There’s a great children’s book called Math Curse. The main character in the book believes his math teacher has put a curse on him; everywhere in his life he is surrounded by math problems. These days I feel much like the main character… but in my case, I’m surrounded by piano teaching ideas.
Of course, unlike the main character in the story, I don’t see my obsession with piano education as a curse! I love come up with new piano teaching games, programs, and blog posts. But still, I sometimes wish my mind would shut off (even for just 30 minutes!) so I could escape into a good book or something completely unrelated to music.
Take last night for example… a new book by one of my favorite authors, Chris Guillebeau, was recently released. So, I sat down before bed to read The Happiness Of Pursuit. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the book, it explores how ordinary people can find purpose, discover a sense of belonging, build community and, more broadly, enrich their lives by undertaking extraordinary quests.
Well, I had barely cracked the cover to start reading about people who endeavor to run 250 marathons, or produce the world’s largest symphony, or complete an entire MIT course in a single year, when my mind switched back into music mode… shoot! Here we go again!…
Be sure to read to the end of this post for a piano teaching giveaway.
With the book resting on my chest, I closed my eyes and thought about how fun it would be for an entire piano studio to go on a yearly quest. And then I realized that beyond it being fun, a quest might enrich the musical lives of piano students, might help them discover a sense of belonging, and might help build a real sense of community; all things that contribute greatly to a thriving studio.
As it turns out, before I could come up with too many great quest ideas I had fallen asleep. So today, I thought it might be fun to ask you (the readers of TeachPianoToday.com) to brainstorm a quest that your studio could undertake (example: perform 200 pieces in public, compose 150 pieces, keep a piano playing non-stop for 24 hours etc).
I’d love for you to share your ideas in the comments below. As an added incentive to fire up the creativity, Andrea and I are going to give away 2 copies of our newest resource TEDDtales to the two teachers who come up with most inventive piano studio quests!
Sooooo looking forward to your ideas!
Alexandra Weiss Toronto Piano Teacher says
My humble idea for this semester is to promote Canadian composers – that is why I am organizing a piano concert with 100% Canadian music content, and my piano students will be playing/singing with live rhythm section.
natalie whittington says
my idea is “Scale the Wall”. I’m thinking we “scale the wall” in hot pursuit of those pesky scales. we go back to basics with a challenge to see each of my students master all white note scales. for younger guys, 5 finger position. for older guys, octave or 2 8va or more.
Tina says
My idea is to have every student teach someone be it their parents, friends, sibling – how to play a song. This will give them the opportunity to be on the “other side” and give them a huge self-confidence booster. I also have a goal of having all students compose a small piece. This will enable them to use all their musical knowledge to create a unique masterpiece that they can call their own.
Fiona Mendes says
Hi Tina
I like your idea a lot. I might just borrow it from you for this year. Quick question though, once they complete the quest , what would you do? I find kids like to get something even if it’s a small token of appreciation to say they completed the task assigned and of course if it goes into their scrapbooks, then years later they can look back in satisfaction /wonder at what they were able to do? I was thinking of handing out a sheet that they could fill out and maybe get the person they taught to sign it and/or record them playing/teaching and post the link ? Similar sort of thing for their composition. Then they get a certificate once they complete it …? I have to work on this a bit more I like the idea of going out beyond the studio and teaching others to play !! thanks for sharing
Linda Fotis says
Joy of Music: Practic for Life Project
This project is modeled on the idea of getting sponsors for a Race. Instead of a Race students sign up family members and friends to sponsor them for time practiced during a particular period of time.
Our practice time frame is 2 months.
There’s a special Practice for Life Time Sheet which students fill out which parents initial each week. We tally weekly times to see who’s rocking the practice chart and post our progress in the studio.
Each sponsors signs a Practice for Life Sponsor Form and agrees to pay so much for each minute practiced. 1 cent, 5 cents, a quarter, dollar etc.
All money earned from practicing goes to a particular service project. In one case: Christmas for a family with AIDS in Botswana. We had photos of the family and letters from the 10 children who live with their grandfather. etc. etc. put up in the studio, We received photos of the children on Christmas Day. It made it all very real.
At the end of the Practice for Life Period, there is concert where everyone plays and a representative from the Organization we donate to comes to the recital and receives the donation from the children.
