A week ago I saw a Christmas display in Costco… can you believe that?!
After my initial shock, I was reminded of how much I love Christmas (and also of how I “missed” Christmas last year thanks to a one nasty flue bug!). So, for Part 3 of our Yearly Piano Planning series I thought, well why not, I’m going to use a Christmas analogy!
Are you ready?… Here we go!
Decorating Your Yearly Piano Plan
In Part 1 and Part 2 of the our Yearly Piano Planning series we focused on helping you build your scope and sequence and then selecting repertoire to match.
Now, let’s imagine that the plan you now have is a bare Christmas tree… no decorations, no tinsel… just a bare tree (most likely leaning to one side and spitting needles all over the floor). To take that bare tree and turn it into something to behold we’re going to need to dress it up.
Here’s How I Decorate My Yearly Piano Plan
Just as a Christmas tree needs decorations, garland, lights and tinsels to make it beautiful, piano students need a variety of learning activities to become beautiful musicians; sitting on a bench, playing through method book repertoire just won’t cut it.
Ready to beautify your lesson planning? Here’s how to make it happen:
1. Look at each concept listed on your scope and sequence and then decide…
- what is the main underlying goal of this concept?
- what materials do I have that reinforce this concept? and
- what alternative teaching methods could I use to reinforce this concept?
2. For each concept, attempt to have the following:
- A theory game or hands-on activity that reinforces the concept (we make this easy with a $8 monthly membership to PianoGameClub.com!)
- Motivating supplementary repertoire that has a heavy focus on the concept
- Ear training games that work on hearing the concept
- A composing or improv activity that uses aspects of that particular concept
3. Stay organized by writing your “extras” directly onto your yearly lesson plan. Or, if you work better digitally, create folders on your computer and drag and drop your resources into the corresponding folders. Make note of any areas/concepts that lack materials and, as you spend your out-of-teaching-time searching, search with these goals in mind.
And that’s it!
Your “spruced up” yearly piano plan will be a gift to your students and a joy to teach. You’ll also notice that your lessons have complete clarity. Not only do you have skill and knowledge acquisition goals for your students, but your lesson activities will have become completely integrated and streamlined, making weekly lesson planning a snap!
Milla says
Great post! How creative, that everything you see stimulating your thoughts about piano teaching! I’m trying to do all that you listed, I wish I had more games for every concept!
Leon Whitesell says
An outstanding plan, Andrea!
You help so many young and/or inexperienced teachers, but please realize that many ” senior” teachers benefit greatly from your inspired suggestions. KEEP ON!
Robbin says
These posts have been so helpful. Does anyone have a source for ear training activities? That’s a weakness of mine. I use the little sessions in the theory book (Alfred Premier), but that’s not enough.
Deb says
As for ear training exercises, I often encourage my students to “figure out” the melody to a well-known piece (i.e. Happy Birthday). I always encourage them to sing it with me first. With young children it is very important to sing in a higher key (even tho we aren’t as comfy there) to encourage their “listening” skills. If you pitch the piece too low for them to sing, they will have difficulty matching pitches, therefore disrupting their ear training segment. Hope it works! Once they figure out the song, I just throw a small accompaniment with them so they can hear chords too 🙂
Emily says
love this, thank you very much.
its going to take a while to do this for every student though..i better get started!
Kathy G says
Totally stealing the ideas behind this great series for a future presentation to our local MTA group. (with full credit to Teach Piano Today). After first putting them all into practice this coming teaching year. Thank you both so much for sharing your insights and brilliant ideas. You two are amazing, and amazingly generous.
Amy Boze says
Do you let the students have input on what supplemental music they play, or do you just assign it? I have a couple students that whatever I choose, they turn up their nose. I’m spending lots of time choosing things with them in mind, and not getting the excitement I’m hoping for. Even though they’re pieces that are in the style they say they like…
Debora says
I always have 1 piece that the student chooses. I can usually find an arrangement that fits with what we’re working on anyway. If not, it’s either a good review or a fun challenge. Students need to be excited about playing the piano or they’ll quit.
Amy Hall says
What format do you use to type up all these yearly lesson plans? Do you have a chart or excel spreadsheet? I feel like I would spend so much time organizing an easy way to read the info that I would run out of time to plan that much info for all my students. I have never attempted a yearly lesson plan – maybe now is a good time to start! If you have a document you love to use, I would LOVE to see a pic of it!
Andrea says
Hi Amy – yes, just an excel file 🙂 I subscribe to the “KISS” way of doing things (Keep It Simple Silly) 😉 I remind myself of this every time to I try to delve too deep into something or make it too perfect. It’s better to just do it than spend too much time getting ready to do it. In the past I’ve even used pencil and paper – just get your ideas down, coordinate them as you see working for you and go for it 🙂
Nancy Hiatt says
Andrea, (and others),
One of my goals this year is to be more organized with a simple system to plan for each student, particularly materials to supplement the method book.
So my question is HOW do you keep up with each student easily? I’ve seen lots of planners, but I’m looking for something for 15 students “at a glance” if that’s possible without breaking the bank. I’m open to something original. Andrea, you said you use spreadsheets. Do you have a laptop with you to make notes during the lesson?