Jack Gaffney, Nederland. When I was a young piano student, getting me to practice was like trying to tame a hurricane. I loved the instrument, but I really struggled to focus. 

It became such a challenge that my mom would set a row of gummy bears on our piano. I could only eat one after I played through a song well. If I rushed through the song I wouldn’t be rewarded. It’s humorous now, but at the time it helped me understand that the goal wasn’t simply to finish my songs as fast as I could. The goal was to play the songs beautifully. The difference is massive. But that’s not easy for a rambunctious 8-year-old.

Initially, these gummy bears motivated me extrinsically—that is, I simply cared about the reward. But over time, I began to think more about how I played. Practice was no longer just a task on the to-do list. Quality mattered, because gummy bears mattered. Over time, the candy rewards fostered expressiveness in my playing. Eventually, I didn’t need sugar to feel accomplished. Playing a song with emotion is what I cared about. My motivation had begun to come from within.

There was something else that sparked my creative development. That is the enthusiasm of my teachers. When I played a piece with artistry, they were very excited. They also shared music they were proud of, things they had written or were preparing to perform. I saw their love of music, and they shared that passion with me.

How do you teach a young student to care about the quality of their work? You can’t force it. The goal is to nourish intrinsic motivation. Show them what inspires you because it will inspire them. Show them crazy music videos, make up a song together about their favorite animal and express your enthusiasm about music. Even if you’re a parent and not a teacher, you can inspire by showing how much you love their playing. This applies to anything passion-related of course, not just music.

Extrinsic motivation works too. Never underestimate the power of candy and stickers! When the student sees how much others care about music, they will develop that passion for themselves. Always remember that inspiration is contagious. 

Jack Gaffney is a composer, singer-songwriter, pianist, music teacher and abstract artist based in Nederland, Colorado. For more information on this local musician and teacher go to JackGaffney.com.

(Originally published in the January 28, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)