A 30-minute piano lesson can feel as though someone pressed fast-foward on your clock. Exam prep, recital prep, method book work, technical work, composing, piano games…
… and often it’s piano games that get left behind.
But wait! What if we told you that using piano games in your lessons will actually *save* you time?! How?
When children learn new concepts or review past concepts within the context of a game, they are fully engaged in the process. No time is spent re-directing, re-motivating or re-focusing… you have an eager learner beside you ready to soak it all in! Plus… your piano student will retain information more easily when it is presented in a game-based context because he is completely engaged in the process: he wants to win the game!
Keep reading to find out how you can easily incorporate piano games into your lessons… even when time is tight.
Make Time For Games With These 5 Strategies
So… there it is… the one hurdle to including game-based learning regularly is TIME. Fortunately, you can use a couple of simple strategies to crush that hurdle, and pave the way to studio success…
1. Easy Peasy Method Book Notes
I believe so strongly in using game-based learning, that before I send a student home with a new method book, I first add some of my own notes to the header of each piano piece in the book.
In the header (in a discrete area and in a tidy way) I write down the names of one or two piano games that reinforce the concepts being learned in the piano piece. Along with the title of the game, I also note the bin number where it is stored for quick reference (more on that later).
By doing this in advance, I eliminate any time spent deciding which is the correct game to use and then searching through my storage bins to find it. And because the information is directly written on the piano piece that is already open on the piano, it also eliminates the time I might spend opening my teaching binder and referencing a spreadsheet… every second counts!
This strategy requires a bit of prep work, but if you only use two or three method books, you quickly remember which piano games go with which pieces and making the notes before sending the method book home is easy-peasy.
2. Piano Game Days
The first time you play a piano game, you are bound to spend more than 5 minutes learning how the game is played. But once your kids know the rules, playing that game in future lessons takes a fraction of the time.
Because of this, you might want to consider hosting a Piano Game Day one weekend every month or two. During this day, you can teach your piano students how to play all of the fun new games you have.
Then, when your students come for their regular individual lessons, they are ready to roll and no time is wasted learning the games.
Piano Game Days are also a brilliant way to add to your teaching income and to help your piano students meet other music-minded friends, hereby building a sense of community.
3. Game Storage
You’re probably also wondering how to store your piano games so that you can easily grab exactly what you need… and spare yourself from a chaotic studio where spare dice cause tripping hazards and game boards and cards spill from every shelf.
So, I’m going to let you in on my game-storage secret!
As you see in the photo – each of my games has its own folder. Here’s how I set up all of my game folders:
1) Purchase “2 pocket” folders (at the Dollar Tree – 2 for $1.25)
2) Tape the (included) game cover page to the front of the folder.
3) Place the game board in the right-hand side pocket
4) Place the game play instructions in the left-hand side pocket
5) Contain all playing cards, die and game markers that are needed for that specific game in a ziploc bag that is then tucked into the left-hand side pocket.
Store your games in an open basket or bin so you can see the title labels easily, and separate your bins according to learning outcome. I have bins labelled as “1: Rhythm”, “2: Note Reading”, and “3: Ear Training” to name a few. Larger game items (chalk, balls, percussion instruments etc.) go in a bin with a lid… learned that lesson the hard way 😉
With this system you can find the exact game that works to reinforce your lesson focus, have everything you need to play immediately at your fingertips (including instructions if needed), and know exactly where to find each game folder.
4. Take-Home Piano Games
Reaping the many necessary benefits of game-based learning does not only need to happen during a piano lesson!
Consider creating Take-Home Game Bags that your students can check out and take home every week. This is a great strategy for reinforcing lesson concepts AND, what I consider to be even more important… getting parents involved in home practice!
If you choose to become a PianoGameClub member you’ll have new games every month to make a program like this a smashing success!
My Final (And Most Important) Strategy… errrr Philosophy
Truth be told I believe there is ALWAYS time for piano games.
I came to realize this when I started to think of them not as games, but as teaching tools. Then, suddenly, game-based learning became much more than a brain-break… it became a philosophy.
And this philosophy is guided by one very simple question:
“Can what I am about to explain be better off learned with a piano game?”
By adopting this philosophy, you’ll discover, as I did, that there is no need to “make time” for piano games. Piano games become a necessary component of any lesson, and a necessary tool that results in better understanding and increased motivation.
Get A FREE Piano Game!
Now for the best part… we have a great soccer-themed piano game to send your way that will improve bass clef note reading! All you have to do is share with us in the comments below one little time-saving tip that you use to help make the most of your precious piano lesson minutes.
And remember… everyone who leaves a comment will receive the game (Kick Flick) by email 🙂
Saving time is hard unless you know your students and what they need help with most. I zero in on trouble spots with rewards for working on those spots. It works for me.
