Prairie Scraps

We are the third week into our new Musikopoly Incentive Program for the year in the piano studio.  I’m amazed at what kids want to do to earn more Bach Bucks for the incentives and to top it off, they are learning! (Shhhh, don't tell them!) Last week we had two kids memorize their assigned pieces for the week to earn $25. This week, my son wanted to earn extra Bach Bucks, so we posted a performance on YouTube for $20.  Check it out!  After playing through his piece a few times to record, he played it for me memorized!  How many 14 year olds get that excited about practicing? If you weren’t already a fan of doing incentives in piano lessons, just that fact the kids are begging me to do memorized pieces, composer projects, and recordings should be enough to convince you how much incentives can help them progress.  I’d love to hear how you get kids to practice and want to do piano!

I’ve been busy getting the Prairie Scraps Music Studio back into the swing of things for the fall.  One of the things that I’ve done in my studio for the last three years is a themed incentive program that runs for the entire school year.  In the past, parents usually heard all the details about the programs because most sat through lessons because we lived out in the country a ways.  This year, since parents are dropping the kids off for lessons, I decided to do a video to explain why I do incentive programs in my studio.  Here it is: To add to that, I also did a walk through of the program binder and incentives, so we are all on the same page. I’m so excited about it and am also thankful to have found the templates and idea over at  Pianimation .  What a wonderful resource this is for piano teachers!  Thank you! If you get a chance, please comment, like and subscribe to my YouTube channel.  I know I don’t have it all figured out yet, but it would be great to feel a little lo