Posted by Will on April 06, 2008 at 19:17:01:
I teach beginners and have had a hard time getting them to put the work in on their own time so we can work as a group during rehearsal. I have a bulletin board that charts the band's points for practice minutes and the goal is a party after our concert. I am working up a grading system for next year that involves practice sheets and play exams so I can accurately assess their abilities. I just feel that I am working more on individual parts that should be worked on at home and want to get into the music in rehearsals instead of playing the black spots on the page. What do you do to motivate your students to practice and what do you do during rehearsals that is different from lessons? I am a first year teacher and love what I do and would like to make this program better because there is a lot of potential.
Thanks
-Will-