Every student participating, receives a letter from the studio or organization supported. Students can win for the total amount of time practiced and/or the total amount of contributions made.
We have also used this model for the Humane Society and Food Pantry. With the Humane Society we earned money by praciticng to foster a dog and a cat for a year at the shelter. The studio voted on what animal to foster. With the food pantry we brought in food as well as a monetary donation and postsed a video of the presentation.
This idea can be expanded or contracted depending on the studio and timetable.
It focuses on practicing for a purpose, connecting music with the power of change and service and the fun or helping others.
Everyone also learned that their pieces got better with more practicing. EUREKA.
Amy says
This is really a lovely idea….good for you!
Jeannie says
My studio did a similar project last October. We raised funds for a local lady who needed help with eye surgery. Project was GREAT!
Bonnie says
My studio will definitely be doing this great idea! I contract with a non-profit called Piano Santa that gives pianos to low-income children who want to play. We’ll definitely do a fundraiser for them first! Here’s a question – how to you handle this income/donation financially?
Wendiann trent says
The Quest of the golden key…play 3 songs in all 12 keys (or 14 by including C# and F# for sharp thinking!) every month from September through May. Wow! That’s a lot of songs and a lot of key changes. 27 songs and 324 key changes, or 378, if you include C# and F#! Hmmm, what about the minors, too! Mind-blowing!
Stephanie says
Yes…that is an awesome idea!
Diann Ruesch says
Love your idea Linda! Practice with a purpose. Genius!
Kristi Negri says
Looove this. Thanks so much, Linda. Starting this ASAP.
Eva says
I love this idea! Thank you for sharing!
Yin Stewart says
I have always look at music as a “gift” and I want my kids to see how the music can affect ones’ feelings and bring love and joy to many. My fantasy is to have my students tour and perform at local retirement homes or any charity organizations to show that they, however young they maybe, are not only capable of giving, but also receive joy from giving.
Jeannie says
This year I am working with a local small church who has agreed to give me 5 to 10 minutes each Sunday morning before church starts to have a student come play a song — any song, and then the family can go or if they wish they can stay for service. I have quite a few religions that are NOT of the Christian religion but so far everyone has agreed to play except a couple of my 80+ year old ladies. Some of the kids want to do another Sunday — they like the ‘grandmas’ praising them and giving them little treats. One thing about a small community — 3100 people — it is hard to build your student numbers but once you have them, they stay.
LantanaMusic says
My idea is a quest for dynamics. I am constantly reminding and re-reminding my students to play their dynamics properly. So, the goal of the quest would be for THEM to notice ALL the dynamics in their songs – for a time period of about 2 months. Every student would get a set amount of points at the beginning of the lesson, and every time they miss a dynamic, they lose a point. Students could earn some of those points back by saying the Italian word, giving the definition, and demonstrating it on the piano. A chart on the wall would track points progress (and they can compare with eachother). At the end of two months, all those within a certain point range would receive a “Dynamics Gold Star” certificate. You could also do other levels of certificates, such as Silver and Copper, if so desired.
Amy Carr says
We are going on a pirate quest! In my studio, I am hanging a huge pirate map with several different “islands” on the way to the treasure! Each student has a “game piece” and will move from island to island as they complete assignments. They have until our Christmas recital to reach the treasure. Each “island” will involve completing a “list” of quests. For example, to move to the first island, students might have to accomplish a list that looks like the following:
1. Pass off a predetermined song.
2. Pick a composer from the composer wall…listen to 5 different pieces of music written by this composer and fill out a response sheet for each one.
3. Pass off 2 scales.
4. Compose 4 measures of a Halloween song written in a minor key.
Once they have completed their list, they advance. Each list of assignments covers a variety of topics from composing to music history, technical skills, theory, memorization, music history, etc. I build time for them to complete these tasks into their weekly practice schedule. The treasure will be a special party, prize, or treat!
Stephanie says
I like the pirate idea! Can I ask, where did you get your pirate map?
Shelley says
I implemented *giggle break* last year in my studio. I teach a group class. The students and parents are instructed to laugh as hard as they can even if they don’t get the joke or it’s not very funny. It helps lighten the mood, helps refocus parents and students and just makes the lesson fun. So my quest this year is to continue adding fun and variety to my classes. Not sure what shape this will take yet.
