I have a 9 year old student who cries about something during almost every lesson.  Yesterday, she was crying because she didn’t practice during the week.  Well, I have a hard time feeling sympathy for the girl when she doesn’t do what she’s supposed to do.  But…I can’t have sad kids in lessons or we won’t progress!  So, after telling her that it is her responsibility to practice, I had to figure out a way to make her happy again.  She’s a very silly girl (when she isn’t crying about something ridiculous) so I decided to try a silly tactic.

“Where did your smile go?  Did you leave it at the door?”

No response.

“Did you leave it in the hall?”

Corners of the mouth start to twitch.

“I wonder if it snuck under your piano bench.  Can you check?”

Muffled giggles as she looks under the piano bench.

“I think you found it!  Let me see!”

Smiles all around!  Now we’re ready to work!