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 🙂
Hello! Well, I’m new to teaching(just started 2 months ago) I play games with my students for 5-10 minutes every lesson. I’m looking forward to introduce this game to my students!
i try to spend at least a couple of minutes every lesson, more for younger students or those who just need a change in scenery.
I don’t use off the bench activities but I’m Ready To!
We usually spend up at least 10 minutes every lesson playing note reading games. Now they are getting faster at it, we can play new games!
We do 15 minutes out of every 45 minute lesson
I have been looking for game ideas for a particular student (6yrs old). He struggled focusing in his lesson yesterday and I found myself wishing I had a “non-piano” game for him to refocus. This blog has so many great ideas!! Thank you!!!
I use some games during my lessons but am convinced I should spend more time planning these kinds of activities.
I’m so happy that I found this site. You are amazing! I have not played many games with my students before and they are LOVING it! I’ll never go back. 🙂 I’m excited to check this one out. Thank you!
i try to spend the last five minutes of the lesson on a game to review concepts. In addition I use games often to introduce new concepts and in remedial situations.
Hi there! I just stumbled on your blog and this is amazing 🙂 I would love to have a new game to teach my kids!
I haven’t used off the bench games very often in the past but am recently seeing the benefit and try to include a game ever couple of weeks.
I spend anywhere from 5 minutes a lesson to 20 minutes of the lesson playing games with my students depending on where they’re at and how many concepts the game can cover. Looking forward to this one
I’m starting to teach this week and want to start off with some great ideas – 🙂
I use apps on my computer to reinforce notational and intervallic reading skills. I also use my computer for some aural games. Students love to compete against themselves (and sometimes other students). Music Interval Wars!
I can’t wait to use the games in my piano lessons. I currently use lots of games in whole class music lessons (particularly loop cards and music bingo) and the kids love it and are always asking for games. I used to think of it as a time filler, but I’m coming round to the idea that it’s the best idea!
I spend about 10 minutes per lesson on playing games & the kids LOVE all of them! 🙂
I haven’t been using games in the lessons, but would like to start.
I use piano games every now and then, but really want to be using them more frequently. My kids really enjoy playing games and I see more progress after playing these games.
I have a monthly challenge for my students. Each week we spend a couple minutes working on the this.
Recently I have started playing a music card game with my students. After 15 mins, I’ve seen a huge improvement in the speed of their note recognition.
Definitely will be adding some more games to my ‘repertoire!’
Thoroughly enjoy your blogs! Merry Xmas!
Each child is different and I find a variety of activities helps with all of them. Games are an important tool. They sometimes don’t even realize they are learning!!
I am in the process of revamping my studio. I need all the games I can find! Thank you !
I am starting to use more and more games – love finding new ways to teach not only my piano students, but my music classes, too!
I tend to use piano games when I have extra time. However, your blogs have given me so many great ideas and such inspiration that I am assembling an arsenal of games! With such a variety, it will be easy to include games in each lesson!
I try to incorporate a game every week into each student’s lesson!
Games here i come!
I save games for extended lessons. I have a student who struggles with reading and when we finished her extended lesson today with a new game, she said, “Thank YOU very much for teaching me!”
I use some online games on my laptop, then hear kid’s pieces, assign new, then we play a board or card type game – about 5 – 7 min.
I Love playing games with my kids, I only wish I had more to pull from and I do feel that I spend about 1/3 to half of the lesson on times on games. I just feel that the parents aren’t always appreciative of this as it doesn’t always translate to the kids playing the song faster but rather understanding music in general faster.
Thanks for sharing. Haven’t tried off the bench so thus would be the first attempt. Wish me luck.
Just starting to teach piano again this year after a long break. I never took time to play games before, but I surely will be now! So excited to come across your website. Thank you for sharing-your resources are invaluable!
Students love games. I like to send them home with a game each week.
I have not used many games, but want to in order to make learning more fun. Thanks for a great resource!
I do off the bench for beginners. I need more games!
new teacher here !! off the bench games sound like they could really increase attention span of the little ones!!
I have not so far spent much time with off bench games, with the exception that I do with my 4-6 year old beginners.
I did join your game club and am now starting to use them, although I still find it “unnatural” to fit into the lesson … if that makes sense to you.
Games are ideal for really young learners, can never have enough!
I begin every lesson with a short warm up game.
I also end every lesson with a game (or activity from an incentive). Happy and excited kids, all the time!
I like to use all kinds of games, puzzles and assorted activites at lessons. It’s fun for the students and a challenge for me to adapt the activities so that they are age-appropriate. I enjoy the creative process, but I sure appreciate a little help from time to time!
I rarely do off the bench activities. I have done them mainly for those boys who can not sit still and have a short attention span. I am going to start incorporating off the bench activities for everyone! Thanks for the reminder!
Off the bench activites are very important! They are a nice break from sitting, as well as a good change mentally!
I love to use games, bit would love to find some new ones.
When I do ‘off-bench’, I use 5 minutes of a 30-minute lesson (with my older students). I don’t even have to write it down, and they all know where my games and activities are! But they don’t know where my fabulous prize box is, they just know it exists and that I pull it out at magical moments. I’m in my 4th year of teaching, and you’ve really acted as an unsuspecting mentor…thank you!
I try and do something off the bench every week. It’s a great way to pull a student into the lesson
about 5 minutes a lesson
I spend 10 to 15 minutes using games for each student
I have tried to add games more often, but I think it is something I will try to do more of. Especially with all the great resources on the internet these days.
I try to do an off the bench activity or game at most lessons and the kids always love it. It also works as a motivator for the “pokey” students – they get to play a quick second round or buzzer beater if they can get through their lesson before their time runs out (it’s amazing how they suddenly stop stalling).
I love piano games! The kids love them and it is great for reinforcing all of those skills we try to teach and keeps them interesting!
We love piano games during lessons! It’s been a while since we’ve played, so we’ll have to start that again! The students always love it and I think it does help motivate them! Thanks for the reminder!