Beth says
Our quest this year is to learn to play lead sheets (thanks to the “Awesome in Eight” book!) then use that knowledge to learn how to accompany singers. Students will learn to play accompaniment for an “oldie but goodie” song, then we will have not just a concert, but a sing-a-long at a retirement home. They will play and I will lead the singing for the residents.
Mary Beth Purchase says
great idea!!!!
Marie says
I would love to know more about the “Awesome in Eight” book as my students enjoy playing off of lead sheets! It’s not coming up when I do a Google Search, sorry.
Andrea says
Hi Marie! The “Awesome in Eight Minutes Book” was a book that was released to PianoBookClub.com members in August. You can find more about Pianobookclub at the link below. Those who are members of PBC will have the opportunity to purchase previously-released books at a later date, one of which will be the Awesome in 8 Minutes book 🙂
Eleanor Baldwin says
Trevor, You have inspired me to make a life long diary of my teachable moments that were a great success. Many times I get bogged down by “failures” like the boy with too much ADHD or the parent who never listened to her child practice, etc. But this week I had a child with brittle bone disease suddenly “catch” how to read notes on a staff and another, a victim of a difficult divorce, made me a necklace and gave me a big hug after her lesson. She always sensed when I went to bat for her and tried to make her music practicing between two households easier. So my personal quest will be to balance the teaching minutiae with victories. Escape the problems and revel in my diary!
connie says
What about a quest for us? We so often get bogged down in the challenges, and forget to notice the victories. what about a journey to the rainbow’s end with all the stops on the way being the positive things that happen in our studios?
Laura says
My studio is doing the 30 Piece Challenge. Each student is learning 30 pieces in 34 weeks (in addition to their normal lesson materials). They get to add a ring to their paper chain with each piece and there will be prizes at 10, 20 and 30. Those that make it to 30 will have an exclusive reception and recital at the end of the year. So far, they’re all on board and excited.
Kerri Sox says
I have been doing a “theme” for the past few years, and it has worked out sooooo well! The kids love it and so do I!
This year, I’m doing MUSICRAFT. It’s my spin on Minecraft, which most of my piano kids are into. There are 12 “biomes” – which are areas they visit with their game piece. (Examples: Articulation Arena, Rhythm River, Interval Icebergs, etc.)
Each child has a MUSICRAFT workbook which has their quests for each biome. They must finish one biome before moving to the next one. There are a combination of worksheets, games, rhythm challenges, sightreading exercises, and practice challenges that they must complete.
Each biome focuses on one aspect of music, so they have a lot of different things they are learning about. It has taken me a LOT of time to set this up, because students are at different levels, so I have five different groups of exercises/worksheets for the notebooks.
(I have used your “not boring theory” and “Sssssshhhhh, your piano teacher thinks this is practice” books for some of the worksheets. Perfect!)
For extra fun, I will announce a “Creeper Attack” during Halloween week, and they will have to complete those challenges before they can move their piece back to their regular biome.
And because I’m torturing myself making this complicated, haha, each activity will earn them a sticker, and the stickers will be part of the “crafting recipes” for the final item for each biome. They have to earn that item before they can move on. For these stickers and final items, I’ve used original Minecraft game elements. (wood, wheat, pickaxe, diamond, etc.) It’s been fun putting it together and I can’t wait to hand out their MUSICRAFT notebooks next week!
Of course I downloaded free fonts and other fun stuff to use. Again, I put a lot of time into this, but I did most of it over the summer while I wasn’t teaching much. My kids have responded well in the past to these themes, and I think this will be the biggest hit yet. I hope!
Helen says
I have a student for whom this theme and activities would be incredible! Sometimes it seems like every sentence somehow has Minecraft in it. I hope your students really love it!
Kerri Sox says
I would be happy to share any or all of my work on this! I got all of my pictures from Google, and I got my artwork for the stickers from some blogs, and I got a lot of the worksheets from Trevor and Andrea’s books as well as from Teachers Pay Teachers. So I really can’t sell these things – but I’d be happy to share the things I didn’t pay for. Just email me!
Annaluise says
Kerri – I have been looking for an idea like this for the upcoming year, and just haven’t been able to find something I loved. I LOVE this. My email is annaluise at hotmail dot com – I am not sure how to email you – would love to discuss this more. Thank you so much!
