Whether you continue teaching through the summer or take a well-deserved break, how you approach the coming months in your studio can have a serious impact on your success when a new teaching year rolls around.
Many teachers assume that this means they MUST teach through the summer to maintain a thriving studio. But this is not necessarily the case.
During the summer months, you actually have three options: 1. you can teach through the summer, 2. you can create a summer self-study plan for your students and then take time off, or 3. you can simply wave goodbye to your students as they leave their final lessons.
The first option is fantastic… but you must bring some added excitement to your lessons to compete with the fun of summer. The second option is wonderful… if you can create a simple self-study program. And the third option is entirely up to you 🙂
In today’s post, we’re previewing an adventurous composing resource for anyone who selects Option 1 and Option 2… which we believe are the best approaches to summer piano study.
Summer Piano Study MUST Be Fun
For most people, the summer months represent some much-needed downtime before the chaos of a new school year. But taking an extended break from the piano can be detrimental to your students’ development.
So during these months it is a great idea to provide a fun and motivating project that keeps kids excited during these lazy, sunny days.
May’s Book of the Month from PianoBookClub is a great resource for achieving this goal. If you choose to teach during the summer months, it will provide the necessary motivation that keeps your kids excited about coming to your studio. And if you take the summer months off, it provides an easy-to-follow, self-study project that can be completed independently.
May’s Book – Castaway Kip and the Magical Motives
After being locked in the grips of a raging, stormy sea, Castaway Kip awakens on the sands of a deserted island, shipwrecked and alone… or so he thinks! Kip quickly discovers that a host of kooky island characters have swiped his sailing gear. If he ever hopes to leave the island, Kip must use his composing creativity to rescue his wreck, rebuild his ship, and set sail for home.
Castaway Kip and the Magical Motives has the memorable characters, engaging illustrations, and creative music that teachers need to capture the imaginations of their piano students, giving them the tools and the motivation required to compose seven original piano pieces.
Designed to make music creation fun and accessible for your elementary-level piano students, this book is a simple-to-follow, step-by-step resource that will take you and your students on a rollicking adventure into the world of composing music.
Check Out The Flip-Through Preview Below
Castaway Kip and the Magical Motives was May 2017’s Book of the Month from PianoBookClub. To see this month’s book visit PianoBookClub.com.
Jennifer says
My kids are loving this book! I don’t keep several copies on hand so several of my students are chomping at the bit for me to make a copy for them. It’s like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book for piano! By the way, they love The Brave Sage for the same reasons! So fun!!
Andrea says
Hi Jennifer – so glad to hear they’re clamouring to use this book and that you’re having fun with composing! 🙂
Kelly Koch says
Thank you for my Summer Plan! We’ve used composing as a summer project each year. This year, we’ll have Brave Sage or Castaway Kip to choose from. Also Muzzart/Ratmaninoff is my summer go-to resource!
Andrea says
Hi Kelly – happy to help you build a “summer plan” arsenal! 🙂 Anything to keep those pianos from gathering dust in the summer, right?!
Megan Hauck says
I’m subscribe to Piano Book Club, but my download date isn’t for another week – is there any way I can download this ahead of time to give to my students before the end of the school year…?
Andrea says
Hi Megan – yes, absolutely. I’ve adjusted it so your book will arrive tomorrow and then on the 2nd of every month starting in June 🙂
Megan Hauck says
Thank you SO much!
Jahn Crews says
I was thrilled when I downloaded Castaway Kip because I immediately knew I would be using it for my summer teaching! This summer I am “requiring” all students to take 5 lessons throughout the summer for a reduced price but….they will all be SMALL GROUP lessons, so I will make more $ for the time spent planning & teaching and the students will love the fun created by being with their peers!. I will use Kip for the composing part of the lessons and am using Wendy Stevens new America the Beautiful cup tapping routine for rhythm work. Also plan on using Tim Topham’s lessons in Teaching the Blues and maybe teaching POP from his last 2 on line seminars. I plan on using lots of easy duets and other music to strengthen their sight reading and some of the games I bought from Andria/Trevor that I seldom take time to play. HMMM…maybe I should have planned on 90 minutes instead of 60 for each class! : ) Thanks again Trevor & Andria for all of your great ideas and willingness to share!
Katie Cartwright says
Would you please change the dates for both the piano club and piano game club to arrive the first of each month? Also could I get the summer plan immediately? Next week is the week I am announcing my summer plans. Thanks so much. I love your materials. Lots of music by the Dows are being performed on my spring recital May 21st. Katie Cartwright
Nina DeKock says
Do you have a composing ‘book’, or suggestions to use with Early Elementary level students?
Thanks! Nina
ChaCha says
Do you also have material geared for youth and young adults that will help them do a check off system without all the cartoons? I have some more serious students that would love word games, mathmatical exercises, or realistic challenges as well. I love all the cutsy things for beginners, but would enjoy some for adults and older students as well.
Andrea says
Hi ChaCha – our focus for this blog is mainly on the 3-12 age range as that is what tends to make up the bulk of most studios, but this is certainly something we will keep in mind 🙂 Can you clarify what you mean by a “check off system”?
TL says
Are books available for individual purchase or do you have to belong to the club?
Andrea says
Hi Tanya – the books are only available through PianoBookClub.com (the membership is how we are able to offer the books at such a significant discount to industry standard for studio-licensed books). You are welcome to cancel at anytime – but we hope to “wow” you with our unique take on supplementary repertoire 🙂