Escape! Another Practice Game

Here's another practice game to try that I call "Escape!" It's simply another way to add fun and motivation to your daily practicing.

Find a small animal figurine or action figure that can balance on one of the black keys of the piano (or you can always use a penny or a button and just use imagination). Tell your child, "This sheep [or soldier or princess] was captured by an evil king." Place the figure on one of the black keys near the highest (or lowest) end of the piano. Say, "Every time you play this measure [or line/section] with no missed notes you can move the sheep one black key closer to the edge of the piano keys. If you miss a note, the sheep will move backwards, deeper into jail. When the sheep makes it to the edge of the piano, it escapes! And you win!"

Determine your initial placement of the figure based on how many repetitions you think the child can succeed at. Place the figure closer to the edge to make it easier. If the game proves too difficult, you can also eliminate the rule about moving backwards, or create a "wall" that blocks any negative movement past a certain point. Remember that you want the child to feel challenged, but not overwhelmed. Keep the spirit of the game fun and lighthearted. Add humor and imagination as you feel inspired.

Happy practicing!

P.S. The idea for this game came from a great blog for piano teachers:
Music Matters