Fall Fatigue: Students

The back-to-school energy boost is waning, the fall calendar is as full as ever, and our tank is starting feel pretty empty. Does this describe how you or your students are feeling as Halloween approaches? Us, too, you are not alone! Here are a few tips I've compiled through the years to keep our students motivated.

• Set aside time for games. Our students are finally adjusted to their back-to-school routine, but the newness of lessons and classes has worn off. Their brains need a little extra stimulation to keep their attention with us. Use just a quick 5 minutes of class or lesson time and throw a game in. I love to keep a bin of ready-to-go games in a variety of themes and subjects at all times. This way I can watch for a skill we need to work on and 5 minutes I can give to it, grab the game and we're ready to freshen up skills and switch up class. Watch for upcoming blog posts on games we love to use in lessons and class!
• Get up and move! I'm a big fan of movement activities! Getting that blood flowing wakes the brain up and helps our students absorb their skills more quickly and effectively. I don't believe instruments were meant to be learned sitting stagnant in chairs. Take a quick break, set the instruments down or get up from the piano bench, and get the blood flowing. Your students will perk right up!
• Switch up the music. The music is the reason we're all here and the music is one of the best tools we have to help our students stay motivated. For piano students, find out their favorite song and help them get started on it. The way it can light up their eyes the first time they hear the melody come from their fingers is the reason we all teach, right?! For a class full of students, have them throw some of their favorite songs out and vote on what one to learn first, or just pull one from a hat every so often. Find a quick, easy arrangement and get it right into the rotation at the football games, they'll eat it up and it won't take much from your instructional time. The boost it will give in excitement and morale will make up for any change of plans you have to make.
• Make them feel needed and loved. As teachers, this is what we're always trying to do. We really want these budding musicians to know their person and their music is needed in the world in a way only they can fill. They are the reason we keep showing up, even on days we don't want to face that faculty meeting or that frustrating parent again. Greet them at the door. Ask them about the concert they mentioned last week. Ask them if their dog is feeling better. Ask them if they beat that level on *insert game we know nothing about here.* Let them know you care about what they care about. Tell them a little about what you've been up to. When their little fingers get tired or their chops are sore from a hard piece you're working on, tie in a little story from something going on in your life. It will help them connect with you as a person and give them a chance to rest up for the next hard section.
• Listen. There is so much music available to our students, right at their fingertips! Even with the increased availability of music, there are still the same artists showing up on the top 10. Let's expand their musical world by sharing anything we can think of with them. Tie in something you love or something that will blow their minds every once in awhile. 5 minutes to listen to this cool piece you found and think they'll love will switch up your class or lesson enough to keep their attention focused. It also harbors the excitement for music we're helping them foster.

This time of year, when we see their eyes start to glaze over and their minds start to wander to what they want to be for Halloween, it can help refocus their energy if we switch things up a little. Feel free to adjust any of these suggestions to fit your needs in lessons and the classroom. Keep up the good work! Fostering the musicians of tomorrow is a beautiful work!