The last piano lesson before Christmas break is always a little different, isn’t it?
Students are excited about the holidays, everyone’s counting down to vacation, and let’s face it, focusing on regular lesson material isn’t exactly at the top of anyone’s priority list!
But that doesn’t mean we have to abandon learning altogether.
In fact, the last lesson before Christmas is the perfect opportunity to review important musical skills, get creative, and have a little extra fun at the piano.
Whether you’re looking for Christmas piano games, creative challenges, or simple activities that require little to no preparation, I’ve rounded up 7 Christmas piano lesson ideas to help you finish the year on a festive note.
And the best part? Your students will be having so much fun, they might not even realize how much they’re learning!
1. Compose an Original Christmas Song
Why not give your students a chance to create their very own Christmas music?
Composition is a wonderful way to reinforce concepts students have been learning, and the last lesson before Christmas break is the perfect time to get a little creative!
My Christmas Compose with Dice activity makes the process easy. Students roll dice to determine different elements of their composition, then put everything together to create an original holiday piece.
(If you’d like to see a preview and learn more about Compose with Dice (which comes in all seasons and holidays), check out this article I wrote all about it.)
In short, it’s a fun way to practice rhythm, note reading, and musical decision-making without making the activity feel like another assignment.
How to Play:
- Pick a pentascale (Keep it simple with C Scale, or branch out to G, D, A, or F Major)
- Fill out the note drawing practice sheet (Using dice)
- Roll the dice to determine each right hand melody note and draw it on the staff
- Give it a title
- Play it
Grab the Resource: Christmas Compose with Dice
2. Play Christmas Rhythm Bingo
Bingo are my students’ favorite game, and probably my bestselling game as well!
Christmas Rhythm Bingo is a fun way to sneak some rhythm review into your final lesson of the year.
Instead of simply identifying rhythmic patterns on a worksheet, students get to listen, recognize, and match rhythms as they play.
You can even add an extra challenge by having students clap, tap, or play each rhythm on the piano before marking their boards.
And while Bingo is especially fun with a group, you can absolutely play it with just one student, too!
How to Play:
- Print a board for each player (up to 6)
- Use the teacher call list to tap, clap, or say Christmas phrases in rhythm
- Players find the rhythm and cover the square
- The first player to get 5-in-a-row yells Bingo!
Grab the Resource: Christmas Rhythm Bingo
3. Build a Christmas Music Train
For young students who need an off-the-bench hands-on activity, build a train!
My Christmas Train Puzzles turn music theory review into a matching activity. Students connect train pieces by identifying related musical concepts.
There are puzzles covering note reading, rhythm, octaves, sharps, flats, and enharmonic notes, so you can choose the concepts that are appropriate for each student.
You could even turn it into a timed challenge!
How many train cars can your student correctly connect in two minutes?
Or, for a more relaxed activity, simply spread the pieces across the floor or table and let students build their trains at their own pace. There are many ways to use these pieces from teacher-involved to hands-off.
How to Play (the Simplest Way):
- Print and cut out (or have the student cut out) the cards to match your student’s level
- Present them with the train and all cards
- Have them match three cards and group them together until all cards have found their matching group of three
And there are Four Variations of this matching game (just print the train once and use with different cards):
- Key & Note – letter + piano key + note on the staff
- Note Values – name of note/rest + symbol + number of beats
- Note & Note – letter + note (lower octave) + note (higher octave)
- Sharps & Flats – letter name + piano key (black key) + note on the staff
Save With All Four Versions: Christmas Train Puzzles Bundle
Or you can browse the four individual sets here.
4. Collect Christmas Cookies in a Note-Reading Game
My Christmas Note Board Game turns note identification into a festive challenge as students work their way around the board collecting Christmas cookies.
It’s a great opportunity to review staff notes before students head off for winter break.
You can also adjust the difficulty by choosing note cards that match your student’s current reading level.
Play two different ways (one is FREE)!
- Use your own note flashcards (and dice), you can make up your own version of this note-naming game using the free printable board. Note that the free download is just the game board itself.
- Or to play the full version of the game (which, honestly is more fun), grab the printable set that comes with cookies cards and instructions. Students move on the board naming notes and following other holiday-related card challenges and instructions to collect cookie cards!
