My Solution for a Wiggly 6-Year-Old (and a No-Practice Piano Lesson That Actually Worked)
beginner piano, beginners, beginning piano, games, music education, Music theory game Kay Lowry beginner piano, beginners, beginning piano, games, music education, Music theory game Kay Lowry

My Solution for a Wiggly 6-Year-Old (and a No-Practice Piano Lesson That Actually Worked)

If you teach piano long enough, you know this lesson well.

The student arrives full of energy.
Practice didn’t happen.
Sitting still is clearly not an option.

Instead of forcing the piano bench, or nagging about counting out loud, this week I grabbed chalk and headed to my driveway.

And honestly?
It turned into a very productive activity. Not to mention her dad saw us as he came to pick her up. He was duly impressed!

A Simple Piano Hopscotch Game for Wiggly Students

I drew a hopscotch grid on the driveway and filled each square with something musical:

  • a simple note

  • a rest

  • or a piano key

Here’s how we played:

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🎹 How to Teach Half Notes: A Simple Rhythm Fix That Actually Works
beginner piano, beginners, beginning piano, rhythm, easy piano, piano lessons, preschool music, preschool piano, elementary piano Kay Lowry beginner piano, beginners, beginning piano, rhythm, easy piano, piano lessons, preschool music, preschool piano, elementary piano Kay Lowry

🎹 How to Teach Half Notes: A Simple Rhythm Fix That Actually Works

It happens to the best of us.

That student who forgets to hold the half note for two full beats.
You remind them. You count with them. You even say, “Remember, the half note gets two beats!”

…and still, the moment they start playing, poof — the second beat disappears.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Teaching rhythm to beginners can feel like you’re saying the same thing on repeat. But sometimes, the fix isn’t in more words — it’s in how we help them feel the beat.

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