100 DAY

PRACTICE
CHALLENGE
GAMES
Sue Hunt
everything you need to
make your
100 DAY PRACTICE
CHALLENGE FUN
 Strike a Bargain

Everyone wins when you broker a great deal.

Barter for:
1) X minutes of smiley focussed practice
2) correct repetitions,
3) days practice in a row...

Get out o A trip

f to the
washing
Choose a cinema
the dishe video
s
tonight

NO
A swim
bed
at the poo
making l
w
tomorro

A cake Have
baking your
session clothes
folded

Your
choice for A friend
supper to stay
over on
y
Saturda
 ….…. ….…. ….….
correct repetitions minutes of smiley days in a row
= focussed practice =
…………………… = ……………………
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….…. ….…. ….….

days in a row correct repetitions minutes of smiley
= = focussed practice
…………………… …………………… =
…………………… …………………… ……………………
………………. ………………. …………………
……………… ……………… ……………….

….…. ….…. ….….

minutes of smiley days in a row correct repetitions
focussed practice = =
= …………………… ……………………
…………………… …………………… ……………………
………………… ………………. ……………….
………………. ……………… ………………

….…. ….…. ….….

correct repetitions minutes of smiley days in a row
= focussed practice =
…………………… = ……………………
…………………… …………………… ……………………
………………. ………………… ……………….
……………… ………………. ………………
 Blindfold

Practice it blindfold, or with eyes shut, or with the light out, or

in the wardrobe. It's interesting to alternate with eyes open
and to compare the results. Go for lots of correct
repetitions of the Practice Task.

If you do a great repetition with your eyes closed, place a

little white label on the picture. How many perfect repetitions
do you need to do till it's hidden from sight?
 Calculator Count Up

Use a calculator to keep track of the repetitions.

Help an older child gain skills in self monitoring.

When your child performs a Practice Task, get him to

determine if it was successfully done.

If the answer is yes, punch in + 1.

If a mistake is made, punch in – 2.

In cases of dispute use "Cheater's

Proof" which really means "Have
another free go."

0
250
 Clothes Pegs in a Jar

Earn a clothes peg for every correct repetition or set of

repetitions.

When you have earned 10 pegs, kneel on a chair and drop

them one by one into a jar on the floor.

This can be tricky so make it really easy for younger ones

 Combination Lock

Students never seem to tire of lucky dips.

This is a specially motivating one.
Materials:
Two containers.
Little inexpensive treasures, sweets and so on.
A Wordlock combination lock set with your choice of letters
or a 3 number luggage lock.
A large rubber band or chain of bands to loop round
the container.
10 cards with a combination lock code written on each.

1• Put all of the toys into a container, loop the elastic round it
and padlock it.
2• Put all the codes into the other one.
3• Ask students to perform an agreed number of correct
repetitions of a Practice Task in return for a lucky dip in the
code container.
4• If the combination code opens the lock, let them choose a
prize from the box.
5• You will need to change the code regularly to keep them
on their toes. Keep a record for yourself!

Sm
Pr

all
y

ll
ck

pe
ize

S
Lu

Large
 Be a Detective

You know those moments in your newest

piece when your shoulders, arms or hands go
all stiff. How many of these can you detect in
your music.

Draw a circle round each tense spot in the

music. Soften those muscles, then play one
of the spots. If your muscles stayed soft, draw
a magnifying glass on a piece of paper. See
how quickly you can detect and relax those
important muscles after each drawing break.
 Domino Race

Earn a domino for every correct repetition of the Practice

Task and stand them in a row.

When the assignment is complete,

knock the row down.

You can spice things up by competing against your helper:

For every incorrect repetition, your helper gets a domino.
 Musical
Chairs

This is an energizing game to inspire

a child to repeat a practice task, again
and again. Most young musicians
enjoy a kinetic element in their
practice and this certainly breaks the
tedium of standing still.

How to do it?

S i m p l y a s k y o u r c h i l d t o fi n d
something to sit on and to play the
practice task correctly.

When he has completed the task, ask

him to find another chair. If an adult is
sitting on it already, your child can ask
politely to have that chair. Anyone
who doesn't move may be sat on.

It can be fun to join in too. Just

remember to focus on your child.

Continue till you run out of either

chairs or steam.
 Nailed It!

Do you have a toy

hammer peg board?
Put it to use when
your child nails the Practice Task perfectly.

To release pent up tension, let him whack

a peg into the pegboard, one bash for
each perfectly nailed repetition.

This is a useful game for practicing quick

refocussing. Each time your child moves
from peg board back to Practice Task, ask
your child to focus on one aspect of set up
at a time e.g. beautiful
playing feet or bow
ready on the bow spot.
The more often you do
this, the more proficient
your child will become.
 Make a Hedgehog Family

This one is very simple.

You will need some potatoes and a package of

toothpicks.

Choose a big potato for a Practice Task that needs

lots of work or a little one for an easier Task.

For every correct repetition of the Practice Task,

give the hedgehog another prickle, by sticking a
toothpick in the potato.

Variation for the very brave:

Your helper can start a rival family with toothpicks
for every incorrect repetition.
 Practice Treat Box

Print one of the box templates on stiff card. Every time your
child does a correct repetition of the Practice Task, cut along
one straight outline. To cut out the entire box, it will require 20
correct repetitions. After practice, you can glue it together,
ready for after practice treats.

Your child may prefer to decorate the blank box.

Why don't you make all 8 boxes and play lucky dip practice
with a Practice Task and a treat or challenge for correct
repetitions in each one.

Treats
Practice
 Fo und
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an si
d de
gl

gl e
ue
d d
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an r si
ld e
Fo und
Cut round the outside
of the box and fold
along the red lines

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Pr viola
viva
This box has been
left blank for you
to decorate

Fo und
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an r si
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Fo und
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 CHALLENGES

Parent plays Play to a

one hand friend By
on the candle
phone light

With a teddy bear With a

on your lap While
handbag
wiggling
on your
your
LEFT
eyebrows
arm

While looking Set the kitchen

While frightened timer for 2 minutes
meowing
like a
kitten

Wearing While chewing

RIGHT foot gum
a coat
in the air
PRACTICE TASKS
 Professor Pat's Chips Game

This game was invented by Pat D'Ercole, an inspiring teacher trainer at the
University of Wisconsin.

All you need is game chips, or Tiddlywinks.

• Dole them out in 2 piles, one for the teacher and one for the student, one
chip for each year in the age of your student.

• For every correct repetition of the Practice Task move a chip from the
teacher's pile to the student's pile.

• For every mistake, move one back to the teacher's pile.

• Encourage your student to evaluate each attempt and if there is a dispute,

call for "Cheater's Proof."

• Never play against your own child. Children who are really trying hard are
quite vulnerable and need an ally not an adversary in the practice room.

• In a practice session, use your teacher or a small toy as a "Practice Baddy"

for them to play against.

In my studio we use a toy mouse. He just loves it when students make

mistakes so he can win and of course he's not a good looser.
 Spin a Task

Make practice time fun with a spinner. You can find cheap sets
of blank cardboard spinners in educational stores.

However if you enjoy these challenges, make your own.

Create your own directions for sorting out all those tricky spots.

Make one for general use or customize it for a particular piece.

Just spin and play!

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Do a hula While pointing Blow a raspberry.
dance. your toes

Opening Turn around twice

and in one direction,
shutting then twice Walking
your in the other round
mouth direction. the room
like a
goldfish

Kneeling Winking
on one knee your eye

With
your
tongue
out

Stamping Shaking your head

your
foot

While wiggling
like an eel