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Motivating children to learn a musical instrument can be tough; but that doesn't mean it has to be boring!
Do you feel like you are constantly battling your student to practice? Well, sometimes motivating children to learn a musical instrument takes a little bit of creative brain power. Here are lots of ideas to get you started. Read these simple yet super fun ways to make your student jump for joy next time you say, "It's time to practice!"
When looking for new ideas check out Family Fun. Family Fun comes out with a back-to-school magazine edition every September. It always includes wonderful homework helps and making homework fun ideas. Most of the homework ideas can apply to practicing as well. That is where I got this first helpful idea, "Counting Time".
Motivating children to learn music will only be successful if they can then learn how to motivate themselves. These tips and strategies work because they give ownership to the student, teach them short-term vs. long-term success, and make learning fun. The end result is a happier, excited, self-motivated student!
Scroll through the list below to find an idea on "motivating children to learn music" that works for you.
Counting Time - Every time your student practices, you light a tea-light candle. When they are done practicing they blow it out. When the candle wax is completely burned away, they get to pick a fun activity like going to the park, movie, or concert. Students love seeing the visual of the candle and how much they have practiced. As students become more advanced and begin practicing longer, try getting bigger candles to make it more challenging.
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Build Confidence - When your student passes off a particularly difficult song or solo let them choose a bead to remind them of that song.
Have a 'song' necklace with all of their beads. It will be fun for them to remember what bead goes with what song.
The beads will be motivating short-term as they work to pass off a song. The necklace will be motivating long-term. It will give them a sense of confidence as they see the the necklace grow with all of the songs that they know.
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Completing Assignments
*Note to Teacher: If the student is to practice a song a particular number of times that week, send them home with that exact number of stickers. The goal is to bring the sticker sheet back empty and have all of the stickers placed around the song that they are learning.
For younger students this makes keeping track of their own practice easier and teaches them responsibility and ownership in their work.
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Using Repitition
However old the student is, that is how many times through they will play that line of music this specific sitting. Each time the student plays the "chocolate chip song", you place a chocolate chip on the music stand to help keep track and motivate them. Before they even realize it they have practiced the same song or music line several times.
For example...If the student is 3 years old, they will play through it three times and earn three chocolate chips. When they have earned all of the chocolate chips, they get to take a short break and enjoy their treat.
This fun idea works well because it is age specific. Older students will have to play through their song more times. Younger students will play through less times which is more suited to their developmental stage and attention span.
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*replace chocolate chips with whatever small treat you have on hand.
Muffin Tin Time - Muffin tins are great tools for creative practicing ideas. They can be used as a music game piece or as fun practice charts. Here are some ideas to get you started. Can you think of your own variations?
Hands On Practice Charts - Muffin Tin Idea #1 - Filling to Finish. This is a simple way for students to visualize their practice time, and 'chart' their accomplishments on a day to day basis.
Pick any small object; pennies, marbles, m&m's, fruit loops, raisins. It can be a reward item, but doesn't necessarily have to be. Crafting pompoms work great because they are colorful and soft. Be careful to place muffin tin up high when other small children are around as the small items can be a choking hazard.
Every time your student plays a song, an assigned scale, a difficult measure, etc, they get to place one small object in each one of the muffin tin cups. When the muffin tin is full, they are done practicing for the day. (If you are using the small item as a reward, they get to keep the item when their tin is full and they are finished).
Bet your student will have so much fun, they will want to fill the muffin tin twice!
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*Most muffin tins have 12 tins. You can find some that have only 6 individual tins for students that are younger or just beginning.
Playing a Game - Muffin Tin Idea #2- Penny Toss. Cut out 12 circles of paper that will fit inside the bottom of the muffin tin. On each circle write a different song or musical assignment from their lesson that week that they need to practice. You may also write funny ways of practicing. Here some generic examples of things that may be written on the circles. These ideas are geared towards the violin.
Practice Your Scale Slow
Name the Parts of the Violin
Play a song for Dad
Play a whole song without using your violin bow
Practice your Work Song 2 times
Put down your instrument and sing instead of play
Pick the hardest measure and play 5 times
Pick an old song and name all of the notes
The student stands a couple feet from the muffin tin and tosses a penny into the muffin tin. Read the circle and have him/her do what it says. Student can repeat as many times as you wish, until they've finished all the circles, or for a predesignated amount of time.
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