Summer Music That Makes Practice Fun!

“They’ll have so much time to practice over the summer!” thought my naive, first-year teacher self. I have since learned that while there is indeed more time in the summer, there is typically less motivation in those months! Between vacations and the mindset that piano is part of school (and therefore subject to a three-month break), summer practices can be few and far between.

But, what if students really loved their summer music? What if the song made them giggle, or feel accomplished, or was short enough to practice in minutes? Fun music may not solve all the summer conundrums, but even a few extra practices can help students sharpen their skills! Below are some ComposeCreate picks that are perfect for summertime practice. (And for even more fun pieces that students love, check out our Student Solutions Catalog!)

Elementary Summer Music

These elementary pieces are all written from the perspective of a child. They’re giggle-inducing, silly, and fun! Summer is a season of playtime and going to friend’s houses – and these are pieces that kids will love to play for friends. Nothing gets a student to practice quite like knowing they’ll be able to play for other people!

“I loved watching my students come in and smile when they saw your song title. Quite a few of them were like, “Miss Joette, I have to know what this is!!” They all loved it!!“

Intermediate Summer Music

While none of our intermediate pieces are specific to summer, I’ve included both our Jazz Shorts since summer is a great time to learn short jazz pieces, and also our top 4 most popular and motivating pieces. Many intermediate level students don’t mind practicing in summer – but the piece needs to be something they’re excited about learning. These pieces will bring excitement to their practice, giving them encouragement to keep at it during those months!

“I’ve taught Pretty Creepy to the students who were reeeallly struggling with motivation or just enjoying lessons in general, and it’s been the BIGGEST success!!“

Summer Music for Groups

If your summer schedule consists of group lessons, camps, or studio get-togethers, the pieces below are group favorites. Teachers even invite parents and siblings to get in on the fun with these pieces – they’re instant crowd pleasers!

“Take Me Out to the Ballgame and America the Beautiful saved the day at summer music camp! Due to another event in the building, my original plans for Wednesday’s session would not work. So at 8pm Tuesday evening, I bounced over to this site and purchased rhythm cup songs. The next afternoon, 24 students ages 9-19 practiced their tapping (and homerun imitations) and performed while I played the piece on the piano. They loved it!”

Short Sheets®

Short Sheets® are the ultimate summer music! The sets contain three pieces that are one page in length. The short length makes them quick wins that are easy to learn. They can also be practiced in less time, making them doable to a student who just wants to be outside! Each set has a theme, and there are three that are the perfect summer break starter package: At the Fair, Summer Fun, and Living Life. Find all of our Short Sheets® sets below.

“These are an instant success…They have saved one of my students who likes to play but can’t always manage to concentrate for a full lesson without something a little different. I am going to use this to get him to improvise to using the same formula. Thank you Wendy.“

In addition to fun pieces, students love it when summer lessons feel different from the norm! Here are some summer piano projects for students, and here are sizzlin’ lesson ideas that don’t take much time to set up. What tricks or tips do you have for motivating students to practice during the summer months? Let us know in the comments!