If there is one thing my piano students look forward to all year, it’s recording their own CDs. Every spring, some of my students take their own compositions and turn them into “aural yearbooks”. The entire process, from the mini “recording sessions” to the photo shoots and album designs, is meaningful, memorable, and fun!
When sharing photos of the CD covers I create for my students on social media, I am inevitably asked “How do you do this?!” and so today I thought I’d share answers to my most “Frequently Asked CD Creation Questions”.
A Step-By-Step Guide To *Simple* CD Recording
If you love the CD Recording idea but are worried that a) you have no idea what you’re doing in this area… or b) it sounds like too much work, then you’ll be happy to know that I also have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to professional recording techniques and I have absolutely no extra time. And yet, I’m still able to make it work in a way that is special for families and motivating for my students.
The point of this project is NOT to create a “studio quality” CD (I do not spend hours mixing recordings or agonizing over sound quality). Instead, you will be giving your students a little memento of their year in piano lessons; a super cool keepsake that makes them feel like a rock star. Before I get to your frequently asked questions, here’s an example of some of the CDs I’ve created this spring.
1. What Do I Need To Be Able To Do This?
I use very basic equipment to create my piano student CDs. Feel free to modify and use what is available to you. Below is simply a run-down of what I personally use; there are other ways to accomplish the same goal.
- A computer or smart phone
- The Garage Band app
- A keyboard with a MIDI connection or a microphone with a USB connector (you will need an adapter if you will be plugging directly into your phone or tablet instead of a computer)
- A free graphic design program (I use a combination of Pixelmator and Canva)
- Student compositions
- Blank CDs with hard plastic cases
- Glossy card stock (or access to an office supply store)
2. What Kind Of Planning Goes Into This?
- Have your students select the pieces that they will be recording. Give them a recording date and communicate this date with their parents (recording takes a ton of time if your parents haven’t hounded their kids to practice).
- Schedule a “photo shoot” date if you will be using student photographs for the CD Cover art. I hold this during regular lesson times and we simply take 10 minutes to snap a few photos (I use my iPhone camera). Before taking the pictures, have your piano students decide on themes for their CD cover art. Take your photos with their themes in mind (for example, one student wanted to be “flying with an eagle”… this meant a certain pose was required LOL!). Always obtain written parent permission to display photos of their children in any way online.
3. How Can I Record My Piano Students?
- Sound quality is best if you can record directly into Garage Band using a keyboard MIDI connection. If you can’t do this, don’t sweat it! Kids equally appreciate a recording done through a simple microphone or, if you don’t have access to Garage Band, the “voice recording” function on your phone. Keep the end goal in mind and don’t worry if you can’t match “studio quality”… edits and adjustments to sound can be made in Garage Band (or not… it’s up to you!).
- Make a big deal about recording day! Give your kiddos cool headphones, take pictures, and celebrate! This makes it all the more special. “Recording Day” is simply one or two lessons scheduled during your students’ regular lesson times.
- Don’t fret about little mistakes… this is a yearbook… a true, honest snapshot of their progress. Kids get discouraged and frustrated if they feel like they have to have an absolutely perfect recording. I remind my students that professional artists take *months* to record an album.
4. The Cover Art Is Amazing! How Do You Do It?
- You can create CD Cover art in 3 ways: 1) photograph your students, delete the backgrounds and then photoshop them onto fun backgrounds purchased from a stock photography website 2) Photograph your students in pretty locations and use the natural backgrounds and then add the text in a program like Canva, or 3) Purchase stock photography and create a “graphic only” album cover with no student photographs. Examples of all three of these options are included in the photos in this post.
- Inner album liners can be the same or different as the front cover. I list the pieces we recorded (the “tracks”) and try to keep the same graphic themes as the front covers.
- CD covers are 4.75 x 4.75 inches. Size them correctly, and then print them on glossy photo stock or ask your your local office supply store to do so.
5. Any Tips For A Newbie?
If you are not careful, this project can easily become a runaway train. Learn from my experience and set the following guidelines with your students.
