Fun ideas for teaching young children piano?

Question

I teach piano to 10 students ranging from 4 to 12 years old. Sometimes they have trouble focusing for the whole lesson and I'd like to know some fun ways to help them learn.

Answer 1

Try to relate the lesson to them. Children are very self-centered creatures. If it seems worth their time, they will pay attention. Some ideas would be to incorporate stickers, candy, and other prizes into their lessons. If they have been doing good this week on practicing, give them a sticker, and when they have so many stickers they get a prize. My old piano teacher used to give his students sheets where the parents of the student would sign that they practiced for at least 15 minutes a day, and if they turned in the filled in sheet at the next lesson, they would get a candy from the 'candy bag'. Don't worry about sugar intake. As long as you give them the candy or whatever at the END of the lesson, you shouldn't have to worry about it. And you should ask about if they have diabetes or anything. Hope that helped.