800 responses! That’s how many Teach Piano Today readers took time out of their busy schedules to complete our survey last week for PianoGameClub.com… which launches on November 1st.
Like many of you, I started out using piano games as a fun way to reinforce lesson concepts… something to give my students a little “brain break”.
But as I continued to dedicate more and more lesson time to piano games and “off-the-bench” activities, and as my student retention rate went through the roof, I quickly discovered that the benefits of piano games went far beyond just fun.
Now on Wednesday, I’m going to share with you how I manage to easily include piano games in every lesson, but today, let’s take a look my discoveries when I first started using piano games every… single… lesson.
Want to know exactly what I discovered?
Let’s play a little game to find out…
The video below will lead you through our “Off-The-Bench” Piano Quiz. At the end of the video quiz we’ll tell you how to get an incredible “Off-The-Bench” Piano Game that you can use with your piano students this afternoon!
Spoiler Alert: It’s quite “possible” that the quiz is “impossible” to fail 🙂
Get My Piano Game
So you passed the test! Now all you have to do is leave a comment below telling us how much time you spend every lesson performing “off-the-bench” activities and we’ll email you an exciting game that you can print off and play this afternoon.
And the best part… every single person who leaves a comment will get the game 🙂
I use games on and off when I have time at the end of the lessons, but can see the benefits of implementing it in all lessons. You have inspired me to try it 🙂
I use games every week. The kids love them!
Yes! I teach young beginners for this very reason…..the games and activities away from the piano are amazing for their learning process and to gain musical skills while their fine motor skills are still developing.
I use piano games about 5-10 minutes worth during lessons most days. The kids love doing them.
Usually 5-10 minutes, for the last lesson of term/the year I’ll often spend most/all of the lesson playing games to reinforce what we have learnt so far and to end on a high note!
I’m clearly not playing enough games, but intend to change that right away!
I use games almost every lesson when I can as the kids react much more responsive when it is in the form of a game. They seem to understand concepts much better in the form of a games as well.
I try to keep games or “off-the-bench” activities handy for lessons. My students love it! It’s nice to have a game that easily adapts to different levels.
When I have a great game/game idea, all my students get the opportunity to play it, on their level. Short lesson time (30 min) makes it hard to set up and take down complicated activities off the bench. I can only spare 3-5 min the weeks I have an activity or game. My students would like me to incorporate more, I’m sure.
Atleast 5 minutes of each student’s lesson are spent playing “off the bench” games. Some games are played on the floor, on the piano bench, on the piano cover, standing beside the piano or even outside (every once in a great while). When I have a new student coming to check out the studio, I pull out several games to introduce to them as it makes the time together less intimidating, esp. for those shy students.
If there is five to ten minutes at the end of a lesson I play a piano game with my student. I also at the end of each month have a piano games week. Where my students play piano games and do not have a traditional lesson.
Ooh, I don’t do it very often, but really like some of your ideas I have read. Thanks for sharing!
I am just starting to implement apps and games with my studio and can already see the benefits! Thank you for a new exciting game to try! 🙂
Games are great, if they’re fun and allow interaction with the teacher. Send me games! I’d love to use any suggestions you have.
I have a game ready for any new concept that is taught at a lesson – sometimes it is a picture of it shown in a unique way or using markers to show the concept on the keys, but I always try to have something ready that is not in the lesson book.
I confess, I have been a bit of a prude in the past. My thought process was very critical and I spent more time on exercises and written theory lessons. However, I am loosening up a lot and I think making it fun is just as valuable!
I find it nearly impossible to fit in games during a 30 min piano lesson but often will often improvise or grab a game when time allows. (Don’t tell my students when they are not prepared or leave their books at home, it’s a perfect time for a game!) I’d like to make time for more games – I love them & so do the students. They are a great way to reinforce concepts & have fun together.
In my studio I try to have about 5 minutes out of 39 away from the piano with a game/review/note reading activity of some sort. Sometimes it’s on the iPad and others with a quick flash card game.
