Rhythm is one of the most fundamental elements of music and often the element that many students struggle to master.  Teaching beginning music students is very rewarding but teaching rhythm to beginners can be exceptionally challenging as most of them tend to focus on learning the notes first.  Luckily, teaching rhythm doesn’t have to be difficult.  Following a few steps can make rhythmic development simple and set your students up for long term success.

 

What is rhythm?

Rhythm is movement consisting of a regulated pattern of regular and irregular pulses caused in music by the occurrence of strong and weak beats.  Try explaining that complicated definition to your beginner student and watch their eyes glaze over as they shake their head and say “ok.”  

Rhythm at its basic form is the key element of music.  It is what makes music sound good and what differentiates one melody from another. In short, rhythm is what makes each piece of music different. 

To explain this concept to a beginner use the song Joy to the World.  The first eight notes of Joy to the World are simply a descending major scale.  The rhythm is what differentiates the song from the scale.

Why is rhythm so important?

Rhythm is what makes music…well music.  All music consists of a combination of rhythms that give a characteristic quality to the melody making one melody distinctly different from another.

Once a student has a comprehensive understanding of rhythm, they will be able to sightread proficiently and learn music quickly. 

Three different systems of rhythmic counting.  

While there are many different systems of counting, two main systems are used in the United States today; the American system and the Eastman system.

The American system uses 1 & 2 & for eighth notes,  1 e & a for sixteenth notes.  Triplets and compound meter is addressed in two different ways (mainly depending on who you ask.  The “official” system uses 1 & a for the triplet as well as compound meter but many who use the American system approach triplets as 1 trip-let and compound meter as 123 456 or 1& 2& 3& 4& 5& 6&.  The Eastman system, while similar, has a few variants.  The Eastman system uses 1 te 2 te for eighth notes, 1 ti te ta for sixteenth notes, 1 la li for the triplet and compound meter, and 1 te la te li ta for sixteenth notes in compound meter.  

While both systems have their own merits, I find that using a combination of the two works best for my students.  I have found that using the American system of 1& 2&, 1 e& a, for simple meter, the modified American system of 123 456 for compound meter, and the Eastman system of 1 la li for triplets, helps my students develop a solid foundation in rhythmic counting.  

If you are working with private students who also regularly participate in a band or orchestra program, it is best to use the same system their organization uses to avoid confusion.

Teaching Rhythm With Words

For very young students or students who struggle to master traditional counting methods, using words to teach rhythm is an option.  

Years ago, someone gave me a copy of a rhythm counting exercise called The Pie Game.  My copy is a copy of a copy of a copy and I have looked everywhere to try to find the original source. It was put out by The Band Shed (which I don’t believe exists any longer) and the composer is “Berryman.”

I believe it can be traced back to a book by Hazel Cobb called Rhythm with Rhyme and Reason: Counting Made Easy As Pie.  Unfortunately that book is also out of print and I haven’t been able to track down a copy.  

The Pie Game uses “Pie” words to count rhythm and since I can’t find the original source anywhere, I will list them for you.

Teaching rhythm to beginners

When teaching beginners, it is important to consider what instrument family they are studying when deciding how to approach the introduction of different rhythms. 

Wind players often begin with the whole note and move through the half note, quarter note, eighth note, and sixteenth note. Starting with the whole note allows the student to learn to continuously blow steady air through the instrument and is serves as their first introduction to long tones.

String players on the other hand often begin with quarter notes and move to eighth notes before addressing half notes and whole notes. Quarter notes and eighth notes are much easier to master on string instruments since they use a short bow stroke in the middle of the bow while whole notes are more difficult to master since they require a greater length and steady pressure of the bow.

Introducing the concept of rhythm

The first step in the introduction of rhythm is breaking down the value of each type of note.  This concept is often introduced in 4/4 since common time is often the first meter introduced in musical instruction (whole note equals 4 beats, half note equals 2 beats, quarter note equals 1 beat, etc.) It is important to ensure that the student completely understands this concept before moving forward and the note pyramid provides an excellent visual representation. The note pyramid provides students a simple key to understanding the concept of note value. 

Once the student understands the concept of note value, it is time to move on to other benchmarks that help form a solid rhythmic foundation.

 

Learning to feel the beat

First, the student must learn to keep a steady beat so begin with having the student bring in a recording of their favorite song.  Starting with music the student enjoys is paramount in any musical development.  If the student enjoys music, they will practice, if they don’t enjoy music, they won’t.  

Play the song the student brought in in their lesson and have the student attempt to nod their head to the beat.  Most students will be able to do this without any issues but some may struggle.  If the student struggles with nodding their head to the beat, nod along with them to provide a visual that they can mimic.  

Next, have the student tap their foot while nodding their head. Once they have mastered this skill, have them clap the beat as well.  Nodding, tapping, and clapping will get their entire body involved in developing a strong sense of pulse. Depending on the age of the student, this could take up the entire lesson or if they master the concept quickly, move on to playing the instrument.  

