Motivational Musings
This time of year, things tend to slow down. The days are shorter and colder, the school year is only halfway through… it can be hard to find motivation to do many things, much less practice. On top of that, all of this can deeply affect our mood as well, causing us to get down on ourselves a bit more. The same goes for our students.
I created this worksheet as a way for students to take a moment to reflect on their values, their goals, make broken down plans to work towards those goals, and overall give their motivation a little boost. I don’t know about you, but I find it much more manageable to write things out. Not only so that I don’t forget, but I tend to feel so much more intentional and connected to the thoughts I write out. As always, the goal is not to “feel better,” but rather to connect to a more grounded place to start the process.
Table of Contents:
What’s Included
How it Works
Closing
Link to PDF
What’s Included:
Motivational Musings Worksheet
“Quote Bank” (some of my favorite quotes your students are welcome to pick from related to patience with oneself and motivation)
How it Works:
“I’m proud that I…” this section is meant for your student to reflect on things they are proud of. This is a difficult concept for most of us to conjure up at times, especially if we are in a bit of a rut. Use this as an opportunity to express the importance of self-love in musical spaces, and empower your students to explore their musical selves from different perspectives.
“I want to work towards…” I’ve had plenty of students be so hard on themselves about things they “can’t” do, or being frustrated by the rate of their progress. Try encouraging your students to reframe those negative self-talks of “I can’t,” to what they are working towards. It’s always good to remind students that the process of working towards a goal is important, and all of us, teachers included, take time to grow.
“My plan is…” Telling students to be patient with themselves is all well and good, but it can certainly be supportive to break down the process into smaller steps in order to make the goals feel more attainable. When we can see the path, it’s easier to start on the journey. Use this section to make a plan on how they can work towards their goal for that week (or even just the day).
“Quote of the week…” The classic words of wisdom. Sometimes we need to hear those words from someone other than ourselves- maybe even other than our teacher. Again, it is all about looking at things from multiple perspectives. Use the quote bank, or search up some of your own quotes with your students, and see which one resonates the most with them in ways that will further nourish their motivation and self love.
Closing:
This is a tough time of year for so many- for many reasons. At the end of the day, music is a support, a lifeline, an outlet, a friend, a conduit for community and expression. When music begins to become a chore, empower your students- and maybe even yourself- to remember what music is to them. I hope this worksheet sparks meaningful conversations, for you and your students as you all continue to explore what your relationship with music means to you- throughout the highs and lows.
Link to PDF:
-Mikaila Vieyra, LPMT, MT-BC