It’s that time of year when piano teachers everywhere are either breathing a sigh of relief… or hyperventilating into a paper bag. Yes… it’s spring recital time! And whether you’re finished (and on the “sigh of relief” team) or if you are still in the midst of preparations, the last thing you probably want to think about is planning for the lessons that follow your recital.
Let’s face it; you really just want to lay under a lilac tree with a lemonade. Am I right?!
Well, get that lawn chaise ready, because today’s article is a round-up of our best post-recital lesson activities and resources that will make you look like a piano teaching superhero… leaving your piano parents to marvel “How on earth do you have the time?!”
Shhh… it’s our little secret 😉
Your Post-Recital Plan For Amazing Lessons
For teaching awesomeness in the lessons that follow a recital, check out our five resources below. You will be able to deliver exciting and meaningful post-recital lessons without breaking a sweat.
1. Reflect On Recital Success With Our Mad Lib Printable
Teaching your students to reflect on their piano performances is a valuable learning experience that can actually be a lot of fun! What went well? What needed work? Which preparations contributed to a successful performance?
Turn these moments of reflection into an “Extra! Extra!” news story with the fun printable below. By asking your students a few simple questions, you can turn their answers into a special keepsake that will mark their recital as a celebrated occasion with a bit of self-awareness thrown in for good measure.
2. Connect With Studio Parents Uaing Our Email Template
Sending a follow-up email to parents after your recital is a meaningful, relationship-building gesture. Your students will love the “warm-fuzzies”, and your piano parents will be reminded of the joy they felt while watching their children perform. Any chance you have to connect with piano parents is valuable, and this “ready-made” template makes it easy to personalize a kind message to each of your students.
Check out the email template here and spread the “recital love”
3. Let Loose On The Keys With Some Summertime Improv
Recital pieces get a real workout in the weeks leading up to your recital. It’s likely that your students are a bit sick of their piano books. So… it’s the perfect time to jump into improv and have some fun on the keys.
Even if you’ve never taught improv before, our print-and-play approach makes it easy. Simply hand your students the improv card set and, once they’re ready, jam along with them using the accompanying teacher duet!
Print out our Summertime Blues Improv pack and get ready to have an enjoyable lesson!
4. Mark The Occasion With A Bonus Photo Prop!
Our Piano Teaching Photo Props show up in my Instagram feed every single day. We absolutely love to see piano kids celebrating their successes with proud smiles! Our previous sets of photo props already contained a “My First Piano Recital” printable, but today we’re sharing a photo prop you can use with all of your students who participated in your recital!
Download The “Wowed The Crowd” photo prop here.
5. Have A Blast With Piano Theory and Ear Training Games!
A fabulous way to bring the fun back into lessons after weeks of recital prep is with some quirky and laugh-out-loud piano games! PianoGameClub members have a library of games to choose from that work wonders during post-recital lessons. If you’re not already a member, click here to learn how you can receive 4 new piano games each and every month for just $8 a month.
Heidi BALL says
I just used the recital mad lib yesterday with my students. They even enjoy it the second year! It’s not every day that they hear themselves being celebrated. I keep a copy of my recital program so they can look through it and recall a piece they’d like to play. That is one of my favorite parts. The answers give you insight into what they enjoy. Great tool!
Andrea says
Hi Heidi – so glad you were able to use it and that they enjoyed the activity. Love the idea of using your program to plan future repertoire choices! Thanks for commenting 🙂
Sarah says
I pulled-out last year’s “Extra Extra” post-recital mad-libs and we’re going thru them at this year’s pre-recital lessons. Great stuff!
Leigh says
I always love your photo props! Wished I had had this one for using at my recital yesterday, but I’m downloading it now to use it this fall. Thank you for knowing us all so well and knowing I needed help and inspiration to prepare for private lessons and a group lesson Tuesday even when my brain is exhausted from our recital just yesterday on Sunday.
Andrea says
Hi Leigh – yay! Your recital is over 🙂 Enjoy the sigh of relief! Glad you’ll be able to use the photo prop in the future.
Caroline says
As always, kudos on such great, helpful ideas, Andrea! A bit embarrassed to ask/say this but Im a bit of a techno-dino and dont have an Instagram account. How do you use the photo-prop (ie. is it Instagram specific)?
Trevor says
Hi Caroline – the Photo Prop is simply printed out like a traditional poster or sign. Your student holds it and you take a picture which you can then email to parents, post to Instagram or Facebook etc. It acts as a “prop” in the photo to make it memorable and interesting (and super cute). Note: It’s very important to be sure you have written permission before posting student photos.
Caroline says
Got a few smiles and chuckles while using the Mad Lib; thank you!
Andrea says
So glad, Caroline! 🙂