Hope I’m not too late! I always play games for the last 3-5 minutes of a student’s lesson. They know that if they do well, they earn “game time” at the end!
I enjoy playing the games as often as possible. I try to break things up by putting games in the middle but sometimes we have game time at the end of a lesson.
I usually plan ahead and have everything laid out and ready to go – after each lesson I note down where they are and make my best guess on what we might need to work on next day
I use the previous week’s assignment sheet as a template for the current week, and work hard to pre-plan some FUN time into each lesson. Sometimes an iPad app, sometimes a game that we play together. The past eight weeks, I have enjoyed using Rhythm Cup Explorations. Looking forward to new games to share!
I incorporate piano/music games in all of my lessons for younger kids. Now I’m working on finding appropriate games for older students.
Thank you so much for your awesome resources! My students are enjoying their lessons more – every single one of them 🙂 Rhythm Cup Exploration was a winner. Can’t wait to find out what the Games Club has to offer. THANK YOU for taking the time to come up with these wonderful ideas!
I tend to have a piano game or theme for each week – eg. for Halloween, I’m working on landmark note reading for every pupil. So it’s 1 game with different levels of difficulty. I have that particular game in a bin/ wallet out and ready to be used for the week. It’s a matter of grabbing the correct labelled wallet for degree of difficulty.
I also have my staple teaching goodies in a drawer tray (dice, number and alphabet counters etc.) for other ‘game’ needs that pop up above and beyond the themed activity for that week.
So that I don’t waste time with book keeping and collecting money, all money is due the first lesson of the month or can be paid for by the year.
Each student assignment notebook has a log, where I record iPad games that have been played and the level/score they left off on. Makes it easy when we play again to begin where they left off.
Thanks for all the resources you’ve provided so far. The ideas are very helpful. Looking forward to Monday!
I like to use a kitchen timer to play 1-min. flashcard games. Students play and say the name of the note on the flashcard and they try to improve their score each week. Takes just a minute!
I am so excited to see what Andrea has up her sleeve in each email! It has been a great energizer for me! So many tips shared already, I don’t think I have a new one. When I find my little ones are getting antsy on the piano bench, I spread flash cards ( note names, symbols, rhythms -any will do) all over the floor and have them find the card I describe.
I am new to the site and to teaching. Interested to learn what works for other teachers. Thank you.
I like to keep a few knock knacks right by me that I can use for games and rhythm activities like maracas, castanets, or a jumpy frog. They love it.
(I hope I’m not too late to the party!)
To save time I write their lesson assignment for that week in a book that I send home with them, which they return for the next lesson, and that way we know exactly what page and book. I mark off with a check beside it when I feel they have it ok. The parents can also see what they are passing or need more study on. I also write comments in the little book for suggestions on how to improve this particular page.
I have my detailed assignment sheets pre-printed. I can see at a glance what they worked on this week, how much time spent practicing, even how they feel about their progress for the week (they colour the appropriate emoticon). It’s a great way to reinforce hard work, or to catch a discouraging “tricky spot” early on.
Great post, thanks for sharing!
My tip for time-saving happens the night before, as I’m reviewing each student’s lesson plan for the following day. I have a pocketed, tab-divider for each student that I organize inside one binder. The night before a lesson, I take out each student’s pocket that I will be teaching the following day. Inside the pocket is where I keep each student’s lesson plan, either upcoming, or from the week before (depending on what stage I’m at in organizing) along with any games or flashcards that I will use as teaching tools.
When I’m writing out a particular lesson plan and see that the student hasn’t played a game in a few weeks, I make sure that it is at the top of the list for the next lesson. That may mean that we don’t get through all the material that particular week (such as theory), but I make note of that on my lesson plan so that – let’s say theory – would be at the top of my list for that student to begin with the following week.
I rotate the extra activities (games, flashcards, iPad, etc.) to the top to make sure that nothing gets pushed aside for too many weeks in a row.
Student’s love the lessons where we start off with a game!
Games are definitely making our lessons much more fun! The kids can’t wait to see what we are doing each week.
I have siblings who are waiting their turn for lesson time help with any cutting, pasting and organizing of games. They love it and learn as well
To save precious minutes, I make sure to have printed assignment sheets ready to go for all the lessons that day and incentive point cards in order children will be coming.
I use a handing jewelry storage bag with see-through pockets for storing flash cards, game pieces, etc. Thanks for all your great ideas.
I use zip-lock bags in an open file….quick and easy:)
I love your tips and ideas. Usually I plan my lessons which helps me and my students and I am always looking for fun ideas to enhance my lessons.