Sophie says
Hi Kerri, this sounds like my students’ dream come true! Would love some more details/specific resources you used!
my email is sophielee dot sylvester at gmail dot com.
Barbara says
WOW, Kerri! You should put that on the market! I’m sure the students are going to love it. Such a great, great idea. Thanks for sharing…and let us know when you start selling this quest:)
Juliana says
Kerri, this sounds fantastic! If you are still willing to share, I would love to be able to use this idea in the studio with my kids! My email is jnoelana at gmail.com. Thank you!! I am in awe of your creativity! 🙂
Jacqueline says
WOW Kerri I am so impressed with your creativity! I am going to email you for more details but thank you for sharing! Your students are very lucky 🙂
Mary Beth Purchase says
My idea for an annual quest this year is: “2 Random acts of Musical Kindness”
To have every student in Klassically Cool Music School commit to 2 semi-random acts of Musical Kindness this school year. I say semi, because we participate in an Annual Musicthon fundraiser, benefitting Broward County Music Teachers Association and 4kids of South Florida. So the 2nd act would be one of their own choosing, documented by their parents. I will post the pictures and videos of their “musical kindness” (nursing home, pre school, rehab center, hospital performances) at klassicallycool.com
anna says
A quest to find music/melodies in everyday life. For example, I’m sitting here thinking, and it’s fairly quiet, and I hear two clocks in my house ticking on different beats. With that, a student can play two notes on the piano trying to mimic the rhythm of the two clocks and call the piece “Dueling clocks” or something. Or, I also hear a puppy barking and a bigger dog chiming in every so often. The student can take that and create a little melody called “Yip yap, BARK!” and try to recreate what is heard into a little melody. At the end of the year’s quest, the student can string together a few of their favorites into one song entitled: “Hear, Hear, in a Year!” or something. 🙂
Heidi N says
I like the theme “A Quest for Virtues.” I would issue specific challenges each month tied to virtues like:
Creative – Compose and Share an Original Composition at a Recital or Group Performance.
Honest – Accurately report your practice minutes/efforts consistently.
Giving – Compose a “thank-you piece” with lyrics for someone who has helped you (parent, teacher, mentor, grandparent, etc.) or perform at a nursing home, veteran’s home, benefit concert, etc.
Cooperative – Learn a duet or collaborative piece
Optimistic – Be positive about your own accomplishments or attitude at lessons.
Precise – Pay attention to the details (dynamics, artistry, fingering, etc.).
Thoughtful – Analyze, think through ways to portray a piece artistically before diving in to something new.
Conscientious – Take ownership of your piano progress by practicing regularly and recording practice steps completed above each section.
Knowledgeable – Older Students Read “Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers” (Highlights specific virtues in lives of composers), Younger listen to ClassicsforKids podcasts about Composers and elements of music history/form
Persistent – Tackle problem spots in music first
Molly says
My current quest is to find music for a “recital around the world”. Music is so rich in history and diversity. I think it’d be so much fun to have a “recital around the world” where students dress as the composer of their song, share a brief history of the composer and his country during the time period the song was written, and then perform the piece. With, of course, worldly snacks to follow. It will take a lot of dedicated students to make it a success!
Bonnie says
I’m adapting Fearless Fortissimo for use with my non-piano students. One of the parents and I were brainstorming, and decided that our end-of-term (ie Christmas) goal would be to create a video soundtrack that the student can give as a gift to his family!
Hope Noar says
My quest is to give the children a lifetime gift of music by presenting things in a creative, exciting way, to always send them out feeling good about themselves, to stay current on everything, and to give them other things besides a love of music. I teach my students about life, caring, and love. And I teach them to express their emotions through music, instead of resorting to other means.
Becky says
My quest this year is to hold a “Scale-A-Thon” with students gathering sponsorship from family members or neighbors of 25cents or more per scale played perfectly. We will then give the money to sponsor a needy student to the local divisional music camp of The Salvation Army.
Lindsey says
What about a “Musical Blackout” quest?