- Students should create CDs with a maximum of four tracks (this is a manageable amount of material to perfect, record, burn etc.) You can expand the project as you get more experience, but four is a perfect place to start.
- Students can select a general “feel” or “theme” for their CD covers but you ultimately create it (too much student input makes this very time consuming).
- If you have a very large studio you may want to consider holding a contest or practice incentive where the winner(s) get the opportunity to create CDs, otherwise you might be bogged down with hundreds of recordings.
- If you are really good with photo editing, take photos of your students and (using Pixelmator or Adobe Photoshop) “cut them out” of the background. This enables you to then place their images on any backdrops.
- You’ll need to export your recorded files (however you obtained them) into iTunes to convert them to an mp3 format. Keep the files organized by creating a playlist for each student. Once their playlist is complete, insert a blank CD and select File->burn playlist to Disc.
Work… That’s Worth It
Recording CDs takes a bit of extra planning and time, however it’s TOTALLY worth it! Your students will be motivated to practice, proud of their end results, and excited to return for another year of piano lessons.
This project is also the *perfect* summer lesson project if you’re looking for a way to make piano lessons more appealing and motivating during July and August. It can also work as a replacement for a piano recital, a way of providing a “progress report” to parents, or as a student reward for goals achieved!
Will you be giving this a try? Share in the comments below!
Whitney says
Do you just have one recording day? Or do you record over the years time?
Carol says
As usual, you and your site inspire me! This summer my studio is working on composing and improv with the goal being to record a studio cd at the end of August! LOVE the idea of doing cover artwork. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and recommendations for doing that. As usual – perfect timing! 🙂
Andrea says
Hi Carol – so glad it was good timing for you! Definitey check out Canva.com – they have an “album cover” template section that makes it really easy if it’s the first time you done graphic design. If it’s not the first time… have fun! I just love creating these as I know how excited my students get about them 🙂
Natalie Whittington says
Love this idea! We are already using Musescore to print out hard copies of composed music, so this will be a step up! Thanks for sharing.
Amy says
I’ve been doing student CDs for about 8 years. During the last lesson of each month, each student records their favorite/best piece that they’ve been working on. It only takes a minute or two during lessons! At the end of the year, they have a “greatest hits” CD that shows their progress throughout the year
Melinda Workman says
I love this idea to do one a month! That makes it very doable! And if students know this is coming up, they’ll likely have more focus on at least ONE of the pieces they work on. 🙂
Karen says
I love this idea of one a month too!!!! I have been doing CDs for years and I find myself getting behind sometimes. I like your idea of 4 tracks. This year I finally set a goal of 10 tracks for students. One student did it easily. Nothing else it made the job more manageable realizing I wasn’t going to do as many as we could!!
Laura Gray says
Feeling inspired by your blog…as always, thanks! Looks like a perfect summer project!
Andrea says
Hi Laura – Glad you’re inspired! It really is lots of fun and is perfect for the summer!
Melinda Workman says
I had a student do this last summer to create a CD for a Christmas gift for family. I also had a student who was really upset that I had to move take me up on my suggestion to create a CD together from the book How to Rock Your First Recital, so she could remember our music time together. I use the free recording program Audacity and export as an mp3 to drag and drop into to iTunes to burn. What I’m NOT yet good at is cover art, so it’s my new goal to become more comfortable in this area so it can become a traditional “end of year gift” to my students and look really nice too!
Andrea says
Hi Melinda – I really recommend Pixelmator if you’re going to play around more with graphics. Using the “magic eraser” tool you can get rid of any background an then superimpose the image of your student onto any photo. It’s really fun. Adding a filter overtop makes it all “fit” and look realistic. Have fun!
Karen says
Thank you for this article Andrea! I love the ideas! I have been wondering though….I’m running into more families that do not have a way to listen to CDs. Do you have any suggestions? I would love for them to have this tangible gift but without the cost of 30 USB drives.
