Every year my students look forward to the BIG CD RECORDING PROJECT. Every week from August to January they ask, “When are we going to do our CDs?” Well the time is finally here. Last year they designed their own CD Covers as well. I have found that this project is the single biggest practice motivator for my students. They want their CDs to sound great so they take extra care to practice well. And… the number one rule in the recording studio is that we do at least 4 takes of each track and then listen to each to choose the best. This helps them develop and refine their listening skills and ability to discern good quality playing.
Throughout the process you can see each child becoming more of a musician in thought and action. This is especially evident in the way they answer the questions in the interviews I do with them as part of the project.
To celebrate all our hard work we have a big CD Release Party once the CDs are complete.
I can’t wait to hear the titles that they give their CD Projects this year. Last year we had titles like ” Wonderful Songs”, “Piano Praise”, “Piano Playing Princess”, and “Music Splash Down”. Kids are so CREATIVE!!!
Do you do CD Projects with your students? I’d love to hear how you do it!
Kids & Keys 
What a fantastic idea! Last fall I also did a studio-wide CD project, in which each student recorded a piece and I compiled them all onto one CD just in time for them to give them to their parents for Christmas. However, I love the idea of giving each student the opportunity to prepare (and practice!) multiple pieces and really make the project their own. I hope you don’t mind if I borrow this idea in the future 🙂
LikeLike
I’m glad you like the idea and by all means, please use it! I started doing it this way last year after one of my parents told me she liked hearing all the kids but would really love to have a CD of just her kid playing.
LikeLike
This is really cool! Do you have an actual recording studio? I would love to do something like this, but I don’t know where to begin!
LikeLike
I use garage band and a USB mic purchased at Best Buy. Very easy to use with a digital keyboard that has USB plug. Connect your keyboard to your computer using a USB cable and you’re ready to go! I think windows has a similar program – audacity – but I don’t know how to use it since I’m on a mac
LikeLike