Grab the Full Resource: Christmas Note Board Game
5. Play Christmas Carol Bingo
Here’s one that’s especially fun for partner lessons, group classes, or holiday piano parties!
Instead of traditional note or rhythm recognition, Christmas Carol Bingo challenges students to recognize familiar Christmas songs. It’s a wonderful way to develop listening skills while celebrating all the holiday music students have been hearing throughout December.
You can make the activity even more interactive by playing short excerpts of the carols yourself rather than simply announcing the titles.
For younger students, it will be challenging enough to remember all of these tunes. But to challenge older students, I like to play just five harmonized melody notes…then I stop! If nobody guesses correctly I start again, but this time play seven melody notes, and again I stop! Once someone guesses correctly then everyone can mark their square.
I’ve got a free single bingo board you can download to try out the activity. And if you just have one student at a time, you’re all set!
Want to play with multiple students? The complete Christmas Carol Bingo pack includes 12 unique boards so everyone can participate in the same game without having identical cards.
Grab the Full Resource: Christmas Carol Bingo
6. Turn a Christmas Carol into a Duet
This might be my favorite idea for sneaking some chord practice into a Christmas lesson!
Choose a familiar Christmas carol and grab a beginner-friendly lead sheet.
Instead of asking your student to tackle both the melody and chords right away, turn the song into a teacher-student duet.
Here’s how it works:
Round 1: Student plays the melody.
Let your student play the familiar Christmas tune while YOU provide the chord accompaniment.
This gives them a chance to hear the chord progression and how the harmony supports the melody, without having to worry about playing the chords themselves.
Round 2: Switch parts!
Now YOU play the melody while your student takes over the chords.
Because you’re handling the tune, your student can focus entirely on finding the correct chord shapes and moving between them.
No juggling melody and harmony at the same time!
Round 3: Put it all together (optional).
If your student is ready, challenge them to play the melody and chords together. Or experiment with different accompaniment patterns to create a new arrangement.
I especially love this activity because even students who are relatively new to playing chords can experience the satisfaction of creating a full-sounding Christmas performance.
My Christmas Beginner Lead Sheets include familiar holiday songs with simplified chord options, making it easy to adapt this activity for different skill levels.
Grab the Resource: Christmas Beginner Lead Sheets Pack 1
7. Color Your Way Through Christmas
Sometimes, the perfect way to end a busy December lesson is with something a little more relaxing. I love putting on a playlist of holiday classics and grabbing a coloring page for myself, too!
Christmas music coloring activities give students a chance to review musical concepts while enjoying a festive, creative activity.
I have three different Christmas music coloring packs available, each offering a different way to combine musical learning with holiday fun.
You could use a coloring sheet as a quick lesson starter, a quiet activity between games, or something students can take home to finish over winter break.
And if you’d like a little something free to get started, I’ve got you covered!
FREE Christmas Present Music Coloring Page
But if you want a coloring page for every student, or more pictures for students to choose from…
- 10 Unique Beginner Coloring Pages – Christmas-themed pictures for early note reading
- 18 Note Review Pages (3 Levels) – Review treble & bass clef notes from Middle C to ledger lines
- 18 Rhythm Review Pages (3 Levels) – Gingerbread and Christmas treat themes featuring note & rest values
You can also grab all three Christmas coloring packs together and save over 25% with my Christmas Music Coloring Bundle.
Looking for Christmas Piano Sheet Music?
Of course, December lessons wouldn’t be complete without playing some Christmas music!
Whether you’re looking for simple arrangements for beginners or something a little more challenging for your advancing students, there are plenty of wonderful Christmas pieces to explore.
I’ve put together a separate roundup of Christmas piano sheet music to help you find just the right holiday repertoire for your students.
Read next: Christmas Sheet Music for Beginners
Make Your Last Christmas Piano Lesson Memorable!
The last lesson before Christmas break doesn’t have to follow your usual lesson routine.
In fact, it’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate everything your students have learned, review important skills in creative ways, and simply enjoy making music together.
Whether you choose a Christmas piano game, a composition challenge, a festive duet, or a relaxing coloring activity, the goal is to send students off for winter break feeling excited about music.
And who knows? They might even be inspired to spend some of their vacation making music at the piano!
Merry Christmas and happy teaching!