Adding in the instrument

Set a metronome to quarter note equals 60, have the student select their favorite note and practice playing quarter notes with the metronome.  Make sure the student is tapping their foot as they play.  

I can’t emphasize enough the importance of introducing the metronome from day one.  Learning to play with a metronome early on ensures the development of a solid sense of pulse which will lay the groundwork for a solid rhythmic foundation.

Once they have mastered playing quarter notes with the metronome, move on to eighth notes.  It is important to pay careful attention to the student’s foot when moving on to eighth notes.  Make sure the student is still tapping with the metronome and note double tapping the eighth notes they are playing.  This is a bad habit that is frequently developed by young musicians and is easily avoidable if addressed early on.  

Next, move on to changing notes with the metronome.  Start with the first five notes a student learns and have them play ascending and descending quarter notes along with the metronome (see example). After the student has mastered staying with the metronome, move on reading rhythmic notation. 

Begin with the four basic rhythmic units of whole note, half note, quarter note, and eighth notes.  Start without the instrument, focusing only on rhythmic development.  Using rhythm flashcards, have the student clap and count a variety of different rhythmic combinations.  Give the student a set of flashcards to use for home practice or have them print and make their own!

After the student is proficient in counting and clapping the rhythms in a variety of combinations, have them play the rhythms on their instrument. Make sure that the student is still using a metronome and tapping their foot while playing.

Ear Training: Teaching Rhythmic Dictation

The next step in rhythmic development is ear training.  Start with two rhythms selected from the flashcards.  Give the student the two cards, play the rhythm, and have the student put the cards in the correct order.  When the student is accurately getting the rhythms every time, increase to three flashcards, then four, etc.

Once the student has become proficient in placing the cards in the correct order, take the flashcards away and have them notate the rhythms.  Start back at the beginning with only two rhythms and move up as the student masters rhythmic dictation. 

Understanding Time Signatures

Most beginning students learn to count in common time first.  This makes sense as it is the most common meter for music to be written in (hence the name).  Sticking to common time however, can slow the student’s musical development. It is important to expose students to a wide variety of meters early on.  Once a student has mastered the concept of common time, move through the other simple meters (2/4 and 3/4).  After a solid foundation in simple meter is mastered, move into cut time and compound meter. 

Students should master a few basic rhythms in each meter before moving to the next.  

Teaching beat subdivision

Most music students (especially if they are in band) have heard the word subdivision or the phrase “subdivide the beat,” but a rare few of them actually know what it means.

The easiest way to help a student understand the concept of subdivision is to use something they are familiar with…an apple. 

You have one whole apple just like a quarter note is one whole beat.  If you cut that apple in half, you have two halves of an apple.  While the apple is divided, it is still one whole apple. Now, quarter the apple.  Four quarters of an apple are still one whole apple even though it is divided into 4 pieces and two quarters of an apple are equal to half and apple.

Now, transition the concept of the apple to notes.  How many eighth notes are in each quarter note?

Write out four quarter notes and have the student put eighth notes above it.  Next, have the student write in the eighth note counts.  Finally, have the student play quarter notes while a metronome is set to eighth notes. 

How to solve basic rhythmic problems

Difficulty feeling the beat

Play several different styles of music for the student and have them practice clapping the beat to the music.  Clap along with them to help them find the beat if they are struggling.  Next, pick a note that works well with the music (I find a concert F almost always works) and have the student play quarter notes along with the music. 

If younger students are still struggling, have them put their foot on top of yours (as long as both of you are comfortable with it) and tap for them.  This will help them get comfortable tapping their foot while playing.

Rushing or dragging

Rushing and dragging are common issues with young students…and sometimes even older students.  If a student is dragging, try slowing down the tempo.  In many cases, students drag because they simply can’t play the music that fast yet. 

If the student is rushing, remove the instrument from the picture completely, and have the student count and clap the rhythm.  Simply removing one element, in this case the notes, will help the student to focus on the rhythmic aspect of the music.  Adopt the “If you can say it, you can play it” mentality.  Once the student can successfully clap and count the rhythm, add the instrument back in. 

Syncopated rhythms

If a student is struggling with the concept of syncopation, first have them subdivide the beat.  Review subdivision and then have the student write out the subdivided counts above the syncopated rhythm.  Then have them clap and count the rhythm while the metronome is set to the subdivided beat (usually either eighth or sixteenth notes). 

Once the student is able to successfully clap and count the syncopated rhythm, reintroduce the instrument and have them play the rhythm but break it down into the subdivided beat. 

Next, have them play the rhythm as written  while the metronome is still subdividing the beat for them. Finally, switch the metronome back to quarter notes and have them play the rhythm while subdividing in their head. 

Final Thoughts

Rhythm is one of the fundamental building blocks of every student’s musical development.  It is important for a student to develop a strong sense of rhythm early on in their musical training. While teaching rhythm to beginners can be challenging, it can also be made simple if you follow this step by step method.

