Practice Challenge
Summer Practice Challenge: Keeping Students Engaged and Motivated
Summer is upon us, and students have scattered! Some take the summer off to vacation and give their minds a breather, while others opt to use this time to make headway on goals they don't have time for during the school year.
Whatever type of student you have, setting a plan with intention can help them (and you) stay focused—and perhaps even have a little fun along the way! This summer, my students will be participating in a 100 Piece Practice Challenge to keep them engaged while also making progress in their musical journey.
100 Piece Practice Challenge
The concept is simple: colour in a book with each goal achieved, no matter what that goal is.
I realize that 100 pieces may not be feasible for every student, so I think it's essential to set goals that are both challenging and achievable. It’s a great confidence booster! To accommodate different schedules and skill levels, I’ve introduced multiple challenge tiers:
This flexibility ensures that all students, regardless of their time constraints, can participate and experience the joy of progress.
Tailoring the Challenge to Each Student
Beginners: We’ll focus on working through method books, allowing them to build confidence and reinforce essential skills. So colour a book for each piece or page learned.
Intermediate & Advanced Students: This challenge will be great for sight-reading, broadening their repertoire, and refining their musicality. Or colour in a book when sections are learned, goals achieved, time challenges.
Making It Fun: Rewards & Motivation
Seeing progress visually can be incredibly motivating! In the studio where I work, we have a store called Maestro Mart, where students can earn Beethoven Bucks to purchase little treats—or even one of my crochet projects! For those who prefer a different approach, the intrinsic reward of seeing a page come to life with progress can be just as satisfying.
Even if you don’t use a reward system, simply celebrating their achievements—whether by hanging their completed challenge on the wall, giving them a shout-out, or sharing their progress with fellow students—can be highly motivating.
What Are Your Summer Practice Tips?
I’d love to hear how you keep your students engaged over the summer! Do you have any favorite practice challenges or tools? Let’s share ideas and inspire each other to make this summer productive and fun!
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