Skittles are the Answer
Students magically improve everything with a tiny pile of Skittles beside them, that they can eat whenever they get to a hard part and play it well.
Make a CD
Last October I got a bunch of Halloween sheet music together and had each of my students learn one or two. Then we made a spooky Halloween CD by recording their songs and burning the CDs on the computer. The kids were so excited to learn and play their songs, and knowing they were going to make a CD with everyone kept them interested and working on their song so they could play it the best they could.
Mix-up Worksheets
Use a sheet protector with a worksheet in it you made and let them complete the worksheet in their lap with dry erase markers on the plastic part and have a pom pom on the end of the marker to use as the eraser.
Be a Hero
This is more specifically for my Autistic Spectrum kiddos who struggle to stay focused in my fast paced, quick changing activities classes. I have a verbal cue of my super hero narration “Quick as a flash, we’re moving on” and it seems to help them transition to the next activity because they know I’m asking them to shift gears in their brains.
Get to the Bottom of Boredom
Some days, I find that my students are in a funny mood… could be frustrated, impatient, or restless and distracted. One thing I use to counter this is pretty simple; nothing too complex: we just converse. Whether it’s about what’s going on in school, with friends, with family, the latest show, or sports, I listen. Sometimes I share my own experiences. I get to the root of what they’re thinking about, and they’re normally more calm, more present, and really feel that I’m there with them and for them. From there, it’s usually pretty easy to refocus on the lesson. I try not to let this last more than 5 minutes, but sometimes, a friend is what they need, and it improves the quality and vibe of our lessons in the long run.
Piano Mat
I just bought a Piano Mat for students to use with their feet. I am eager to try it out and see how the students like it. I am thinking of having them play their recital piece on the regular piano and if they do well, they will get to play a song of their choosing with their feet on the piano mat.
Silent Movies
One year my students watched a silent movie and picked pieces to use for the different situations going on. We did not do the entire movie because of length but it was really cool. Some students even composed original pieces.
An Ipad and a Piano On The Floor
I think if lessons are short, the students keep wanting more. I also integrate the Ipad into the lessons, for young kids using many games according to their level and for more advanced students using (abrsm sight reader) and (aural test) all on ipad. I also use one of those giant pianos that you can step on… So that begginer students can play with their feet when they get bored of playing a piece with their hands.
Speed up the Clock
If you let them know they can play a game at the end of the lesson when they get through their work they become very motivated. Or if you start with a quick fun listening game, composing game, intervals, soon they say, “I can’t believe my lesson is already over!”
Bring on the Duets
Bring on the duets. I know it is not always possible to pair up 2 students but if you can, most students are very motivated with a duet partner and a great- sounding duet. Start out with something that will work up fairly quickly, and see the enthusiasm !
Make a Mural
I have a wall mural created by all of my students and hung around the circumference of my piano room. I asked them to draw, paint, or colour “what music means to them”? Musical pictures for inspiration!
Be Relevant
I give my students music they think is interesting. For example, if a student’s favorite artist is Taylor Swift, I’ll use ear training to make Teardrops on My Guitar easy for her to play (just the melody and bass note). They will enjoy this more than classical music sometimes.
Find a Theme
One thing that I do that helps me from getting in a teaching rut and I know helps bust out boredom for students, is to have a different “theme” each year. This keeps students on their toes and motivated. They look forward to the new year because they can’t wait to see what the new theme will be.
Leave on a Happy Note
When my student came in feeling low one day and I knew the “regular” stuff wasn’t going to cut it, I had her improvise “scenes” such as “ocean waves coming onto the sand.” I used calm waves, but crashing waves would be fun also. Then I suggested “a cat sneaking up on a mouse, the cat pounces, but the mouse gets away.” The student was having so much fun that she suggested the next one of “running and jumping into a pile of leaves.” She left on a much happier note (pun intended!) than when she arrived.
Twinkle Toes
Usually when I sense boredom during a lesson, I begin to improvise! For example, if my younger girl student look bored, or the lesson is kind of “dry” and she is learning a piece, I’ll make her get up and dance to the music while I play it. She takes dance lessons also, so she loves it! After dancing to the piece, I’ll get her to play it while I dance (and i’m horrible at it)!
