Returning to lessons after holiday break can mean you’re scratching your head to know how to motivate your students to practice their skills again. That’s why the January webinar was all about helping your students Level Up their skills using our helpful new releases and Idea Share!
What new music was released?
- Wendy Stevens debuted more helpful Short Sheets® and Tune Up Tunes®, plus a new silly and fun Little Fuzzies piece called Healing Hacks.
- Jason Sifford wrote Kennel Club, a group of three motivating pieces for late elementary and early intermediate doglovers.
- Diane Hidy composed the awaited final installment of the Smart Scales series – Black Key Minors!
Read about all the new releases here!
Idea Share #16: How do you get your students to practice? How do you spark self-motivation to practice?
These are some of my personal favorites from the many ideas that were shared (you can download them all below):
- Robin: I’ve found that two main things help practice: 1. Studio-wide challenges. 2. Performance opportunities!
- Nancy: Practice in short spurts (adults) 5 minutes, etc. Also practice without a piano. Mental practice – just do 2 measures, practice a scale. Walk-by practice, as you walk by play a chord at each octaves (7 times) Practice as they go to sleep.
- Laura B.: I have found giving students choices helps their intrinsic motivation immensely. For example, which of these pieces do you like best? Which scale shall we start with? Obviously, there needs to be a healthy amount of guidance, but CHOICES help students feel empowered!
- Janelle: Choose great music!!! And make sure it seems “doable” before they leave the studio to take it home.
- Mary G.: Have parents tell their child they like what they’re playing.
- Lisa S.: Up to 5th grade, my students receive points for practice, doing their written theory, playing with expression, and any extra work they do. After 6 lessons, they receive small prizes for each category.
You can get ALL the ideas teachers shared here:
What’s a Piano Teaching Idea Share?
If this is your first time reading about our Idea Shares, here’s an overview:
During the webinar, we ask teachers to answer a question that we think would benefit all piano teachers. After receiving answers from both webinar sessions, we compile them all into a free downloadable PDF so that you have access to ideas from the entire ComposeCreate® piano teaching community!
Idea Shares 1-15 can be found here:
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #1- Encouraging books, creative ideas, injecting energy, online games
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #2 – How teachers are lightening their load
- Rhythm Idea Share #3 – Teaching rhythm
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #4 – Gadgets and gizmos, lifesaving ideas, marketing ideas
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #5 – Taking care of yourself and Energizing Ideas
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #6 – What are you excited about and Best Marketing Tips
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #7 – Student holiday gift suggestions and Making the holidays less stressful
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #8 – What new things are you doing and Adding a Composer of the Month to your studio
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #9 – How does surprise enhance students’ learning?
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #10 – How would you introduce this piece to students?
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #11 – How can we make holiday recitals easier?
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #12 – 2024 Excitement and How do you connect music and art?
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #13 – Favorite Office Supplies for Teaching
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #14 – What is working well in your studio?
- Piano Teaching Idea Share #15 – What is your favorite holiday or Christmas album?
Want to be notified when we have new idea shares and webinars?
If you are a piano teacher and want to know when articles like these get published, please join our email newsletter! We send out weekly newsletters with articles, new music notifications, free webinar opportunities and free teaching resources! We’d love to have you a part of the ComposeCreate® community.
