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 would LIKE to use piano games in every lesson, but that unfortunately doesn’t happen. I’m lucky if students get to play a game once a month. 🙁
I use off-the-bench games every time I find a new interesting one that is appropriate for the level of my students, no matter how much time it will take me.
I try to play games in most lessons with my younger students. I use them as a treat for my older ones – just like stickers they enjoy the novelty of playing a game once in a while.
My beginner students love games. I’ll spend 5-10 minutes in a 30 minute lesson. Thank you for all the resources – so helpful & fun! My kids love the Fox (bass notes) game.
We play a piano game every lesson. It’s hard to keep my kids’ attention the entire lesson otherwise.
I have tried to involve games in my lessons, but not in every lesson, typically is about 10 minutes for an activity. It is quite effective for my young students to gain their interests. The reason why I am not doing it in every lesson is because of lacking of new ideas.
I don’t use them every single lesson, but I want to now.
The time spent on games varies greatly with the age of the student…. but with the younger kids at least a 1/3 of the lesson is off the bench.. sometimes more!
How fun! I am always on the look out for good off the bench games. You guys are awesome!
I love games so much, I compiled a resource list page on my blog (heidispianonotes.blogspot.com) to help me remember all of the ones I have printed so I can better plan to use them all consistently. I use games to start almost every lesson for at least 5 minutes… but my students also get to play at least 15 minutes of games during lab time at every lesson.
I’m excited to implement games into my teaching time. Thanks for this opportunity and new ideas.
I would love to try it.
I am so excited! I am so looking forward to the game club!
Retired public school music teacher here – I LOVE games!
I tend to spend more time on off the bench piano games with my younger students. Sometimes as much as half the lesson time.
I spend part of lessons away from the piano and assign certain games for my students’ to practice away from the piano.
I’d like to get this game. Thanks!
I am both a music therapist and a piano teacher and I am a big fan of games to enhance the child’s learning experience.
I am very interested in learning more about incorporating games into the piano lessons that I teach in my private studio.
Thank you so much!
With younger students I more frequently spend time playing games, so am interested in games that would be appropriate for intermediate level students. I can see why games would be beneficial in every lesson, but I also like to spend time improvising and being creative, so I have to be careful about managing my time. Games that last 5 minutes or less would be awesome!
I would love to play more games, we have a theme each year with various activities…..but I know my students would love it.
I love seeing what you guys are up to! This game looks fantastic as always!
My students love to play games. I try to about 5 minutes/lesson.
Love time I spend off the bench. Gives an opportunity to interact in a different setting. Always looking for new ideas! Thank you!
I am interested in starting to incorporate teaching games as part of piano lessons. Thank you!
I like using games but have trouble fitting them in. Your elf and reindeer game for learning the names of the keys is always a favorite
I use off the bench activities at every lesson to provide variety and work on different musical skills.
I seldom play music game with my students during piano lesson but once in awhile I will bring in my finger puppets to play with them. I would love to try outmoded piano game with my students.
I used to love games , but I fall off the track now a day !! I can’t wait to see get new ideas and be motivate 🙂
I always do lots of different activities in a lesson – I find it keeps the students motivated. They know which activities are on their list and they remind me!
Love the idea of using games!! I know a lot of my students would love to get off the bench!!
I take at least 5 minutes for each lesson to incorporate a piano game that works on the skills needed for that lesson. Game based learning is a MUST for each lesson!
Love game time! The students get what they perceive to be a break for something fun and they learn skills they need to get back to the keyboard. Thanks for this!
I want to give this a try. Skeptical of time restraints.
Games can teach a concept in a way which sticks with the student, not always the case ‘on the bench’.
I started using piano games occasionally last year. I had never heard of such a thing before, but my students love them when I do them. I’m going to think hard about incorporating them more. LOVE LOVE LOVE your website. It is so helpful. Sometimes I wish I had a fraction of your creativity!
Well…some of the “off” the bench activities are still done “on” the bench. It’s a small space, and I don’t time it, just fit it in when it’s needed to help explain (or explain differently) a concept. Probably not more than 25% of the lesson time.
I love playing games in my studio! My students love playing games. I use approx. 5-7 minutes of games throughout the lesson!
I love using games, but admittedly only use them about half the time! It seems I get caught up helping students with the problems in their music, and before I know it time is gone! Hopefully, I will start doing much better! Thanks.
Very little time spent off the bench. Even though I’m a fairly young teacher I am realizing that I have an ‘old-school’ approach. Thanks for the inspiration!
5-10 minutes for beginners.
5 minutes every other lesson for mid-level.
Nothing for advanced.
I use games mostly at group class and occasionally in lessons, depending on time. When I have used them, its always fun!
I have always used games from time to time. Thank you, you have encouraged me to use in every lesson and I can see a big improvement in students!
5-10 MIN for every levels.
I usually use the last 5-7 minutes of each lesson for off the bench learning. This is the first year that I have included games during lesson times, and I am so glad I have! The students enjoy them so much and look forward to them each lesson.
I love music games and fun worksheets to reinforce a lesson. Always looking for new ideas…. Thank you for your contribution in helping music teachers be the best we can be!
It’s always a great lesson when we take time for a game. Since I need to do more auditory training at every level, I could certainly use your creative input. Thanks for Everything you do!
I haven’t done much with games but see the need, the answer to what I’ve been missing! Can’t wait to start. 🙂
The kids love games but unfortunately I don’t use them often enough in lessons due to that “time” crunch. I’m interested in learning how to use them more often.
I’ve started using iPad games like Rhythm Lab (which gives the student real-time information about how accurate their rhythms are, circling them as green–perfect, or yellow or red–just ahead or behind the metronome beat) and Piano Maestro (good for reinforcing rhythm, notes, and ensemble playing) with some of my students.
all my students love games! I do too. It makes things a lighthearted and they retain concepts!
I get students off the bench at least once in every lesson. Games are wonderful teaching tools, and I’m always looking for new ones!