Simpedia

Achievement Charts

Found in: Practicing & Playlists, Studio Management

Louise H., Michigan


I am thinking of putting up a sticker chart for my students in the studio, with their names and stickers for when they bring their playlist and show it to me. Some students are really good about this and some aren’t, and I haven’t always been the best at making sure they do it week to week. I remember hearing when my kids were in school that having posted charts with children’s names and their progress, visible to all, is not always the best thing, because some will always remember and some will always forget, and those that forget tend to feel ashamed. What are your thoughts on this? I could also just keep it in a private book for myself to help me keep track, but I kind of like the idea of it being visible to everyone. I am hoping it will have the effect of encouraging those parents and children to remember each week what they need to do and what they need to bring.


Carrie L., Michigan


Personally I don’t use any rewards charts. While they may work short term the long term benefit isn’t enough. I also don’t want to add anything that might distract me from my teaching. \

Elaine F., South Carolina

 

I’ve used charts before, and my experience is that it doesn’t change behavior at all. 

Karla G., Kansas

 

I post a weekly achievement chart where each student grades themselves on how they practiced that week.  Best effort is a gold star, good effort is a silver star, needs improvement is a colored star

Beth S., Tennessee

 

I have a check-in station in my studio room where each student must stop before starting their lessons. If I’m running behind, they can come in and get that over with. At my check-in station is the bulletin board with any announcements/silly quote/someone’s playlist to show off/etc., hand sanitizer so everyone comes to the keys “clean,” photos of students, and most importantly, the log-in book. It is just a three-ring binder with a tab for each student and a graph to fill out that shows all their stats for each week of the semester. 

Here’s what it includes:

  1. attendance
  2. number of practice days
  3. total practice time
  4. did they use the videos?
  5. did they play the entire playlist?
  6. did they share their music?

The good of the graph is:

  • accountability
  • I don’t have to take up lesson time talking about all those things every week
  • I can in one glance look over the student’s history and easily determine the reason for their performance, either good or bad, and everything is all in writing quite clear if I need to either confront or praise them.

Terry S., Arizona


I give stickers to put in their own book when they play a piece well. Kids love it.

What I would really like to do is to make a chart (or checklist) of musical concepts/objectives of all Foundation levels for each student so they (and their parents) always know where they are in their musical education and where they’re going in the future. Unfortunately, I’m only licensed to Level 3 so I don’t yet know what’s in the higher levels.