When you say that the students practice so many days, does it matter to you how much they practice? I know that this has been discussed before but I just want to get this idea clear in my mind. I have a couple of kids that will write down "2 minutes" or "6 minutes"! They drive me crazy with this!!

Practice for my students includes reveiwing the theory lesson. The only pencil paper they get at home for me is to fix their wrong answers from lessons and or flashcards if they have them to work on. I also assign technique work (scales, penta scales, Finger Power or Hanon type by level), A lesson book piece and a sheet music piece or supplement piece from a supplement book.

[ 09-07-2004: Message edited by: playsteinway ]

Im totally changing the way Im doing my prizes for ALL my students. Im going to give them a challenge project to complete as part of their practice. When they complete the project they get the prize.
Projects are going to include memorization of pieces occassionally, transposing a piece from their lesson book OR composing a piece of their own.
For younger students they will also get awarded when they practice during the week to keep them encouraged, but to get the extra prize they need to complete the project challenge given to them.

[ 09-07-2004: Message edited by: jaydub2 ]

I changed my award system somewhat this year:

The following 16 Piano Achievement Awards may be earned throughout the piano year. Students must earn 10 of the 16 awards in order to receive the Piano Performance Trophy at the Spring Recital. It could take up to two years to qualify for a trophy, but it is possible to do it in one year.

1. EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE AWARD – Requirement: Attend all scheduled lessons with no absences from September through May.
2. RECITAL PERFORMANCE AWARD – Requirement: Perform in both the Fall and Spring Recitals.
3. BOOK PERFORMANCE AWARD – Requirement: Give a book recital in your home, performing 5 pieces from your current books with at least 5 guests and a program. Have each guest sign your recital program and turn it in at your lesson.
4. MEMORIZATION AWARD – Requirement: Memorize 5 new pieces, starting in September (agreed upon by student and teacher) and perform them at your lesson.
5. PIANO PERFORMANCE AWARD – Requirement: Memorize and perform successfully for at least one of these 3 opportunities – Piano Exam, Piano Contest, or National Guild Auditions.
6. PRAISE & WORSHIP AWARD – Requirement: Use a piano arrangement as a prelude, postlude, or offertory, or play for the congregational singing in a worship service at your church.
7. PIANO POPS AWARD – Requirement: Prepare 5 Pop pieces to performance level to earn this award. NOTE: Pieces may not be used for other awards such as Book Recital or Memorization.
8. PIANO DUET AWARD – Requirement: Record two duets with a partner or teacher.
9. PROFESSIONAL CONCERT AWARD – Requirement: Attend a professional classical concert during the piano year. Bring in your program to receive this award.
10. PIANO PRACTICE AWARD – Requirement: Maintain a perfect practice record of at least 150 minutes per week for 30 weeks, from September through May.
11. RECORDING ARTIST AWARD – Requirement: Prepare to performance level and record 10 pieces to achieve this award.
12. PIANO EVENT AWARD – Requirement: Perform in 3 extracurricular musical events, such as talent shows, nursing homes, weddings, etc., to earn this award.
13. MUSIC THEORY AWARD – Requirement: Successfully pass (With distinction or With Excellence) any level of the MMTA Theory Exams.
14. KEYBOARD SKILLS AWARD – Requirement: Successfully complete all the Keyboard Skills for the appropriate Piano Exam level and be tested on the skills at your lesson.
15. SIGHTREADING AWARD – Requirement: Successfully complete the appropriate MMTA Sightplaying Book and be tested on your sightplaying at your lesson.
16. GROUP LESSON PERFORMANCE AWARD – Requirement: Prepare a piece to performance level and play it at 2 group lessons during the year.

In addition, at each lesson students report practice on a motivational chart (These are excellent. I got the idea from www.wendyspianostudio.com ) and then made my own spin-offs. I contacted Wendy to get her permission first.) The charts can be used as sticker charts. The stickers are placed on the chart in a winding path leading to the goal. On my charts every 5th circle is a colored circle. Students get 1 composer buck (to spend in the "treasure chest") for every day they have practiced their skills at least 30 minutes. When they mark the 5th or colored circle each week, they get 1 bonus buck. Each chart takes 12 weeks and reaching the goal by the dealine nets 20 bonus bucks. They can only reach the goal if they practice 5 days each week for the entire 12 weeks. Older students track their practice oon a historical time line rather than a ssticker chart (Also available to print free of charge at www.wendyspianostudio.com )

This is really awesome! (It's sort of like earning badges for Girl Scouts). How do you and the students keep track of what they've accomplished on this list? Do you have a chart in your studio? Do the students each have a chart?

Wow! I agree. You put alot of thought into this and you'll have the hardest working and motivated kids in the country! Do you mind if I copy this for future reference? I, too, use Wendy's chart ideas. I did my own version and use them for sightreading and rhythm we do at each lesson.

This is great! Thanks for sharing! If they don't get all 10 complete the first year do you give them anything for what they did accomplish? Like a pin or certificate per award they accomplished.

Thank you, Alidoremi, Carole, and Jennifer. Please copy and use the ideas as you wish. Each of my students has a one-half inch 3 ring binder for our assignment sheets, etc. One of the introductory pages in the binder has the requirements for the 16 awards printed out. On the back of that sheet is a table with space along side of each award to describe what was completed for that award and another column for the date completed. Each award is represented by a ribbon, so yes, they do get the individual awards even if they do not accumulate the 10 required for the trophy.

I am assuming the individual award is a ribbon so say they were able to acheive 6 different awards then they would receive 6 different ribbons? Do you have the ribbons customized to the award or is it a general ribbon? Thanks again!