Making The Movie
A fun one my students like is called “Making the Movie”. Since movies never shoot every scene in order, I section the song into chunks and they pick the order to play them in. A simple idea, but that way they still learn the song but it is a fun twist that let’s them be in charge and it spices up the usual book routine portion of our lessons..
Beat away Boredom
I teach at a church where there is a drum set. I take the kid to the drum set and I play 3 beats per measure, 6 beats per measure, etc. (With the loudest beat being 1). Then they try. They love to play the drums, while still getting a good feel for time signature and beat.
Pick a Stick
When I find the children losing interest at the bench, and I’ve exhausted off the bench activities, I have them draw a Popsicle stick that gives them a one-minute activity. It can be doing jumping jacks while counting out eighth notes or “cherry pickers” while saying the letter names of the musical alphabet backward. I try to incorporate the concept of the lesson into whichever activity stick they choose from the jar.
Balance a Bear
We love to balance a stuffed animal on the student’s head and see how long they can play their technical work with remarkable posture! It’s way more fun than it sounds!
Surprise!
Sometimes I suddenly launch into something completely different from what they expect they will be doing. ANYTHING different. A left hand only day, a sight-reading task at a way-too-fast speed (which will mean great satisfaction if they only get one note right!), duet day where I play an accompaniment and they improvise a melody, “help me write some lyrics for this melody that’ll go with the rhythm”, copy back little melodies, listen to bits of pieces or songs to sample how they go—“which do you like better?” Listen to something awful. PLAY something awful, just so we can make it somehow better.
Making a Movie
Turn your student into a soundtrack. Set the laptop/ipad up on the piano and roll the movie (like Star Wars). Turn the sound down and have the student play along to his or her favorite scenes. Some students prefer Harry Potter, but this is guaranteed to open their eyes to the endless fun piano can be
Roll the Dice
When a young student’s practice is lagging, I introduce the Practice Number Dice. (Well, die really because I only use one). I create a special die that has only numbers 3, 4, and 5 on it. The student gets to roll the die for their practice number. The number is how many times they play the piece every day that they go to school.
Night at the Improv
I use the Pattern Play books (Frederick Harris Publishing) to do improvisation with students. It often leads to great ideas for their own compositions!
Contest!
I’ve been doing one where the student gets to write their name on the back of a cardstock card (about 2 inches square) if they complete their minutes-goal of playing through out the week. I did it at Christmas and they asked for it again so did a “heart” theme for Valentines and now a “shamrock” theme for now to March 17. Winners get 5 piano dollars to purchase things out of the studio store.
Some Cool Chord Progressions
A cool improvisation pattern played as a duet with a student can work wonders! One of my favorites is this chord progression: g minor – E flat Major/G – B flat Major/F – F Major. Start out playing it together as blocked chords (4 beats per chord), then start experimenting with different rhythm and broken chord patterns. The realization that they can make music with such simple tools is such an exciting and motivating experience for a student!
The Grammy Queen
One thing I enjoy doing for my students is allowing them to pick music they enjoy playing, such as Adele, Taylor Swift, or whatever happens to be popular at the time. The students love playing these pieces for their friends and are much more motivated to practice.
Break It In Easy
For a couple of my teen students, I ditch scales, technique, etc. completely and have them work on only one or two pieces they absolutely love. As they work on these, I re-integrate the “boring” skills such as note naming, counting, technique, etc. They seem to handle it better this way
Start the Clock
Timed activities using a stopwatch are usually a good way to make part of the lesson exciting. Examples of things you can time are: flashcard activities, an accurately played scale/arpeggio, sight reading random notes or chords, memorization of a bar or line of a piece they are learning, and listening activities.
Sidewalk Chalk
For littler ones I take them outside and draw a large staff on the sidewalk or driveway with chalk. Then I have them jump on it. I call out a note name and have them jump on the appropriate line/space. Sometimes we throw a beanbag and name the note that it landed on. I try to find things that will make them enjoy moving while learning.
Play Along
I find out what music they like listening to (pop/rock groups usually) and see if there is any sheet music available… or sometimes make my own arrangements that are suitable for their level. Once they are up to speed, they can play along with the track and imagine they are playing live with the band.
