When you think about playing music games in your lessons, you possibly think about leaving them until the end of the lesson. They act as a reward for work well done. Something to look forward to.
But what about reversing that process and using them at the START of the lesson?
When you think about playing music games in your lessons, you possibly think about leaving them until the end of the lesson. They act as a reward for work well done. Something to look forward to.
But what about reversing that process and using them at the START of the lesson?
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Just thinking about starting your lesson with a music game probably makes you worry.
Would students get “too silly” and be unable to focus once they sat down at the piano?
What if the game runs on too long, and there’s hardly any time left for playing the piano?
Would parents judge you for starting a lesson with a game – is it “the easy option”?
Let me ease those worries…
When you ignore the worries, it actually makes a lot of sense to start with a game.
You’re giving the students a chance to review notes BEFORE diving into the music.
Games can act as a warm-up. For students who are hesitant when it comes to note reading, starting the lesson with a game eases them in and builds their confidence, ready for when they’re faced with a piece.
Even something as simple as playing around with animal erasers or Lego Minifigures is a great way to review keyboard geography.
As students review notes and concepts at a fast pace, their brains get a great warm-up!
Have a student who hasn’t learned fractions yet? Grab a game and get them started on rhythms!
Know that a student will be going onto a piece with a new note value? Let them meet that note in a game first so they’re prepared.
Of course, all students are different, but many will process concepts quicker if they see new notations BEFORE they’re presented in their music book.
Games are a perfect way to accomplish this.
We all know that the best students are those who are excited about piano lessons.
A great way to get them excited – games.
If you start lessons with a game, students will sprint into your studio, thinking, “I wonder which game we’ll play today?!”
And, of course, students who are more engaged during lesson time will practice more at home. That’s a win for everyone!
Nine times out of ten, parents don’t think what you think they’ll think.
Chances are, you’ll worry that they’ll be upset with you for playing games first instead of playing the piano.
But the reality is, if their child is excited about their lesson and eager to learn, they’ll be happy with any routine.
If something works – go for it!
Everyone will see the benefits of the changes.
Great question!
TopMusicGames is a TopMusicPro exclusive where members are sent four brand-new games every single month. This is a fantastic way to build up your music game collection!
To get you started on your journey to gamify your studio, Tara Wright (Melodic Mentors) and Georgina Wilson (Busy Little Turtle) are going LIVE on August 18th to talk about all things music games! Click here for more information.
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