You could make a Bingo card for each child and encourage them to get a “blackout” by the end of the year. Each section of the card could have a positive way for them to share their music or expand on their skills. Some ideas:
*Post a video of you playing your favorite song on youtube (or Facebook) with your parent’s permission
*Play a few songs at a retirement center
*Practice 2 hrs a week for 3 months straight
*Learn 5 new scales
*Play at a hospital
*Learn a simple song on another instrument
*Write your own piece of music
*Memorize 10 new musical terms
*Teach someone else one of your favorite songs
*Dedicate a song to a family member for their birthday
*Teach yourself a favorite classical song
etc.
You could have the cards be large with as many ideas as you want (even repeat some ideas), or make a smaller card to complete in a shorter period of time.
You could also offer prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd people to get a blackout! Maybe offer smaller prizes when someone completes a row. I’m getting excited thinking about it!
Barbara says
So many great ideas. Thanks to everyone for sharing. Trevor — we’ll give you the 30-mins. of no-music-brain:) but only 30, because I’m sure many teachers share my sentiment of how grateful I am that you and Andrea have the musical minds that you do. You have changed the face of piano teaching and therefore piano learning. I am filled with gratitude every time I find a teachpianotoday post in my inbox because I know it will be another great idea that I can use right away.
As for a quest: how about 10,000 Measures! Every time a student gets a sticker on their song they get to add the number of measures in the song to the Measure Mountain. This way everyone is working together to reach a goal and can encourage each other to get their measures on the mountain. Certainly there would be some prize at the end of the piano-year for reaching the goal. Want to make it competitive? Make two teams and make it 5000 Measures per team (or whatever number would be appropriate for the number of students in your studio.) Be sure there are about the same number at each level per team since more advanced students’ songs will have more measures than beginners.
Paul says
“Keys for Community”
My vision is for my piano studio to give back to the community by offering a local “keys for community” day. This would involve contacting all the local nursing homes and assisted living facilities and arranging a day for my students to perform and have fellowship with the residents. This would involve the kids playing the piano, having sing a longs, distributing handmade musical crafts and having light refreshments together. As we all know, music speaks to everyone and this would allow the kids to experience the power of music and fellowship.
Joy says
I dream of getting together with other teachers and have a GRAND SCALE SPELLING BEE! All kinds of scales! We’d print a booklet of very important official sounding rules, outlining categories, jr, sr levels, how many rounds, and, of course the cash prizes and trophies or medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. Prizes would be offset by entry fee. Cash prize would depend on how many teacher/students participate. You could “talk up” about who the VIP judges are going to be and make it all sound like a big deal. Anyone game?
Linda says
Piano Buddies: students are paired with a “buddy” at a nursing home. This would involve writing songs for buddies, delivering songs and “illustrations” to buddies, and teaching songs to buddies on a portable keyboard or existing piano at the nursing home. The end result would be a recital consisting of both piano students and buddies, playing the songs and duets the students taught to their buddies. If a buddy was not able to play all parts of a song, it could be adapted: using only one hand, playing an ostinato, playing a “loop” on an iPad, adding percussion via iPad, adding rhythm via rhythm instruments, etc. The main goal being to actively involve and meaningfully engage all parties, students and buddies.
Dena Adams says
Piano Play-a-thon. Raise money for a cause of your choice by collecting pledges for how many minutes you can sit at a piano in a public place ( a nursing home for instance) playing pieces of your choice. All students show up to play. Collect money after the event and use for the cause of choice. This could also be done thru a forty piece challenge method where results are documented in lessons rather than in a performance type event.
Lisa Williams says
This year we are having an Amazing Bass Race. Each student has a “passport” and we have a large world map on the wall with 16 countries as pit stops. To earn a ticket to fly to a country the students have to do a specific practice activity (a “Road Block”) from the “Shhh your Piano Teacher Thinks This is Practice” book, but tailored to my specific teaching method. After they earn their ticket they can move their airplane to the country and then they must complete a special task which always involves learning a folk song from that country with a special task, based on the student’s level. All songs only include the right hand and most special tasks involve adding bass notes, chords and/or variations on chords (hence “Bass” race). When they complete the special task, which I plan to only take one week, I stamp their passport and give them the next road block. We are visiting 16 countries and I have an inflatable globe for each student who finishes and am waiting to see how many students finish first (during the same week) to determine the 1st place prize (just in case I have 10 finish the same week). One month in, the kids are loving it.