music so simple
  • Home
    • student/parent login
    • Blog
  • REGISTER
  • Staff
    • Stathia Orwig
    • Robin Coolidge
    • Logan Herod
    • Chiara La Ferla
    • James Landrum
    • David Large
    • Meredith Manley
    • Emily McMullin
    • Lynne Nevill
    • Teodora Pounds
    • Employment
  • Lessons & Classes
    • Babies & Toddlers & Preschoolers
    • Private Lessons
    • Group Piano
    • Studio Kids: Ensemble Piano
    • SUMMER 2023- under construction
    • Calendar

We've got a lot to talk about

Teaming Up for the Win!

11/1/2017

0 Comments

 
-Stathia Orwig
Picture
Once upon a time, a long time ago before I had kids, I was talking with my husband, Brian,  about an incentive to get my students to practice more during the fall. In the Spring, we had Honor Roll, but I wanted something kind of fun to help get the ball rolling, to help us get through the fall (ie Sonatina Festival and December Recital) AND so that Honor Roll wasn’t such a huge leap. Brian is a ginormous Cowboys fan, and as we were brainstorming ideas, he thought it would be cool to put the kids on teams and have them “play” against each other. I was skeptical. How would that work with kids in private lessons? So the wheels began turning, and together, we came up with “PianoBall”. It was a huge success!! The kids loved it! It got them practicing and aided in them getting to know the other students. Some years, I did girls versus boys, sometimes the team names were musical themes, or composers, and sometimes I let them pick their teammates or team name.

Well, it’s been since 2011 that I did my last PianoBall. I was thinking of a way to get my students to really get practicing again, and other teachers were having the same issue. So, I dug up all of my old PianoBall binders and rules, and I really think this is the perfect time to get it going again!!

So, how does PianoBall work? Students are given points on practice, posture in their lesson, attitude, and finishing their theory homework. Then, their points are added to the team and averaged. This year, there are 5-6 students on a team. Students were divided randomly into teams. Whichever team has the most points each week, wins! There are a few weeks of games, then the 8 teams who have the most wins go to the finals. The teams who win there go onto the next round of finals and they then play for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Prizes are awarded- which the students love. But best of all? The kids are ready for recital and sonatina festival. They have committed to practicing for weeks. And to top it all off, they are also eager to meet their teammates at the recital!! It’s a win-win!!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    January 2022
    September 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016

    Categories

    All
    40 Piece Challenge
    About Our Teachers
    About Us
    Contests
    DMTA
    Ear Explorations
    Early Childhood
    Festivals
    For Our Parents
    For Our Students
    Goals
    Honor Roll
    Music Bucks
    Music Library
    Policies
    Practice
    Recital
    Research
    Student Of The Week
    Summer
    Theory
    Theory Test
    Voice Lessons
    What To Expect At A Recital
    Written Work

    RSS Feed

MUSIC SO SIMPLE
469.778.2121
​
info@musicSOsimple.com
​
1144 Plano Road, suite 142, richardson, texas 75081

Music So Simple, Music Schools, Richardson, TX
  • Home
    • student/parent login
    • Blog
  • REGISTER
  • Staff
    • Stathia Orwig
    • Robin Coolidge
    • Logan Herod
    • Chiara La Ferla
    • James Landrum
    • David Large
    • Meredith Manley
    • Emily McMullin
    • Lynne Nevill
    • Teodora Pounds
    • Employment
  • Lessons & Classes
    • Babies & Toddlers & Preschoolers
    • Private Lessons
    • Group Piano
    • Studio Kids: Ensemble Piano
    • SUMMER 2023- under construction
    • Calendar