New Piano Studio Decor and Incentive Idea: “I Caught You Practicing Without Being Asked!”

Wouldn’t you love all your piano students to practice without being asked?

Wouldn’t you love it if parents were more of a partner with you in motivating piano students?

The answer is obviously a resounding, “Yes!” which is why I love this idea from Michelle Miller of Michelle Miller Music Studio. She was one of the first teachers to share pictures of the Recital Compliment Exchange which I have been posting on the ComposeCreate Instagram channel. I asked her more about some of the tools she uses to motivate students and got back a number of great ideas and pictures! I’ll share more of those in coming posts, but first…

“I Caught You Practicing Without Being Asked” Wall

I wanted to share a piano studio decor and incentive idea of Michelle’s with you. It’s called the “I Caught You Practicing Without Being Asked” incentive. Michelle asked parents to take pictures of their children when they caught them practicing without being asked! Michelle then printed the pictures on her home printer and posted them to the wall each week.

Michelle shares:

I’d originally found the general idea in a larger, longer practice incentive from Teach Piano Today but I’ve now adapted it to stand on its own and try to run it for a month each year. It’s a good February pick me up because the kids get excited to come to lesson and see if their picture is up and receive a little treat and the parents have fun trying to sneak a picture of them!

How many piano students look that piano studio decor each week?

How many kids do you think look at the wall and see if their picture is up there? 🙂 Well, wouldn’t you want to know if your parent had sent a picture and what it looked like? I’m guessing they all look. I’m guessing some might even drop some hints to their parents the next week, “Hey mom, I’m going to practice the piano…without being asked…you might want to get your phone out…just in case!”

What else is needed to motivate piano students?

Michelle’s piano studio decor idea is a great one for getting students to the piano more often or without the drudgery. What other things can get our students to the piano more often or without drudgery?

I think the biggest, most obvious answer is…Music Kids Love®! When piano students love their music, then motivating them to get to the piano is hardly an issue. So, combine this incentive with fantastic music that really connects with kids, and you get a motivated student! When that student is motivated, then they advance more quickly, which gives them more competence and thus motivates them even more. It’s vicious and wonderful cycle!

Watch this little video that applies.

Give students Music Kids Love®.

Then, it will be easy to catch them practicing without being asked!

Find More “Music Kids Love®:”

• The Bold Escape – Super easy, but sounds huge! Beginners of all ages love this.
• The Booger Song – I promise it’s tastefully done. Hilarious, which is why kids love it!
• Chased to the Edge – Teens love this and so do all ages because it sounds contemporary and mysterious.
• Drastic Measures – Truly a best seller for mid-intermediate students. Teens and pre-teens love it.