I can’t believe that we have now done 9 Idea Shares! This one is from our “Surprise! New Music and Motivating Curiosities” webinar where introduced so many new and even surprising things including:
- The Outback Adventure Bundle
- New Pet Shop 3 Music
- New Mythical Creatures Music
- New Intermediate Series “Inspiring Portraits” – Letters from Abigail
- New Music Achievement Cards: Printed and PDF versions
- Music Kids Love® T-shirt
We are so thankful for each of you in our ComposeCreate® community that came to the event and your willingness to share!
Since this webinar was all about surprises, we had to ask – what exactly is the importance of surprise? Wendy shared 3 studies that give some really important statistics and studies regarding the usefulness of surprise in learning. It can be such an important tool for us teachers in helping our students to learn and remember! Here are just some of the benefits (be sure to click on the links to read the entire article!):
Here was the question for this Idea Share and some of my favorite responses:
1. What are some ways you have surprised a student during a lesson that enhanced their learning ?
- Barbara: I have a pair of musical sunglasses. When I take them out, that means “Mrs. Picky” has come to their lesson and they need to play a piece well enough for Mrs. Picky.
- Sarah: I used a fake egg to show students the correct hand shape to use on the piano. I told them they had to catch it first without it breaking! Worked very well with younger students as they believed it was real until they caught it! They loved using the egg for the remainder of lesson.
- Wendy: Use the bonus coloring page from the Mythical Creatures pieces to help a student open up or calm down during lessons while you play the piece.
There are many more ideas in the PDF download!
Thank you to everyone who attended the webinar and watched the replay! And a special thank you to those who submitted answers. We’re so thankful for a community of teachers who are so willing to help one another out. These Idea Shares are downloaded by hundreds of other ComposeCreate® teachers, and it allows us to all benefit and learn from one another! Let us know in the comments if you have any other ideas to add!
What’s a Piano Teaching Idea Share?
If this is your first time hearing about our Idea Share, here’s a quick overview:
During the webinar, we ask teachers to answer a question that would benefit every piano teacher. After receiving answers from both webinar sessions, we compile them all into a free downloadable PDF so that you have access to the insights and creativity of the entire ComposeCreate® piano teaching community!
Idea Shares 1-8 can be found here:
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #1- Encouraging books, creative ideas, injecting energy, online games
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #2 – How teachers are lightening their load
- Rhythm Idea Share #3 – Teaching rhythm
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #4 – Gadgets and gizmos, lifesaving ideas, marketing ideas
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #5 – Taking care of yourself and Energizing Ideas
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #6 – What are you excited about and Best Marketing Tips
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #7 – Student holiday gift suggestions and Making the holidays less stressful
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #8 – What new things are you doing and Adding a Composer of the Month to your studio
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