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 🙂
Andrea says
A Piano Game Day sounds like a blast!
Bonnie Haskell says
I like to do a game at the end of one lesson and then start the next lesson with that game. The kids love showing the next student how well they are doing or what fun we are having while the incoming student gets excited seeing what they are going to do today. For me? It helps with one less set up/clean up and makes for smooth transitions.
Jean says
My time saving tip: Have the student place writing books on my chair (while I’m up between lessons), and music books open on piano / they start to do this as the other student it leaving the bench.
Janalee says
I teach a lot of group classes with kiddos from 4-9 yrs old. The best time saver for me is to be make sure I am prepared before kids show up. Also with this age group I do not spend time talking and giving instructions. Instead I jump from one activity to the next quickly and playfully. The kids catch on really quickly that they need to be on their toes or they will miss out on understanding the activities.
Laura L says
Games are a great way to teach and they help the student relax. To play well, they must be relaxed with me and anyone else in the room. Thanks!
Jennifer O says
We take a few minutes after playing our first song and just talk. I have quite a few students who LOVE to talk. So we get most of the chit chat out of the way in the beginning.
Sarah says
Time saving tip: when preparing for performance each student performs for the following student. Each student gets a chance to practice performing while nervous with an encouraging audience while the other practices being a courteous audience member. It also helps them get to know each other.
Laurissa says
My time saving tip is just to relax and enjoy the process of learning with each of my students. Being prepared and structured within the lessons, yet free to be spontaneous. Also, to start preparing for exams and recitals with lots of time so we don’t have to stress.
Linda says
Each piano student is unique and has a different learning ability. So, just as I did when teaching music in a school, I make lesson plans for each student. If I have a student who is struggling reading notes, I use flashcards during the lesson to reinforce what they were playing. I have sent flashcards home also. I will recommend apps for 2nd and 3rd year students.
Janna says
I focus on one aspect at a time, like February’s flashcard race. Three minutes in a lesson is all it takes for the student to time their progress and have it posted on the race board.
Amy Watt says
Wow, I love to hear all the organizational tips!!! Usually at the end of every lesson, I have my students writing rhythm lines on the white board and clapping them out on their own while I am writing down their weekly assignments. Keeps their mind engaged.
Kristen says
I have the student identify the spots in the music that might be the same (e.g, phrases that are similar and return later in the music. We practice those first so then move on to others. Also, playing the scale that the piece is based on 1st to solidify any accidentals helps.
Gianna Capelli says
I save a lot of time by using a website called Basecamp for communication/file transfer to student’s parents. I place each kid into a group by ability/interest/projects. Then I place songs that match up to them there, youtube videos, information about camps/programs.
It saves on my having to go copy something for a student, or them saying “I lost my music” because it is there online.
Karin says
Each week, I spend time on Sunday afternoon thinking about each lesson and what game/activity/music I will use. Then I get everything laid out for each day. That way when I’m ready to head out the door, it’s all ready for me.
Elizabeth says
Revisiting this post was very timely! I’ve been subscribed long enough now that I have plenty of games that need organising! Lots of great tips in the comments too.
This last teaching term, I reorganised each students binder with labelled tabs, and I made myself a folder that I can make notes in for each lesson so I know what materials I need to have ready for the next week. The lessons flow a lot better now. Have to admit I’m struggling to fit games in, but it’s next on my hitlist.. to have them all organised and ready to grab. Assigning games to certain pages is a great idea.. might do it in my teacher’s copy of the books.
Thanks
Tami says
Your games are amazingly fun : ) I keep them in ziploc bags in a small uprite file box. Easy to find.
nancy says
Hope I’m not too late for the giveaway!
I’ve found my biggest time-saver is the time I spend on the weekends: making long-term plans, prepping the week’s activities, or modifying games for various levels so I can use the same one all week.
I too end nearly every lesson with, ‘Oh look, we’ve got just enough time for a game!” and the kids LOVE it!
Sarah says
I really need to organize my games better and I really like your idea of using a folder and baggie with clear labels! Time to get to work!
Sandie says
I have a folder for each student. I let them pick a sticker
for each piece they are working on that week.
