Successful Ideas to Motivate More Enthusiastic Piano Practice: Part 2

November 30, 2020 Leslie Young

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In thinking about ways to have more enthusiastic piano practice sessions on a regular basis, I suppose all the motivators in the world could be grouped as “Seen” and “Unseen.” The “Seen” extrinsic motivators are the food treats, the stickers, or an activity. All of these come from outside the student. The “Unseen” intrinsic motivators come from within the student – from personal satisfaction and pleasure or a sense of accomplishment.

Extrinsic Rewards

Young students just beginning piano lessons may do best with extrinsic rewards for practicing daily because they haven’t had experiences sufficient to feel they have accomplished something just to feel good about it. Extrinsic rewards are best used in situations where basic skills are just beginning to be acquired or when initially the student doesn’t have a great interest in performing the assigned task. So a small reward immediately after a short task during the piano practice can be very stimulating for the learner.

Switch to Intrinsic Rewards

However, after the student has learned some necessary skills during the piano practice, he/she should have also developed some intrinsic feelings. “I feel good when I can play something correctly and my teacher praises me.” The giving of external motivators – treats and stickers, etc. – should be farther apart and gradually discontinued. Why?

There’s the overjustification effect that starts to happen when extrinsic motivators have been used for “too long.” When the good intrinsic feelings could have been adequate, the extrinsic rewards undermine their effectiveness. In other words, that bribe of candy or whatever treat starts interfering with playing the piano just because the student enjoys it.

So what to do? Making sure that the student is not tired, hungry, or thirsty before the piano practice session is huge, even essential. Offering to be the audience or singing along to the student’s playing is very encouraging to the student because your involvement means what he is doing is important. If it seems to be “fun” for you, it will be associated as fun for the practicing student. Once intrinsic feelings are present, substitute a different reward system for the motivation so that those good internal satisfaction motivators continue and flourish. I’ve had success using The Paycheck practice chart.

The Paycheck Practice Chart

To encourage daily piano practice, parents may use a weekly Paycheck incentive. At the end of the week, the student chooses one item from the Paycheck Practice Chart reward list if each day has been checked as having been practiced. Paycheck items must be approved by the parent and may include: food/treat; game; play date; movie; sleepover, activity, etc.

When the student has some influence and input his interest in participating increases. Make this Practice Chart system as unique as you desire!

At the beginning of every Theory Book, there is a master Paycheck Practice Chart form that may be copied as frequently as needed.