Summer Practice Motivation!

How to Motivate Suzuki Students to Practice During the Summer

from musicteachingandparenting.com
June 27, 2017

Let’s face it! Summer is too much fun to stay on schedule! And yet our Suzuki violin students need to find different ways for effective Suzuki violin practice!

Motivating Suzuki students to practice is easy when you have variety of tips and trick to use.
The first three tips will take fun to a whole new level! The rest will provide additional opportunities to work with the child and motivate Suzuki students to practice more.

Take Fun to A Whole New Level With These 4 Suzuki Violin Practice Tips

Practice Cards

Practice cards can be very effective for some children. They can keep kids on track practicing during the summer time when they naturally have less structure. If you feel that your child will benefit from them check these 7 day practice cards. They have different tasks on each that the child needs to do every day. Some are a lot of fun! So the students will want to practice more.
You child will also enjoy practicing with this Shark Week Suzuki Practice Challenge. The practice games cards will look like the picture below.

Are you going on vacation this summer? You can use  that seven day practice challenge the week leading to a vacation. This will keep your child on track practicing.
Staying home during the summer months? Then you can also use the cards to set up the next fun idea, treasure hunt.

Have a Treasure Hunt

Is there something more fun than having a treasure hunt? Especially on a hot day when you cannot go outside? And is there something better that using this game to fit more Suzuki violin practice? The best part about treasure hunts is that you can modify it any way it fits your child’s needs. As they are having fun, they can go through all the technical activities they may otherwise be resistant to.
Here is a post with detailed instructions and ideas about having a treasure hunt in the house! I can guarantee that your child will love you for it!

Take Practice Outside

If you follow this blog you will know that we have a big presence on Pinterest. As I was browsing different teaching ideas I found this practice idea. Check it out as it is absolutely fun! It can easily be modified for Suzuki students to practice outside and have a specific assignment. They can practice review pieces, scales, technical exercises, all wrapped up in that game.
If you are Suzuki violin teacher and decide to do this with your kids during the summer, they will adore your lessons! Probably also beg their parents to sign them up for more!

Don’t Practice More! Practice Differently!

The three ideas above provide an excellent opportunity for practicing in a fun way. Sometimes in order to make Suzuki violin practice effective, we must take into consideration the child and what they are gong thug that day. As much as we want them to have a routine and follow our directions, there will be some days that will not go as planned. This is why I had written a post about Alternatives to a Full Violin Practice for more details about not loosing practice time, yet working with the child.