Anna says
I have learned so much from you and your website, even after I have been teaching for numerous years! Organization and “happy mood keeping” seems to be the key. We have information to share with our students but I believe we have to provide the best environment for learning, so they will WANT to continue learning! Thank you all for your help, especially Andrea and Trevor!
Morgan says
Somehow I never got this game… Or else I just didn’t save it in the right spot…? I thought I had every game of yours.
Anyway, here’s my time-saving tip: I do a similar thing in the method books… I write the flashcard numbers that go with each page. But I don’t do it myself–I send home a chart with the parents that tell them what to write on each page.
I will now add the games to those charts! Thanks for the idea!
Tina Vernon says
I love doing the games but never seem to have enough time. I love getting new ideas.
Jonella says
Here’s a time-saving tip for Kick Flick: By keeping a visible sign of the main skills to cover at each lesson I don’t have to keep so much in my head…much smoother.
Molly says
Because I teach out of my general music classroom, a big time-waster is not having my materials at the ready. Creating a “piano cart” that contains all of my teaching materials: pens, highlighters, sticky notes, stickers, lesson assignment sheets, etc.
natalie whittington says
I also use clear large ziplocs for all my games. I take Sundays to sort and reorganize from the week before and also have the “check out system”, which all my families love!
Patti says
I save time by spending a few minutes preparing for my day of students before they begin to arrive. I run down a list of what might be needed for each student ahead of time. As for games, I keep game cards in 3×5 card boxes and label the top. They ten fit nicely into a set of shallow drawers. That keeps them at my fingertips and I pull them before the students arrive.
Carol says
My time saver tip is that instead of using pocket folders for storing the games I use hanging file folders I find them faster and easier to access. I also use snack bag size ziplock bags for the small game pieces and paper clip them to the game boards.
Joey says
I’m new on this site and looking forward to seeing your ideas, as well as everyone else’s.
Beverly Moss says
As soon as they enter my studio I ask for their notebook, and I check them for practice points (1 point for each day), which they then use to “shop” at my store of candy and non candy items. As soon as they spend their points I ask them to begin their warm up with Hanon exercises and/or scales. While they are shopping/warming up, I check my notes from their last lesson to jog my memory on what we were focusing on, then turn the page and add the date for the new lesson, writing “Technique, Lesson, Theory, and Other” on the left so I’m ready to begin reviewing their assigned songs they have practiced, as soon as they’ve finished their warm up.
Diane says
Love all these ideas!
Alex owatt says
Since retiring, I have renewed my interest in music generally and guitar in particular. My granddaughters and their friends usually steer towards the guitars before sitting down to listen to what I have to say re piano. This gave me an idea that seems to work. Within my sheet music / notes I insert a series of templates for 3D paper cut projects, something else I have taken up since the loss of our son in 2014, aged thirty seven. The girls flick through the folders and when they see the paper cut items they ooh and ah and I explain what they are firstly and that they can take them home to try with mummy or if they have cause to stay after we do them together. This helps me by providing further time with them to reinforce the ‘today ‘lesson’ whilst we plan the cutting projects too.
Nancy says
I use every minute of lessons by doing a few things: 1) realizing that I don’t have to cram their lesson full of new items; 2) Introducing a new piece in the same way every time, and 3) going in to weekly lessons with a goal for that week (i.e. composition, technique, recital prep)
Debbie says
I encourage my students to have a notebook and to record their practice time each day. Notebooks are so useful so you can write out what was taught in the lesson, such as, how to practice a certain piece. When I have time, we spend the last 5 minutes improvising in a key they are learning. They are amazing and come up with some great melodies.
Candace says
To help organize I use file folders rather than pocket folders because they’re able to fit into boxes better. I will definitely use file folders for other organizational tools.
Thanks for the idea.
Marilyn Herrett says
I am new to PianoGameClub, but am loving it. Thank you for all the suggestions on how to organize the games. I’m looking forward to having a large collection of games for my students!
Lorna says
I am looking forward to trying some more of the games from the club with my students as they have really enjoyed the free ones that I have used with them. Time saving tricks? I do not have anything really novel to suggest here other than having things planned out ahead of time and ready when I start a lesson with my students.
