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Need a cute Christmas ornament for your students? Today I'm sharing a fabulous one that's easy-to-make, inexpensive, pretty, AND musical.
Impressive, huh? These are perfect for group lessons, private lessons, and... Christmas Camps! Check out the video to see what supplies you'll need and I'll give you a couple of hints on how to customize your ornament. Enjoy! 
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Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Are you ready to have some fun in your studio? This book taught me how important it is to surprise students and this post is full of ways to do just that. To start, the picture above is simple printable that I created to give my students. Just cut the cards, tape on a candy heart or a Hershey's kiss, and you're good to go! Get it here! More Craft Ideas
I'll be honest - I only know of a couple piano Valentine crafts. Two are from Joy Morin at Color in My Piano.
One is a piano cut-out that you can put on a box of smarties. The other is a piano heart that I've used for several years. Here's one of my photos from a couple years ago. Kids really did like it! 
Valentine's Day Games
Kids learn best when they're having fun and games are a great way to do that. Grab some heart erasers and you can make these games even more appropriate for the holiday!
Puppy Love by Teach Piano Today. This is a cute, free game that focuses on note recognition on the staff. Music Cookie Memory Game by Sara Campbell. There are 3 different levels to cover all your students! Valentine Music Word Game by Wendy Stevens at Compose Create. There are several other games on this page too. Steal-A-Heart Game by Susan Paradis. If Susan created it, you know it's awesome. Musical Hearts by Sheryl Welles. This is a simple idea that you can customize to work for you. It works for private lessons or groups. Valentine Card Hunt by Susan Paradis. Hide the cards around your room and let your students go on a treasure hunt! Valentine's Day Music
If I Give You My Heart by Music for Music Teachers.
Easy Valentine Songs by Susan Paradis. There are several to choose from. Valentine S'mores Composing by Melody Payne. Valentine's Day AND S'mores? Who wouldn't like that?! Valentine Composing Activity for Beginners by Susan Paradis. My students love these worksheets! Valentine by Jim Brickman and Martina McBride - arranged by Jacki Alexander. This is lovely! 
Valentine's Day Worksheets
Valentine's Day Theory Worksheets by The Fun Piano Studio. There are several to choose from, including the dinosaur printable pictured above.
Valentine's Day Puzzle by Sara Campbell. It's a fast way to review some basics! Valentine Note Scramble by Discoveries Piano Studio. This is cute for your youngest students. Valentine's Day Books
These have nothing to do with piano - but they are great nonetheless! If you're a Piano Mom - put them on your children's wish list!
Roses are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane De Groat. This always made my son laugh! Froggy's First Kiss by Jonathan London. We love ALL the Froggy books! The Night Before Valentine's Day by Natasha Wing. Another favorite around here! God Gave Us Love by Lisa T. Bergren. There's a whole series of these great books! 
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 If you've thought about hosting a Christmas Camp, but haven't planned anything - I’ve got you covered. There’s still time to put one together! But you do need to start planning. Like....TODAY! Here are 4 easy steps to get you started: 1. Pick a date and time.
Quick Tip - Host a 2 hour camp and but add a 4 hour option for moms who want that extra free time. You could use the last 2 hours as a holiday movie! I know a teacher who offered this to her her families and several students signed up. 2. Decide your activities. Yes, you could buy a plan, but honestly at this point, you can do it yourself. Here's the link to one of my Christmas Games, The Shepherd's Adventure. It includes boards for 3 different games and card for all levels. Best of all? It's only $3! Here's another great game that celebrates the reason for the season - Wise Men Matching Game. Only $2 right now! For my Christmas Camp, I'm keeping it simple but fun: games, crafts, snacks, and performance time. (These are my go-to cookies for camp!) Quick Tip - I have a huge round-up of resources in this post that will give you everything you need. Most are free or less than $5. For the craft, we'll be doing this musical Christmas tree. Easy to make and yet so cute!  3. Set a price - with early bird registration. Since you're waiting until the last minute, I would go for a low "no-brainer" price that parents will immediately want to sign up for. Quick Tip - mention that spots are limited and set your early bird registration for just 3 or 4 days away. After you list the price, make sure you note that supplies are included. (So build this into your price!) 