The end of another school year is in sight – and whether you feel like it came too soon or couldn’t come soon enough, many teachers are planning end-of-year parties. Do any of you have trouble finding the time and energy for putting together in the busy month of May? I often find myself really struggling to come up with a group activity or party that has the same energy as ones earlier in the year.
I think most of us teachers are in need of rejuvenation around this time of year. And that means that we need a party plan that’s easy to put together so that we can focus on truly connecting with our students before the break.
So we’ve done just that for you! We’ve planned the easiest piano party for the end of the year, and are sharing what we’re doing (along with variations) so that you can focus more on enjoying this last hurrah with your students, and less on all of the details.
How long should my party be?
45 minutes tends to be the perfect length for a party. If you have a larger group, you’ll want to increase that time so everyone has a chance to engage in the activities. Here’s what Wendy has found to be best:
- Icebreaker – 15-20% of the time
- Main activity (or two smaller activities) – 55-60% of the time
- Eating – 25% of the time
Just watch your students – if they seem ready to move on or there’s a natural lull, move on to the next thing!
The Icebreaker
The easiest piano party icebreaker that I have come across is “Music This or That”. It works for students across all levels and ages, helps me to know my students more, and really mixes up groups of students who otherwise wouldn’t mingle during a piano party.
Lots of giggles ensue when students move around quickly from one end of the room to another.
Supplies:
- Music This or That downloadable PDF
- Cardstock
Prep:
- Just print and cut out the cards on card stock before the party!
How to Play:
- The play begins with students standing up.
- Ask one of the ‘Would you Rather’ questions on the cards to your students. Point one way to direct students who answer THIS way to go to the right, and THAT way to go to the left. For example, if the question is “Would you rather be the first or last to play at a recital?”, point to the right when you say “first”, and the left when you say “last”.
- Students will run to their preferred group, and then you move on to the next question!
Alternative hands-on activity:
Another fun and useful thing to do, especially with younger students is have “Little Fuzzies Creation Station” as the ice breaker instead. Have students make their own Little Fuzzies (link) that can be used to “watch students practice” over the summer. Let your students know that the Fuzzies will be reporting to you throughout the summer for an extra boost of motivation!
Most older students won’t be into this kind of activity, which is why making them the “helpers” is a great idea. They can wield the hot glue gun, and it gets them communicating with the younger students (like a “big buddy” system in school). Here’s how to make your own Little Fuzzies.
The Main Activity: A Fun Game!
Stinky Sox is a hit in my studio, and is wonderful because it can be used for multiple levels of students, which really levels the playing field between younger and older students! This hot potato music game is really a sneaky way to review theory before the break, but students will be having too much fun to mind!
Supplies:
- Stinky Sox cards
- Card stock paper (2 colors)
- Music (you can use your phone, a CD player, or even our streaming tracks!)
- A dirty (or not so dirty) looking sock
Prep:
- Print and cut the Stinky Sox cards out on card stock paper. You’ll want to print the elementary cards on one color, and the intermediate cards on the other color so that students know which color they should grab during the game.
- Place all of the cards into the stinky sock
- Get your music player ready.
How to Play:
- To start, have students sit in a circle and pass around the sock while listening to music. They often toss it around and as long as you don’t mind, this is quite fun to do if they are sitting a little further apart!
- When the music stops, the student with the stinky sock pulls out a card and follows the instructions.
Alternative Activity With Students Performing (but in a fun way):
If you don’t have an end of year recital and do a party instead, you can still give students a chance to play their pieces for one another! One teacher told us that during her end of year party she did musical chairs, and whoever got “out” had to play their “recital” piece next as the music during the next round of musical chairs!
Eating Variation
In the past I have spent hours over a stove making treats for all of my students – but I just don’t have the time or energy to do that in this season of my life! Instead, I ask everyone to bring a favorite snack. It can be as simple as a bag of Chex Mix or cookies! And since this is supposed to be the easiest piano party, I would definitely encourage you to do the same. If you’re worried you’ll have too much of one thing, assign a snack based on the first letter of students’ last name (A-L brings something salts, I-T brings something sweet, and U-Z brings a drink).
There are always a couple of students who forget their snack, so be sure to have some extras on hand – just a plate of pre-made cookies or a couple bags of chips. Make it easy on yourself! You’ll also want to have a carafe of water on hand for those students who don’t or can’t have soda.
Variation
Instead of asking students to bring snacks, create your own during the party! Purchase undecorated sugar cookies and several colors of frosting, sprinkles, candy eyes, etc. Have students decorate their own cookies at the end of the party and take them home.
That’s it! A fun party doesn’t have to take a ton of prep time. If planning a party fills you with dread, it’s likely a sign that you need to simplify. Students can tell whether our heart is in something or not. It is so much better to have a simple party where you can have a great time with them than to have an elaborate one that leaves you feeling drained and grumpy.
Do you do an end of the year party? What do you do? Please share them with your teacher friends in the comments!
Thanks so much. it’s been a really hard year for me and I wanted to do this, but just didn’t have it in me to plan anything. Now the planning is done and I feel better about it
Valerie
That is just lovely! Our semester ends with the recital, but this could be an easy little “cherry on top” to surprise them with. Thanks, Wendy! I especially appreciate the idea of them bringing a snack to share. If I’m doing it, I feel obligated to make it special. This way, they can feel invested too.
Last year we did a group lesson/pizza party. A big hit!
This year we’ll have a group lesson followed by a short performance for parents.
I just have 4 teens (all the rest are adults and they already had a party last weekend)
so with just 4 they can each play a couple pieces and perhaps we’ll add a couple pieces from this spring’s Monster concert. Trying to decide whether to repeat the pizza party or have make-your-own sundaes. Probably pizza.
This is great! Thanks.
Cup Tapping is a great activity to incorporate as well.
Great ideas here. Thank you! I might even try the sock game in my primary music room. Just a thought on catering. I hold a summer and winter concert. For the winter one I ask for parent volunteers to bring plates and I provide tea, coffee and juice, while for the summer, I provide icecreams for everyone (audience and players) and they bring water bottles. I do a stocktake of what people like so I don’t over cater and everyone is happy. The kids really enjoy this. I’m in Australia so summer for me is end of year madness leading up to Christmas.
Thank you for sharing what’s worked for you, Amber!
Some great ideas! Thank you for sharing! A number of local piano teachers and I get together in January to celebrate the previous year. It’s a bit of a “phew – we made it!” party. Hahaha.