So what do they do with the "money"? Every so often, like once a month or every couple of months, you can hold a "store". The kids get super excited because they know it's store week at their lesson, and they count up their bucks and bring them along. Then they can "buy" whatever they want from the store. They love it!
Ideas of things to have in the store: candy (duh!), small toys, stickers, coloring books/art supplies, music paraphernalia (like little notebooks with treble clefs on the cover, a name tag for their instrument case, etc.). The sky's the limit. Think: arcade ticket redemption counter, or anything you can find at the dollar store or Oriental Trading Company. Try to make it fun and have a variety appropriate for the ages you teach. You set the prices for the items in the store. If you're needing guidance the first time, take into consideration the average amount of bucks you think your students have earned since you began, and then decide what's reasonable so they can have sufficient rewards, but so one student alone doesn't wipe out your whole store. Maybe a candy bar is $20, and bigger toys are $50 or $100. Sometimes kids get LOTS of music bucks, so keep that in mind.
That's it! It's super fun, and if you change up what you have in the store, it keeps them super interested and motivated. Sure, it will cost you a little bit to stock your store, but keep in mind that you don't have to do anything elaborate or expensive. Keep it simple. Think of it as an investment in your studio, because when students practice, they progress, and when they progress, they enjoy it, and when they enjoy it, they keep coming back, and when they keep coming back, you still have a job. :)
I've created some downloadable Music Bucks Practice Incentives that you are free to use in your own studio. I'd love to hear how this motivates your students, as well as any other ideas you have to help motivate students to practice.
I really like this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHey, Rachel! Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you like it, and I'd love to hear how it works out for you, if you decide to use it.
DeleteSometimes, for me, getting students the music they want entails me transcribing a particular pop song for them, that involves a lot of decisions for me about trying to be true to the original melody so the students can play along with the track (key, rhythm, register, etc) or transpose the piece to an easier key and with a simplified rhythm which will enable them to play it more easily. Sometimes giving them a very difficult transcription which is clearly beyond their current abilities is an excellent motivator, and sometimes it isnt, every student is a unique individual who responds to a wide range of positive or negative reinforcements- some will rise to the challenge and work their butts off to be able to conquer the piece and some will curl up in a little tearful ball and quit. One parent came up with an excellent motivator for her daughter (who was a very commercially minded girl), she paid her $5 for every day that she practiced on her own for 30 minutes or more- but at the end of the week the child had to pay for her lesson herself. Pretty quickly the student realized that if she practiced 7 days a week she would be turning a $10 profit weekly, and promptly doubled her efforts at home. Everyone is different, and part of our job as teachers is learning what makes each pupil tick, and helping them develop good discipline which will reward them with a wealth of achievements, both in music and life. This is the way we do it at my studio, http://www.nassaubaymusiclessons.com anyway...
ReplyDeleteHello! I'm not sure how I missed your comment. I usually get a notification, but I didn't this time! Yes, I agree with what you're saying that each student is motivated by different things. Sometimes, one of the biggest challenges of our job is to figure out what will work best for each student. But it's so rewarding to figure it out and to see each student take off! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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