 

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As private teachers, collecting payments is one of the most unpleasant business matters we have to deal with.  In many cases, we are communicating with the students who take lessons rather than the parents themselves, which makes discussing payment even more uncomfortable.  

Whether you run a big studio or just have a few private students on the side, you should be paid for the services you provide and it is up to YOU to make sure payment is received in a timely manner. 

So how do you get students to pay on time?

Let’s take a look at five ways that ensure you get paid regularly so you can stop spending all your free time chasing down payments. 

This website is reader supported and contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through any of the links on this page, a small percentage of your purchase is credited to us at no additional cost to you.

1. Treat your studio like a business

Your studio is a business and you need to treat it like one.  If you get a haircut, massage, or go to the doctor, you are expected to pay for the service you received. Private music lessons are no different.  Would you walk into your hair salon, get your hair cut, and then say “I will pay you next time?” 

Your studio is providing a service, and your clients should pay you for that service.  

We often feel guilty asking children week after week if they remembered to bring their lesson money, but if you expect students to pay on time, you need to treat your studio like a business.  Make your payment policies clear, and remember that your students and their parents are your business clients.  

Keep detailed records

Keeping detailed records is a key element in running any successful business.  As a private teacher, if you expect to get students to pay on time, you need to keep up with how many lessons each student had, how much they paid, and how much they owe.  

Unorganized records are a sure way to NOT get paid the money you are due.  Whether you are dealing with a client who is certain they paid already or you get audited by the IRS, organizing your studio records will help you avoid many headaches down the road.

Consider bookkeeping software

A student asks how much they owe for private lessons and you have to fumble through the calendar counting how many lessons they have taken, only to give them a guess because you don’t remember the last time they paid.  Does this sound like you?  As musicians, we have the creative minds of an artist but sometimes the business side of teaching gets left behind.

Bookkeeping software is probably the most efficient way to keep up with your payment records, and while there are many options to choose from, Music Teacher’s Helper is designed specifically to support private music teachers.

Music Teacher’s Helper is an on-line software that makes billing for music teachers a breeze.  It does everything from billing and lesson scheduling, to sending out automatic parent reminders and creating tax reports.  

Professional looking invoices can be sent out automatically with payment reminders and parents can make payments online using a credit card.  You can even set up recurring charges so you never miss a payment again.  

This cloud-based software can be accessed from any desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone making it perfect whether you are working out of a home studio or on the road. Music Teachers Helper pricing varies based on the size of your studio so there is a plan for everyone.  

Other great bookkeeping software includes Freshbooks and QuickBooks Self-employed. These cloud-based programs allow you to quickly send invoices and track mileage and expenses from your computer or mobile device. Quickbooks also will automatically keep up with your estimated quarterly taxes and you can view everything on one easy-to-see screen. To try it out, use my QuickBooks Self-employed referral link to save 50% off your first 6 months.

2. Make payment expectations clear 

Do you charge by the lesson or use a monthly, tuition based payment system? Do you accept payments weekly, at the beginning of the month in advance, or at the end of the month after all lessons have been taught?  All of these systems have merit but your payment expectations should be clearly laid out when the student first signs up for private lessons. 

Use a studio contract

A studio contract is a great way to ensure all of your policies and expectations are clearly explained to both students and parents when they sign up for private music lessons. 

Having a clearly laid out policy sheet is the easiest way to deal with delinquent accounts.  If you think about it, we use contracts every day.  The lease on your apartment, the loan documents on your car, the user agreement for your credit card are all contracts so why not use a contract in your music studio? Making sure your payment policy is very clearly outlined in your studio’s private lesson contract is a great way to ensure parents pay on time. 

Have a clear cancellation policy

Make sure your cancellation policy is clear up front. How much time should a client give you before a missed lesson?  24 hours? 48 hours?  What if a child wakes up sick or there is a family emergency?  

Failing to have a clear cancellation policy will result in you not being paid for a last minute cancelation.  Your time is valuable and waiting around on a no show when you could have scheduled another student or done something else is frustration.  

Stick to your policy and be firm.  Allowing a missed lesson or two slide, sends an unprofessional message that will lead to clients taking advantage of your kindness in the future.

3. Send invoices

When it comes to treating your studio like a business, sending out regular invoices is a must.  While this seems obvious, many teachers fail to implement this step into their business model.  Sending a monthly invoice sends the clear message that payment is expected and clearly states when payment is due. 

You can create invoices using a word processing program and save them as a PDF to email to clients individually.  If you decide to go with bookkeeping software like Music Teacher’s Helper, you can generate invoices automatically, saving you a ton of time. 

4. Accept a variety of payment methods

The recent surge in online lessons has further complicated matters when it comes to accepting payments.  Many parents who are used to paying by cash or check are hesitant to switch to a new payment method, but the old standard of paying for private music lessons with cash or a check is no more.  

While cash and checks are still perfectly viable payment options, the world of ecommerce has exploded, providing us with a number of ways to accept payments. 

