Practice Games

Visit here for multiple ideas to practice your instrument! Practice Games from the Suzuki Association of Americas

The Penny* Game

1.       Have four pennies on the left side of your stand

2.       Pick a section of the music you’d like to practice and set a goal**.  For example, it may be playing all the notes in measure 3 in tune.

3.       Play through measure three once listening to see if you played all the notes in tune.  (You may also use a practice buddy who can assist you if you are unsure.)

4.       If you played all the notes in measure three in tune, move one penny to the right side of the stand.  If not, you must play measure three in tune before you get to move a penny.

5.       Play measure three again.  If you play it correctly, move a second penny to the right side of the stand.

6.       Play measure three again.  If you play it tune again, move the third penny to the right side of the stand. HOWEVER, if you played measure three out of tune, you DO NOT get to move a penny across the stand AND you must move all pennies back that you did earn to the left and start all over again!!!

7.       Your goal is to be able to move all four pennies across the stand in a row!

*You may also play this game with M&M’s and eat them if you are able to move all four across the stand.  Don’t eat any until you have moved all four are on the right side.  Or you can use baby carrots if you want a healthier choice.

**A practice goal can include playing the notes in tune, playing the rhythm correctly, playing with the correct bowing, playing with the correct articulation, or any combination of these ideas.  It could be for only one measure, two measures, an entire line of music.  The idea is to have small goals so you can really concentrate on the skill you are trying to improve.