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’re looking to pump up the fun in your lessons, then check out our game previews at the end of this post.
During Halloween, Christmas, Easter and various other holidays, our piano students’ excitement for lessons goes through the roof.
And it’s no wonder… check out any great piano teacher’s studio Instagram account or Facebook page around these holidays and you’ll see pictures of seriously inspired studios. What child wouldn’t want to play a spooky soundtrack as his teacher reads a Halloween ghost story? What student wouldn’t want to compose a musical letter to Santa Claus?
Holidays allow for themed piano lessons. Kids love themed piano lessons. Parents love teachers who create lessons that excite and motivate their children.
But what is a teacher to do about themed excitement when a holiday is over? Well… here is what I do…
When I Can’t Rely On Holidays For Excitement…
I fall back on my collection of piano games. Just as kids love learning about composing by writing musical letters to Santa, they also love gaining piano theory knowledge and ear training skills with the kooky and loveable game concepts we deliver each month to our PianoGameClub subscribers.
And this month’s PianoGameClub game set takes loveable and kooky to a whole new and wonderful level!
With games like Batty For Lightning Bugs, Tin Can Turmoil, Chip It, and Pit Crew Pandas… you can only imagine how excited your piano students will be to learn all about dynamic markings, sixteenth note rhythms, quarter, half and whole rests, and listening for beats in 4/4 time… no matter what time of year it may be!
Click on the image below to flip through sample pages from this month’s piano games and if you like what you see, visit PianoGameClub here to sign up today.
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I want to leave a word about fearless fortissimo. I purchased this series for my boys. I have two students in particular who are loving fearless. One of whom is my nine-year-old grandson. He usually comes to my house for piano but a couple of weeks ago, we had piano at his house. I went prepared ( or so I thought) with lots of things in my bag of tricks. But when I pulled out the fearless selection for next time, he said, “where is the COMIC BOOK?” It’s a small thing I know, but I am so grateful for you and the excitement you allow me to inject each week.
Hi Patsy – thanks so much for taking the time to write to us! We just love stories like this – and we’re happy that Fearless Fortissimo has sparked an interest for him 🙂 My own Grandma was a huge part of my musical life – what a gift you are giving to your grandson by teaching him to play piano 🙂
I honestly don’t think I could teach without games. I have one student who has to have his game before the lesson because “it gets me in the mood” to play. I appreciate the variety of games for reinforcing beginning skills too. Some of my little ones need multiple games for several skills, and you’ve provided them. My older students really benefit from the key signature games as well.
Hi Robbin – I can’t imagine lessons without them either anymore! Thrilled to hear that you’re enjoying the games and that they’ve found a happy place in your teaching studio!
I signed up for Piano Game Club last month, and my students have loved it! Cyclopstrich has been a big hit! On Tuesdays I have two sisters who take lessons back-to-back and their little brother always comes with them. He’s only 3 but he’s always asking to join in. So yesterday we all played Cyclopstrich together and they had so much fun!
I just got these games in my email this morning! Can’t wait to use them! 🙂
Hi Anna – so happy to hear it! We get a kick out of the fact that “Cyclopstrich” is now a household word in in “piano student land” – that game was fun to create – glad you’re getting great use out of it!
I do subscribe to your piano game club and love it. I need to give you an update on method of payment and am not sure of how to contact you.
I know you release previous books in the Piano Book Club each month, but do you ever release previous games from the game club for purchase? Or do you have a list somewhere that I could review to find a game purchase to meet a specific need in my studio? I’d love to get my hands on Tin Can Turmoil. And now after reading these posts and curious about Cyclopstrich!