PayPal

Originally, PayPal was associated mainly with the online auctions site eBay, but in the past few years, PayPal has become a widely accepted method of payment both online and off. 

All you need to accept payments through PayPal is a free account and an email address. You can accept touch free payments by downloading and displaying your personal QR code or by sharing your PayPal.me link.

Paypal charges 2.9% + 30 cents per transaction to sellers using their service but that fee is considered a tax deductible business expense, and you can bypass it altogether if the customer pays you using the “friends and family” option.

Venmo

Venmo is a digital wallet similar to PayPal…It’s actually owned by PayPal…but it is limited to use in the US, whereas PayPal can be used for international transactions.  Venmo is a popular app for private music lessons because it allows a client to pay you instantly.  Like PayPal, it can be used to make and receive payments.  The main difference is PayPal is widely used by businesses, while Venmo is primarily used for transactions between friends.

While you need an email address for your PayPal account, since Venmo is solely app based, you will need a phone number to get it set up. Once your account is set up, customers can scan your QR code to send payment, or send it using your Venmo username.  

Square

While Square is not for every business model, many small business owners find it is the perfect fit for their needs. The fees and pricing are similar to that of PayPal but when you sign up for a Square account they will send you a magstripe credit card reader that you can plug into your phone or tablet, allowing you to swipe customers credit cards in addition to accepting payment through the app. 

Cash app

Cash app is owned by Square and like Venmo, it is a free way to send money.  While venmo allows customers to pay using their credit card, debit card, or bank account, Cash app will allow them to also use Google Pay and Apple Pay.  

Customers can pay you instantly using your phone number or Cashtag.  Unlike Venmo, Cash app can be used internationally.

These are just a few of the many different payment methods out there, and the great thing is, you don’t have to accept just one.  Being open to accepting multiple methods of payment will make your customers happy that they can use a method they already know and are comfortable with and it will get you paid faster!

5. Consider monthly tuition

One way to guarantee regular income as a private music teacher is to switch from a per lesson payment plan to a monthly tuition based payment plan.  The most common way to calculate monthly tuition is to add up how many lessons are in a calendar year, multiply by the lesson fee, and then divide by 12.  For example: 42 lessons per year x $40 per lesson = $1,680.  $1,680 / 12 months = $140/month.  

Charging monthly tuition rather than by the lesson rates, allows you to maintain a consistent monthly income throughout the year and allows your clients to budget in a regular monthly payment.

Other ways to get paid on time 

Send a reminder email

Rarely does a parent intentionally not pay you.  We all get busy from time to time and forget the little things.  If a student is behind on payment, send a gentle reminder email.  Be sure to include instructions for how to pay quickly and conveniently online. 

Add a late payment fee

For those students who regularly miss payments, consider putting a late payment charge in your lesson contract.  You can always choose not to charge a late fee but if may provide some incentive to parents who consistently pay late.

Schedule online monthly payments

Several of the online payment options will allow you to store a customer’s credit card information.  If you choose to go this route, you can let students and parents know that their credit card will be charged at the beginning of each month on a given date.  Many parents jump at the option for automatic payments since it alleviates the need to remember to write a check each month.

Accept credit cards on site

Finally, accepting credit cards on site using the Square magstripe reader means the “I forgot my checkbook” excuse is a thing of the past.  While you will have to pay a small transaction fee, you will be guaranteed payment that day.

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Why students don’t practice

Your student comes into less after lesson with excuses like:

“I’ve been really busy this week.”

“I had a lot of homework this week.”

“I forgot to practice.”

I’m sure you have heard at least one of these excuses.  If you have been teaching more than a few months, you have probably heard them all, so lets take a look at some of the reasons students may not be practicing.

They really are too busy

Many students today don’t just take music lessons.  They have band class, orchestra, dance, soccer, basketball, cross country, cheer, scouts….and the list goes on.

Students spend on average 9.6 hours on after school activities Monday through Friday with private school students putting in about 20% more time than their public school counterparts.  Between an 8 hour school day, extra-curricular activities, and homework, it’s no wonder children are struggling to find practice time…they are working over 50 hours a week!

While you can’t control how many activities each student does, you can discuss practice expectations with their parents and stress the importance of narrowing down their interest. 

Parents pay too much or too little attention to practice

It is important to get parents involved in the practice of young students. Young children cannot be expected to remember to sit down and practice their instrument every day.  Parental involvement in scheduling practice and helping the young student stay on task is paramount in their musical development. 

But how much is too much?  

Helicopter parents who hover over their child as they practice, constantly offering advice, nagging, and forcing practice on the child will only create frustration, resentment, and push back.  If you are dealing with problematic parents, try sending home this handout to help parents motivate students to practice in a healthy way.

They get frustrated 

When practice fails to result in the improvement the student desires, they often become frustrated.  Frustrated students will often quit practicing altogether and will eventually quit lessons so it is important to consider the source of the student’s frustration.  Identifying the source and addressing it head on will often result in students happily returning to a regular practice routine.

