By Laurie Niles: This weekend I was counting stickers with a very young student, who had presented a practice chart fully loaded with them. ![Practice chart]()
"I'm very proud, you practiced every day," I said. "I can't wait to see seven more stickers next week!"
And then I thought to myself: If only that sticker thing kept working, after early childhood! Once we grow beyond the stickers, what exactly are the things that motivate us to practice?
After all, now is the time of year for getting back to school, back from vacation, and back into the regular routine of things. It's a good time to find some motivation to make regular practice a part of that routine.
When practice is going well for you, what generally motivates you to practice? Of course it may be a combination of things, but what is the most compelling one? And if you are a teacher or parent, how do you motivate your student or child to practice? Has your motivation changed over time? How do you get out of a rut of not practicing and back on the program? Please participate in the vote, and then share your thoughts about practice motivation in the comments.
You might also like:
- Form the Back-to-School Practice Habit!
- 100 Days of Practice with Hilary Hahn
- Just How Much Practice Is Enough?
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