Piano Party!
Piano Party! I decided it was time for my students to get together and just have fun with some low-stress performances and some cookies and punch. Eventually, they all ended up outside running around!
Back in the late summer, I had an idea drop into my brain, and it seemed so fitting and right that I began setting about it AT ONCE.
A party, a PIANO PARTY, just for little girls.
Here's how I framed the invitation:
"I am planning to have a Piano Party, GIRLS ONLY.
"If __________ wishes to come (and I hope she will!), then it will be a bit of performing, a couple of games, a bit of singing together, and cupcakes, cookies, and punch afterwards.
"PRETTY DRESSES encouraged!!"
That was the gist of the text invitation, dressed up with party emojis.
The Response
I HAD MASSIVE EXCITEMENT. That was really fun to see!
I've been feeling that these little girls really needed to GET TOGETHER and have fun with a group of friends and schoolmates.
They've missed out on so many things over the past few months. A regular Spring Recital, yes, but that can be a mixed experience of fearful anticipation for many children, with even a bit of dread, as we all know, so that wasn't my motivation.
Playing for peers only
But the opportunity to perform before their PEERS is a different matter... no adults, no strangers... just other little girls, ages 6 - 11. I intentionally left older students out of this invitation.
Bonuses for them and for me
As with any performance kind of venue, there were extra benefits to this party!
- More time spent polishing up their special pieces.
- The experience of gentle rebuke - "No, that piece is not ready. Sorry, you can't play that one. Maybe next time." Hahahaha - this is good for those kids who tend to set their standards LOW.
- The chance to try out their pieces in front of a low-stress audience. (There were about 5 moms in the back of the room, but they were very non-threatening!)
- Some singing together! Girls, in particular, seem to love singing in groups. The runaway favorite was, "Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens... These are a few of my favorite things!" They all seemed to know that song from The Sound of Music.
- The chance to run around in a big room with a lot of other kids (my church, which graciously allows me to hold music events in the large auditorium).
We all need HOPE in our lives right now...
and parties, get-togethers, hugs, and SMILES from other humans lift the heart.
After snacks, cookies, punch, and post-party impromptu performances on the piano, eventually, they all ended up outside running around!
P.S. Nobody got sick!
Music for Music Teachers has other great free resources for piano teachers! Take a look:
Rote Learning - leaving the written page behind (or treating it like a map!)
Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!
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All the first-year material I give my beginner students.
Piano keyboard sheets, scales, chords, note-reading exercises, and over 256 pages of music!
This beautiful song book for piano & voice "Esther, For Such a Time as This", available as a digital download, tells the riveting story of the time when Jews in ancient Persia faced a foe named Haman, and how a brave young queen risked her life to save her people.
A good choice for a singing story-teller, an operatic group, a short theater production, or a class of children!
This book is also available from Amazon as a paperback.
This book is available as a digital download from this site. Visit this page to see some free examples from the book.
It is also available from Amazon as a paperback!
This is the perfect easy start for little pianists.
And when they start reading white-key notes on the staff, this is a fun easy resource to say each week, "Choose a new black-key song at home this week and figure it out to show me next lesson!" They will be spending more time at the piano.
A perfect read aloud storybook
for little boys or girls.
The Adventures of Tonsta highlight the travels of a very young boy with a good heart, who goes about helping folk in trouble.
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Danielle Rosa Manning:
Just wanted you to know, I downloaded your Halloween music and the kids went bonkers for it. They loved having a bunch of easy pieces they could learn en masse, and were throwing each other little Halloween music parties at home. Thanks so much!
Cat:
Thank you so much for these resources - I have a small music studio in Johannesburg, South Africa.
My kids love playing these tunes.
Dylan:
Just wanted to express my overwhelming joy in finding your web site! :D Lots of good info!!
My wife and I own our own teaching studio in Texas and I am always looking for new songs to teach my beginner guitar students. You've done a wonderful job of providing great tunes with ACCURATE sheet music/TAB!
Your web site is wonderful! Thank you so much!! Many blessings...
Krista:
Thank you thank you thank you!! I have recently started my own vocal studio, and though I have studied music education for years in college, a private studio is a daunting task for me.
Your site has made everything seem so simple and straightforward and has helped me to really get started. It is so comprehensive and well put together. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge so that music can be shared everywhere. :)
Dana:
Good for you! Yes, I know just what you mean. Every new endeavor requires a little bit of chutzpah -- not to say just brazening it out a bit, because you just can't be an expert at anything until you've done it for a while. We teachers have to learn how to teach... and you have to start somewhere.
Audrey:
I just wanted to tell you that I have found your website EXTREMELY helpful!
I have a young group of children that I have started a youth choir with and I was searching for music ideas and I came across your website. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Matt:
THIS SITE IS AMAZING!!
I've been teaching guitar for about 5 years now, and I've only just found your website! (I could really have used it 5 years ago) :-)
I teach at primary schools every week day for about 4 hours, so the beginner tabs you have are ideal. Thank you so much for your hard work getting these on the web, you have made many children very happy!!
About the Author
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like "Anna".) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.
You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.
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