Why students get frustrated

They want results too fast

Learning how to play a musical instrument takes time and practice.  In today’s age of instant gratification, many students expect quick results.  Beginners see noticeable results relatively quickly but as students become more advanced, the results may not seem as clear to them.  

If a student is not seeing the quick results they expect, it is easy for them to become frustrated.  Learning a line from a method book can easily be done in a few days but learning a sonata can take weeks…or even months.  Remind you student often that mastering a musical instrument is a marathon, not a 5K.  

The pure focus on results rather than the practice is unhealthy and it is imperative to shift the focus in students early on.  This can be done by helping the student set realistic goals using the SMART model and by focusing your praise as a teacher on the effort rather than the results.

Have more advanced students record themselves on week one of a new solo then have them record themselves again on week four.  Ask them to compare the two recordings as part of their assignment.  While the progress made seems slow to the student, by waiting four weeks for the second recording, they will hear a remarkable difference between the two. 

They compare themselves to others

Students constantly compare themselves to their peers in general and those who compare their playing abilities to those of their peers can be left feeling inferior.  Many factors go into how quickly a student progresses so comparing musical achievements between two different students is like comparing apples to oranges.

As teachers, it is important that we don’t add to this feeling of demoralization by comparing students in lessons.  Each individual student has their own positive attributes and areas of weakness.  If a student begins comparing themselves to another student, remind them of THEIR strengths. 

Using dialogue such as “Yes, her scales are faster, but you play with such emotion and musicality” will positively reinforce the student’s strengths and begin to build up their confidence, motivating them to get back in the practice room.

They don’t know how to practice

As teachers we constantly tell our students to practice but how often do we actually sit down and tell them HOW to practice?  If a student comes into their lesson for the third week in a row showing no improvement, try having a “practice lesson.”  

Select a solo or etude that was previously assigned and have the student practice it in their lesson.  Is the student actually working on the piece or simply playing through it? Show the student how to break the piece into sections and identify weak areas.  Encourage repetition and the use of the metronome to speed sections up evenly.  

Often, students want to practice but haven’t been given the skills to practice efficiently, making each practice session frustrating and keeping progress moving slowly.

Practice feels like an obstacle to overcome

Many students feel like practice is a chore.  As teachers, we even feel like practice is a chore at times.  Making practice feel like less of an obstacle can be approached from several different angles.  

Younger students often benefit from incentive charts.  Getting a sticker on their page for each item passed off is usually more than enough, but as students get older, overcoming that feeling of dread takes a little more effort. 

Encouraging students to become involved in a competition such as honor band auditions or solo and ensemble festival may also motivate students to practice. 

Finally, when all else fails, encourage students to just “get it over with.”  Have students practice as soon as they get home from school.  Once practice is over, they have the rest of the evening to do as they please. 

Tips for getting your students to practice

As teachers, our job is to not only teach our students the music we work on in private lessons, but also teach them basic life skills such as time management, organization, self-motivation, and finally, how to actually practice for success.  

Set practice times and expectations

Practice needs to become part of the students daily routine.  Just like brushing their teeth or making their bed, practicing needs to become another daily habit. 

Make sure you include the student’s input when you assign practice times and expectations. If a student thinks you are requiring them to practice a certain amount of time, you are likely to get push back, but if you include the student in the decision making process, they start to feel like they have some control and are more likely to actually meet the set expectations.   

Consider a student’s age when setting practice expectations. Younger students will need to practice less than more advanced students since their attention span will be considerably shorter. 

A lot can be achieved in as little as 10 – 15 minutes in younger students.  Starting a young student off with five 10-15 minute daily practices each week will instill a habit that can slowly grow into 1-2 hour sessions as they get older. 

Treat music like a reward

Students spend all day at school studying math, science, history, etc. and then come home to have additional homework in all of those subjects as well.  When practice starts to feel more like homework than fun, the motivation to get the instrument out of the case or sit down at the piano starts to wane.  

Rather than treating music like just another subject, encourage the student to see it not as something they HAVE to do, but as something they WANT to do. Once a student decides that playing their instrument is what they really want to do, they will make every effort to make time for it. 

Encourage appropriate music

If the music assigned to a student is too easy, there is no need for them to spend much time practicing it, but if the assigned music is too difficult, students often get frustrated and give up. 

There are a variety of reasons teachers assign music that is too difficult. If you live in a state that has leveled music, you may feel pressure to assign a Level 1 solo.  The parent may be pushing for harder music, or the student may select a piece to play that is simply too difficult for them.

When choosing music for your students, you must keep both their ability level and best interest in mind.  If a student is dead set on learning that concerto that you know is too difficult for them, let them, but also assign a more appropriate solo to work on as well.  Let the student try their chosen solo and then use the easier piece as a backup. 

Often students will find themselves practicing their backup piece more often because it is “more fun to play.”

Put the student in control

Students often feel like they are constantly told what to do. This especially applies to younger students.  By including them in the decision making process when it comes to repertoire and assigned practice, you are more likely to have a student who loves to sit down and practice. 

