If you’re like me, and your foot automatically hits the brakes when you see an office supply store, then you’ll appreciate the simple pleasure I get from wandering up and down aisles filled with pens, paper, and dividers.
I don’t know what it is… perhaps it’s the sense of uber-organization, perhaps it’s the way that binders and folders and envelopes all scream “Use me and make your life easier!”… or perhaps it’s the grand (and slightly embarrassing) welcome that I now get from the Staples employees at my local store.
In any case, I impulsively bought a pack of 1000 sheets of mailing labels the other day and then, feeling the need to immediately use them, challenged myself to see how I could turn them into useful piano teaching tools!
Piano Teaching Tools… That Stick!
With a little bit of consideration into what I need on a daily basis in my studio, I came up with 5 ways to use mailing labels in my piano studio. And… because we love to give things away on the Teach Piano Today blog, I’m sharing all of the templates I created in today’s post! These templates work with Avery 5160 labels or equivalent.
1. “What’s The Key?” Labels – I created these labels to stick to the top of my students’ pages before they begin new pieces. Each label quickly outlines the key, the key signature, and the primary chords in a piece. These are all things I want my piano students to be aware of as they explore their new pieces. Having the information on labels at the top of their music makes for quick and easy reference.
Teaching Tip: Have your students be the ones to fill out the labels. This quick moment of “mini score study” increases their overall understanding of their music.
2. “Anytime, Anywhere” Labels – My students frequently add pieces to their “anytime, anywhere” repertoire. These completed pieces require continuous review so they can truly be played “anytime, anywhere”. But as the year goes on, it’s easy to forget exactly which pieces are supposed to be continually reviewed. So, I stick these labels to the top of their music book pages, allowing my students to quickly flip through their binders or books and find their “anytime, anywhere” pieces to review during their home practice time.
Teaching Tip: Take time each lesson to quickly review these “anytime, anywhere” pieces. Having an extensive list of music your students can play “at the drop of a hat” is a valuable tool and your check-ins will ensure that the review is happening frequently at home.
3. Piano Parent Practice Labels – We shared this idea in a blog post last year, resulting in many teachers writing to us to say how effective these labels have been in encouraging parental participation in home practice. Piano Parent Practice Labels are used to encourage piano parents to be involved in home practice routines by giving them an easy way to provide fun feedback. See more information and the printable here.
Teaching Tip: When your students return to lessons with Piano Parent Practice Labels attached to their pieces, make a big deal about it! Encourage your students to continue the routine until their parents’ involvement becomes second nature.
4. “Where Do My Hands Go?” Labels – Do you frequently hear the “Where do my hands go?” question from your beginning piano students? This label template provides an easy visual solution. On the label, write the note names above the corresponding fingers, mark a dot over the “starting finger” on each hand, and then stick it to your students’ music to eliminate potential home practice roadblocks.
Teaching Tip: Have your students write the notes above each finger to practice independently using the cues in their music to decode the starting position.
5. Mini Keyboard Labels – We recently shared these labels in our “Eight Tiny Tools for Teaching Theory” post and teachers have been emailing “thank you!” ever since! Use these labels to easily provide a needed and lasting visual directly on your students’ pages to explain theory concepts such as chord inversions, intervals, fingering, note naming, etc. as they naturally occur in their music.
Teaching Tip: When using these labels as an “on the page reminder”, give the pen to your students and ask, “What could you draw on this keyboard label to help you remember… ?” This gives you valuable insights into how your students think and learn.
Now It’s Your Turn!
And now we want to know… if you had to add a label to our list above, what would that label be and what would it be used for? What are you constantly writing on your students’ music that could be replaced with a handy label? We’ll create labels for the most popular ideas and share them in a future post!
Jane Olson says
I think you must have read my mind…I’d been thinking of doing something along these lines, but you’ve gone and done it, better!!!
Amy says
I love the keyboard labels! I waste way too much time drawing them, despite my “quick method”! Off to buy labels today!!
Andrea says
Hi Amy – yes, I was always drawing “quick and ugly” keyboards – this is so much easier now! 🙂 Happy label shopping
Sylvia says
YES!!!!!!!!
Sue Ruby says
I give out “speeding tickets” for rushing through (I.e. Not counting) long notes and /or missed rests. The first one is a warning; second infractions create “fines”. Fines are payable usually in push-ups (5 for the first infraction, doubles with second infraction etc.) or with older students it may be actually $$ they then have to collect from their parents or pay to their parents.
Fines are also due for “Illegal use of the notes +/or illegal use of the hands”. Fines can be like 25 cents for every missed flat or after a few reminders, a particularly frequent mistake might cost $1.00! Suddenly they are far more focused at Least on not making that mistake.
Cindy Melrose says
Ooh, I love the “speeding ticket” idea. Going to do more brainstorming on fines – good thinking Sue!!