4. Announce your camp! Since time is of the essence, I would skip the flyers and send out a mass email ASAP! Quick Tip - No time to be creative? Here's what I put in my email and several parents signed up right away. Feel free to use this - I've planned a TON of musical Christmas-themed activities. Games, crafts, snacks, and a performance time. My goal is to review important concepts in a super-fun way. It'll be the perfect way to close out the semester! I'm even giving out unique certificates to everyone who attends. (Note Reading Ninja, Rhythm Rockstar, Most Improved Musician) So there you go - Christmas Camp Planning Emergency Style! Yes - you only have a few weeks left, but you can still pull this off. Now stop reading and go get to work! Start getting ideas here.  Christmas is my favorite holiday! I love snowmen, reindeer, candy canes, and even Santa. But I also like celebrating the true meaning of Christmas. I couldn't find any music games that did that, so I created my own! The Shepherd's Adventure is a fun game where students answer musical questions to help the shepherds get to baby Jesus. It's the perfect combination for the Christian families in your piano studio! And my students love it! Even my cat, Penny, had fun getting in on the action! (She's such a cute, little troublemaker!)  This digital download includes a series of printable PDFs. I like to print mine on metallic card stock. For player game pieces, I'll use candy kisses or even my Iwako animal erasers. You'll get boards and cards for 3 different games. There's even a bonus practice chart that fits the theme! Students can work on:
There are cards for every level, including pre-reading. And I've tossed in some fun word cards as well. Here are a few examples -
All games are designed for 2 or more players. It's perfect for you to play with one student in a private lesson or with multiple kids in a group class. Click here to buy it for just $3.00! (And coming soon - Bethlehem Bingo and Wise Men Flashcards!) (Note: Some of links in this post are affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.) Candy canes, wise men, and reindeer - oh my! Hurray! The holidays are upon us and there are so many simple ways to jazz up your studio for the season. Let’s dive right in!  Inexpensive Gift Ideas Sheet Music Popsicle Ornament I couldn’t love this more! It’s lovely, easy to make, and sure to produce lots of smiles. This was a hit at my Christmas Camp! Star Music Ornament This will look so pretty on a Christmas tree and best of all - it's super easy to make. It's another great choice for a Christmas Camp. Treble Clef Bookmark These are adorable AND each is individually wrapped in its own box. The cost breaks down to less than $2 per student. What a pretty keepsake! Easy-to-Make Ornaments Check out Sara Campbell's post for the low-down on how to make these. My favorite is the glass globe.  Christmas Games The Shepherd's Adventure is a fantastic resource for just $3. It's for teachers who want to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Students answer musical questions as they journey to the manger. Whoever gets to Baby Jesus first wins! The digital download includes 3 different boards, game cards, and even a practice chart. There are cards for all levels and is definitely a hit in my studio! Wise Men Matching Game is another game that celebrates the reason for the season. You can grab is for just $2! Christmas Rhythm Match-Up This would be cute for a group activity. Divide the kids into groups and see who can get them all first Snowman and Reindeer Games Everything Susan Paradis does is adorable. This is no exception. Christmas Pieces Flashcards from Compose Create. See if your students can guess the tunes! Christmas Charades and More by Melody Payne - The Plucky Pianista. Such a creative idea! Nutcracker Bingo by Jennifer Foxx of Music Educator Resources. What a perfect theme for the holidays. Snowman Bingo This has been a hit in my studio! Susan Paradis has several more games on her website, so make sure you check them out. Christmas Music Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! arranged by Glenda Austin. I'll warn you - this one isn't free, but oh my word - it's totally worth the $5. I absolutely LOVE this arrangement! Sleigh Ride Duet (1 Piano/4 Hands) Best arrangement EVER and totally worth the price of 5.99. Three Ships from Teach Piano Today - I LOVE this and it's free! The First Noel This is a unique version by Sally DeFord that you can download for free. You can also listen to it on her website. Jingle Jangle by Danel McFarlane of Supersonics Piano. If you have more advanced students who need a fun challenge - look no more. This will be perfect! Christmas For All Time Book 1 and Book 2 by Faber. Becki Laurent told me about these books last year and I'm SO grateful. The selection is AMAZING! Each book has over 2 dozen songs and the arrangements are lovely. Another nice thing? The books are jam-packed with so many songs that my students are able to use them for 2 years. You definitely get your money's worth here. Christmas Classics Volume 1 and 2 by Jennifer Eklund of Piano Pronto. Each and every one of these arrangements is BEAUTIFUL! Jazzy Jingles is great lovely book from Jennifer Eklund. There's a version 2 out this year! Christmas Jazz, Rags, and Blues by Martha Mier. This is one of my favorite Christmas series of ALL time! (Martha Mier is my hero.) If you like the Jazz, Rags, and Blues series, then make sure you check out the Christmas versions. It’s available at 5 different levels, so you’re sure to find one that works for your students. Premier Piano Course Music 2B by Alfred. This book has a delightful selection of songs and the arrangements are fantastic. Every year I find myself scooping up more to give out. Various Christmas Songs Susan Paradis has several Christmas songs for free. You'll find several different levels, including pre-reading! Boomwackers are a great way for students to play Christmas music together! My kids loved these last year at camp. Jingle Bells and Jolly Old Saint Nick were both a hit!  