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 🙂
Christina says
Love games! My students always ask, “when can we do a floor activity?” . Can’t wait to see what you came up with!
Annette says
Most commenters seem to agree that the games work best with younger students. I have teen and adult beginners that I believe would enjoy games if the format were not too juvenile. I would love to see you modify some of your games for the more mature person. Everyone would like a break from the same routine every once in a while. Thanks for sharing your creativity!
Andrea says
Hi Annette – PianoGameClub will definitely provide games for all ages in your studio!
Amy says
Thanks to reading your blog, I’ve been using games with most of my students, and they love them! Looking forward to seeing what you have planned!
Lindsay Hanna says
I tend to base my off the bench activity time on the individual. Some of my students need more reinforcement off the bench and some like to sail through their lesson books and music. So while I don’t do it with every student, every week, I spend about 10 minutes doing off the bench activities. Thanks so much for some of the ideas I incorporate!
Carolina says
I love using games in lessons. Count me in!
Jimmi Wilson says
I used yo do games frequently. Lately, board with my games…. ready to be revamped and bring on the games!
KL says
I host a piano party about every 6 weeks. The kids play for each other and play music games. We have a lot of fun. During weekly lessons, my younger students will play games of stepping and skipping up the stairs to teach concepts on the keys and I’ve started allowing a couple of minutes to play a music game on my ipad at the end of lessons, but we always run out of time!
Kimberly says
I use the iPad when we have a few minutes to spare. Would be fun to have other options to use for games!
Amy says
I love games! Can’t wait for Nov 1st!
Rudene says
I usually attempt to do one “off the bench” activity, 3-5 minutes per lesson, or every other lesson.
Rick says
I use games regularly with beginners and younger students but frequently to occasionally with older students.
Jennifer says
I am looking forward to trying out this game!
Mary Jo Troyer says
I am looking for ways to promote more practice time at home. Hopefully doing some games as learning incentives will prove a positive move on my part!
Tracey says
I have only been using games for my very young students, but I can see how games can benefit all ages! I have an older student who is starting to get “bored” with his pieces. I’d like to spunk it up with some older elementary level games. Thanks!
Mindi Holloway says
I spend the first 5-7 minutes of each lesson doing a piano game. The kids come in asking, “What game are we playing today?” I love how excited they are for their lessons. Makes me excited for lessons as well.
Karen Snow says
Games are Great! my students of all ages enjoy them. I use physical games and also i-pad and internet games. It helps keep things fun and new each week
shelly younkins says
Just signed up for the Piano Game Club. This is going to save me so much time! I can’t wait to start playing games with my students.
Clare says
I’m excited to use games in my teaching studio!
Julie allen says
My students range in age from 4 – 74 and the all love the same games. I am on the hunt for new fun games for all my students.
Faith Gaskell says
I love games almost more than my kids do! I usually end a lesson with a 5 minute game.
Fran says
Thank you for prompting me to use more games in my studio. I know it will increase the students’ skill, understanding, attention, and enjoyment.
Lori B says
I haven’t used games but am open to anything that enhances the learning process.
Alice says
Thanks for your creative ideas. You are among many who are willing to share great ways for us all to improve and revitalize our studios.
Shawna says
I am definitely not playing enough games in piano lessons. Time to get started!
Elizabeth says
I have started using more off the bench games since finding your creative website! I am looking forward to more game ideas!
Kjerstina says
For younger students i will try to set aside five minutes, but I do need to work on incorporating them into each lesson, especially for my older students.
Honey says
I do use games for about 10 mins of a 40 min lesson and I worried that it took too much time but not now. I think I need to spend more minutes on games.
Elisabeth says
I can definitely make more use of games. At the moment a Flashcard game for reading notes on my tablet is a hit!
Paul says
I spend at least 5 minutes off the bench doing activities for a 30 minute lesson.
Jessica says
Usually 5-7 minutes away from the bench unless the student is super wiggly. Then more!
Linda says
Off the bench games are a good ways for students with autism to learn concepts. And it also helps to generalize back to the piano, and vice-versa.
Laurie says
Up until now, (and I’ve been teaching off and on for nearly 20 years!), I have spent very little, if any, time on off the bench activities. Shame on me!! 🙂 After a very exhausting 2nd lesson with an energy-filled 5 year old, (which just ended a few minutes ago) . . . I remembered your website. I’ve just looked a little but I’m already feeling excited to use these off the bench ideas with ALL of my students! Thank-you!
Ben says
I refer to any ear-training exercises as ‘games’ and students learn without realising.
Amy Chaplin says
3-5 minutes of a 30 min lesson; about every to every-other lesson.
Kristen says
I have only been doing games with my young beginners, but I am looking forward to changing that! Thank you so much for all your resources. I am so glad to have found your site — it’s incredible!
Brookee says
I am always looking for game ideas! I have plenty that I use with my beginning students. Sometimes I like to wait until the end of the lesson, but often I find that a game breaks up the time and makes the lesson less tedious. My big problem is that as my students become more advanced, I don’t have as many games for them to play. I find that these lessons are more dry and my students are less enthused at this point. I need game ideas to help me teach more advanced concepts.
Michelle says
i haven’t used games with every student or at every lesson. But all of the kids enjoy a break from playing and games where you are reinforcing what they are learning is an awesome thing! 🙂
Anita says
Don’t use games at all! Looks like I need to, very interested.
D'Ann says
I’ve found LOTS of games and ideas from teachers on Pintrest and use them most lessons to reinforce something I teach!! Thanks!!
Joan Blench says
I always play piano games at the start of group lessons. It’s wonderful to see the children laughing and enjoying themselves before we get to the performance part of the lesson. I am guilty, though, of not factoring enough games into my one-on-one lessons each week.
Tammy says
Sounds like a great idea, I do 5 min at the moment.
natalie whittington says
i have somehow misplaced the link i was sent to this game. I have printed out the gameboard and the notes but have no directions. please help. Thank you, Natalie
Andrea says
Just emailed you Natalie 🙂
Barbara says
5 minutes to sometimes the entire lesson. It is rare that I do not dedicate some amount of time to off the bench activities especially when introducing new concepts and new pieces. Students seem to delve into their pieces with more enthusiasm when we mimick what they will be doing in the piece.
Cathy Holwerda says
I probably spend 5-10 minutes playing games – not all off the bench though. I’m a big believer in incorporating games during the teaching process. It makes lesson time fun and what kid doesn’t like fun?
Donna says
As a new class piano teacher, and a very experienced private teacher, I realize that games must be used every lesson. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Sarah says
I use piano games with the younger kids every lesson. It’s usually the last 10 minutes, but sometimes if they’re really into the music it’s only the last 5.
I use games with teenagers as a supplement when they haven’t done much practicing.
Rebecca says
I’m a little behind the times in reading this post, but I try to spend at least 5 minutes on games during each lesson. It depends on the student and what other extra stuff we’re working on, too.
Cat says
I love using games in my lessons! It is so difficult otherwise, especially since all my students are under the age of 9. I want them to love playing piano and they’re learning just as much if not more through games!
Joy says
I’m new to teaching & have yet to start incorporating off-the-bench activities; however, I’m ready to start!
Lisa Poushinsky says
For my pre-school students, I play games for at least 5 minutes every lesson.