Once a month, Trevor and I take a quick break from our regular blog posts to share the latest games from our monthly resource PianoGameClub. If you’ve been thinking about pumping up the fun in your studio with game-based learning, check out the previews in this post.
Right now, most piano teachers who take a short break for the summer (like me) are looking ahead to the next school year and are hunting down those re-registration replies.
After all, this time of year is both the best and worst time for piano lesson re-registration. March and April are simply too far in advance to secure a commitment that matters… and July and August are too late to capture families whose minds have switched to vacation mode.
And so, with absolutely no other choice, May and June represent re-registration season in my studio. This (of course) is horribly ironic and stressful, because with summer approaching and spring activities encroaching, the focus on piano lessons can start to fade…
Which is exactly what I don’t want to happen during re-registration season! 🙂 When those forms get sent home I need them going home in the hands of students who are begging to come back to piano lessons.
So, at this time of year, I rely heavily on piano games to provide provide the fun, yet educational focus my students need to stay excited about piano lessons. There’s nothing that makes me smile more then seeing a piano student race to my studio door even when the sun is shining and other kids are at the beach or the park.
And I’m betting his parents are smiling too 🙂
If, like me, you’re thinking a game-based approach to piano lessons might help with the little re-registration boost your piano families need at this time of year, click the image below to see a preview of the four games we are sending out this month to our PianoGameClub subscribers… and then if you like what you see visit PianoGameClub here.
A Closer Look At May’s Piano Games
Alligator Eatz – Reinforcing Steps and Skips
This silly game in the swamp will be frightfully fun for your pianos students as they learn to recognize steps vs. skips on the staff. Can they skillfully dodge the alligators lurking below the swamp’s surface?
Dirt Road Dragway – Understanding Key Signatures
Everyone thinks that slow and steady wins the race but in this reenactment of The Tortoise And The Hare, the story may end differently! This game is an exhilarating race to the finish that reinforces understanding of how notes are affected by a key signature.
Sewer Scoot – Aural Recognition of Chord Progressions
Nobody wants to spend any more time in the sewers then they have to… but it’s going to take a student’s good ear and a bit of luck to escape the dangers lurking behind every wrong turn. Students will have a blast learning to aurally identify various I, IV and V7 chord progressions in this game that definitely does not stink 😉
Slumbersaurus – Reinforcing Recognition of Note Values
The dozy dinosaur looks pretty peaceful curled up in the little cave.. and it’s best your students leave her that way. Your littlest kiddos are bound to have a blast learning note values while trying to note wake the Slumbersaurus.
Learn More About PianoGameClub…
If you’ve enjoyed the previews of our May Piano Game Collection be sure to head on over to PianoGameClub to learn more about this exciting resource from Teach Piano Today that delivers for new games each month for just $8.
Thanks for this post…. the first thing on my to-do list after my spring piano recital was to rejoin Piano Game Club! Super reminder! My students love these games, and they are a vital part of my lesson plans. I took a break from the club during recital prep time, but now it’s time for new games! Thank you!
Hi Bonnie – so happy to hear your students love the games and that they’ve found an important place in your lesson planning 🙂 Congrats on finishing your recital!
Are these games to be played one on one, or can they be played in a group format?
Thanks!
The games are generally for two players (teacher and student, or two students) but many can be played with more than two. Sometimes you have to be creative and change the rules a little to make it work, or print out more pieces (game boards, etc.) Of course, you could also have multiple games going on at the same time in a group setting. 🙂 The fun of having a printing licence! 🙂
Re-registration is on my mind right now too! This week I needed a break from recital pieces and I feel my students needed it too. So out game all my piano games. It’s been nice to have a more relaxed and fun week of lessons and play games with my students! We also had group classes last week where my students played a number of your games 🙂
What sort of form do you send home to families regarding re-registration? Hadn’t though of doing that before.
Students and parents have so much fun in class because of Andrea and Trevor’s games. Thank you so much!
I am confused. A couple months ago I joined $8.00 a month to get music. I have loved what I first got though I am behind in my emails right now for ensuing months. Is the game club a separate $8.00 a month? If so will there be other offers. I am new to you and love your stuff but don’t want to be confused:)