Making Practice Social: Group Assignments, Leaderboards, and Challenges

One of the greatest motivators for young musicians isn’t just mastering a new piece, it’s sharing that journey with others. Practice Space helps music teachers go beyond one-on-one lessons by making practice social, fun, and collaborative. In this post, we’ll show you how to create community in your studio using three powerful Practice Space features: Group Assignments, Leaderboards, and Practice Challenges.

1. Group Assignments: Share the Joy of Learning

With Group Assignments, you can assign the same piece or activity to an entire ensemble, level, or any assigned studio group in just a few clicks.

Why it works:

• - Encourages group accountability: everyone works on the same goals.

• - Saves time: assign once, and it shows up for all students.

• - Sparks conversation: students recognize shared assignments and talk about them in lessons, at school, or at home.

How to use it:

• - Create a studio group (like “Intro to Guitar” or “Violin Ensemble”).

• - Select the group you want to create a lesson for, then add assignments to the lesson.

• - Track each student’s progress individually, even though they’re working from the same material.

2. Leaderboards: Turn Practice into a Friendly Competition

The leaderboard showcases who’s been practicing the most each week. It is a huge motivator, especially for younger students!

Why it’s powerful:

• - Students are excited to see their name climb the rankings.

• - Promotes consistent practice, not just cramming before lessons.

• - Builds friendly competition that drive engagement.

How to use it:

• - Leaderboards are generated automatically based on the practice points earned each week.

• - You can change the amount of gems the students earn for occupying the top three spots on the leaderboard.

• - Celebrate top students in your lessons or newsletters to reinforce positive habits.

3. Practice Challenges: Create Events Students Talk About

Challenges are time or goal oriented practice events that give students something special to aim for. Whether it’s a “4-Day Practice Sprint” or a “Holiday Practice Challenge,” they drive momentum and engagement.

Why it’s powerful:

• Offers a clear goal and deadline.

• Adds a layer of excitement and urgency.

• You can offer rewards like gems, trophies, or studio-specific prizes.

How to use it:

• Start a new Challenge in your Teacher Dashboard.

• Choose the type (practice, video, or custom), select a group, and set dates.

• Let Practice Space handle tracking. All you need to do is cheer them on!

Community Fuels Consistency

When students feel like they’re practicing with others, not just for their teacher, they’re more likely to stay consistent. These social features are easy to set up and bring a whole new dimension to your studio.

Start with one feature this week, maybe a simple group assignment or a leaderboard, and see how your students respond. Over time, you’ll build a vibrant community of learners who motivate each other to grow.

Want to try it yourself?
Log in to your Practice Space Teacher Dashboard and explore today. Not a subscriber yet? Join now and bring your studio to life.