I guess I’m on an improvisation kick this week! As much as I am not a naturally gifted improviser, I have always admired those who were, and I see the value in helping students develop an openness to improvisation. Ever since I started doing student interviews years ago, one of the areas that I include […]
Game Ideas
Quick and Easy Improvisation with Students!
If I have a student who struggles with note reading, but loves “doodling around” on the piano and/or if I have extra time at the end of a lesson, I often opt for my quick and easy improvisation activity. I sit at one piano and the student sits at the other (if you only have […]
Monday Mailbag – Game Idea Resources
Where do you get your ideas for your games? Here, there, and everywhere! Isn’t that helpful? 
Seriously, I’ve been accumulated game ideas and books with game and activity ideas for almost 15 years. I have a huge collection of idea books that I reference if I need some inspiration for new games. Some of […]
Prescription for Scale Sickness
I could totally relate to this comment that Mindy left on Monday’s Teaching Scales post and I’m sure that many others can as well! But truth be told, I am sick to death of teaching scales. It’s not that I don’t think it is important, I do. I am just lacking incentive to go at […]
Monday Mailbag – Quick Easy Games to Start Off the Lesson
In reference to this post, one reader asks, “Do you have other ideas for the above listed categories that you put on popsicle sticks? What do you usually have ready to use?” There are tons of possibilities, but I’ll just give you one example for each category: 1. Chords – Hold a Chord Spelling Bee! […]
Games from our September Surprise Blast Off Event
As I mentioned last Friday, we had a fabulous time with some fun games at our September Surprise! Here are some video clips and free downloadable files that you can use in your studios as well. (Refer to the Blast Off! post for game directions.) Tappers and Listeners Click here to download the list of […]
