TpT April Fools Day Sale

 Middle C, I See! and The Great Chocolate Box Competition will be marked down to just $1.04 on April 1st-April 2nd.

Be sure to search Teachers Pay Teachers for the hashtag #fooledyou for other resources marked down to only $1.04!

Preschool Piano Palooza

You're invited to come to our Preschool Piano Palooza! Watch your 3-5 year old play a real song on the piano, enjoy spring themed games, make a rhythm instrument, and explore music through singing, apps, and more in this FREE 30 minute class. This is a fun kickoff to our KiddyKeys program!

Date: Monday, May 8th at 10:00am or 6:00pm (your choice)

Location: Woods Piano Studio

Space is limited! Register online here (put "Palooza" in the skill level slot) by April 24th to reserve your spot! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Why Are Recitals Important?

A pipe organ that I played in 2015

You should play with real musicians; the best music comes from real people interacting with each other.

– John Fogerty

Learning to play a musical instrument is traditionally a solitary pursuit. Students attend weekly one-on-one lessons with their teacher, and then return home to practice alone or with a limited audience of family and close friends. Public recitals are a great way to expand the musical vision of students and can greatly benefit both the student and the teacher.

Recitals are a vital part of authentic training towards musicianship. Any type of performance, no matter how large or small, and no matter how advanced or new the performer, is an emotional and raw experience for everyone involved. Professional musicians share their art; they play with others and for others, and there is no better training for this than live performance.

Playing in front of others takes great courage. A student participating in such an event has a chance to shine and may experience a boost of confidence when they perform a piece in front of their peers, friends, and family. They learn how to successfully set and achieve tangible performance goals. They develop important aspects of their character—discipline, commitment, and kindness as they support one another.

As students become adept performers, they also grow to appreciate and recognize this skill in others. This is a very important (and often overlooked) element to the continued support of music education and professional musicians.

By now, the benefits of recitals for students have been established; what are the benefits for teachers? Private music teachers that offer recitals build their studio community; students are given the opportunity to support and motivate one another. This facet of cooperative learning leads to increased studio retention, motivation, and growth. It has also been proven that students tend to retain more information in group settings. In Tools forTeaching, Barbara Gross Davis writes, “Researchers report that, regardless of the subject matter, students working in small groups tend to learn more of what is taught and retain it longer than when the same content is presented in other instructional formats.”

Recitals are also great for business. When recitals become a regular part of a studio’s curriculum, it becomes a place where music happens, and students and their families will be so excited to spread the word about it.

These are big events, and can be a bit daunting at first. In the upcoming posts, I’ll provide some how-to tips to help you plan and host a successful recital that your students will talk about for years to come!

5 Free St. Patrick's Day Piano Activities and Games

St. Patrick's Day brings a little extra whimsy into the piano studio, a chance to sprinkle lessons with color, creativity, and a bit of fun. After we've worked through repertoire, technique, and theory, it is so rewarding to end the lesson with a playful activity that leaves students smiling and excited to return the following week. 

As the old Irish blessing goes, "May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door." I love carrying that spirit into my studio, even in just a few minutes of upbeat music games. 

Here are five of my go-to St. Patrick's Day-themed activities I've used (and loved!) with students over the years. They are simple, engaging, and easy to add into the last few minutes of any lesson, bringing a little luck of the Irish to every student! 🍀 

 St. Patrick’s Day Rhythm Game – Sara’s Music Studio

One of my favorite quick end-of-lesson games is Sara's St. Patrick's Day Rhythm Game. Students help a lucky leprechaun find his pot of gold by clapping, tapping, or playing rhythm challenges along a shamrock path. It's easy to adapt for different ages and skill levels, and the fun theme makes rhythm practice feel like an adventure instead of a drill. Perfect for sneaking in a few minutes of music play at the end of a lesson!

Rainbow Robber - Wunderkeys

This cheerful game from WunderKeys gets students moving and thinking about note values in a playful "robbing" challenge. Using cards featuring whole, half, dotted-half, and quarter notes, students help a rainbow thief leprechaun collect rhythm treasures without getting caught. Quick to set up and adaptable for younger and older beginners, it's perfect for the last few minutes of lesson while reinforcing note values in a playful way. 

Irish Improv Game – Colourful Keys

For older beginners, this St. Patrick's Day improvisation game encourages creativity and musical thinking. Students improvise simple melodies or chords for a leprechaun story theme, connecting scales, chords, and phrasing in a fun and engaging way. It's an easy way to sneak in improvisation practice without it feeling like a formal exercise. 

Pot of Gold Rhythm Activity – Lets Play Kids Music

A printable activity that turns rhythm practice into a treasure hunt! Students clap or tap rhythms on gold coins as they help their leprechaun collect the pot of gold. This activity is easy to adapt for different ages and adds a fun, visual element to rhythm practice.

St. Patrick's Day Improv from TeachPianoToday

http://www.teachpianotoday.com

Improvising is the ultimate way to help students feel a steady beat, expand their imagination and individual style, and utilize the concepts that they have learned over time. A Foot-Tappin' St. Patrick's Day Improv for Your Piano Students makes it easy to improvise with your students!
These five activities are simple, engaging, and free to add a bit of St. Patrick's Day fun into your piano lessons. Even a few minutes of play can make the holiday memorable for your students and leave them eager to return next week. 

Do you have a favorite St. Patrick's Day activity in your studio? I'd love to hear about it!

Wishing you and your students a joyful, music filled St. Patrick's Day! 🍀