Once a month, Andrea 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.
On the final Monday of piano lessons a few years ago I forgot to get my piano students an end-of-year gift (I blamed it on baby-induced sleep deprivation).
I felt awful. I like to thank my piano students for letting me be their teacher, and sending them off for the summer without a little gift left my teaching year feeling incomplete. Fortunately, I recovered from my baby brain, and every year since I’ve been able to send my kids off for the summer with a little parting gift.
In my early teaching years, I would give my students a music-inspired trinket. These days though, rather than a trinket, I like to send my kiddos home with a gift that does double-duty… a gift that makes them feel appreciated and keeps their musical minds moving.
The “Two Birds With One Stone” Piano Student Gift
If you are looking for an end-of-year gift that will make your kids feel appreciated and inspire them to exercise their musical minds, then you may want to send them home with one of our games from Teach Piano Today’s PianoGameClub.
Our games are fun, funny, and attractive. And because we send our members four new games each and every month, you will have a gift that meets the needs of each and every one of your piano students.
Below is a picture of how I package up a game as an-end-of year gift for piano students. Inside the two-pocket folder is the game board, the cards and the “how to play” sheet… everything they need to have “piano theory fun” at home during the summer with siblings or parents.
Preview May’s Games Below
If you are not already a member of PianoGameClub and think that receiving new piano games every month like Mighty Mares, Snap and Be Snapped, Waddle To The Warm Land and Nutty For Note Stems sounds exciting, then click on the image below to see sample pages from May’s set.
If you like what you see and want to become a member of PianoGameClub, visit PianoGameClub here to sign up today for just $8 a month.
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Jennifer says
What a fabulous idea! 🙂
Andrea says
Quick and easy – the “piano teaching requirements” right Jennifer?! 🙂
Carrie says
Hi Andrea–this is an amazing idea and I’m reeeealllly considering doing it this year.
My question is, how much do you normally spend on printing games? Color printing seems to be so expensive wherever I go, so I started printing in black and white for my games, but I’m missing all of the beautiful colors and I think the kids miss them too 🙂
Any printing strategies/advice?
Andrea says
Hi Carrie – I print everything at Staples as I’ve found it to be way less than home ink (although some teachers have the HP Instant ink subscription which is really good value). For gifts I print just the game board and the card set in color (yes, it makes a real difference to kids to have color!) and then the “how to play” page in black and white. This works out to 5 color copies at $0.40 cents at Staples and then one at $0.10 for the B&W page. I get my two pocket folders in bulk off Amazon so they’re next to nothing. In total it’s approximately $2.75 per student for a gift. Pretty cost-effective and yet makes a great, professional impression 🙂
Carrie says
Excellent! Thank you, can’t wait to get started!
Lacey says
We have LOVE the piano games and have always wondered how you package them to send them home. For our “game library” for students to borrow games, we tried shoeboxes, binders, small craft boxes, but everything came back in such disarray that we stopped sending them home. But this makes it perfect – they get to take the games home and KEEP them! Thank you for all of the wonderful resources!
Andrea says
Hi Lacey – wonderful! For my lending library I put the games into a two-pocket folder and then tuck the entire thing in to a freezer size Ziploc bag – it works great for a “back and forth” arrangement. Cards, dice etc. can all be put in a small ziploc baggie that is tucked inside the 2 pocket folder 🙂
Jennifer says
Another product I use to keep all the pieces in one place is C-Line Clear Polypropylene Zip Shop Ticket Holders, size 8.5 x 11. You can get a box of 50 for about $16 at Amazon and it is the perfect size and heavier than freezer ziploc bags. Here is a link to this product on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00128H0TS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Michelle Miller says
Andrea! I forgot to tell you! I did this last year and they were a hit!!!!! I am going to have to do it again this year…there have been requests. 😉
Andrea says
That’s wonderful Michelle! So glad to hear it was a hit! 🙂
David Bridge says
What a brilliant idea! I have been a game club member for less than a year now. Is there a way to catch up on the goodies I’ve missed? I’m sure I’m not the only one who would like to play catch up.
Trevor says
Hi David – not at the moment, but we promise that as you continue your membership you’ll build up an amazing library! 🙂
David Bridge says
Thanks, Trevor! I am already using the ones I have, and love them! Looking forward to what the future brings. Thanks for all you do.