Summer has officially begun for my studio! We’ve finished the last of the Year-End Evaluations, gotten everyone’s summer lessons scheduled, and taken a few days to catch our breath before launching into whatever we’ve decided to work on for the summer. I think I must have worked my students especially hard this year, because about half of them have opted to take off until we resume in September.

As much as I love teaching, I do love the slower summer pace, and look forward to being able to tackle other projects. Here’s a rundown of some of the teaching-related things I’m hoping to get done:

• Finish preparing for the workshop I’m scheduled to give at our state music teachers conference next weekend: How to Design a Practice Incentive that Will Motivate Your Students All Year Long!
• Finish compiling all the files from our Exploring a Galaxy of Music practice incentive theme and make it available here on Music Matters Blog.
• Put together the details for a Pre-Piano Camp that I’m trying this summer for 3-5 year olds.
• Finalize the lesson plans for our regular studio Piano Camp.
• Complete a couple projects I’ve been brainstorming and working on that I think you all will really like! I know that’s kind of vague, but stay tuned for more details…hopefully soon!
• Develop next year’s practice incentive theme. I’ve received a ton of suggestions from students, so I’ll be doing lots of thinking, praying, and planning to put together an exciting theme that will emphasize areas in which my students want and need to improve.
• Read Teaching Piano in Groups by Christopher Fisher. I got my autographed copy at the MTNA conference in March and have been eagerly anticipating reading it ever since. Summer will be a great time to read through it for inspiration and ideas!

I’d love to hear what you all are going to be working on this summer! Do you have any projects or ideas that you’re developing?