After doing some final work to tweak this and make it adaptable for any studio, I am happy to report that the Exploring a Galaxy of Music practice incentive program is now available! I know you’ve all been waiting with bated breath, right? 
The downloadable package includes everything you need to successfully implement this year-long practice incentive in your studio. You can either use it exactly as-is by printing the .pdf files or you can tweak the .doc files to your heart’s content to make it fully customizable for your studio.
And, for the best news of the post…for everyone who purchases the Exploring a Galaxy of Music practice incentive this month, I’ll enter your name in a drawing to win the complete set of studio wall decorations that I used this year! That includes:
- The banner verse
- The theme title letters
- Three black galaxies
- Hundreds of planets and stars to put in the galaxies
All of these are cut and laminated and ready to put on the wall! You can see what it looks like in the picture below. Also, just for your reference, I printed and laminated an equal number of galaxy objects for each team and then placed them in an envelope. Then when the students had enough points to put an object up in their galaxy, I just gave them the envelope and let them pick out whatever they wanted.
Here are a few of the comments I’ve gotten from teachers who have been using some of these practice incentive programs in their studios:
“Just received and downloaded my Practice Incentive Program and am so anxious to use it. Thanks for taking the time and energy to share your creative ideas with all of us who sometimes need a little “boost” and a fresh approach to teaching piano.” ~N. S.
“I currently am using one of your incentive programs and LOVING it (Climbing the Ladder to Success). I’m already looking into the next theme for next year.” ~V.K.
“Your incentive program has made my life easier this year! I usually try to come up with a creative program myself.” ~ J.E.
“I recently ordered your “Climbing the Ladder to Success” practice incentive and I love it! I’m so excited to introduce it to my students this week. I’ve been dropping hints, but this week I think I’m going to kick it off.” ~K.S.
“Last year the students loved the Climbing the Ladder program so much that they keep asking what we are doing this year.” ~M.R.
Natalie – you just know how to motivate! Whoever wins will be delighted to have all these “instant” decorations, I’m sure.
This looks like fun!
Hi,
I am thinking about purchasing your Exploring A Galaxy of Music ” incentive program. I have a question though…you mentioned it is a year long goal which works for me…but what I am wondering is could it be used in conjunction with trophies in your opinion? I usually do some sort of incentive program where I set different goals which determine the size trophy a student gets in May. Hope this makes sense. How do they proceed in this incentive program? For example some programs student earn money, points, etc. Thanks for any clarification.
Hi Jennifer!
Thanks for your interest in Exploring a Galaxy of Music. I tend to think of all the practice incentive themes as being fully adaptable to whatever you want them to be. They are designed to provide a framework for you and the students to work within all year long to achieve specific goals. I include with the package an explanation of what the students could work toward, but I think you could definitely adapt it to include trophies – or any other program already running in your studio. In this particular incentive, the students earned points, which then enabled them to earn space objects to put in their team’s galaxy. At the end of the set period, whichever team had the most objects in their galaxy was declared the winner! Then the galaxies were “emptied” and everyone started from an equal playing field for the next session. This team focus was really motivating to the students because they were still working toward individual goals, but then their work contributed to the overall team progress!
Hope this helps!
Hi Natalie,
I am also interested in this practice incentive. I wonder how I can get the wall decorations and the galaxies and planets. Do I have to buy them from some company, or did you make them yourself? Also, I use a curriculum piano course, and wonder if that would work with this incentive. Some of my students don’t do any technique yet, so would that be a problem? Most students have a technique book for their grade, and we go through that as we like. Some students like to go systematically, while others move around from scales, to sight-playing, etc. I really like your idea for the teamwork. I’ve been trying to come up with my own incentive, but I’m not as experienced or creative as you! This would be much easier if it works for my studio.
Thanks,
Heidi
Hi Heidi!
All of the wall decor is included in the downloadable package, so you can print as many as you need/want for your studio. I usually print and then laminate them, then use sticky tack to affix them to the wall.
I use a variety of different courses and methods with my students, but use the practice incentive theme to provide a cohesive structure that allows for maximum flexibility when working with students. This theme is especially adaptable to different students because they get to pick their own cosmic challenges from week to week and you can tailor them to their age and level. The goal is for this to provide a framework for you and the students throughout the year that keeps lessons exciting and the students motivated to practice, but gives you plenty of freedom to tweak the details for the needs of your students.
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions!