Tag: recitals

improving as a teacher, Motivation, Music Camps, Performances

30 Theme Ideas for Music Studio Events

Joy Morin

Here’s a list of 30 theme ideas for music studio events!  Themes can be used as the studio theme for the school year, or for summer music camps, or for studio recitals. If used for the studio theme for the whole year, there are a number of ways the theme can be incorporated: the incentive program, group lesson activities, worksheets, games, food, decorations, dress, recital repertoire, etc., can all be coordinated to fit the theme.

  1. Medieval Times | castles, knights, princesses
  2. Fantasy | same as above, plus dragons, wizards, etc.
  3. Mystery |detective, private eye, clues, magnifying glass, footprints, fingerprints, evidence
  4. International / Around the World | choose a specific country, or give a survey of a few different countries  (Egypt, Africa, etc.) world music, cultures. For example……
  5. Fiesta | sombrero, maracas, dances
  6. Tropical | surfing, luau, grass skirts, steel drums, Caribbean/Hawaiian music, palm trees
  7. Winter | snow, icicles, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, cold, mittens, scarves, snowmen
  8. Carnival / Circus | ringmaster, tightrope walker, elephant, tickets
  9. Art | colors, brushes, make connections between art and music. Activity: compose songs named after colors.
  10. Roller coster park | use this theme to study musical forms (e.g., ABA), or musical styles.
  11. Animal Planet | animals galore!  Activity: try matching animal characteristics to how different music sounds.
  12. The Great Outdoors / camping | campfire, singing, woods, lantern
  13. Under the Sea | ocean, waves, fish, jellyfish, dolphins, sharks, seaweed, treasure, sunken ship, scuba diver
  14. Barnyard | farm, farmer, animals, fields, crops, harvest, tractors, seeds
  15. Construction | bulldozers, dump trucks, CAUTION tape, hard hats, orange cones, STOP, GO, workers
  16. Jungle Safari | lions, giraffes, jeep, binoculars
  17. Wild West | cowboys, saloon, ghost town, cowboy hats/boots, bandanas, sheriff, horses, saddles, lasso
  18. Pirates | pirate ship, pirates, buried treasure, treasure maps, scavenger hunt
  19. Desert Oasis | cockroaches, oasis, palm trees, sand
  20. Olympic Games | fitness, games, exercise, practice
  21. Going Green | recycle, be efficient (with practice time)
  22. Splish Splash | water bottles, droplets, river, brook, ocean, puddle, rain, hydration, summer, squirt guns, pool
  23. Outer Space | stars, moon, sun, rocket ships, astronauts, aliens, ufo’s.  Natalie is doing a space theme in her studio this year and it looks fabulous!
  24. Futuristic / Time Travel | contemporary music, technology in music
  25. Race cars | finish line, car, tires, gasoline, checkered flag, trophy.  Activity: do timed worksheets for naming note on the staff.
  26. USA / Patriotic / Stars & Stripes | USA history, fireworks, wear red, white, and blue, or wear stars/stripes! Activity: learn about American composers.
  27. The magic of music | magician, magic tricks, deck of cards, top hat, magic wand, rabbit, gloves. Activity: discuss how music has the power to affect your emotions, change your mood, influence you to do something, etc.
  28. Blast from the Past | choose an era of music history: Classical, Romantic, Baroque, etc.  Dress old-fashioned, eat popular treats from back then, etc.
  29. The Great Composers | choose a specific set of composers, and focus on one each day/week/month.
  30. Musical Instruments | learn about the parts of the piano, or the instruments of the orchestra.  Discuss timbre, register, range, tuning, etc.

Please share any additional ideas you have, or any resources you’ve found to be helpful for planning a themed event for your music studio!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/peasap/ / CC BY 2.0
Performances

Checklist for Planning Student Recitals

Joy Morin

Student Recitals are great because they give students a goal to work towards, giving their lessons more direction and increasing the student’s motivation for making progress on their pieces.  Parents and grandparents also love them, because they get a chance to watch the students play their pieces onstage.

Here’s a checklist for when you plan your next Student Recital:

  1. Choose a date and time.
  2. Assign music to each student 2-3 months (or more) in advance.  I recommend buying new sheet music for the student, because there is something special about learning music outside of the usual lesson books.
  3. Begin working on a piece of music yourself — it’s so important to play a piece at the recital along with your students.  Students will look up to you for going through the same recital-preparation process that they are going through, and parents really enjoy hearing the teacher play as well.
  4. Choose a location.  Some options: your home, a church, a student’s home, or a retirement home.
  5. Send notification to parents and students, including information concerning:
    1. date, time, location
    2. whether students should memorize their pieces or not
    3. how the students should dress
    4. whether the students should bring their music along to the performance
  6. Prepare any certificates or prizes that you may want to award at the recital.  One year, I gave each student a long-stem rose after their performance (be sure to cut off the thorns!) — they were a real hit.
  7. If you wish to have some post-recital fellowship time, you may want to check with the parents to see if any are willing to help out by bringing cookies, brownies, bars, or punch.
  8. Buy napkins, cups, plates — whatever you need for the refreshments you wish to serve.
  9. Type up a program for the recital, listing the students names and the pieces they’re performing.  Make enough copies for the students and their families.
  10. On the day of the recital, arrive early to set things up.  Make sure the piano is set up appropriately.  Set up any video camera or recording devices you may wish to use.  Write each student’s name on a program and use the programs to mark where the students should sit during the recital.  Put the rest of the programs on a music stand near the door.  Set up the refreshment table where everyone will mingle afterwards.  Ask your spouse or someone to take pictures of each student as the recital progresses, and find a good place for them to sit.
  11. Once everyone has arrived, make opening comments to welcome everyone before the students play, following the order of the program.  At the end, award any certificates, prizes, or flowers and encourage parents/family to stay afterwards for refreshments.

Afterwards

In the weeks following the recital, here are some other things you may wish to do:

  • Put up photos on your website for the students and their families to enjoy.  If you don’t have a website, you could email the pictures to each student.
  • Send thank-you notes to each person who volunteered to bring refreshments, and perhaps also to the person who hosted the recital (or the janitor, as the case may be).
  • If you recorded the recital, put the recording on a cd or dvd and mail it out.  Or, make it available on your website or on YouTube.

Do you have some great ideas that you use at your Student Recitals?  Please feel free to share them by leaving a comment below!

Announcements, Group Classes, Performances

Recital Preparation

Joy Morin

My students are currently preparing for our studio piano recital in May.  They are all doing great.  I was doing some brainstorming (which can be dangerous), and decided to hold a “practice recital” the weekend before the actual recital.  I envisioned all my students cramming into my music room, listening to each other playing their pieces, and then leading discussion about various aspects of performing.  Afterwards, we would play a round or two of Music Bingo.  🙂   Continue reading “Recital Preparation” →

Memorization, Motivation, Performances

Benefits of Holding a Piano Studio Recital

Joy Morin

Recitals are an important part of having a piano studio.  Performing is a important skill for any pianist.  Despite the hard work involved, in the long run, the students find it a rewarding activity.

Benefits of having a recital include:

  1. Parents enjoy hearing the progress their student(s) are making under your instruction.  Grandparents and parents love attending these performances and getting pictures/video recordings of their child’s performance (esp. when it’s their first).  There’s something special about watching your child all dressed up and playing a special piece for an audience onstage.   Continue reading “Benefits of Holding a Piano Studio Recital” →