Every time I pull out an improv activity, my piano kids won’t let me do anything else for the rest of the lesson. Their enthusiasm is contagious, as their creativity and confidence bubbles over.
Even my “tough customers” will crack a smile and participate excitedly.
And while my students and I certainly have many other activities and tasks to cover over the course of a lesson, I’m okay with improvising taking centre stage if it means that my kiddos will go racing out my studio door, spilling over with enthusiasm. Because… hey… who wouldn’t want that?!
A Valentine’s Day Improv Activity For Your Piano Kids
‘Tis the season of love, and today’s improv activity will help you instil a love for improvising as you and your students create a beautiful and flowing improvised duet. During this activity your students will experiment with different rhythmic and melodic combinations on the black keys, while you will provide the accompaniment using a simple chord pattern in Gb Major (a suggestion for the music is below). Here’s how it works…
Step 1
Print and cut out the Valentine’s Day Improv Cards found here. They are designed to be printed double-sided (although this is optional).
Step 2
Practice saying each phrase while clapping the rhythms. Then have your students do the same, while playing the rhythms on any one black key.
Step 3
Ask your students to select their two favorite cards and place them on the piano.
Step 4
Begin playing this accompaniment (or one of your own creation if you prefer). You can print the sheet music here.
Step 5
Step 5With their fingers on a group of three black keys, have your students find melodies to match the two different rhythms. They can repeat the rhythms and melodies several times, alternating between the two… any combination is fine. They’ll be using their “made up melodies” (any combination of black keys matched to their chosen rhythms) for the duration of the duet.
Step 6
Once your students are comfortable using two cards, repeat this activity using two different cards. Then, repeat using four Valentine’s Improv Cards. Next, encourage them to embellish, explore their own rhythms, include other black keys… and have fun!
Add This To Your Improv Collection Too!
We love sharing Improv activities! Check out some other free improv printables we’ve shared below:
Find Your “Cool” With This Snowboarding Improv Activity For Elementary Level Piano Students
A Piano Improv Activity To Rock Your First Lessons Of The School Year
Janelle says
February 10, 2016 at 7:41 amI am SO excited to see this. This was one of my FAVORITE activities during Halloween. I loved seeing my students who are improv “shy” really take off with this activity, it’s just so valuable! Love it and love you guys, you have brought the joy back to teaching for me….and the joy back to learning for my students. Thank you!
Andrea says
February 10, 2016 at 10:03 amAwesome Janelle! We’ll have to do an Easter one too to set you up for all the holidays 😉
Tina Vernon says
February 10, 2016 at 8:02 amYou guys are AWESOME, thanks for sharing!
Andrea says
February 10, 2016 at 10:03 amHappy you’ll be using it Tina! I’ve had it in lessons for a few days now and my kiddos loved it – it’s so nice when something is set up so they can’t “make a mistake” – their creativity really flourishes 🙂
Maureen says
February 10, 2016 at 8:20 amAll I can say is you guys are geniuses! This looks like so much fun I can hardly wait to try it out!! (I still am having trouble fitting everything into a half hour lesson though!)
Andrea says
February 10, 2016 at 10:02 amHi Maureen – a good problem to have! Too much learning and too much fun 🙂 Once I learned how to let myself be “okay” with subbing in different learning activities during lesson time instead of the same routine each week then I felt much more free in terms of time (and my students certainly haven’t suffered for it). We did blog about this: https://www.teachpianotoday.com/2013/09/26/who-made-the-piano-method-book-rule/ AND https://www.teachpianotoday.com/2014/08/27/30-minutes-of-shock-and-awe-the-piano-teacher-trap-youll-want-to-avoid/
Benita says
February 10, 2016 at 11:00 amChristmas one was the first time I tried this and I loved it as much as my kidlets did! Thanks for a Valentine’s themed one! Adding it to the lessons right now 😀
Andrea says
February 10, 2016 at 2:25 pmGreat to hear Benita! 🙂
Katrina Palsky says
February 10, 2016 at 2:15 pmonly sad thing is that this is posted today and my earlier in the week students missed it! thanks for the great activity! tomorrow this will put smiles on a number of faces! win! win!
Andrea says
February 10, 2016 at 2:25 pmKatrina – if you don’t print the card back’s it’s a “love song” that can be created at any point in the year 😉
Marie says
February 10, 2016 at 11:11 pmFirst Halloween improv, then Christmas, and now Valentine’s. We even got our parents involved at our Christmas class recitals and everyone had a great time! These have been my favorite resources from you so far–thank you!
Andrea says
February 11, 2016 at 12:53 pmThat’s so fun Marie! Great idea to involve parents 🙂
Paula says
February 11, 2016 at 6:44 amHi Andrea and Trevor, I used this yesterday with two afternoon students and it was fantastic. It sparked creativity in one student she had not worked on during lessons with me yet and helped her work on rhythms as she is brand new to piano this term. Fun, and the accompaniment sounds so good! Thanks for this super fun activity! Sincerely, Paula, Vic, BC
Andrea says
February 11, 2016 at 12:53 pmAwesome Paula! I love those “aha moments” like she had – it’s my favorite part of teaching.
Nodira says
February 11, 2016 at 5:14 pmThank you so much Andrea and Trevor for your enthusiasm and encouragement to make each my lesson interesting, full of fun and same time full of knowledge!!! love your ideas, games and advises!!!
My students will love this improvisation cards, and previous “Puppy Love” game!!!!
Danielle says
February 12, 2016 at 10:35 amGenius!
Kristy says
January 27, 2017 at 8:26 amI also was thrilled to see this idea. My students LOVED the Halloween improv activity. This is the first time I’ve left a comment, but I so appreciate all of the wonderful ideas you come up with. I feel like I’ve been able to become a much more fun and prepared teacher because of all of the work you do for me. I just bought Fearless Fortissimo and am super excited to have some of my boy students start using it this week. Thanks for making piano fun!
Andrea says
January 27, 2017 at 11:01 amHi Kristy! Thanks for commenting 🙂 So glad you’ll have fun with this improv activity (and glad to hear you’re excited about Fearless Fortissimo!)
Allison says
February 7, 2017 at 9:53 amThis was so much fun. Also I just printed my piano for boys and the boys are super excited. We played the first song today. My daughter loved it too. She is begging me to order the next one.
Toni says
February 9, 2017 at 4:28 amThank you for these quick and easy “bursts of fun” for our lesson planning! Cannot wait to spoil my pupils with a valentines themed week of lessons. Really appreciate it! Love from Toni, Cape Town, South Africa.