Practice Incentives and Challenges Free Christmas Practice Charts I created 4 to choose from: Christmas Tree, Candy Canes, Smores, and one that's centered on the "reason for the season." Christmas practice charts from The Practice Shoppe. Several cute ones here. More Free Christmas charts by Meredith Strings. (This year I'm using the Christmas Tree and Catch a Snowflake pictured above.) The Twelve Days of Christmas from Ear Training and Improv. A cute incentive to get your students practicing more and exposing them to new practice techniques. Christmas Worksheets Various Holiday Worksheets by Susan Paradis. The Twelve Days of Christmas Coloring Sheets by Melody Payne - The Plucky Pianista. Coloring is all the rage right now, so this would be perfect for your students. Nutcracker Music Activity Worksheets by Jennifer Foxx of Music Educator Resources. For YOUR Christmas List I love to wear these cute Treble Clef Earrings. They always brings smiles in my studio!  My Favorite Family Christmas books (Full disclosure - these have nothing to do with piano, but I wanted to share what my family enjoys.) Personal Devotion - These are great ways to focus on the true meaning of Christmas! The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper. I'm reading this one this year! Jesus, Light of the World by Candace Crabtree. (She's one of the Upbeat Piano Teachers!)  A Book For the Whole Family (Read about our family tradition here) Jotham Journey Trilogy by Arnold Ytreeide. I can't say enough good things about these books! My son and I have read them for YEARS! It's a series of books for Advent. There are 4 in the series and you basically read one book each year. They’re FULL of adventure and excitement! Your kids will get to focus on the true meaning of Christmas in such a fun way. (My son is well into his teens and STILL loves these books. They’re THAT good!) Here's the order:
The books are broken down into sections of daily readings that lead right up to Christmas. If you want to read this year, you need to start on December 3, so get your book soon. It's available in both paperback and Kindle. One note - I would follow the recommendation of ages 9 and up. Some parts could be frightening for young children. But honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this series. I’m SO grateful that my son still enjoys reading them with me! Christmas is my favorite season! If YOU know of great resources, please tell me in the comments. I'd love to hear! (Note: Some of links in this post are affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.)
When I was a little girl, I loved dressing up and going trick-or-treating with my friends. It was something I looked forward to every single year. But today? Not so much. In fact... I'll be completely honest. I hate Halloween! It's just gotten so....creepy! Anyway....while Halloween is definitely my least favorite holiday - many of my students like it, so I try to include some fun stuff.  A Few of My Favorite Fall Things...Creepy Shadows by Laura Spencer Davis (Quick warning - the first time I played this song, the sun was setting and I hadn't turned the lights on yet. SO creepy!) A Mystery Story - by Rick Robertson Monster Dance by Jennifer Fink Attack of the Black Cat by Jennifer Fink Graceful Ghost Dance by Jennifer Fink It's Halloween by Chrisanne Holm Five Little Pumpkins by Susan Paradis Not Free But Still Fantastic!The Boy Who Didn't Like Halloween by Susan Paradis (Can be played as a duet or stand alone) Castle Escape by Daniel McFarlane Halloween Fun by Barbara Becker The Candy Nabber by Wendy Stevens Other Great Games and ResourcesBats and Cats Note Board Game by Susan Paradis (Free!) Bats and Cats Rhythm Game by Susan Paradis (Free!) Pumpkin Music Math by Susan Paradis (Free!) FrankenFingers Worksheets by Melody Payne (I bought these YEARS ago! Always a hit with my young ones.) The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs (It has nothing to do with piano, but as a Christian, it makes me smile!) And finally - don't forget to put all that Halloween candy to good use! Leila Viss's blog will show you how. (I like #3 best!) DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?Sara Campbell and I have done several Online Lesson Academies and now we've turned it into an evergreen course! If you're ready to eliminate makeup lessons - we'll show you how! Get immediate access here.  OTHER POSTS YOU MIGHT ENJOY |
Hi there! I'm Tracy Selle. A Christian wife, mom, and author of 101 Piano Practice Tips. I'm also a piano teacher and founder of Upbeat Piano Teachers. Categories
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