Today happens to be my birthday! 🎂👑
So, I decided it was the perfect excuse to make the day a little more fun — with a birthday crown, brownies and some silly birthday-themed piano challenges!
I’m lucky to have such lovely students, and I really enjoy seeing them and building great working relationships with each of them. So, as it happens, I get to spend part of my birthday doing something I enjoy — teaching and making music with my students!
🍫 A little note about birthday treats
Before I continue- If you’re thinking of bringing food or treats into a lesson, it’s always worth checking with parents or guardians first to make sure it’s allowed and to ask about any allergies or dietary requirements.
And with adult students, it’s still a good idea to ask about allergies before cooking or bringing something homemade.
Learning music is full of moments worth celebrating, from the very first notes to the pieces that once seemed impossible. Every student has their own journey, and every step along the way matters. So here are some key things we do in my lessons: Learn, Grow, Create and Celebrate!
🎹 Learn
Learning music is about discovering something new.
It might be learning to read music, understanding rhythm, developing technique, discovering a new composer or learning a favourite song. There is always something new to explore.
Learning should feel encouraging and achievable, with challenges that help students develop their skills while still enjoying the process.
🌱 Grow
Musical growth isn’t just about playing more difficult pieces.
It’s also about becoming more confident, independent and comfortable at the piano. It’s about learning how to practise, solve problems, keep going when something is tricky and recognise your own progress.
Everyone develops at their own pace, and there is no need to rush the journey.
🎨 Create
Music isn’t only something to read and reproduce — it’s also something to create.
There should be opportunities to experiment, improvise, compose, explore sounds and make musical choices. Creativity allows students to develop their own musical voice and discover that there isn’t always just one way to make music.
🎉 Celebrate
Progress deserves to be celebrated.
It might be mastering a whole piece, getting through a tricky section, remembering a new note, creating a melody or simply having the confidence to try something that felt difficult before.
The little wins matter just as much as the big milestones.
🎂 A Birthday Piano Challenge!
And because today is my birthday, we’re adding a little extra fun to the piano!
Here are a few birthday-inspired challenges:
🎵 Turn your age into a rhythm
Take the number of your age and turn it into a rhythm. Can you clap it, play it on one note or use it as the starting point for a little piece of music?
🎹 Play Happy Birthday — but improvise!
Sight read Happy Birthday while reading and improvising your own left-hand chords. Try changing the rhythm, experimenting with different chords or adding your own musical ideas.
🎹 Play “Guess what I am?” Music style
- Student draws or writes a music note or term/ scale on whiteboard.
- Student hands you whiteboard. Dont look at it, just put it in front of you writing faces the student.
- You (the teacher) need to guess what you are- i.e what you are holding on the whiteboard.
Swap over so student guesses!
👑 And, of course, wear a birthday crown if you want!
Because sometimes learning music is even more fun when you look slightly more fabulous while doing it.
These activities might seem simple, but they bring together so many important parts of learning music — rhythm, listening, creativity, problem-solving, confidence and, most importantly, having fun.
Learn, Grow, Create, and Celebrate.
Whether it’s your birthday or just an ordinary day at the piano, there is always something worth celebrating.
Learn something new.
Grow in confidence.
Create something of your own.
And celebrate every step along the way.
