More about the nightmares later...
First let's talk about focused practice!
Practicing the piano with specific goals in mind is significantly more effective than simply measuring the time spent and calling it good. This month, for my studio challenge, I'm inviting students to level up their practice by using focused practice strategy games during their practice. Obviously, effective practice includes spending time at the piano bench, but practicing with purpose not only helps the time pass quickly, it also helps students to be more productive so that progress happens in less time.
Gamified Piano Practice
I've seen the power of gamified practice during piano lab, where students just don't want to stop their practice until they've completed the next level of Rhythm Swing or earned 3 stars to unlock the next level on Piano Maestro. That same excitement of flow and achievement that comes from video games and music apps can also happen on the bench when students approach learning new pieces with gamified strategies using practice game cards.
As a college student, my practice was definitely more focused and enjoyable when I paired it with chocolate chips and "3 in a Row" (or Cross the River) practice.
Boss Mode Practice
Overall piano practice success can also be compared to video game levels. I love this analogy shared by Nicola Cantan at the recent Piano Teacher Turboboost I attended!
Level 0 -Tutorial Mode (No Practice)
Level 1 - 1-3 Days per Week
Level 2 - 4-6 Days per Week
Level 3 - Add 3x Repetitions to your Level 2 Practice
Level 4 - Use practice card strategies for Focused Practice Sessions
Level 5 - BOSS MODE - Pair clear and specific goals with your practice card games and record your progress for each practice session.
While we might not achieve BOSS MODE every week, TUTORIAL MODE can kill the fun if students are stuck in it week after week.
The challenge goal is to look at what level you are currently practicing at and make personal improvements to LEVEL UP!
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