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One fun way to start off the New Year in your studio is to run a studio challenge. Check out four different challenges you can run if your studio.
#1 – Happy Birthday Studio Challenge
Make sure every student knows how to play Happy Birthday!
For the Happy Birthday Challenge, you’ll need:
- Happy Birthday Arrangements – Download the 10 different arrangements (beginning to advanced) so that every student can learn an appropriate version.
- Birthday Cake & Candles Clipart – Hang the cake in your studio. After each student learns their arrangement, they can write their name on a candle and hang it on the cake.
#2 – Show-off Piece Challenge
How many times do students memorize a piece, stop playing it, and then forget it? Make sure your students always have a memorized piece ready to play for friends a family!
For this challenge, you’ll need:
- Show-off Piece Challenge Poster – Hang the poster in your studio.
- Stars – When a student has their piece ready to play, write their name and piece on a star. Use the stars in download above.If you don’t want to cut out stars for your students, check out these.
#3 – 30-piece challenge
Challenge students to learn 30 pieces in the New Year! Keep in mind that the pieces do not have to be big or difficult pieces. This is a great way to work on sight reading with students.
For the 30-piece challenge, you’ll need:
#4 – Practice challenge
Keep track of your student’s practicing with the Music Assignment Book. Watch a video about it here.
Create your own practice challenge to meet your students’ needs. Make a poster for your studio and then use stars to attach to the poster when students finding the challenge.
Teaching Online?
You can still run challenges and different incentives for your studio if you are teaching online. Talk about the challenge with students online, show them the posters hanging in your studio, and send email updates to parents. You can also post updates on your studio’s social media page. A challenge will help your students feel connected while taking online lessons.
Lauren teaches piano to students of all ages. She enjoys creating resources for her students and teachers. She is the author of Ready for Theory®. For personalized help, check out the consultations page for teachers.
