Sometimes we need to use games, bribes, or incentives to liven up daily practice and maintain a student’s motivation and interest.  Here are some ideas:

• Strolling Violinist—practice each repetition in a different location.  Stand in the recycle bin, on the kitchen counter, in the bathroom with the lights out, outdoors, etc.
• “6″ things a day—pick 6 things to practice. For example—10 perfect bow holds (counts as 1 thing), some drill work on the working piece, 3 review pieces, preview for next piece.
• Birthday Candle—Light a birthday candle (make some type of holder) and have that be the length of the practice session.
• Violin Tour—take the student “on tour” —playing something different in each room of the house (the big tome produced in the bathroom is very exciting!), in a different place in the yard, or at different neighbor’s or relative’s homes.
• Student as Parent—Let the student be the parent for one day of practice. This can have mixed blessings because a parent will often see his own behavior reflected in that of the child’s.
• 25 minutes = 25 cents—practice for 25 minutes, earn 25 cents.
• Recital—Plan a recital for stuffed animals, friends, family, etc. and make a program and decorate it. Practice for a week in preparation and let the child decide the pieces that will be played, what favorite cookies will be served, etc. Set up a stage and make a spotlight!
• Dice—Roll a die to determine the number of repetitions of a piece or for drill work (ex—play this section the number of times you roll on the dice.) Or, roll the dice to determine the piece to play. Ex—1 = Twinkle variation A, 2 = variation B, etc.) Buy a package of math dice—these dice have more sides with higher numbers.
• Deck of cards—Like the dice game, only use cards. Assign pieces to each card. Have child pick cards to determine the pieces to play and the order.
• Draw a name—Write the piece names on pieces of paper. Put in a hat and draw to determine piece to play and order. Or put practice item on paper (bow holds, scales, etc.)
• Silly Cards—Make silly cards and let child draw a silly card as a reward. Ex—stand on one foot, stick out your tongue, sing the piece, play pizzicato. For example, if child needs to play twinkle and draws “stick out your tongue,” must play twinkle with tongue out the whole time. It’s quite amusing.
• Make a video—Regularly video tape your child playing violin. You’ll be amazed at the progress they make.
• Chip Game—Use “chips” (pennies, marbles, any kind of token). Set a goal—for example, keeping thumb bent while playing piece or keeping a good violin posture for entire piece. Give child and parent 5 chips each. If child meets goal, gets a chip from parent. If misses goal, parent gets a chip. Keep playing until someone has all of the chips.
• Chip Game with rewards—Use chocolate chips, berries, pennies, whatever.  Put 5 of them on the music stand, and move one to the other side of the stand (or from one dish to another) for each successful repetition.  At the end, the child keeps the prizes.  For behavior issues, you can bring out a third dish for mom… chips go in mom’s dish if the child doesn’t follow an established behavior expectation.
• Posture games—Balance a small toy or beanie baby on the child’s head or violin.  Child must play without letting the toy fall.
• Bow awareness—Tie a ribbon or scarf to the tip of the bow, or tape a glowstick to the bow and then turn the lights out.
• Envelope Game—Hang envelopes on a string or set them on a table.  For each successful repetition, the child chooses one envelope and opens it.  In one envelope there is a reward, and that envelope represents the end of the practice.  This can be done with upside-down cups as well, with a reward hidden under one of the cups.
• Nesting Doll—If you have a Russian nesting doll, open it once for each repetition.  Instead of the smallest doll, put a reward inside.
• Counters—Flick a bead on an abacus for each repetition.  This technique is simple but visual.  Montessori products are great for this type of thing.  Or, use the ‘Ten Times Perfect’ bead violin from Young Musicians online.  It’s a little violin shape with a wire holding 10 beads— just flick one over for each repetition.
• Silliness—Place a random object on top of your head for each repetition they do.   This sounds and looks ridiculous, but that is the whole point— the kids will do an unearthly number of Gossec Gavotte slurs just to see how many folders you can stick on your head.   They will also then want to do it themselves, which will help improve a slumpy posture!
• More Silliness—Have the child do each repetition doing a different physical thing; sticking out tongue, closing eyes, standing on one foot, doing fishy mouth, mouth wide open, one eye closed, making rabbit face, wiggling bottom etc etc. for a silly bonus rep have them try to do all of the things at the same time…….
• Take turns—Mom plays one repetition, student plays one.  Then have mom make an intentional mistake and see if the student can identify and fix it.

You have to find your child’s currency.  Some kids are motivated by sweets, some by lighting candles, some by doing jumping jacks, some by screen time, some by a page of a book.  

Find what works for your child and incorporate that into daily practice in a lighthearted and positive way.  Keep in mind that this “currency” may change over time!