Hi. I do use piano games and I am encouraged that It is something you do as well. To save time at a lesson, I try to have everything organized and ready to go for each student. Sheet music is ready and printed along with games that are out and ready to play.
I like to put a relevant game in each students lesson file when planning, but I like to have a couple of board games ready for a weeks teaching that have ways of varying for levels and/or concept so that if I hit a obvious hiccup in understanding there is a game in easy reach for reinforcement.
A new thing I just started this year is “hiring” my older students to help me cut out game cards/pieces, enter payments and book purchases into a monthly spreadsheet. This lets me focus on the things I enjoy–teaching–and gives the students a chance to make a little extra money.
I used to only use games in my group lessons. Now I find time to use them in my private lessons as well. I added 5 minutes to the lesson time and scheduled my students into 45 minute blocks rather than 30 minute blocks. The extra 5 minutes allows time for the games and students and parents don’t mind the longer lesson at all, since it’s so much more fun this way!
My greatest tip is in having all my teaching aids, new music, and systems in place, ahead of time!
Great time saving tips. My problem is that I teach at 3 locations so have to make multiple sets.
as my student list grows, so does the need for my organizational skills. Learning so much from all the comments!
So impressed with all the great comments! They help so much!
Kids love to play games and what a fun way to reinforce concepts!
To speed things along in our lessons, I ask the students to remove coats, boots, backpacks, etc. before their lesson time, and then get out their assignment books, lesson books, etc so that we are able to start right on time.
Each week my students either play a game or use the iPad, in addition to 10-15 min. of computer theory. Of the three choices, games are always their preference!
I have LOVED reading this blog about time saving tips!
Love the idea about writing in the books what games coordinate with each song. What a great idea! I like to think I’m a pretty organized person. I have all my lessons planned before the students come- right down to the worksheets, games, activities, songs we will be doing and what their homework will be. Often it is a lot of extra work on the side, but as a new teacher it helps cut down on feeling overwhelmed and anxious before and during lessons! I too have all my games either laminated or in a protector sheet and in binders and organized alphabetically. Same goes for my worksheets and teaching resources– everything is organizing and divided in binders. It’s a life saver being organized when you have a big studio.
I really believe in music games. The younger children LOVE them and learn so easily with them. When I send games home, I tell them to invite their siblings to play with them as well as their parents. I tell them to “help” their siblings and parents with the answers when they don’t know. That way they are reinforcing what they know and feeling pretty good about it too. Thanks for all your great ideas. Can’t wait for the piano game club
I find that if I pick a concept or technique for the week for all levels, that I can better prepare for the games. I re-enforce this all week so it’s less planning for me.
I love your storage idea. I am organizationally challenged.
I have lots of kids who love soccer. What better way to incorporate soccer and music together. Excited to see this game!!
Thanks for the fun games. Thanks for the storage idea.
I have a sticky lined note paper on my piano and if I need to get or find something specific for a student during the next week, I quickly make note of it. I love your ideas! Keep them coming!
Being good at multi-tasking I will write in the notebooks etc while they’re picking stickers etc so that the time is being used well.
I am a brand new piano teacher to two new students. I have only taught my children. I decided to make a student binder for each student with an assignment tab, theory worksheet tab, and goal tab. I think it will hurry things along at the end of the lesson as I transition to the next student.
Have everything set out for the day’s lessons. Nothing wastes more time than having to hunt for misplaced supplies that you thought you knew the location of!
Love your way of organizing your games!
I have purchased blank dice from the teacher store so I can turn them into whatever I need for various games…….some have all rests, some have rhythm notes, some have the music alphabet, etc.
I am pretty new to all this. I think it is great and I find that the games make the children much ready to sit down and get to work with their lessons. Thank you
I use games in every lesson. I am looking forward to getting this game.
Hi! Is it too late to get the soccer game? My tip is: have a clock in your peripheral vision. Sounds obvious, but for a long time I relied on checking the time on my cell phone, and I was not as efficient with time.
I have a spreadsheet that I fill out each week for my student’s assignment. I have each student’s assignments filed on my computer, so I can look at where they are and plan what we will be doing before I start each lesson. I can change any assignments on the fly if I find that we need to work longer on a piece or concept, just by changing my entries in the spreadsheet as my student chooses his stickers or prizes. I print a copy to send home with my student and file a copy in a folder on my computer. I find that having a plan ahead of time is a huge time saver.
I hope it’s not too late to get that awesome game in my mailbox 😉
I save time in lessons (and prep work) by using my tablet to bring up scanned or downloaded material to share in a lesson. I can bookmark pages and write notes on them, and when a topic is planned (or comes up) that has a corresponding document saved, I’m ready to pull it out!