I once heard Carol Matz say in an interview that she tries to avoid "ice cream songs." Ice cream songs are those pop songs that are popular for 5 minutes, but by the time you arrange them for piano students, they've lost their appeal.

Today's featured arrangement is definitely not an ice cream song, and what's even better, it will appeal to students of all ages!

If you teach adults, they'll remember Cyndi Lauper's original from the 80s. Your littles and elementary age kids will recognize it from Trolls. The message of this song is timeless, and it sounds beautiful on the piano.

This arrangement is great for beginners who can reach a 7th, and even though it's pretty simple to learn, it sounds full and sophisticated. More intermediate students may have fun adding their own embellishments.

You can see and purchase True Colors here. 

Let me know how you like it!

Are you ready for summer? I'm not, but I'm getting there!

Last time, I shared with you some of the ways I like to make summer lessons more fun (and make a few extra dollars), and this week I want to talk a little bit more about one of those add-on options: Creative Projects.

Every year I offer some kind of creativity/composing-based projects to my students, but this year I really wanted to make them special.

Here is what I'm offering this year:

1. Art and Composing
Students who choose this project will have the opportunity to create a work of art (painting, poem, short story, animated video, etc.) and then compose and publish a piece of music inspired by their artwork.

2. Composing with Technology
This is a great option for any student, but it's particularly great for those students who are really musical, but perhaps not the most confident pianists.

Students who choose this option will learn the ins and outs of using GarageBand to compose an original piece and learn some basics of music producing.

3. Creating a Piano Game
This project was inspired by one of my students who made up a bunch of new rules to Pianoland and made it so much more fun!

Students who participate in this project will creat their very own piano game to share with the other students in the studio.

For each of these add-on projects I charge a reasonable fee and require students to take at least 5 lessons in the months of June and July. I'm even giving a bonus discount to anyone who pays for everything upfront.

Freebie for Teachers:
If you're feeling inspired to mix things up in your lessons with some fun add-ons, I'm giving away a Five Week Game Plan (pun totally intended) for you to help your students build a piano game of their very own!

If you love these ideas and want to try them out for yourself, take a look at my ebook: Creative Projects for Piano Student Volume 1, where I give you step by step lesson plans and worksheets for all three of these projects!