Studio games we play.

This year, I've been trying to ween my students off the sticker reward system, or at least not use so many stickers in the process. Not only would I like to save some of my dollars spent on new stickers each occasion, but I don't want my students to develop the habit of learning and listening for a present rather than for their own pleasure and rewards. That said, a reward can go a long way in coaxing a student into playing or listening just a little bit longer. At some point, though, the novelty will wear off, and you as a teacher will just have to get bigger and better each time, until you have little or no control over your students.

Since school started in the fall, my studio has started replacing sticker rewards with song rewards. If you listen well and work hard, there's a good chance you'll get to take a break with a favorite song of your choice. Or we could play the song we're already working on in a silly way-one favorite is threading the strings with paper to make a funky banjo sound. Sometimes we play duets together as a treat, or others we get up and walk around and work on theory. Or we play a duet every week, but we work on a different game each time: chasing each other's tempos, exaggerating dynamics, or adding in our own sound effects to the piece.

Breaks from the monotony of the same recital piece, day after day and week after week, are a great way to both reward your students and still teach them. It's a way for your student to have fun, and not think about how they're being made to play the harp, made to practice, asked to repeat themselves over and over, or constantly corrected. It also gives your student a chance to trust you and see you as more of a mentor or a coach than a strict teacher. Some teachers don't want to blur that line, however I feel more comfortable knowing that my students not only have fun at my lessons, but know they can talk to me when they're worried about something-personally or musically.

If you don't want to spend that much time with rewards and breaks, try just a small change of pace. If your student has been hitting the same piece over and over, take a minute to stand up with them, and shake your sillies out. Rotate your arms and jump up and down. Not only does it get you moving after all those lessons, but the student will think it's fun, and will temporarily forget the frustrating piece they can't get right. Chances are, they'll sit back down at the harp with better posture, will remember to keep their feet flat, and won't need any elbow reminders from you.