Andrea says
LOL – well that’s showing my age isn’t it?! I just assume all cars have CD players (ha ha you can tell what I drive now, yes?!) 😉 Hmmm… You could create a SoundCloud account for each of your students and display the “cover art” by each recording?
Elizabeth E says
This is the best idea ever. My youngest kids absolutely freak out if they think for a second that they’re on the the Internet, almost like they’re already famous. I love the cover art idea. This is a fantastic Christmas present to be making over the summer!!
Andrea says
This definitely taps in to that “I’m famous” excitement! Have fun with it Elizabeth! 🙂
Sandy says
I put my kids on YouTube and send the link to parents
Andrew J. Young says
What an amazing idea. I’m so going to have to do this when I can. The process doesn’t sound to hard. I might even ask people at my church to see if they could help. Wow!!! Exceptional idea. Thanks.
Becky Barber says
Totally intimidated, yet totally inspired and determined. Thanks for all the effort you put into sharing your ideas with others! I have been SO richly blessed!
Andrea says
The best thing is that you can make it as simple as you want to Becky! 🙂 There’s lots of tools out there to help so just go for it! Thanks for your kind words <3
Dianne Porter says
I teach my students how to record or sequence in my production keyboard which is a Yamaha Motif XS8. Using 16 tracks. I record my CDs using this sequencer as well. Then we have a recital with parents to play them. We could make CDs using the students’ sequences but we never have.
Patricia Russell says
Did this 5 years ago for Mother’s Day, but got the children to draw/create their own cover….
your idea brings it to a new “Techie” level….just ❤️ it! X
lynn kiesewetter says
great idea! but WHERE DO YOU GET THE ENERGY??
“I’ll have what she’s having,” I said to the barkeep/smoothie maker.
Kara W says
Ok, I’m a little intimidated, but I’m totally taking this idea and making it my own this year. We’re going to make a CD of “semester highlights” and that will be everyone’s Christmas gift this year. (In the past, I’ve always done Christmas gifts, but as the studio grows, that’s getting less practical – this is the perfect solution!) I plan on “premiering” the CD at the Christmas party! My teens are actually showing levels of excitement about this project, which already deems it a win in my book!
Valerie W says
This is just so awesome! I’m going to do this next year. My camcorder was not working at my year end recital and so I have no recording of my students this year. If I make the CDs, at least I won’t have to worry if I can’t record the recital. Thank you!!!
Andrea says
Hi Valerie! You’re welcome – students absolutely love this project – hope you have fun with it! 🙂
Mary says
Hi Andrea, is it OK to use pieces composed by others, say..a piece by Andrea Dow for instance? Also, do you record the student part only, or the duet with the teacher? Thanks. 🙂
Andrea says
Hi Mary – you’d need to check copyright permissions – I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m happy to have my compositions recorded! A great way around it is to have your students compose their own pieces for a recording project 🙂
Cathy Cook says
My digital baby grand records to a flash drive, so throughout the year whenever a student polishes a song he/she likes, we record it during a regular lesson. It encourages them to work on dynamics and so on, and gives their parents some insight into their improvement. I really think it will become more valuable as they get older. I would give anything to have some recordings of my own as a beginner and as I improved.
Andrea says
That’s such a fabulous routine to get into! Thanks for sharing, Cathy!
Cathy Cook says
I got my first digital piano with a disc drive in about 2007, and replaced it last year with one that has a flash drive. Each of my students gets a CD every year, usually given out at my spring recital. When they perfect a song to the point that we are both satisfied, we record it at their regular weekly lesson. We do this throughout the year, and most students have 6-18 songs on their CDs. When I have enough songs on the flash drive (last time it was 95!), I put into my computer, convert them on my midi to wave computer program, and put each song into the appropriate student’s folder. It is so simple to make the CD at the end of the year. I take a picture of each student at the piano and make an individualized CD cover. Most of them have no idea how much they will appreciate this in coming years.
Andrea says
AMAZING! I love this 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing!