Summer!  Time for relaxation, family outings, and fun in the sun!  It can also be a time to hone those piano skills!  Without the pressures of school work or athletic schedules, it might be the perfect time to get ahead!  Here are some suggestions.


Make a goal.


Your goal can be time-based (number of practice minutes per day or week, number of practice hours per month) or repertoire-based (number of songs accomplished, completion of a book or a level, etc.)  For students who are motivated by visuals, keep a chart or running record of these accomplishments near the piano as a reminder to keep pressing toward the goal!


Brush up on music literacy.


During lessons, we accomplish many things.  Incorrect notes are remedied, rhythms are honed, and dynamics and phrasing are introduced.  However, something we can’t adequately cover in thirty-minute weekly lessons is note reading.  Being able to quickly identify the notes on the staff helps students feel more confident in their practicing at home and allows them to work more independently on their pieces.  And believe it or not, music literacy work can be FUN!  There are a number of apps and websites that can make note learning a breeze.  (Note: some of these are not free, but you’ll find they are well worth the few dollars you’ll spend.)



Find a way to perform.


Could your student play the piano at church?  For aunts and uncles at a family reunion?  How about at a retirement community?  There are many ways for your student to spread joy with their music!  If you’d like help coordinating a performance, please let me know!  I’d be happy to pull together an impromptu concert.


Be ready for your return to lessons.


As the summer wears on, I would like for each student to have three pieces ready to play for me at their first lesson (whether it is a summer lesson or the first fall lesson.)  Of course, I’d be thrilled with more than that, but three should be the minimum.


I hope these recommendations help your student keep their skills up-to-date during this fun season of the year!