RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
The success of the Practice-a-thon in schools depends on the enthusiasm of the music educator.
For most students, the practice-a-thon does not sell itself, but with thoughtful education, school involvement, posters (kids LOVE to make posters), incentives, and passion for helping our neighbors and ourselves,
the program can be a win-win for all involved. You may find the video on our home page useful
to present this project to your students.
Make the project fun with incentive prizes and motivational posters, and create a desire for your students to help others in need. Educate your students that one in six children in America is food insecure and that the pandemic has made that much worse. By working together, they can make a difference and help our neighbors.
Spend time also talking about how daily practice, for even small amounts, can lead to significant progress and how this is true in all areas of our lives. Tiny habits lead to great results!
Watch this great video by Wynton Marsalis on Expert Practice to help your students make the most of even the shortest practice sessions. You can also download a wonderful free lesson on
Expert Practice for the Classroom from Character Lab.
Scroll down for links to ideas and posters that can help motivate your students.
The success of the Practice-a-thon in schools depends on the enthusiasm of the music educator.
For most students, the practice-a-thon does not sell itself, but with thoughtful education, school involvement, posters (kids LOVE to make posters), incentives, and passion for helping our neighbors and ourselves,
the program can be a win-win for all involved. You may find the video on our home page useful
to present this project to your students.
Make the project fun with incentive prizes and motivational posters, and create a desire for your students to help others in need. Educate your students that one in six children in America is food insecure and that the pandemic has made that much worse. By working together, they can make a difference and help our neighbors.
Spend time also talking about how daily practice, for even small amounts, can lead to significant progress and how this is true in all areas of our lives. Tiny habits lead to great results!
Watch this great video by Wynton Marsalis on Expert Practice to help your students make the most of even the shortest practice sessions. You can also download a wonderful free lesson on
Expert Practice for the Classroom from Character Lab.
Scroll down for links to ideas and posters that can help motivate your students.
1. Keep track of total practice minutes for the school
2. Educate your students about childhood hunger with short videos
3. Put up motivational posters
4. Discuss growth mindset vs. fixed mindset
5. Reward students with small motivational prizes
1. Keep track of total practice minutes for the school
Have the students report weekly practice amounts and fill in the totals on a "Note-o-meter" as pictured below or on any chart that you fill in each week with the weekly updated totals. Make a practice goal for your school to achieve. You can also invite neighboring schools to compete with your school to see which school can practice the most or raise the most money. Students and adults respond to goals. Thanks to Kelly Gelfer for providing this beautiful image of her "Note-o-meter." Her Middle School raised $2200 for her local food bank.
Have the students report weekly practice amounts and fill in the totals on a "Note-o-meter" as pictured below or on any chart that you fill in each week with the weekly updated totals. Make a practice goal for your school to achieve. You can also invite neighboring schools to compete with your school to see which school can practice the most or raise the most money. Students and adults respond to goals. Thanks to Kelly Gelfer for providing this beautiful image of her "Note-o-meter." Her Middle School raised $2200 for her local food bank.
2. Educate students about Childhood Hunger
with short videos
Unfortunately, child hunger in America is a reality. Nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S.are food insecure.
Every $1 you donate can provide at least 3 meals through the Feeding America network of food banks.
with short videos
Unfortunately, child hunger in America is a reality. Nearly 1 in 5 children in the U.S.are food insecure.
Every $1 you donate can provide at least 3 meals through the Feeding America network of food banks.
3. Discuss Growth Mindset vs. Fixed mindest and the Power of Expert Practice to change our brain for the better.
Consider a discussion on a fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset and how practicing creates new brain connections.
Discuss saying "Yet" instead of "I can't."
Consider putting up a YET sign and point to it whenever a student says ,"I can't."
It might become your favorite sign in the classroom!
Studies show that even a short lesson on Growth Mindset can improve study habits. Consider showing this short video from the Kahn Academy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtKJrB5rOKs
And have your students watch this awesome video by Wynton Marsalis on the power of Deliberate/Expert Practice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va7FedjDEg0
Discuss saying "Yet" instead of "I can't."
Consider putting up a YET sign and point to it whenever a student says ,"I can't."
It might become your favorite sign in the classroom!
Studies show that even a short lesson on Growth Mindset can improve study habits. Consider showing this short video from the Kahn Academy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtKJrB5rOKs
And have your students watch this awesome video by Wynton Marsalis on the power of Deliberate/Expert Practice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va7FedjDEg0
4. Put up motivational posters.
Use the practice-a-thon as a reason to discuss the importance of practicing and what makes a good practice routine. Have your students make posters. They love making posters, just proof them first before they hang them up!
Click on posters below to download
Use the practice-a-thon as a reason to discuss the importance of practicing and what makes a good practice routine. Have your students make posters. They love making posters, just proof them first before they hang them up!
Click on posters below to download
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5. Reward students with small motivational prizes
Participation prizes and grand prizes make good incentives. Just think about the girl scout cookie incentive prizes and how they really work for some. Unfortunately, at this time, there is no budget for the practice-a-thon to supply prizes but a teacher can get some inexpensively or work out prizes that do not cost money.
Free prizes could be
1. Guest director(s) for a piece during a rehearsal or the concert,
2. Speaker(s) for the concert
3. A special certificate at an awards ceremony
4. An article and picture in the local paper
Now for ideas that cost a little money (but may be tax-deductible, ask your accountant), here are a few ideas.
For a grand prize for either the student who practiced the most and the student who raised the most money, you could consider the coveted Trombone Kazoo! The slide really works :)
https://kazoos.com/products/metal-trombone-kazoo
Oooooo....Ahhhhhh......
You can also never go wrong with a pizza or ice cream party (with gluten and dairy-free options) for your top winners!
You can also never go wrong with a pizza or ice cream party (with gluten and dairy-free options) for your top winners!
The following prizes are great for elementary students
Squishy Pencil toppers are fabulous for elementary students and are inexpensive.
FInd them at Candymachines.com at the following link:
www.candymachines.com/Sqwishland-Barnyard-Vending-Capsules-P2162.aspx
Consider giving one of these to every young student that participates.
You will be pleasantly surprised at your participation!
FInd them at Candymachines.com at the following link:
www.candymachines.com/Sqwishland-Barnyard-Vending-Capsules-P2162.aspx
Consider giving one of these to every young student that participates.
You will be pleasantly surprised at your participation!
Large Marbleized Poppers can be used for students who practice 500 minutes or more in the month ( or any amount you want). These are a big popping hit!
https://www.orientaltrading.com/large-marbleized-poppers-a2-16_454.fltr
https://www.orientaltrading.com/large-marbleized-poppers-a2-16_454.fltr
Bamboo Flutes are a HUGE hit with elementary students!
You could make this a grand prize (it is cheaper than the trombone kazoo) or make it a prize for a certain achievement level for practice or for amount raised.
https://www.orientaltrading.com/bamboo-flutes-a2-16_265.fltr?keyword=flutes
You could make this a grand prize (it is cheaper than the trombone kazoo) or make it a prize for a certain achievement level for practice or for amount raised.
https://www.orientaltrading.com/bamboo-flutes-a2-16_265.fltr?keyword=flutes