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How to Motivate Students to Practice Post-Holidays

kimmurraymusic
motivated music student practicing

Are you experiencing the post-holiday practice slump that many of us endure each year?


As I mentioned in this blog, the holidays are a great time to take a break, but getting kids back regular practice in January can be a big challenge.


If you're struggling to get your students back into a regular practice routine, here are some strategies that have helped me motivate students to practice in the slow mid-winter months.


Have a variety of practice strategies at the ready


We know that each student is different and is motivated by different things. To that end, it's good to have several motivational practice strategies up your sleeve that you can try.


My No Drama Practice Guide is a list of practical and inspirational practice strategies I compiled to help get students into a stable (and rewarding) practice routine. You can get a free copy of the list here.


Emphasize input rather than output


Of course we want them to master their music. But focusing on consistent effort rather than results is the best way to get students to put in the time that actually produces the results we're looking for.


I've found that a bit of friendly competition at a slow time of year can galvanize several unmotivated students at once.


Consider having a short-term "practice contest" within your studio in January or February. You might hang a large competition chart on the studio wall where you track each participating student's practice minutes over the course of several weeks. Have a reward for the "top practicer(s)" at the end of the competition.


Practice practicing in lessons


Kids are often unenthusiastic about practicing because they're not quite sure how to do it, so don't find it rewarding. Consider making January or February "practice practicing" month and dedicate 10-15 minutes in each lesson helping students understand how to practice.


I find that many students simply play a piece from beginning to end a few times, failing to give the hardest (and sloppiest) sections the focus they need. To address this, I put together a guide called How to Practice a Work Place that I share with my students and parents. Get a free copy of the guide here.


Use a practice rubric


Honestly, this is probably the single most effective strategy I've used in over 25 years of teaching to motivate students to practice. Students love the sense of clarity it provides and the ownership it gives them over their own musical progress.


My rubric is designed for students to use in home practice sessions or in lessons as a reference. It breaks music down into various elements, provides descriptions of what constitutes poor and excellent execution of each along with a sliding scale to gauge progress. Get a free copy of my rubric here.


Though motivating students to practice after the holidays can be a challenge, it can be easier and more fun if the right tools are used. Give these strategies a try to jumpstart each student's spring practice routine for less frustration and more musical success.


For all my free tips and strategies, subscribe to the blog!








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