When choosing repertoire, select a few pieces and the play through the beginning of each one in a lesson.  Allow the student to choose which solo they would like to work on.  By allowing the student to choose their own solo from a short list of properly vetted solos of your choosing, the child feels more in control and will usually practice the piece that “they” chose.

The same thing applies to assigned practice time.  Ask the student how much practice time they think they can fit in that week. 

Use phrases such as “You know your schedule better than me. How much do you think you can realistically practice this week.” or “How many times do you think you should practice this week in order to learn this exercise.”  Then guide the student by encouraging a little more or a little less practice. 

Have them write the days in their lessons notebook and then check them off each day as they practice.

Use small rewards

Students, especially young students, love rewards.  My mom used to teach third grade and used a “treasure chest” system to encourage good classroom behavior.  Each time a student exhibited exemplary behavior they would get a ticket in their jar.  Every friday, the treasure chest would open and the children could use their tickets to purchase merchandise from the treasure chest.  

With private students, a treasure chest may not be practical (especially if you are a travel teacher) but I have found that stickers pretty much do the job.  Students will do pretty much anything to get that sticker in their book.   

Plan performances

It’s hard to stay motivated to practice each week without a little incentive. Even as professionals, we tend to slack off in the practice department when we don’t have an upcoming performance to prepare for, so how are we to expect our students to keep up diligent practice when it is even something we struggle with.

Planning performances for your students will encourage them to make time for practice simply because they now have motivation.  Whether it is an audition, solo and ensemble, or a studio recital, students will sit down to practice more often when they know a performance is coming up.  

Incorporate technology 

Make practicing cool and fun by incorporating technology.  It seems every kid these days has a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and most have all three!  There are a variety of apps and websites that offer music theory flashcards, ear training games, or you can use something like Sight Reading Factory to encourage students to work on rhythms, sight reading, or ear training.

YouTube can be used to encourage students to listen to great performers on their instrument or you can have your student learn their favorite song by ear by listening to it online.   Students can use this listening list to get started and keeping a listening journal will help encourage them to develop a good tonal concept.  

Be their cheerleader 

Students are constantly seeking validation so be their biggest cheerleader, but be sure to praise their effort not their talent. 

If a student has been struggling with a particular rhythm or passage and they finally get it, celebrate!  It may only be a measure of music but to the student they finally conquered Mount Everest!  Celebrate ALL of their accomplishments! 

Giving praise for their effort will motivate students to practice and encourage them to continue to work hard.  

Eliminate distractions

It is sometimes difficult to know what a student’s practice set up at home looks like, but if you travel to their home or teach them online, you get a glimpse into their practice area.  Does your student have a music stand?  Is the family pet in the room?  Does a younger sibling constantly interrupt or does a helicopter parent hover over them?  Is there a window nearby for the student to look out?

Working with both the student and the parent on having the proper set up and eliminating unnecessary distractions will result in the student accomplishing more in each practice session, giving them faster results and therefore encouraging them to practice more often.

Change up how they practice

As human beings, most of us love routine, and any small change in our routine makes us feel uncomfortable.  Some students however find a regular practice routine boring.  Boredom results in practice being something the student is required to do rather than something they WANT to do.  

Have them record themselves and then “be the teacher” by judging the performance and marking up a copy of their music with a red pen.  Students can be brutal if given this role and will soon strive to make their own red markings go away. 

Something as simple as switching up the order in which they practice their music can make all the difference in the world.  Who says you have to practice your scales before your solo anyway?  If they have an electric keyboard with programmable features, have them use a drumbeat in lieu of a metronome.  Simple changes can make practice fun again.

Create challenges

Nothing can motivate a student like a little healthy competition.  If you have a home studio, creating a scale challenge and using an incentive chart to allow your students to “compete” with each other can be a great motivator? Afterall, who doesn’t like getting stars next to their name.  

You could also host a social media challenge.  Something like post a photo of you practicing in the weirdest location you can find and post it to instagram. (Don’t forget to have them tag your studio page.)

Give students a scavenger hunt where they have to find certain musical selections on youtube, photos of their instruments on the internet, or an interesting fact about a performer or composer.  All of these exercises will peak the students interest and break up their boredom. 

Let them play music they like

Classical music is great but there are hundreds of different genres out there to be enjoyed.  Mix up lessons from time to time by assigning a piece of popular music.  Doing so keeps the student motivated and interested in practicing.  Ask the student who their favorite band or singer is and then either find music for them to learn or have them learn a piece by ear.  

Music stores often have books such as Disney classics, Star Wars, or music from Harry Potter.  A lot of teachers brush these off as something for the students to work on in their own time but if you sit down and really look at them, these books often have rather difficult rhythms.  Students will jump at the chance to play a song they know from time to time. 

Lead by example

Students imitate what they see.  If you have the opportunity, let the student hear you practicing when you walk into the room of post photos of yourself practicing on your social media.  Students often want to be just like their teacher so setting a practice example for them will encourage them to follow in your footsteps.  