Melinda Workman says
My most common infraction would be not holding a half note for 2 beats! What is it about that poor half note?? The next most frequent would probably be skipping quarter rests…
Melinda says
Awesome! I have one parent who regularly uses the parent piano stickers and it always makes me so happy! So for a new one….hmm….what about one that has 3 bullet points and blank lines for “Focus Points”? I know I write in the notebook things like “dynamic contrast”, “faster tempo this week”, or “staccatos in LH”, etc. but sometimes I wonder if they are ever really read….I bet it would be more eye catching (especially if there were a simple color outline) and more apt to be read if it were on a label ON THE ACTUAL MUSIC.
Emily says
I write my comments in their dictation book while they’re playing the piece (or make marks in my own copy of their piece). When we discuss what needs improvement, I give them a pencil and encourage them to write their own notes directly on the piece. That way, they’re actively engaged while I’m talking about improvement points, the notes are in a format they understand, and it sticks in their heads a little longer 😉
Cindy says
Love the idea of “Focus Points” or something like that – I have my students write their own focus points on post it notes in hopes they will apply more because they wrote it…but I think the label sticker would be more of a novelty and perhaps noticed more then. I would also vote for a “speeding ticket” one – such a great idea!
Miriam Mweneake says
Just posted this in another post but maybe more appropriate here!
What about labels with (encouraging) constructive feedback/criticism for parents. Maybe use them alongside the other positive ones and encourage the students to work towards a positive sticker?
Melinda Workman says
LOVE this idea!!!
Sue Dugan says
Thanks for the great idea. I am always looking for ways to remind and encourage! I believe seeing it on the page will be considerably more efficient and visual than the notebook that the students have for assignments. I can think of many ways this could be expanded upon to make this work in the studio.
Barbara says
These are great! And kids LOVE stickers:)
How about ones that say how many times they will play the song each day. Maybe a fill-in the blank that the STUDENT could write in the number. Gives them a little more ownership of it.
Thanks for sharing these!
Andrea says
Great idea Barbara! Repetition stickers… I like it 😉
Melissa Slocum says
Thank you for these! I will be using them starting today – perfect for some transfer students I have. For a new label? What about treble and bass staffs that we can write a note or two on. To encourage note identification, I often draw a note like Treble G on a sticker and place it on the top of the piece. I ask the student to do a Scavenger Hunt in their piece and highlight all of the Treble G’s they can find. Sometimes I do one note in the treble and one in the bass. For older students it could be used for intervals, ledger notes, motive…?
Barbara says
Like this idea Melissa! Thanks for posting:)
Kathy says
Could you design one for preparing for a recital? Maybe with room for the date of the recital at the top of the label and boxes for days of the week under it for checking off whenever the student plays through it performance-style at home?
Amber Pitre says
Yes, this would help parents know what piece is for recital too 🙂
Krista Woelk says
Love the where do my hands go!! I somehow have kids asking this even though I’ve been teaching them how to find the starting position in their own. I have them choose their RH or LH and they then show me the first note it plays in the music, name the note and tell me which finger number plays it. They then find that on the piano. And repeat with other hand. This way I can have the students fill in the sticker like you showed and feel more confident that they are practicing their song correctly.
Sarah Garrard says
They don’t seem to do these size labels in the UK?!
Andrea says
Hi Sarah – I found them on Amazon.co.uk at this link 🙂 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Avery-5160-Address-Labels-2-Pack/dp/B001O7F5O4
Diane Quick says
For theory exercises/rhythm – when it says clap and tap – why not play anywhere on keys (make up music) and count. Have a selection of which to use, or specific keys. Or not just name notes but play 1 or 2 of examples a day, which includes do not write down the note names only say them..
Mallory says
I’m constantly drawing googly eyes on my students’ music to indicate “Watch the dynamics!” “Look out! This is where you move you hand!” Etc. Some goofy eyeballs would be fun to have as printable stickers.
Amber Pitre says
Yes, I often draw glasses and arrows to show they should look at the beginning of the next line to prepare, even while playing the end of this line.
Linnea Good says
I got a template for sticking 2×2″ sticky-notes to it and running it through the printer. So, I have made the same kind of sticker-reminders for music, but which do not stay permanently on the page. This helps me in my wish to not add too much more stuff to a visually full page.
Melinda Workman says
I have thought that it might be nice to be able to use smaller sized labels for this very reason. And also to fit more to a page! But mostly so it doesn’t take up too much room.
Amber Pitre says
Love these ideas 🙂 What about…
Spot practice bars:_______________
Jacqueline says
Amazing!! What size labels do you use to print these? I’m soo excited to use these right away!!
