We’re now in jaded January – one of the trickiest months of the year to resist hibernating in.
It’s hard for students to stay motivated in January. In fact it’s hard for everyone!
And since being a teacher means also being a chief ‘cheer’ leader, here are some ideas to motivate your students:
- Use pieces they know as warm-ups. This eases them into the lesson when they might be feeling sluggish.
- Use plenty of accompaniments to give their aural senses a boost. The more musical sounds they hear the more stimulated their brains will be.
- Give the start of your lessons a natural lift by playing a musical game. This enthusiasm should then filter through the rest of the lesson.
- Tell students that music is magic and makes them brainier. This is because learning an instrument develops planning, strategising and attention to detail. If any smart Alecs say they don’t find maths easier, remind them that they would find it even more difficult if they weren’t learning an instrument! (See our article on how an instrument improves cognitive abilities and Anita Collins’ TED Talk – How playing an instrument benefits your brain).
- Give them a fun piece to cheer them up. This will keep them playing and tapping their feet until the drudgery of January is over.
The effects of music really are magic!
What next?
- Why not sign up to our free 29 tips for a thriving music teaching business. We promise that our 29 ideas will give you things you can do immediately to boost your music teaching business. They’ll also make you smile. Request our series of tips for music teachers today.