Practice Incentives - Motivate & Reward Students with Printable Music Bucks

Let's face it: not all music students are self-motivated when it comes to practicing.  Sometimes it takes motivation, coercion, incentives, encouragement...  I've used something that seems to work well with students, and so I'd like to share it with you today.  I've also seen it commonly used in other studios, which makes me believe it works for others as well (or they wouldn't be doing it, right?).  So what is this magical practicing motivator?  I'll tell you: Music Bucks!

Here's how it works.  The students record their practice time, and you "pay" them with fake money for it based on the system you set up in your studio, for example, one buck per day practiced.  Students may also earn one for passing off a polished piece, or for performing in group class, etc.  I find it's a direct, visible, tangible, and immediate way of rewarding the students for their efforts, which sometimes translates better than telling them, "If you practice lots and lots, then you'll get really good...someday...eventually."

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.