Andrea says
Hi Jacqueline – I use Avery 5160
Sarah says
Thank you Andrea! You always seem to solve my teaching problems just when I need it the most! I have used your keyboard labels a lot! Now I can use the rest they will all be very handy for students especially the where do my hands go labels. Another idea would be one of your practice spots (emoji face) letting the student know to practice this “spot” or piece this week and perhaps a goal of how many times? What days? I know lots of my kids don’t open their communication notebooks so having a colourful spot reminder on pieces would help. No excuses for not remembering what to practice then! Thanks
Colleen says
I already do this with purchased smiley or emoji stickers. They’re just the right size.
Andrea says
Emoji stickers are SO useful aren’t they Colleen?! 🙂
Susan says
I like the keyboard stickers and printed them out today and used them this afternoon already….big thanks.
I use stop signs….a grandparent of a former student prints them for me….lots and lots to a page. I’ll put them on the music showing where to stop playing HT (hands together) My students seem to really like them. I also like the speeding tickets mentioned above:)
Anna Goldthorpe says
My idea would be for a metronome label. I really like my students to gradually work up to the correct speed of a piece to eliminate simple mistakes often made by playing too fast too quickly. I’m forever writing tempo speeds on my kids music and having them check mark off each speed when they have mastered it.
Teresa says
I am glad you made these. I habe been using your mini keyboard on many students songs but these I am always drawing by hand. Thanks for making my job a little easier.
Andrea says
Always happy to make a piano teacher’s job easier! 🙂 Glad you can use them Teresa!
sally says
I love these, but I cannot find suitable labels in uk. I tried the link as posted by someone else (for Amazon) but they are not in stock. I’ve tried cut and paste and all kinds of stuff to get them to fit my labels but nothing is working! Help!!!!
Andrea says
Hi Sally – sorry about that! It’s tough for us to know product availability in other countries 🙂 We chose Avery as they are the most widely-used brand in the USA and Canada. You are more than welcome to use our ideas and create your own label templates for what is available to you. Most labels have online templates you can use to customize them easily.
Peggy says
Thanks so much for sharing your sticker ideas! Another use for mini staves would be to write out ornaments . I have often drawn tiny little staves which can turn out to be messy looking.
An idea for beginning readers: Bullet points outlining a good approach to a new piece, such as… 1. Fly overhead (analyze) 2. clap and count 3. Play on the lid 4. H.S. on the keys 5. H.T. working in bites each day.
Linda says
I am going use my round stickers to print out pizza pies with 6 slices. When the student plays their piece perfectly, they can draw ONE piece of pepperoni on ONE of the pizza slices on the pizza sticker. I call them the “PRACTICALLY PERFECT PEPPERONI PIZZAS!” I am a new subscriber to your stuff and I am so glad I found you guys!
Drema says
I totally know what you mean, Andrea. I walk into Staples or any organization-related aisle in the store and I feel this anticipation and excitement to see what ideas come up when I see certain items. It can really become an extracurricular activity or hobby or something!
I walk into Staples feeling happy the other day. I love stationary! I just have to be careful not to get carried away and pick up things I don’t need at the moment! Haha!!
Ruth Michaelis says
LOVE THESE!!! Thanks!
Amy Clovis says
Thank you for the “where do my hands go” stickers. They are absolutely perfect! I used a whole sheet the first week. How have I lived without them?
Paula Laskowski says
I love these labels. I have used the parent encouragement labels and have had resounding approval from my piano parents. Thanks!
Sherry says
An outstanding set of labels. Thanks for creating and sharing!
Jessica says
Awesome! I would add a tempo meter and dynamic meter sticker label. I have tempo meter I created for my students that looks a car speedometer and includes metronome markings, tempo terms, and clip art of animals at different speeds. Have student mark where on the “speedometer” that piece should be. For a dynamic meter I have seen several versions that look like thermometers pianissimo at bottom and fortissimo at top. The student can mark the range of how loud and soft that piece gets.
Lynnette Emme says
I always thought customizable stickers would be so handy! I’ve thought maybe stamps, but mailing labels as stickers=genius. For longer recital songs that a student is playing potentially for 2 or more months, I started writing 5-7 goals before finishing a song. Like: Notes, Rhythm, Completed, Dynamics, LH Quieter(or RH if accompaniment), Memorized, Performance(in recital). This gives them a small goal to complete each week. I’ve just been writing them out in a list at the beginning of their recital song. Then when they complete one of the goals, I put a check mark and they put a really fun sticker anywhere on their recital piece, but I think I’ll be formatting a mailing label to suit my needs! You guys are amazing as always 🙂
Sandra Jones says
I would definitely use the Where Do I Put My Hands label, as well as the Anytime Anywhere labels. Great idea!
Debbie Smith says
These labels are wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing. I especially like the key/cadence chord label and the hand position label, but all of them are great.
C says
Thank you for these. Would love some small staff labels – same size as the keyboard labels. Handy to write notes onto!
Laura Lowe says
I’d make one with a blank staff. Another with 6 emoty circles. I often draw those on the top of a piece and tell the student to check a circle for every day they practice the piece. More immediate than a separate practice chart.