Stacy says
I keep up with the time giving each element of the lesson it’s deserved value and if it takes longer for say composition/scale and chord study then I cut out the exercise as I see this as one. The lesson and projects are almost always given enough time. If they take a few minutes over lesson, parents and students know I am flexible and it is for the good of music. So my tactic is to stay adamantly flexible:)
Kim Oien says
I have little plastic eggs that I hide around the room with notes or rhythms for the student to play as they find the eggs. They love it!
rkl says
Sometimes I have materials prepared for playing games and other times i make them up in the same very moment since I try to adapt the classes to the mood of the student.
flashcards with notes: this is for visual training and kind of solfeggio. There are plenty of options for using them. 1. “say the name quick or I’ll put it again in the pile- If you guess it the card is yours” 2.sequence memory 3. rearrenge them in X order.
Other games to cheer them up is when making them tell you a note that is x interval lower or upper. if they fail they have to do some gymnastics like touch your knees and feet. They have so much fun and the wake up if sleepy.
Isadora Poh says
For new students who have difficulty reading notes, I get them to prep songs by writing the notes down before the lesson so when I start the lesson, i just take a quick glance to make sure the notes are correct. Saves me lots of time and it helps them learn.
Ruthanne Olson says
After each lesson I jot down what was covered on a sticky note. Then before the next lesson I review what that student learned and type up a plan for what we will most likely cover, adding games or fun activities, prepping all papers needed. I also designed my own assignment sheet to cut down writing time for repeated things like warmups, scales, etc
marlene says
I try to do a concept/theme for each month instead of feeling like I have to it all at every lesson.
Carol says
I take a couple weeks of piano money and invest in an end-of-year party where the students use earned “rocks” (dollar store) to purchase inexpensive items we have gathered throughout the year. They earn rocks for full weeks of practicing, skills shown during lesson, winning games, and good sight reading. I have an agreement with the main store to return unused items if I have only 10 items per each receipt.
Karen says
I have not been using games thus far, but may try it. I save time by writing in my students assignment book as they are finding the page #’s and beginning to play the songs. Thanks for the great ideas!
marian says
Best time saving tip? Listening! Children and adults love to keep their teacher updated on the events in their lives. A few minutes spent “catching up” while they get their books ready or clean their hands is a good investment.
Karen Kohler says
I play a game called higher/lower WAR using flashcards. Like the card came, we each get a set of flashcards with staff notes on them. I call out higher and we each flip one card down. The student is required to tell me if his note is higher or lower than my note and say the note name. The person with the higher note wins the card trick. If I call out lower, the person with the lower note gets the trick. If we have the same note, we go to war…each place three more cards down that will go with the winning card then flip one more and use that final card to determine who gets all the flashcards in that trick.
Deborah Woodard says
After the lessons in the evenings I write down things like what I assigned the students, what was well received, what could have been better and ideas for the next lesson. On the mornings of the next lesson I make a plan and jot it in a small notebook that I keep handy to glance at quickly to jog my memory. I find being well prepared saves time!
Judy says
My most effective “time saver” during lessons occurs BEFORE each lesson. I type and email each student’s lesson to them the evening after their lesson. I also print a copy of that lesson for myself. Then, sometime during the day of their lesson, I review their lesson sheet to be sure I cover what may have been missed in the last lesson (can NEVER cover everything in an hour) and to be sure I have everything in order and handy for their lesson. (Handouts, colors, paints, worksheets, play-doh, etc.). Oh, I use play-doh with beginners to have them shape notes, stems, bar lines, etc. something about “touching” the symbols helps establish time values much more quickly.
mavis says
i world like to share my way to storage my games, I bought it few days ago from it called – Expending file carry case ,works really well ! check it out and tell me what do you think ? cheers Mavis
Andrea says
Sounds like it would work great Mavis! 🙂
Amy Bunker says
I just started teaching piano lessons and need all the help I can get! Thanks for all the great ideas.
Kristen says
My one tip is to let siblings play piano games while they are waiting for their turn at the piano. A great way to help them get excited for their lesson that’s coming up.