3 Steps to Do Something Different in Piano Lessons

 

 

We’ve all been in that rut… where teaching piano is monotonous and students are bored. Sometimes, we just need to intentionally do something different in piano lessons for our sanity and the students’ interest.

The thing with “doing something different” is that the same ideas don’t work for all piano teachers and students. 

Each piano studio culture is unique, and the award-winning idea for one piano teacher might be a complete failure for another piano teacher.

So today I won’t give you a list of ideas. 

Instead, I’ll provide you with some steps so you can ignite your own, unique ideas to do something different in piano lessons and be a better piano teacher.

Get a pen and paper handy, because I’m about to give you some homework!

 

Step 1: Run a self-analysis to figure out where you need to do something different in piano lessons

 

The first step to do something different in piano lessons is to evaluate your piano teaching.

Are you sublimely happy with your piano teaching?

Are your students utterly happy with piano lessons? (yes, I know there are always the piano students who hate lessons because their parents make them do it; you can even consider them and their complaints)

Are your piano teaching goals being met?

Do you have good teacher-student rapport?

Take a moment to do an honest–but gentle–evaluation of where things stand.

This isn’t the place to be overly critical (no, you are not a terrible piano teacher just because an eight-year-old refused to play for you today). 

Just take a step back and assess the situation.

What are your pain points?

What problems do you need solutions to?

Is there a ready answer to your problems? Any leads?

Pause and write down anything that comes to your mind at this point.

Your goal isn’t to find an answer right now. It’s just to think about your piano teaching as a whole.

 

Step 2: Brainstorm ways to do something different in piano lessons

 

This summer, I listened to a lot of training by Amy Porterfield, and one thing she especially challenged her listeners with was, “DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.”

She meant it in the business sense, but the idea really resonated with me as a fantastic step to brainstorming piano teaching ideas.

Sometimes we routinely teach the same type of piano lesson and we don’t even realize it until five years have passed.

Maybe all we need to do something different in piano lessons is actually ask the question “what is something different?”

Take the list of questions you answered above and add one question: “What are you currently doing?”

Then counter that with a consideration: “What is the opposite of that?”

If you’re ultra structured, try less structure.

If you have no structure, try some structure.

Maybe you have taught the same way for one year–or thirty years. Maybe you’re content with where you are.

But what would happen if you accepted the challenge to do something different in piano lessons?

Doing something different can be something very simple. For one of my students this fall, I’m intentionally assigning four categories of music each lesson (Hymn improv, classical, Christmas/fun, lesson book/warm-ups). 

For another student, we ditched the piano lesson book and I’m composing with her. It still teaches her note reading and rhythm, and she was showing signs of being burnt out with the lesson book.

Doing something different in piano lessons can also be more drastic. 

Maybe it’s shifting to group piano lessons, adding more music games to lessons, doing more off-bench activities, or hiring an assistant teacher.

If you or your student is getting bored with piano lessons, ask yourself, “How can I do something different in piano lessons?”

You might stumble on the winning piano teaching idea of the year (and if you do, be sure to come back here and tell us–we want to celebrate with you!).

Right now, jot down five ways you could do something different in piano lessons. Bonus points if you’re brave enough to share it with us in the comments below!

 

Step 3: Implement the change to do something different piano lessons

Finally, doing a self-assessment of your piano teaching problems and brainstorming solutions have to be finalized with the third step.

Take action.

This is where you actually do something different in piano lessons.

This might be the most intimidating step, depending on the changes you need to make.

Music is all about experience and teaching piano is no different.

Enjoy the experience of trying new angles of teaching piano.

But if you’re feeling stuck, here are some bonus ideas:

 

Get an accountability partner

Find a piano teaching buddy that you can bounce ideas off of as well as report back to when you try new ideas.

It’s super important to not feel alone as a teacher, so if you don’t have anyone to join that path with you, send us an email (under “contact us”) and we’ll be more than happy to help you do something different in piano lessons!

 

Take it slow

My advice is to not try to change everything at once. Choose just one idea this week and test it out.

If it goes well, keep doing it.

If it’s a bust, then move to the next idea on your list.

No one’s judging you for the experimental process.

 

Involve your students in doing something different

Guess what–your students have opinions! (you might be laughing because some of your students may have very loud opinions you hear weekly)

Ask your students what their thoughts are.

When I implemented the two changes I mentioned above, I asked each student what they thought of the plan. They both agreed to try it, so that was my green light. 

 

Don’t wait to do something different

I have a sister who is adamant about starting anything new on the first of a month. This means that if she gets an idea on the fifth of a month, she waits 25 days to begin!

I’m pretty sure some of you reading this are like that. Sure, we’re already well into the fall teaching season. That’s okay. 

If a student needs a change in piano lessons, do it now. Don’t wait until next semester. Start now.

 

Rinse & repeat

If this gets you rejuvenated in teaching piano, congratulations! I’m thrilled for you!

Let’s keep that excitement going by repeating this exercise every month or semester–as often as needed to do something different in piano lessons.

 

How I Personally Did Something Different

When I did this evaluation a few years ago, I realized that my solution to do something different in piano lessons was investing in more personal music training. 

I was an advanced pianist and could play almost anything I put my mind to, but I could feel something missing since I hadn’t had lessons in almost a decade. 

So I became a student again and started college at 27 years old.

Talking of it now makes it seem like it was super easy to figure out the connection between my problem and solution. In actuality, it was several months of serious self-evaluation and prayer for God’s direction before I realized my answer.

If you are reading this today and feel lost about the answers to your specific piano teaching problems, that’s okay. 

Write down all your questions, your problems, and any hint of a solution and keep coming back to it every week.

Eventually you’ll get the answers you need and know the next steps to take to do something different in piano lessons.

Most piano teachers won’t need to take as drastic of a step as I did in order to do something different in piano lessons.

Our piano teaching journeys are unique and the solutions you’ll find will fit you and your journey.

 

How will you do something different in piano lessons?

Maybe your mind is already brimming with new piano teaching ideas. I’d love to hear!

What ideas do you have to do something different in piano lessons?

What new ideas are you hoping to try right now?

 

 

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