Bring on the Praise
When I sense that a student is losing their interest and motivation, I turn the positive factor up times a hundred! I praise them a lot more, give them more words of encouragement, and point out to them exactly how far they’ve come. Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture and our own progress. And when it comes down to it, I’ve been known to even straight out ask, “What can I do for you to make this a better experience?” Kids like to be heard. 🙂
That’s Impressive
First, I keep a file of their favorite “mastered” pieces and we play a few of those during their lessons, especially if they are struggling with difficult pieces. Second, I have them choose a favorite song from radio etc. they’d like to learn in an easier version. It’s more fun to play songs we know and we think others will be impressed by.
Everyone Needs a Challenge
I have found that students like to be challenged, and finding an energetic piece of music just a bit over their head has been an answer for them! One young girl is learning a jig one page at a time. She couldn’t have page two until she had learned the first one well.
Get Up and Move
For young students who would rather move than sit still, try making activities that encourage musical learning while moving around. Walking or dancing to certain rhythms, a “musical note or symbol” scavenger hunt, bringing in a small percussion instrument to accompany while you play are just a few. These exercises not only bust boredom, but can also be used for those who have trouble internalizing rhythm.
Colorful Chords
For the little ones, I have colorful theory games that they can do for “homework” with their parents. These fit into an 8.5×11″ page protector, and usually involve dice or a spinner. They love it because they know more than their parents and can either win or teach. For older kids, we do a quick review of chord building and then play around with improvisation or lead sheets. It requires less “reading” and allows them to have a song each week that they get full choice on.
Dozen a Day
I take some exercises from Dozen A Day using the accompaniment that has a fun fast beat and let the student see how fast he can take it and still have control. Another option is I let him choose a tone to play for the day (my studio has digital pianos.) Jazz Scat is the favorite among my students. There is also Trash Can Basketball Drills: student identifies the note, plays the note, then makes an attempt to score with paper in the trash can. This is a great group activity.
Music Without Music
Teach them a melody to a popular song NOT USING SHEET MUSIC to get the focus OFF of SHEET MUSIC and onto the ivories. Let them develop their ears by not relying solely on “I think I remember the melody goes like this” but actually playing the melody soundbyte during the lesson. Seems to work well for a Boredom Buster in 2012!
Saved By Composing
If a student becomes bored I will often switch them out of the method books, especially if they are older. There is a great deal of contemporary music available that will still teach the skills they need to learn. Others have been “saved” by learning how to compose their own music. One of my formerly bored students will be studying music next year at the university and another arranges music for our duet ensembles. They are worth saving.
Experimentation and Improvisation
One thing that has helped one of my students in particular is experimentation and improvisation. What different dynamics could we use to vary the different voices on the song? Is there a way we could implement a different touch or style to highlight some unique personalities or characteristics? As was encouraged in another post, make up a story line and bring back the joy of a simple tune! Have fun having fun! And let them play while they play
Take It Outside
Roll your piano outside or into an interesting location. Start the lesson with rhythm games and then enjoy and different scenery for you lesson.
Spooky Halloween
Last October I got a bunch of Halloween sheet music together and had each of my students learn one or two. Then we made a spooky Halloween CD by recording their songs and burning the CDs on the computer. The kids were so excited to learn and play their songs, and knowing they were going to make a CD with everyone kept them interested and working on their song so they could play it the best they could.
Tiny Pile ‘O Skittles
Students magically improve everything with a tiny pile of Skittles beside them… which they can eat whenever they get to a hard part and play it well.
Splashy Solos
I initiate a discussion on what goal or type of music she’d like to play more and from that I play through several splashy solo pieces that fit that style. She then chooses several…….and we focus on those for the next month. I also “up” the musical games she likes. I also love to add a duet or two and team the waning student up with another student who is EXCITED @ piano. The relational factor often proves helpful.
Numbered Scales
I use some dice; I have one that goes up to 3, a regular 6, and one that goes to 12 (they all came from a math game) and I have a student roll the 12 and 6’er so we can pick which key to work on. So 1 is C, 2 is G (through the circle of 5ths). Then I have the student roll the 3’er. If they roll a 1, we learn the scale; 2, broken and blocked triads and their inversions; and 3, the minor scale. I tried it with one student who absolutely refused to learn triads, and now she can’t stop playing! Something about using dice that makes this a fascinating game that they ask to play.