How to Use Our Rhythm Parent Pages!

If you attended our “How to Use Rhythm Cup Explorations® and Rhythm Menagerie®” webinar, you may remember Parent Pages. These PDFs are a free download that can help parents understand the importance of learning rhythm and help increase parents’ perception of the value you offer in your music studio.

Of course, you don’t HAVE to use a piece of paper! You could just text or email parents the URL of the streaming tracks you want them to get (see the list below) and tell them to get it! But sometimes, it takes more convincing than that and so if you need the additional help (or if parents don’t respond to emails), then this is a great way to tell them how to help their child succeed!

What Are Parent Pages?

How Can I Use Parent Pages?

The primary use for the Rhythm Parent Page is to help parents understand the importance of rhythm and how essential it is for the student to practice it at home. Parents want and need to know how to help their child succeed, so giving them this page and telling them to get the Streaming Tracks for their particular book is helpful to them.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Send an email or text and attach the PDF. Tell them:

Rhythm is THE most foundational skill in learning music. So it’s essential for your child to consistently practice this at home! The great thing is that I use a very exciting rhythm curriculum called Rhythm Cup Explorations® (Replace with the proper name) and this is tons of fun for students and even parents. However, it’s essentail that you get the Accompaniment Tracks because these can help your child know if their rhythm is correct and help them make sure to practice it accurately.

You’ll need to purchase the streaming tracks here: Insert the proper URL (see below).

Let me know if you have any questions!

List of Streaming Tracks Available to Students and Teachers:

Now, obviously, you’ll need to replace “Rhythm Cup Explorations®” and the URL with the one you mean to mention. So here are those URLs if you need them:

• My First Rhythm Cup Explorations® – Streaming Tracks
• Rhythm Cup Explorations® 1 Streaming Tracks
• Rhythm Cup Explorations® 2 Streaming Tracks
• Rhythm Menagerie® – Streaming Tracks
• Rhythm Manipulations® – Streaming Tracks

Parent Pages Came from a Teacher Appealing to an Administrator!

Here’s a video from Wendy explaining where these came from:

How Else Can I Use Parent Pages?

Here are Wendy’s ideas for adding these to your studio or classroom:

• Many elementary and middle schools are looking for fun extracurricular classes to offer after school. Start up a rhythm class, and use these as handouts for interested parents.
• During student interviews, don’t just give parents a policy guide. Give them these Rhythm Parent Pages to show the dynamic rhythm curriculum you are using in your studio. This distinguishes you from other teachers who aren’t as plugged into all of the pedagogical resources that are out there! And don’t forget to do a little Rhythm Cup Explorations® activity with the prospective student before the end of the interview. They will love it and think piano lessons with you are tons of fun!
• Give these to students who are already using the rhythm curriculum! Add them in to policy handouts, or attach them to emails letting families know what you’re doing. Remember that parents frequently question the value of a recurring expense (like piano lessons), so reminding parents of the dynamic curriculum you use is a way of re-marketing even to existing families to help retain students.
• When someone sends an email asking for information on your studio, attach the Parent Pages to show how much value you offer.
• If you’re a classroom teacher, hand them out at back-to-school night! You can also add them to packets that go out from homeroom teachers.
• Do you have a waiting area for parents and students? Hang them up so everyone can see! If siblings or friends come to watch a student, it can show them how much fun lessons are.
• Does your studio do “Bring a Friend” lessons? Use the rhythm curriculum during the lesson, and send the friend home with the Parent Pages. They’ll tell their parent all about the fun they had during lessons, and this can pique parents interest in what they learned.

Why Would I Use These for Current Students?

If you’ve been using Rhythm Menagerie® or Rhythm Cup Explorations®, it may seem weird to give parents a handout. But it’s important to remember to re-market to families we already teach, even if we feel that they’re secure! As Wendy mentioned to me last week, parents are always evaluating a recurring expense like piano lessons with you – so they need to know the value you provide and what their child is learning.

If lessons feel stale, or they know the teacher across town charges 15% less per month, they may re-evaluate lessons with you. This isn’t to say we need to always worry about maintaining families – but remind them why you’re a great teacher! Even just a quick email to say, “Here’s something we’re going to be focusing more on this summer! We’re so excited!” with the Parent Pages attached can rekindle parents’ interest and excitement for their child.

I hope these ideas help you start using this free resource! It’s an easy way to communicate with piano families, and serves as a reminder for us teachers of why rhythm is so important.

Have you started using these Parent Pages yet? Do you have ideas on how you plan to use them in your own studio? Let us know in the comments!

Want To Get These Articles In Your Email?

If you are a piano teacher and want to know when articles like these get published, please join our email newsletter! We send out weekly newsletters with articles, new music notifications, free webinar opportunities and free teaching resources! We’d love to have you a part of the ComposeCreate® community.