We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use.
By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.
Many parents struggle to encourage their child to practice piano, violin, or any other music instrument they are trying to learn. The MusicTeacherNotes helps motivate young students to practice music. Families who use MusicTeacherNotes are familiar with Music Bucks, which is a pretend currency that kids "earn" for practicing music. But some parents might wonder what happens if their kids earn "too many" Music Bucks.
When kids first begin using MusicTeacherNotes, their Music Bucks accrue only from practice.
However, as kids practice, they earn Practice Stickers in their sticker collection, and Practice Stickers can win additional Music Bucks. The upshot is that over time, kids will get Music Bucks faster and faster. This could leave parents thinking their kids are earning too many Music Bucks, which causes them to have to honor motivational rewards too frequently.
First, too many Music Bucks means your kids have practiced the music instrument a lot! That's a good problem to have! If kids practice a lot, music lessons are one of the best investments parents can make for their children. Music is a skill that will last their entire lifetime.
But still, parents could get frustrated if kids are redeeming their Music Bucks for ice cream every other day. Here are simple solutions to that problem:
Adjust the price of existing rewards:
You could teach your children about inflation! Economic lessons might not be best suited at this time for your child, but we do have one solution. You could make items cost more. Parents have complete control over the rewards offered, as well as the Music Buck price for each reward. For example, if you have the reward:
You could change it to:
Your kids will probably complain about this, but it is an option. There are better ways to address the issue.
Offer new awards:
The number of Music Bucks a child attains each week will increase over time. This is because the number of Practice Stickers will accrue and become a more significant part of their Music Buck earnings. But also, the rewards a child wants will change. For example, your daughter might have a reward:
As your daughter grows older, it's unlikely that this particular reward will remain important to her — thank goodness! Replace it with another reward, and make the Music Buck cost something you are willing to accept.
Offer some "expensive" rewards:
Once a child redeems their Music Bucks, they are deducted from their account, just like a real bank account. Offering some highly desired rewards can entice kids to save their Music Bucks rather than spend them. For example, assume there was a gift a kid really wanted that didn't quite make it under the Christmas Tree or become a birthday present. Why not make that a reward for music practice? Set a value on it that will deter them from spending Music Bucks on smaller rewards. This also teaches the child the importance of saving.
Ultimately, Music Bucks, rewards, and Practice Stickers are about getting younger kids to practice more. They will grow out of the stage where they need extrinsic motivation to practice. But in the meantime, enjoy it and use Music Bucks as a way to get them to practice their music and teach them about saving money at the same time.
