We started a new incentive to challenge piano students to go a little above and beyond in their piano lessons. It's amazing how a little bit of competition really motivates a student!
I printed out paper horses from clipart that I found and wrote each student's name on a horse. Then i made a "racetrack" using long paper across the wall and drawing lines on it.
Here were their criteria for this challenge:
A
Day at the Races
Piano
Challenge
Gain
Yards on the Track:
Attend
a workshop = 2 yards
Perform
in a recital = 2 yards
Attend
a concert or musical = 4 yards
Memorize
a song = 1 yard
Compose
& notate a song (8 measures or more) = 4 yards
Perform
a piano solo on your own (church, nursing home, school, etc.) = 4
yards
Show
your teacher a YouTube video that you enjoy with a piano part in it =
1 yard
Learn
& master a song independently = 3 yards
Complete
theory pages or worksheets = 1 yard
Do
a mini report on a composer = 2 yards
Play
at least 20 minutes of Piano Maestro at home in one week = 2 yards
Lose
Yards on the Track:
Forget
your sheet music or lesson books = -2 yards
Make
a negative comment (“I can't do this” “This is too hard”
etc.) = -3 yards
Prizes:
First
25 students to finish the race will be entered into a drawing to win
a king-sized candy bar (10 available).