Great video! Looking forward to trying the game.
I usually do activities away from the piano when my student is having a hard time understanding a particular topic. It is hard to find time during half hour lessons as I feel very strongly that each student needs a firm grasp of theory as well. I try to devote a portion of every lesson to learning theory. Another thing I have a hard time with is finding good quality games and activities to do with my students. I don’t want some haphazardly thrown together make at home game. I am looking for stuff that is well thought out and well designed.
I’m just starting teaching and this website has been really helpful. I’m definitely going to try and include more games in my future lessons!
Occasionally I have used activities and games — only 5 minutes or so in a 30-minutes lesson, but not enough. You are right. I will use more theory and piano games!
I try to play a game or off-the-bench activity for at least 5-7 minutes of my 30 minute piano lesson
I try to use games about every other week for most of the students. I am always amazed by how much the older students enjoy the games, too! How is there time every week??
Games are the fastest and more fun way of learning.
All students enjoy them – young and old. Thanks, please keep them coming.
I am very eager to learn more games!! As a “brain-break” for the little ones I often use my whiteboard and magnet notes…I also play the fiddle and try to find the time to teach them how to chord along =) but I know I should really learn more! Thanks so much for your blog, I love it! I appreciate all that you have to offer!
I spend 5-10 min of each lesson playing games to reinforce theory concepts.
I guess I spend about 3-5 minutes on games per lesson with my younger students. I also have a game/activity of the week table set up that they can use (own their own) before or after their lesson.
At least 5min. Once a month we take 20-30min!
I typically try to play some kind of game for the first 5 minutes of every lesson 🙂
I typically don’t play games in the lesson only because I am at a loss for what to play! Now I will have some ideas. Thanks for your very helpful tips!
I try for 5 minutes every lesson – however, I do dind it easier with young students and at certain times of the year – like Halloween and Christmas!
Children love games & learn better with greater retention. BTW what software did you use to make your interesting video or did you outsource that?
My students LOVE games so we try to spend 5-10 minutes each week playing, sometimes more. We also have “piano parties” at least once per month where students can play games together. Thanks for the free game.
I use games with my younger students, especially my beginners. I really need more game ideas that would be appealing to older students.
I’ve tended to think of playing games as a “last resort” for the students who can’t concentrate – but I would love to find more ideas of using games to teach concepts that will really count towards music learning. Thanks for all the work you do here at TeachPianoToday!
I have just started using your ‘eggsellent’ intervals eggbox game in two other ways than you suggested – and my pupils love it! I am totally converted to games.
Sorry – I should have said – I don’t spend that long away from the piano but am open-minded to change once tried-out new methods start working well…
It depends on what we’re working on, and what concepts needs work. For my little students, most of their lesson is spent away from the piano. For my higher grade students, we’re mostly at the piano.
I don’t always have the time in a lesson, but if it’s a very young student, it can vary from 5 minutes to the whole 30 minute lesson.
I do love using games! My students beg me and often say “do we have time to play a game?!?” So more ideas for fast and fun piano games would be awesome!!!
We play games according to the needs of the child. An average time per lesson is 5 minutes.
I try to include a game at every lesson. Great way to learn!
My beginning students always play a good amount of games but as the level increases it does seem that we play fewer games.
I like playing games with them, but I probably only do it once a month or so in private lessons. Always in group though!
I don’t use games but would like to try. Wonder though how I’d have time to fit it in to a 30 min lesson.
I wholeheartedly agree that games are important! Kids learn SO much through games! I’ve homeschooled my own children, K-12, (and they are now all in college, the youngest at 16!) and now have a large piano studio! I don’t use games EVERY lesson, but for almost all lessons there is some type of game. Kids learn a lot through games!
Can’t wait to try it. I have been seeing the importance of making things fun with my students.
I usually use one or two games per class, so probably 10 minutes, usually about halfway through and then near the end.
I have tried more lately, so, I probably do 5 minutes in a lesson time. I’m excited about your game.