There’s just something about getting real, touchable mail.
In today’s world of technology, for a child to open up their mailbox and see something exciting inside (with their very own name on it) is nothing short of astonishing.
So what if you could turn this excitement into a composing activity that would have your piano kids excited about creating music, learning about composing and connecting with their musical peers?
Today’s composing activity will do just that!
Creating Connections In Your Studio
Many Teach Piano Today readers have had tremendous success with our past piano buddy activities and today’s activity should be just as well received!
Creating piano buddies and pairing your students into a “pen pal” type arrangement strengthens the sense of community in your studio and does wonders for retention and for word-of mouth. Plus… it’s a very motivating way to get your students composing and creating!
Check out some photos sent to us by TPT blog readers who really ran with our previous Piano Buddies idea.
Mail a Motive to a Friend
Here’s our newest way to create community (and compositions) in your piano studio. The step-by-step instructions follow the image below.
1. Pair up your piano students, matching level and age as best you can. Next, use this sheet to create a motive with each of your students.
2. This motive is then mailed to your students’ buddies (by snail mail, or you can create a little mailbox system in your studio with manilla envelopes pinned to bulletin board).
3. Once students receive their mailed motive, they then use this sheet to create the rest of the piece and mail it back to their buddy.
Ensure that everyone who participates mails a motive (and therefore everyone will receive a completed piece in return). Students can then learn their freshly-delivered completed mini-piece and can perform it at a recital, at a special “Motive Buddies” group lesson, on videos to be shown on Facebook, etc.
Special Projects Are Worth The Effort
When running a small business it is almost always the “little extras” that propel you from being slightly noticed to being a stand-out! Adding composing to your studio’s offerings is a fabulously creative way of getting noticed! Armed with our 12 lesson resource “The Curious Case of Muttzart and Ratmaninoff”, you’ll have the tools you need to offer engaging and quality composing lessons to your students.
Meredith Riley says
Thank you!! This is such a great idea, my piano students are going to love it!
Debbie Largent says
What a wonderful idea! I’m going to do this!
Jolene Berke says
Where can we find a copy of the My Piano Pal sheet that you show available to pin on Pinterest? I would love to do this activity and love the sheets you provided. I think that ‘getting to know you’ sheet is nice as well and would like to use. Do you have copy or can you put me in touch with whoever designed it? Thank you!
Andrea says
Hi Jolene – Absolutely! This was from a previous post we did with another “partner composing activity”. All the printables you need are at this link:
https://www.teachpianotoday.com/2013/10/09/how-to-help-your-students-make-friends-with-music/
Jolene Berke says
Thank you, Andrea! This will be so fun to do with my studio! 🙂
Shelley says
That. Is. Awesome. My student’s will be doing this over Spring Break rather than a regular practice.
Andrea says
Great idea for a spring break project Shelley!
Joanne says
Great idea! I’m doing the Muttzart activity with several students so this will fit it nicely!
Cherie Kaushal says
I have approx 65 pupils at home and within 2 schools and have paired everyone up and started this exercise this week, it has been a grate hit and the kids LOVE it! I have told them all I will film them and load on to You Tube so they can see each others compositions.
Thank you for a wonderful idea!
Ashley says
Can I just say that ya’ll are my heroes!
Linda says
Printing 🙂