Children in piano lessons need opportunities to perform, but all of these dont need to involve a formal recital with kids dressed in their Sunday best and all their relatives present. Piano recital parties can be rather spontaneous events that allow children to enjoy sharing their music with other kids in a relaxed way. Heres a great piano party idea that kids love because its just for students! If youre a parent, share this idea with your childs piano teacher and offer to be a helper at this fun event.

The Ice Cream Social The Ice Cream Social Piano Party is a great way for kids to get together and have fun playing for each other. This can even be an outdoor recital with games such as Musical Alphabet Croquet, or Piano Chord Hopscotch. Improvise an outdoor cabana for your portable keyboard with a Pop-up canopy or a large beach umbrella.

Break the party up into sections. Start with the Games so kids can get to know each other and create a sense of community. You may even have a craft table for kids to make something they can take home with them as a piano memory.

Then let students play the songs theyve been practicing in the special piano cabana! The songs students play for this recital can be the pieces they have currently been playing in their lesson books. Remember the idea is to create a piano community and to let kids learn to share their music with others in a relaxed way that will break down any walls of worry that students often have about performing. There is no need for formal seating since parents wont be there. Just put some big quilts on the lawn where the children to sit while they are waiting their turn to play.

After their performances, have plenty of ice cream and toppings such as sundae sauces, whipped cream, cherries and sprinkles. Let the children make their own creative ice cream sundaes. Since it is an outdoor recital you wont have to worry about the kids making a mess. The Ice Cream Social is great idea any time of the year the weather is nice. If you live in the U.S. you might want to have your Ice Cream Social in July and have your students play some patriotic music to celebrate Independence Day. You can decorate your piano cabana with red, white and blue ribbons.

Remember to take some photos of this fun event and put them in a special piano party memory book. If you are a parent helping at this event you could offer to help the teacher make a memory book to have available at formal recitals so all the students can show their parents how much fun they had at their piano party.