How to Create "Summer Send-Off" Packets

Do you have students taking a break from piano lessons over the summer?

Today, I am sharing what I include in my "summer send-off" packets! These packets include a variety of fun activities and sheet music that your students can work on independently over the summer to keep their piano skills sharp. Best of all, most of these resources are absolutely FREE!

​Keep reading to learn more...

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A "summer send-off" packet is a great way to keep students engaged at the piano during the busy summer months. The activities included in these packets will vary based on each student's age, skill level, and interests, but here is a general guide of what I like to include in my packets:

1. A repertoire list.
I probably sound like a broken record, since I mention repertoire lists so frequently here on my blog! But repertoire lists are one of the most motivating, must-have activities that I use in my studio! I always send students off for the summer with a fresh repertoire list that includes a few of their favorite pieces, and I encourage them to play from (and add to!) this list on a regular basis all summer long.

​Click on the images below to download a FREE PDF of either of these summer repertoire lists.

2. Free pieces to play for fun.
I always include a few fun, easy pieces in my summer send-off packets. Below are a few of my favorites at a variety of levels!

Click on the images below to download a free PDF of any of these pieces, or check out these other great resources for more free sheet music options at a variety of levels:

• My “Free Stuff” page (scroll down to the bottom of the page for sheet music) 
• Gilbert DeBenedetti's freebies at G Major Music Theory 
• ​Andy Fling's free resources at Making Music Fun​

3. A suggested list of supplemental pop pieces parents can purchase over the summer.
I usually have several parents who express an interest in buying supplemental sheet music for their kids to work on over the summer. I have found it helpful to send parents a few specific suggestions of pieces that I know will be at the appropriate level for their child.

Here are a few titles at each level (beginner, easy, and intermediate) that have been really popular with students recently! Click on the images below for more information about these arrangements, or browse my catalog HERE for more options that you can share with your students!

Pro Tip: One of my favorite features of Musicnotes.com (which is where all of the arrangements below can be purchased) is that you can print a free sample page of just about any piece on the website. Including these free sample pages in your students' summer packets gives them the opportunity to try out the first page of the piece before they buy the music, and the sample page includes an information sheet with the product number so that parents can be sure to purchase the right version if they want to buy the rest of the piece from the Musicnotes website.

​Movie Themes

Video Game Themes

Pop Songs

4. Theory review worksheets.
Finally, I like to tuck in a few worksheets that will give students the opportunity to review note names, music vocabulary, scales, chords, and more!

​Click on the images below to download a free PDF of any of these worksheets, or check out these other great resources for more free theory worksheets:

• My “Free Stuff” page 
• Karen Garrett's free worksheets at Music Tech Teacher​
• Free note naming worksheets from "The Perfect Start for Piano" website

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What do you think? Do you make summer send-off packets for your students? What activities do you like to include? I would love to hear from you in the comments!