When I began my fall semester a few weeks ago, I told my students that they could each earn their own Erasable Highlighter to use in their home practice time if they demonstrated that they were practicing well at home (see this post to read how I tested these awesome tools). I then sent home a list of ways that I would be able to tell that they were indeed ”practicing smartly” as I called it. I was wondering if you all would help me add to this list other things that you look for to tell if your students are practicing smartly?
How does my teacher know I am “practicing smartly?”
- I will be able to play my piece like I have been asked (Counting out loud, Correct notes, Musically, etc.)
- My music will be marked up in the places I had trouble during the week (Circles around missed notes; Circles around overlooked details like staccatos, dynamics; Counts written in when I’ve had trouble, etc.
- I will be able to play my piece or a part of my piece with few or no mistakes.
- I will be able to play my piece musically because I will be paying attention to the details. (Or adding musical details of my own that make sense.)
- I will write short notes in my practice journal about my goals and what I did that day.
What else would you add?
How about “I will be able to talk about what I found hard/easy about my assignments this week and what I liked/didn’t like about them.”?
I find it’s often easy to tell if a student practiced or not just by asking them about their songs. If they answer with “What Bach song?” or they can’t give any answer about which song/assignment they liked best, then I know they didn’t practice much.
I like your idea of sending home a list so they know what we as teachers are looking for. Thanks for sharing!
I like this idea but was wondering if you limit it to one highlighter per child or if you do this each week for the child that does this week after week. This could become expensive. Do you expect this one every piece given for the week. I try to make sure my students my PLENTY to do so they can’t get bored but that means there may be pieces that don’t get accomplished.
Thanks so much! I’m definitely going to try this! I talk a lot about smart practice but don’t see many students embracing the concept.
To clarify – do the students earn this in a single week or is this a project for a month or a quarter of consistently demonstrating smart practice?
Maybe a suggestion to stimulate creative work. e.g. My practice will have the end result of imitating the title. (Dragon Hunt).
Or, to have students clue into the “time period” IF playing “art music”. e.g. My piece sounds more baroque because __________. My piece sounds more romantic because ____________. etc.
I know the fingering and I know what gestures my hands/fingers/wrists/arms need to make to get the best sound.
Hi Deborah,
This is a project that they have to work on for about 1.5 months before I will award them the highlighter. So, they have to show me that they have consistently practiced smartly before they get the prize.
Wendy
Hi Karen,
It’s 1 highlighter per child and they have to work for about 1.5 months before they get it. They have to show me that they have consistently practiced smartly for 1.5 for practically all their pieces before they get the prize.
Wendy