#111 New 100-Day IRISH themed Practicing Challenge to Inspire Your Young Musician

By Christy | Practicing Pro

www.ScotiaSuzuki.org

As a music teacher and the owner of a big music school, I've seen firsthand the struggles that students and parents face when it comes to consistent, effective practicing. Whether finding the time, creating a routine, or keeping practice sessions engaging, the required daily practice for music lessons can sometimes feel more like a chore than a joy. 

That's why I'm so excited to share a new 100-day practicing challenge I've created - one designed to make practicing fun, rewarding, and achievable for any family and musicians of all levels.

I remember first hearing about the famous “100-day challenge” concept. It was long ago, and I read about a young girl who, while on a family vacation road trip, took out her violin and played at the side of the road in the beautiful countryside to make sure she didn’t miss a day of practice. This story profoundly affected me, as I, too, grew up as a musician, juggling various activities and entrepreneurial pursuits. I remember the desire to practice but also the struggle to find the right routine and motivation.

I have another story that highlights the power of a practicing challenge. It's about a young boy who was visiting family during a snowstorm. Even though the parents wanted him to stay the night, the boy was determined to practice his violin because he was in the middle of a 30-day challenge with his teacher. The problem was - they didn’t have his violin with them. His dad went out in the snow and whittled a makeshift bow so the boy could practice right then and there. It was such a sweet moment of problem-solving and bonding over a shared commitment to music. They were so excited and proud to tell me all about it the next lesson!

As I've grown into a music educator, I've seen how powerful tools like practicing charts and challenges can be. They not only help students stay on track, but they also make the process more enjoyable and rewarding. That's why I've created a unique 100-day challenge that can be tailored to fit the needs and schedules of any family.

In fact, this latest 100-day challenge was inspired by an upcoming trip I'm taking with a group of four talented teenage musicians. We've been working hard over the past six months to learn 60 traditional Irish tunes, and we'll be and Irish sessions, immersing ourselves in the musical culture of Cork, Ireland when we visit. I wanted to create a challenge that would get my Halifax students in our school - and the broader Practicing Pro community - excited about their daily practice in honor of this incredible experience.

The great thing about this challenge is that it's flexible enough to work for both the highly organized families and the more spontaneous ones. If you're the type of family that thrives on routine, you can aim to complete the 100 days consecutively. But if you are working on figuring out how to practice daily or your  schedule is a bit more free-flowing where never missing a day of practicing  is feeling unrealistic, you can work within a set timeframe, like from March 1st to the end of the summer.

The challenge is also designed with different levels, so students who are new to the 100-day concept can start with just a section or two, building up their practice stamina over time. And for those students who are seasoned pros, they can do each segment or the whole thing “with out missing a day”. There are opportunities to really push themselves and what ever challenge you choose you can earn some fun rewards along the way.

Speaking of rewards, I'm a big believer in celebrating progress and making the practicing process as fun as possible. That's why I've incorporated fun worksheet activities and award  tokens that students can earn and display as they work their way through the challenge. And the grand reward at the end? Well, that's up to you and your child to decide - whether it's a special outing, a new piece of music gear, or my favourite: quality time together like going to the movies, a games night with pizza, a trip to a favourite museum or park etc…

In fact, I've seen firsthand how powerful these types of rewards can be. One of my students practiced 100 days in a row and loved it so much he extended it 4 more times to an incredible 500 days in a row, each time  to earn an additional special Lego Harry Potter set that he and  his parents had agreed in at the end of each 100 days in a row. The sense of accomplishment and pride he felt was truly inspiring and the parents made celebrating their accomplishment a priority. 

I'm so excited to be sharing this NEW 100-day challenge with my own students, as well as the broader Practicing Pro community. It's a labor of love, inspired by our trip together to Ireland which I’ll share with you all along the way some of the highlights as well/ 

So if you're a parent or teacher looking to breathe new life into your student's practicing routine, I encourage you to give this challenge a try. It just might be the spark of inspiration they need to fall in love with their instrument all over again.

FREE PDF

100-DAY IRISH QUEST ACTIVITY FORM HERE

The challenge will be free for a limited time. After that it will be for sale in the Practicing Pro store along with the previous 100 day challenge, the “African practicing activity“, the Lev - up you’re practicing”  mini course, the signature Practicing  pro academy course and others.

GRAB MY FREE CHECKLIST

Check out my Free PDF download Checklist for a Successful Music Practice for teachers and practicing parents.

Your easy checklist for successful home music practices from Christy, the practicing pro. Whether you are a new or seasoned practice parent or music teacher, this checklist will help you organize before, during, and after practices for effective and fun practices.

INVITATION from Christy Hodder:

DIGITAL COURSE from the Practicing Pro Academy  

Speaking of amazing practices, let me tell you all about the digital course, the Practicing Pro Academy. This is for the serious practicing parents and music teachers and is an at-your-own-pace, step-by-step, online course to bring you more effective, positive, and fun home music practices. Registrants receive a special package in the mail from me, and I am with you in person with Q&As to answer all your questions.

Learn more about PPA and join the waitlist HERE for the next Practicing Pro Academy course. It's only offered once a year so you don't want to miss it. The registration will only open for a few weeks and I'll let everyone on the waitlist know immediately so that you can grab one of the spots.

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