It's tempting for teachers to reward students with candy or small prizes in exchange for practicing.
It's a motivation tactic that goes back decades.
But underneath, there is a subtle message being sent.
That this activity of learning music, this life-changing ability that will change kids' lives forever, it's all worth...a piece of candy or a toy once a week.
It's a form of payment, really. And what happens when you take the candy away? Or when students outgrow candy and toys, demanding larger rewards?
It's a nowhere road.
In our quest to teach kids about internal rewards, we can use external rewards that represent and celebrate the achievement. Stickers, practice challenge charts, that kind of thing.
But when we reward practicing with candy, toys, and other bribery...it pretty much feels like paying off the mob...