Mystery Practice: leave a 'surprise message' in the student's notebook :0)

With many instrumental students off for the summer, and me... well, I am relaxing and enjoying the time off.  Yet, my mind is stirring with ideas for the Fall; and I came across these great ideas for practicing from Kids and Keys:

http://thefameschoolblog.com/2012/10/09/mystery-practice-assignments/

Therefore, I hope to print off several copies of practice ideas to glue-stick into notebooks this coming school year.  It should be fun and inspiring for the student and me!
I will post an update as I complete my thoughts on this.

Dear Parents,

(teachpianotoday.com)

Listen well.

Applaud loud. 

Smile proud.   

Mr. Potato Head Helps With Practice

Practice, practice...

Have you seen the Potato Head app?   Well, I don't use an iPad in my studio, yet.   So I took the idea and made a template.

The motivation is to "Make a face!"  Each time the student plays a hard measure or phrase, have them add a piece to the Mr. Potato Head face.  After playing the measure or phrase six times, they will have built the face and improved those difficult places to play in the music.

Just print this template, cut out pieces, laminate.  You could add magnets to the back if you are using a magnetic board, or use velcro on the back (and front of the potato), adding the pieces to a felt board.  Or it could be used as a worksheet for the individual student, using glue to add pieces and then taking home the project as a reminder to practice those measures or phrases a little extra.
I like to use this template with my preschoolers, but also works with any age.
I think more choices of eyes, ears, nose, mouth, hats would be fun.  I will work on that.

PomPom Critter Rewards

So easy.  I thought I would reward my band students for their practice and dedication.  I made these 'simple to do' PomPom Critters.  You need a pom-pom, googly eyes, sticky-back foam and a hot-glue gun.

Easy. Inexpensive. Very Cute!

The sticky-back foam allows the kids to stick their critter wherever they like.

Ice Cream Incentive

What's better than an ice cream cone in the summer?  Earning it.  It will taste better.  :0)  Yum! 

Each music note on the ice cream cone is a place to mark an accomplishment.  As the teacher, you will need to set up some goals for the student this summer.  Maybe you will choose a combination:  introduce new chords played in solid and arpeggio form as well as the inversions,  add a few new scales, any # of songs (depending on level), technique,  practice time...so many ideas to incorporate into this incentive.

You could copy this form in black and white and have the student color in each part as they earn it or use stickers to cover over the music notes.

Support your local ice cream shop, buying gift certificates for your students after a rewarding summer.

Important!  Buy yourself a cone too :)

Practice Charts...

Practice Charts....I don't use them. 

On occasion I create a challenge for the students that lasts two weeks to a month, and we will actually keep track of certain things, such as:  practice, memory, chords, scales, intervals, etc...

But, for every day practice time I am a firm believer in creating a habit instead.  Ask the student when they practice... first thing in the morning, after breakfast, first thing after school, after dinner...?
this will help them to fit practice into their day, just like eating or brushing their teeth, and doing their homework.

Rewards for the students.
Ages 4 - 10 ~ I buy trinkets from http://www.orientaltrading.com/
Ages 4 - Teen (and adults)  ~ http://www.themusicstand.com/ has magnetic bookmarks that the kids like to keep in their music. http://www.friendshiphouse.com/ has several items under $5. that are music related.  Make your own music coupons that add up to a gift certificate toward ice cream at a local vendor.  Of course, everyone loves candy, and my students are always extra grateful when I pass it out.  But for the sake of health and frowns from the moms, I keep candy to a minimum...except, I lavish it on the Holidays.