Do you have a student who loves to rush through pieces, plays too fast, skips notes, and zooms right past mistakes? You’re definitely not alone!
Hi, I’m Isabelle from Muso, and I’ve got a fun little trick that might just help—we call it the “Freeze and Check” game! ❄️👀
🎯 What's the “Freeze and Check” Game?
It’s a playful, interactive way to get students to slow down, focus, and actually read the notes in front of them. Here’s how it works:
✅ Step 1: Play as normal… until you yell “Freeze!”
Let’s say your student is working on something like Junior Hanon. Let them start playing, then call out “Freeze!” at random.
Ask them:
👉 “Where are you on the music score right now?”
👉 “What note did you just play?”
👉 “What’s coming next?”
It keeps them on their toes and helps them build awareness of what they’re playing while they’re playing!
✅ Step 2: Level It Up with the “Teddy Game” 🧸
Now, let’s make it even more fun—especially for younger kids!
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Pick a bar or short section they keep rushing or making mistakes on.
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Tell them every time they play that bar correctly, they help a teddy bear cross a river. 🌉
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If they play it wrong, the teddy stays stuck!
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The challenge is to get three teddies across—by playing the bar correctly three times in a row.
This turns focus and accuracy into a fun mission rather than a chore!
💡 Why It Works
Kids love games, and learning through play is super effective—especially in music! With a game like this, they’re not just fixing mistakes, they’re building habits of checking the music, reading carefully, and playing more mindfully.
🎵 Got more tricky students? Or your own teaching tip to share? Join the conversation in our Facebook group! And don’t forget to check out our Muso Flash Cards to build note-reading skills the fun way.