The ultimate goal of playing music is to enjoy the instrument for it's own beauty and intrisic value. I try to find music for students that they will enjoy playing and music that it beautiful. Along the way, children often need some help in seeing the value in the hard work of practicing to get to that beautiful music. I encourage a routine at home, so that they expect to practice at the same time each day. I send home the practice sheet with the assignments so that parents know how to encourage that practice. When children hear things like, "great job" and "I love your piano playing," they are more likely to play for you again. Please help them to record their practice time on their practice sheet and bring it back to me each week. Then I will give them beads on my wall for that practice. At the end of the year, I send those beads home. They get really excited about their beads!