Hosting a Bring a Buddy Day at your piano studio is a brilliant marketing strategy that builds community, increases word-of-mouth and provides a welcome break from regular lesson routines.
If you have never hosted a Bring A Buddy Day before, the event is a ton of fun! It begins with your current piano students inviting a friend to attend a piano lesson. Then, when the friend arrives, she is treated to a fun-filled lesson designed to include the “buddy” in ways that are appropriate to her abilities. And, of course, it ends with an explosion of great publicity for your studio.
Great, right? But… the thought of hosting one (and the extra work it involves) may be causing you to press pause… until today!
In the post below, we’re giving you everything you need (printables and more!) to easily organize and host a Bring a Buddy Day at your piano studio. Your students will love having a friend come along to lessons, and you may just end up with a waiting list of new students eager to come back for more!
Hosting A “Bring A Buddy Day” At Your Piano Studio
With a few carefully-planned activities, our free printables, and a bit of organization, you can easily hold a “Bring A Buddy Day” at your studio this month. First, download our Bring A Buddy Day Preparation Pack here (it’s free!) Then, follow our step-by-step plan below:
1. Advertise and Invite: Give your piano families two weeks’ notice in advance of Bring A Buddy Day (longer that and they’ll forget, shorter than that and their friends may make other plans). Ask your students to invite a friend to their piano lessons during the Bring A Buddy week. You can use my email template below to inform the parents of your current students. Then, fill out your information on the back of the Bring a Buddy Invitation Cards (included in our package, print double-sided) and give them to your students to pass on to their friends.
Dear Parents,
I’m excited to announce that the week of ________ will be “Bring A Buddy” week at the studio! Your children will have the opportunity (should you choose) to invite a friend of their choice to attend our “Bring A Buddy” piano lessons. This is a fabulous opportunity for your children to take on a leadership role in their lessons by sharing their piano expertise with their peers. Their “Bring A Buddy” lesson will include fun on the piano, off-bench theory activities and lots of learning that I know your children will really enjoy.
I will be sending home Bring A Buddy Invitation Cards next week. Your children can use these cards to invite their friends to lessons during the week of _____. Please RSVP via email with the name of the friend who will be attending with your child.
2. Plan and Organize: Keeping the Bring A Buddy piano lesson simple is key. Plan three, 10-minute activities that your students will complete with their buddies. Be sure to include one activity at the piano, one off-the-bench activity, and one game-based activity.
3. Mark the Special Occasion: Bring A Buddy Day is something to celebrate! To help mark the occasion, have your students and their friends hold the photo prop included in our Bring A Buddy Day Preparation Pack (see above) while you snap a picture that can be sent to their parents. Always ensure you have written parental permission from all children if you will be publicly posting any photos.
4. Send Home Something Special: Complete your Bring A Buddy Day by sending home a little something special. To do this, print out the “Thanks For Coming” cards included in the Bring A Buddy Day Preparation Pack. On the back of the cards mark down your studio information (consider printing out mailing labels with your contact info that can be stuck to the back). Finally, attach a small treat or a copy of a game or activity you played in the lesson, and then send it home with your kids to make a fabulous first impression on new families in your community while giving them an easy to connect if they want to.
A Few Extras To Make The Day Work
You may already have activities to plan an enjoyable Bring A Buddy Day, but if you’re scratching your head wondering what you can do, here are some suggestions:
- Improvise: On the Teach Piano Today blog we’ve shared many printable improv activities that can be modified for a “not-so-musical” friend. Complete the activity as presented, making any adjustments and simplifications as needed.
- Play a Piano Game: We share many free activities and games on the WunderKeys website. Many of these early concepts can be explained by your students to their “buddies”. In doing so your student gets the chance to be the teacher and benefit from a great learning moment.
- Create a Duet: Teaching favorite rote pieces (heart and soul, chopsticks, etc.) are popular for a reason… they’re fun! Engage both of your students (new and old!) with a little bit of learn-by-ear awesomeness.
- Use Hands-On Activities We’ve shared lots of easy-to-play, off-bench games that your buddies can have fun playing together (Try our Marshmallow Note Reading, Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy, or Pond Hopping activities)
Planning this event in your studio is easier than you may think… and, armed with our helpful package of printables, you can open your doors and let a whole new set of families allowing them to see just how fabulous piano lessons with you could be! Will you be giving this a try? Have you hosted a Bring A Buddy lesson before? Comment below to share.
Barbara says
Too cute! Such a great way to make lessons more fun for the “regulars!” The kids will LOVE the photo prop…they all like to have their pic taken!! Thanks for a fabulous idea and the prep-pack to make it easy!
Andrea says
Hi Barbara – you’re ‘so welcome! It’s a lot of fun for the kids to share their piano lesson experience – they get a great sense of pride out of it. Plus… other kids in your community get to see how cool piano lessons can be! 🙂
Jennifer Groover says
Been wanting to do this, and now I have even more reason to do so! Thanks!!
Andrea says
You’re welcome, Jennifer! Hope it makes your planning easier 🙂 It’s well worth the bit of organization if you get the chance!
Nancy says
What a fantastic idea ! The invitation cards are printed and the date is on the calendar !
I very much appreciate your generosity in sharing the
suggestions and free printables. TeachPianoToday is
the best !
Andrea says
Hi Nancy! I admire your “go for it” attitude! I hope your students have lots of fun 🙂