Keep this in mind when you demonstrate anything in lessons.  Make sure you are demonstrating good posture and proper hand position at all times and the student will quickly follow suit.  

Get the parents on your side 

When discussing practice with parents, emphasize the benefits of long term playing. Research shows that playing an instrument on a regular basis can increase IQ by up to seven points in both children and adults.

Studies also show that students who study music score an average of 20% higher on standardized tests.

Higher test scores will open the doors for students to get into the best colleges and universities and will often get them more scholarship money.  

Participating in competitions and honor bands, orchestras and choirs makes a students college application appear more rounded, demonstrating that the student has good time management skills and consistently goes above and beyond what is required of them, and playing an instrument can also allow the student to audition to get additional scholarship for participating in the university music program.

Remember, every child is different

Always keep in mind that each student is different. What motivates one child may cause another to give pushback.  Have patience and try a variety of motivation tactics until you find something that clicks with each individual student.  Once a student finds practicing to be something they actually enjoy, their progress will be unstoppable!

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Skype is easy to use, its free, and its reliable as long as there is a good internet connection.

How to sign up for Skype

1. Download Skype to your device. Skype can be used on the following devices.
   • Computer or laptop with camera and microphone (most laptops come equipped with a camera and microphone)
   • iPad or other tablet
   • Smart phone (iPhone and android)
2. Create a free account using your phone number or an email address
3. Sign in to Skype
   • Open Skype and click or tap Skype name, email or phone
   • Enter your Skype name, email or phone and select Sign in
   • Enter your password and select the arrow to continue

How to make a video call in Skype

Select a contact from your list of contacts.

If you don’t have any contacts you can add them by selecting People, groups & messages from the top of your window and enter the phone number or email you want to call.

Select the contact you want to call and select the Video button.

If you are waiting on a call, all you have to do is sign on and wait. When the person calls, answer as you would a regular phone call.

At the end of the call select the end call button to hang up.

Troubleshooting image quality

• No picture – make sure you press the icon that has a video camera on it at the bottom of the screen.
• Poor internet connection – try moving closer to the router in your home or try using cellular data instead.
• For all other video issues check the Skype troubleshooting page

The only downside to Skype lessons is that there is about a quarter second lag so duets are not possible. I also strongly encourage students to have a metronome on a separate device because you can’t use Skype video and another app at the same time without losing the picture.

While I prefer in person lessons, the fact is that in our busy lives, they aren’t always possible. Skype is simple and easy to use and makes online teaching a breeze.

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Modern technology has changed the game. Apps are available for almost anything you could imagine. The following apps are must haves for private music teachers or any freelancer. They will make your studio run smoothly while helping you avoid the hassle of carrying around everything but the kitchen sink.

Evernote

Evernote is a great app for teachers in general. It is a note taking app that you can sync across multiple devices. In addition to note taking, you can upload files and photos into your digital notebooks and have anything you need at your fingertips. It is a great tool for organizing your schedule and keeping student records.

I create a notebook for each school I teach at. In each notebook is a file for every student I teach at that school. I record lesson notes, assignments, repertoire, and can even upload a copy of the solo they are currently working on so I have everything I could possibly need in lessons.

Evernote also has a variety of templates available to download and use for free.

Tonal Energy

Tonal energy is a paid app that is totally worth the price. It’s primary purpose is to be used as a tuner but it also has a metronome as well as recording capabilities.

It measures cents sharp/flat and will give the student a green smiley face if they are in tune or a purple “concerned” face if they are very out of tune. You can adjust the settings to accommodate Winds, Strings, or voice as well as set the tuning range to make it more challenging to get the smiley. I find that students are more likely to practice with a tuner at home solely because of the smiley face feature.

In addition to being a tuner, students can also use Tonal Energy to practice with a drone using the pitch wheel. Using the sustain feature on this wheel allows you to sustain one or more pitches. Students can then tune to the drone or practice fitting their pitch into a chord.

Sight Reading Factory

Sight Reading Factory is both an app for music teachers and students, as well as a website for those who don’t have access to a tablet or prefer a larger screen. It requires a subscription but again is worth the money. It uses an algorithm to generate unique sight reading excerpts for up to six difficulty levels. It is highly customizable and can be used with all wind instrument, strings, percussion, piano, voice, guitar, concert band, choir, and orchestra. Each difficulty level can be generated in a variety of key signatures, as well as in any major or minor key.

The sight reading excerpt can be generated instantly in “regular practice” or you can set it up as a timed practice which gives the student from 5 to 60 seconds to look at the piece before playing it. It can also be played with a metronome, a moving cursor, or a midi recording. This is one of the best music education apps out there and will make your students proficient sight readers in no time.

Trello

Trello is an app that lets you create boards to organize your business and your life. Like Evernote, it will sync across multiple platforms so as long as you are logged in, you can see your boards on your phone, tablet, or computer.

