The craziest year in the history of piano teaching is coming to a close. I am crossing my fingers that we will never again have to experience such a historic disruption to music lessons.
But, despite everything that happened, piano teachers thrived when most other industries barely survived.
For this, you deserve a massive pat on the back. With schools closed and kids stuck at home, music education would have been lost without piano teachers.
We also have to be very thankful for the piano parents who stuck with us through the pandemic.
When things began going sideways, many of us worried if our studios would survive to see students return for another year of music.
But they did return… thanks to their dedicated parents.
As hard as it was last year for piano teachers, it was also extremely difficult for parents. To continue to prioritize music in the face of such challenges is something parents should be thanked for.
In today’s post, we are sharing an email template that you can use to show your appreciation to the parents who stuck with piano lessons.
It is an incredible relationship-building tool that will only make your studio stronger as we get back to normal.
Copy And Paste Today’s Email Template
The secret to a successful piano studio is genuine relationship building. Parents are your partners in music education. It is, therefore, important to reach out on a regular basis.
Staying in touch takes only a few minutes out of your day, and in return, you are developing bonds with people who will turn into your biggest supporters.
To thank your piano parents for their support over the last year, copy the email below, change the names, add any additional information you want, and send it on its way.
Email Template:
Dear Megan and Andrew,
As our spring term comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support.
I’d like to acknowledge everything you’ve done this year so that I could continue to work with Max. I know the change to online lessons was tough at times, and that it would have been easy to simply “take the year off”… but you didn’t. Instead, you stayed committed to his piano and, in turn, he has amazed me every single week.
Seeing Max’s smiling face on my screen each Tuesday was a treat. Watching him adapt to our “new normal” despite all of the changes has been so rewarding. I’m sure you’re incredibly proud of everything he’s accomplished.
I’d also like to thank Max for his continued enthusiasm and hard work. I know he really enjoyed coming to the studio and the change to online lessons was a big adjustment for him. However, I’m so excited that he now has this skill! The ability to collaborate, learn, and perform online is something that he can add to his “musicians toolkit” and I believe it will open up a lot of opportunities for him in the future.
He really rose to the occasion when it came to taking ownership over his own learning, and I know the benefits from this experience will spill over into so many areas of his life.
One thing that really encouraged me this year – when so much was changing – was that despite our inability to enjoy live music by going to concerts and recitals, millions of piano students all over the world were still practicing at home. And, as a result, their families were fortunate enough to have beautiful music in the background during a stressful and unsettling year.
How lucky we were to have our own personal musicians at home bringing peace and joy and a moment of calm to our days?!
This is really what it’s all about – and we’ve proven that Max’s piano skills will continue to bring happiness to people year after year, no matter what the circumstances. It’s wonderful to think about, isn’t it?
Thank you for your support of my studio, for setting Max up for success at home, for understanding the value of music, and for playing a vital part in helping this generation of piano students continue to bring beautiful music to others.
I’m really looking forward to seeing him back in the studio!
With gratitude,
Andrea
Do Your Piano Students Have Their Summer Workbooks?
Two months off can wreak havoc on a student’s learning. While kids don’t have to be saddled with crazy amounts of music, this summer they should spend at least 10 minutes a day keeping their skills sharp.
Andrea And Trevor Dow’s Piano Student Workbooks provide your students with the short, focused exercises they need to ensure they don’t lose ground this summer.
From note printing to timed tests to technical exercises, we have something for all of your students.
Click on a cover or link below to find the perfect piano student workbook for your kids.
1. Andrea And Trevor Dow’s Timed Note Reading Tests For Piano
“I have personally taught over 10,000 individual lessons from beginners to advanced students and this single resource is a game-changer to help everyone quickly grasp the complexities of staff reading.” ~Amazon Review
2. Andrea And Trevor Dow’s Technical Exercises For Note Reading Success
“This book is a game-changer for piano teachers. It is not just full of technical exercises, but it has carefully sequenced note reading exercises designed to boost students’ confidence in music literacy. Self-motivating check-off pages and bonus activities throughout the book make this not only helpful for teachers but fun for students.” ~Amazon Review
You have provided inspiration for my remarks to piano parents at our spring recital tonight. Thank you for your very timely post!
I’m so glad you found it useful for that purpose too!
Thank you for this wonderful template, which I will adapt a bit, but the wording really helps.
Excellent – yes, it’s just a jumping-off point for your own personal ideas too 🙂
I would love to have a platform to ask questions and share ideas. For instance – I have 2 adults that complain about left arm pain. We have done lift off exercises, adjusted the bench, relaxed shoulders etc. nothing has helped so far. Any ideas?
We have a really helpful online community of 9,000 teachers that would love to collaborate with you! http://www.facebook.com/groups/wunderkeys