: here we would have to be very very careful about photographing a child in a lesson. You would have to get permission from each parent. We are a very distrustful society at the moment and I would not risk using a camera.
Emily says
It’s the same here on Canada – especially since I’m employed by a studio and not running my own. I have to point the camera at the ground if I want to record my students playing – which doesn’t help them see their slouching shoulders or stiff wrists (I have one whose shoulders end up at her ears when she’s playing).
Ah well, us teachers are a creative bunch, we can find other ways to help our students 🙂
Andrea says
Hi Jackie – yes getting permission is really important. I have a media release form that parents sign as they register so everyone gives permission in written form.
Bethany says
I snap a photo of their assignment notebook with my phone every week. That way when someone forgets their notebook, I have the information on hand. Maybe not fun for the student, but great for me!
Andrea says
Hi Benthany – great tip! Thanks for sharing.
Robin says
What wonderful ideas! I especially look forward to their “artsy articulations.” Thank you for sharing these.
Eleanor Baldwin says
My mothers usually stay for the lessons and snap pictures out of sheer love with their cell phones.
Andrea says
Eleanor! Wonderful to hear from you – we’ve been thinking about you 🙂 Isn’t it lovely when the “parent pride/love” is so apparent and so natural! I love it when piano kids get as much positive reinforcement and “Fans” as do kids in sports 🙂
Kali Hansen says
I use photography a lot in my studio. I use a program called “Smilebox” I pay a small yearly subscription and I can upload my students music and photo’s or videos and make special e-cards for holidays and birthdays or just because my student wanted to share a special song with their parents or grand parents. It goes a long way with my students and their families. Also, I have a fun app in my phone called pics art where we can make cool effects with their photos. For instance at St. Patrick’s Day I made my student’s look green. They loved it! As for permission I have my parents and students sign a release that is included in my studio policies contract on their first lesson. I also take a photo of the student holding up a book that I would like their parent to purchase for them. This works wonders and they usually have the book the next week.
Andrea says
Ah! Kali that tip about photographing the book is pure genius! Totally stealing that idea – thanks so much for sharing!
I have Smilebox too but I haven’t thought to use in that way and I’ll have to check out pics art! Thanks for your brilliant ideas 🙂
Marilyn Brennan says
These are fabulous ideas! Thank you so much. Saving this post!
Andrea says
Glad they were helpful Marilyn! Aren’t we fortunate to have so many teachers share their ideas too! Whatever did we do without the internet?!
Dayna says
My kids love to have their video taken of them playing and uploaded
Parents do too!
Bonnie Haskell says
I used photography for a slideshow during our spring recital. It was a BIG hit!
Zelna van Zyl says
When Mom or Dad is in hospital, we record a mini concert and send it with a get well soon message. Or we send a happy birthday piece to Granny.
Andrea says
That’s such a lovely idea Zelna!
Melinda Workman says
Would you by chance be able to share your media release form?