🎹 Practice Tracker: For When Intrinsic Motivation Needs a Little Backup

Margaret Fontiveros
May 25
3 min read

It's true — students absolutely make progress just by showing up to lessons. They will learn. They will grow. And for students juggling school, sports, and a million other things, we 100% support those who can only dedicate their energy during that one glorious hour each week in the studio.

BUT… want more bang for your buck? That magic happens when practice at home becomes a regular part of the routine. 💥

Why Use a Practice Tracker?

I know, I know. We all want to believe that the sheer joy of making music should be motivation enough. But let’s face it—that kind of internal drive takes time to develop, especially for our under-12 crowd (and honestly, even for a lot of teens and grown-ups). So until your child becomes one of those mythical creatures who asks to practice, we go with a little... motivational support.

Enter: the Practice Tracker. 🎯

What It Is:

A totally optional (but highly recommended!) printable log to help your child track their practice time.
A tool to build consistency and habit—with the help of prizes, praise, and maybe even a scoop of ice cream.

Who It's For:

Students who thrive on structure and visible progress
Parents who are looking for a fun way to encourage consistency
Families who aren’t afraid to use a little bribery in the name of good music 😄

📝 How It Works:

Pick a fun tracker design (several are available here).
Print it and tuck it in the front pocket of your child’s piano binder.
Color in one block at a time as practice is completed.
When the sheet is full, your child earns a reward! Then start fresh with a new sheet.

What Counts as “One Block”?

You decide! A few ideas:

One block for each day practiced
One block for each assignment practiced
One block for every 10 minutes at the piano
Or invent your own system! (I won’t tell.)

🎁 What Kinds of Rewards Work?

You know your child best. Go with what lights them up! Here are some ideas:

Favorite candy or snack
A trip to a beloved restaurant (Chick-fil-A has magical powers in my house)
Something new to wear (I was all in for this one as a preteen)
A stop for ice cream (Mama Bird’s, anyone?)
Extra screen time or video game time
A tiny Amazon treat just for fun

⏰ “But We’re Soooo Busy…”

I get it. That’s where a little trick called habit stacking comes in.

Attach piano practice to something you already do every day:

Right after dinner
After brushing teeth
While you're waiting for the laundry to finish
Before morning cartoons or homework time

Even 5 minutes counts. Play one song, tap out one rhythm, review one page. It all adds up!

💡 Other Ways to Encourage Practice

Talk about piano at the dinner table 🎶
Let your child know how awesome it is that they’re learning this skill
Compliment them when they play—even if it’s the same piece you’ve heard 84 times
Brag about them (in front of them, obviously 😉)
Play some piano music on Spotify and listen together
Keep the piano in a high-traffic area, not tucked away in a back room
Ask for mini concerts at home (set up chairs, pop some popcorn!)
Use piano time as a reward: “After your room’s clean, you can play another 10 minutes!” (Didn’t work with my kids... but hey, you never know! 🤷‍♀️😂)

Final Thoughts

The Practice Tracker isn’t about perfection—it’s about building a routine and giving kids a sense of ownership and progress. And hey, if that progress is powered by stickers, lollipops, or the promise of extra Roblox time, I say we celebrate that too.

Here’s to growing confident musicians—one colored-in block at a time.