100 Days of Practicing Club

I am so excited because I have finally purchased something I've wanted for a long time...a 100 Days of Practicing Club Plaque.  These are pretty expensive, but I really believe it will be a great motivator to recognize my students who are consistently practicing.  On the plaque are 36 spots for students' names who have practiced 100 days (or more) in a row.  If they do more than 100 days I make them a new nameplate to replace the existing one with their current number of 100 days (200, 300, 400, etc.)  This way they won't feel like they've got their reward after only 100....they can keep going!  I'm also counting any number of consecutive 100-day practices even if they are not all consecutive with each other.  For example, one student might practice 100 days in 2010, than miss some days and decide to start all over again and 2011.  The next 100 days will also count (and I will get a 200-day plate) so they can feel like no matter what they can always try again for another 100 days and get recognized for it. 

For the students who practice for a whole year, I get their own plaque to hang on my wall.  I've left some space at the bottom to add consecutive years if they do more than one year. 

I'm so excited for my students to see their names on my wall.  I already have two more students to add to the 100 days club since I made this and I will definitely make a huge deal out of it!  Practicing consecutively is awesome!

What can Motivate?

I've been reading a book called How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton M. Christensen.  It's a book on how to find happiness in your life, your career, and your relationships.  It's a "guidebook for your future" as the back cover states.  I've only read two chapters, but so far I'm finding it very interesting and I can't help but apply it to playing an instrument and practicing.

So often we hear from kids that they don't like practicing or playing the violin or whatever.  (Recently in a lesson my student just said flat out, "I hate the violin.")  However, as adults we can see, not only the tremendous benefit of playing an instrument but also the rewards it brings to the player and also the world around them.  That's why we're doing this - right?

This book first discusses finding happiness and fulfillment in a career.  It states that money is not a key factor in someone enjoying their job.  To compare that to practicing - paying a child, or bribing a child may get them to practice, but it won't necessarily get them to enjoy their playing.

What really motivates a person to do well at their job and find it fulfilling are motivating factors including challenging work, recognition, responsibility, and personal growth.

This can apply directly to practicing and playing an instrument.  Without writing a dissertation on each topic - here are some of my brief thoughts.

Challenging work - a child is motivated by new and challenging material.  That's what makes them improve at their instrument.  Twinkle is an extremely hard piece for a young beginner, but it's the challenge of it that makes accomplishing it so rewarding.  When your child finished Twinkle did they get a huge celebration?  I hope so - it's the hardest piece to learn - many taking 1 to 2 years to master!

Recognition - when a child is recognized for their hard work it motivates them to practice.  I think the best form of recognition is performing.  I didn't like practicing as a kid, but my mom never let me quit because she could tell that when I performed I was proud of my playing and I enjoyed it.  I'm sure you can see that in your own children and students.  Also recognizing and rewarding them for their practicing - particularly consecutive daily practice - is a great motivator to get that practicing done.

Responsibility - even the youngest children can be responsible for their practicing.  After all - it's their instrument, their music they are playing!  My 3-year-old often guides our practicing (with my help) and makes decisions about what to practice, how much to practice, and even when she's done practicing.

Personal Growth - learning new things as an adult is what makes our jobs more interesting.  As a child, this is second nature.  Their whole lives are based on learning new things.  Each piece is a new adventure and often has a new technique to be learned.  A child will quickly lose motivation if they are stuck on a song and can't move on.  My oldest daughter has been learning the same group of pieces for months and finally got a new piece this last week - practicing has never been better.  She loves learning her new piece!

Can I be like her?

Why do we encourage our students to attend concerts?

Last night, we heard Jenny Oaks Baker perform at the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute. Jenny was absolutely stunning, not only in how she played but in how she looked. My daughters were enthralled during the whole concert. In the middle of the concert my 8-year-old daughter whispered, "Mom, do you think I could play like her when I'm older?" "Of course!"

No amount of practicing will motivate a young child to learn to play beautifully than seeing someone they admire play. Go to concerts! Experience performances of exquisite beauty! Let your children see what they are capable of!