The boards are fully customizable. You can add multiple cards and then place multiple tasks on those cards. It is also very easy to move tasks back and forth between cards. I use Trello for this website, my private studio, trip planning, personal finance, and any other projects I am currently working on.

Trello is a great way to keep your business tasks organized. The number of boards you can create is unlimited, and like Evernote, there are a variety of sample boards available to download for free.

Music Tutor

The Music Tutor app is a great fun and free app to use with your younger music students to work on quick note recognition. Once you press start, the student has 60 seconds to get as many note names correct as they can. Students love it because they are always trying to beat their best score.

The app is simple to use but is still customizable and allows you to change the flash cards to treble, bass, or alto clef. You can also change the duration of the game from 60 seconds to 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or infinity as well as add sharps or flats to the notes.

Youtube

Youtube is an app every private music teacher needs. It offers a vast array of videos and to be honest, your students probably know how to use it better than you!

Today’s students live on youtube so why not work that to your advantage. There are a number of live recordings of almost any standard solo available out there as well as instructional videos (how to make an oboe reed) and masterclasses taught by prominent teachers.

Voice Memo

Voice memo is an app that comes on most phones. Most of us don’t even think about using it in private lessons but it can be quite useful. It is a great tool to make quick notes on the way to the car, or between students. You can make quick reminders to send a late payment notice, pull a solo from your home library, or remember to bring something to lessons next week.

It can also be used to make a recording of your student for instant playback to review with them, or you can record yourself playing their solo or etude and either text or email it to them. I will often record a student’s audition piece slowly with a metronome so that they can play along with it in their home practice.

Forscore

Forscore is a great way to digitize your music library and cut down on the amount of music you have to carry around on a daily basis. At a tap of the screen, you can instantly have access to handouts, solos, etudes, duets…basically anything you want to upload.

Forscore also allows you to annotate the music, make notes (so you can remember what student played what solo), and even has a metronome and tuner built right in.

Unfortunately, Forscore is only available on the iOS platform.

Why you should cross over to the digital side…

Say goodbye to shoulder pain, back pain, and the sheer frustration of forgetting to throw something in your teaching bag. All of you music, calendars, metronome, and tuner can be carried on one light weight tablet.

Say goodbye to copying handouts or music for your students. You can simply email them the file they need and they can either print it out at home or use their own tablet to read it.

Embrace the digital age and use these apps to organize your studio and your life!

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New teacher often don’t know where to start and frequently ask: What repertoire do you use? How do you teach rhythm? How will you make sure they practice? How do you keep them from getting bored?

This post contains affiliate links.  At no cost to you, I get a small commission from each purchase you make through these links which helps keep this blog up and running.

Start with repertoire

There are a variety of beginner method books out there for every instrument.  Start with one you are familiar with and branch out from there. If the student is not in a school music class, you may want to use a music theory book as well.

Most wind players have been in band for at least a few weeks when they start taking private lessons. They have some basic understanding of note reading and simple rhythms, along with one of the standard band method books.  I find that using the same book they use in class is especially useful with a beginner.  It allows you to measure the students progress as compared to the rest of their class and gives students the extra help they need to stay caught up.

Structuring the lesson

Long tones and note review

Most method books introduce five notes on the first few pages. Use the five notes to introduce the student to the concept of long tones. Long tones are a great way to work on development of sound, pulse, intonation, and review the notes the student knows so far. 

Begin by having the student play the first five notes in whole notes at ♩ = 60, breathing every two to three notes.  This allows the student to review the notes, and focus on breathing while maintaining a steady pulse.  

After the initial set of long tones, I have the student do it once more using a tuner app.  My students love the Tonal Energy app!  While there are other free apps available, the simple goal of “achieving the smiley face” encourages my students to actually use it and allows them to focus on correcting their embouchure in order to make the green smiley face pop up.

Rhythm practice

Most band method books have a couple of pages of rhythmic counting practice in the back portion of the book.  Starting each lesson with counting these rhythms with a metronome develops the students sense of pulse insures a good foundation in rhythmic development. If you are not using a band method book, write out a few rhythms in their lesson notebook for them to practice each week.

Note reading

Next comes a combination of rhythm and note reading practice. Have the student say the note names out loud and finger along to the line you are working on.  Once they have mastered this skill, move along to playing the music. 

If the student is progressing quickly, add in a private method book such as Starter Studies by Phillip Sparke in addition to their band method to present the student with more of a challenge without getting too far ahead of their class in their band method.  

Assessing student progress

Assign homework for next week

Set a practice goal with the student for the next week. Including the student in their own goal setting will encourage them to actually practice. Either write the assignment in the students practice notebook or have them write it down. Breaking the assignment down into sub-categories will help the student understand the value of each element of the practice session. 

I find this practice log to be a great tool for beginners because it breaks everything down into categories and the back of each page is a sheet of staff paper for writing out rhythms, scales, etc.

Remember

Teaching beginners is a lot of fun. While it can have a few challenges, it can also be very rewarding so get out there an have a good time!

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