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 🙂
It depends on the student and the day–anywhere from 3-15 minutes out of 30 is possible. I suppose if I had to guess the average time I’d say…8 minutes out of 30? Somewhere around there.
Don’t use games now but interesed in trying.
I’m always looking for something fun to do with the kids – don’t have time to do it every lesson, but I think that makes it more special and fun when we do incorporate it. The students get so excited. I try to use the last 10 minutes or so for off-the-bench activities.
Games make the lesson fun! I have a game in the lesson each week and send home a written sheet with the instructions so that the student and hopefully a parent are able to duplicate the game at home. Thank you so much for more ideas!
Would be interested in trying this “off-the-bench” game. Thank you.
I use games in every lesson and am super excited to learn about the new game you have created!
I have started using more off the bench games and they do help! Thanks!
I use games often – it’s a great way to get concepts to stick.
I enjoy playing the musical games with my grandchildren.
I use either games or white board activities in every lesson. This is new for me this year – and I am already seeing the results. Concepts are retained so much more easily this way!!
I use games sometimes – Thanks for new ideas.
I love using games! My kids do too. We try to play at least 1 game per lesson. It usually takes 5 minutes or so and saves me TONS of time having to reteach things later. It always works great as a reward. If they behave, they can choose the game, if not, I do (and they still win.) 🙂
I have such a collection of games to use with my students but usually run out of time. This is a good reminder to maybe try doing the game first.
Thank you! I love playing piano games during every lesson! We spend about 5-6 minutes playing games…
Amy
I use Off the Bench Games at ‘some lessons’ but mostly with younger students. It helps maintain their attention and, I agree, a great way to teach a new concept/skill unhindered by too many other things to think about!!
I am so excited about the piano games club! I need to encorporate games into my lessons. It would keep me from getting too serious!
Kelli
I tried to spend 5 minutes at the end of each lesson for some off the bench games. Students love them and they look forward to this part of lesson every week.
I spend about 5 minutes with a game or an off-the-bench activity, unfortunately not at every lesson! I am encouraged now to make sure I include one at every lesson. Thank you!
Yes, I have binders of games but have had a hard time fitting them into lessons currently for some reason. Wondering if I have the kids working on too many songs, thus not allowing enough time to do games? Trying to figure that one out right now 🙂 as well as how to organize the games so it isn’t such a hassle to pull out the right game for the right student at the right time.
I love to incorporate games into lessons but always seem to run out of time! I also like to be able to switch games up so the games don’t become stale.
I teach my beginners in groups so I use off the bench activities for the majority of my lesson. We visit the keyboard just 3 times a lesson.
I play games for about 10 minutes out of an hour in my group piano class but haven’t spent time with my private studehts playing “actual games”. I’m always looking for game ideas through Pinterest. This video reminded me how important it is, though, and I’m definitely waiting to move in that direction!
I have been using music games during the group workshops for many years and have recently incorporated them into the lessons. Kids just love it! I am really looking forward to your games!
I’ve started using more games since I discovered your site. The weeks I remember the kids love it! I would like to make games part of every lesson. Thanks for sharing so many great resources a tips!
I spend about 10% of my total time off-the-bench. I admit I do it with my younger students more than my older students. Perhaps my older students would like to be off-the-bench a little more as well.
I always run out of time just getting through repertoire, technique, theory book, sight reading…..and the lesson time is over. I need suggestions on how to do all that AND add Off-the-bench activities. It doesn’t seem possible. So I need your help.
I am a new teacher and have not begun using games yet, however I am excited to try some out.
I use games if there is time. Also, how do you organize games so you can reach for the right game for the right moment?
I use games every lesson with some students. I always try to get away from the bench every lesson, too–even if just to “hop” a rhythm. I love the idea of having an organized set of games delivered every month. It will save me a lot of time.
L.O.V.E. this – and yup the video is totally correct. I am guilty of not thinking I have to have every student do games– piano teacher fail! so—now I will have fun finding ways to incorporate those games into a SHORT 30 min lesson — wish my parents wanted 45 min lessons — we have so much to learn and have fun with!!! THANKS once again for a spendid post.
I use piano games mostly with my wigglers, but would like to use them more! Thanks for all the great ideas!
I look forward to trying out your games! Thanks!
I don’t do too many games, but I tend to do at least one off the bench activity (drumming, using giant staffs, using rhythm cards, etc.) in most lessons.
I would love to use this game!!!
I have just been realizing how much this helps my piano students enjoy their lesson. I love it when they are good pedagogical games!
I do games only at a special game time once a year. I agree that it would be great to do some weekly but am not sure what I would leave out to do so.
I’d say on average, 5 minutes, but not for all my students. I do have troubles coming up with for my early intermediate students though. Some of them have cell phones for crying out loud, so trying to find something that isn’t too “babyish” has been my challenge. 🙂
Typicall 5-10 minutes for a 1/2 hour lesson. Less for more mature students and more around holidays 🙂
Try to use games every lesson, anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 min. Thanks!
I absolutely adore off the bench games…. Especially for young students. Ty for all u do.
I try to play games every second lesson. One week we focus on music at the piano and the next we focus on music in games. It works well!
With little ones I’ll throw in a game or two each lesson. So maybe 10 mins of a 30 min lesson. But with the older, more advanced, students I find it hard to fit in games most of the time. I think I should start making time for them though. Sometimes taking a few minutes away from the piano can refresh them, and you actually get more concentration from them when you return to the piano.
I usually spend 1/3 of my piano lessons time with games… it helps so much!
Some of them sitting aside from the piano, were we need more focus and concentration, and others jumping, singing and moving around!
I really thik that kids tend to learn and internalize music concepts best when using their entire body! Not only their heads and fingers 🙂
This is a new idea for me. I’m a sometime voice teacher leaning piano for myself. I had not thought of using games for myself or my voice students. Thank you!
Hi Helen – games are a great way to help your voice students learn to read music and understand rhythm! Many of our games are applicable to other instruments and to voice students (as is Ribbit Rhythms). I think your voice students will really appreciate a change of pace in their lessons 🙂
I love playing games with my students, I’m sure they will love this game also.
I try to play games in every lesson. I typically spend 5-10 minutes on an activity. I have not however had my students physically get off the bench while we do the activity. This is something I want to get into a routine of doing.
I recently started using games, and now my students are disappointed if I don’t have one every lesson:)
I use games two or three times a month, limited mostly by trying to find time in the lesson for everything! Games keep students involved and are a great way to teach new skills, but without also spending time hearing what they have practiced during the week it is hard to keep them practicing and discover problems that are developing.
I have about 10 minutes off the bench and 20 minutes at the piano. It seems to work great.
I plan to start playing games….can’t wait!
I try to incorporate games as often as I can, but sometimes feel pressed for time. This video encourages me to make a conscious effort to try more off-the-bench activities with my students at EVERY lesson!