3 Fun Ways to Motivate Music Students with Games

Keeping students engaged and motivated in music lessons can sometimes be a challenge, but games are a powerful way to make learning fun, interactive, and effective. When students are excited about what they’re doing, they’re more likely to retain information, practice consistently, and stay committed to learning their instrument.

Here are three ways to use games to encourage students, build their confidence, and make music theory something they actually look forward to!

1. Give Students Their Own Game to Keep

One of the most exciting ways to introduce games to students is by giving them their very own game to take home.

When onboarding a new student, consider including a music theory game as part of their lesson materials, just like you would with a method book or theory workbook.

For example:
🎵 Younger students might receive Keyboard Kittens—a fun, hands-on way to start learning keyboard geography.
🎵 Older students might receive a game that matches their level, giving them something engaging to work on outside of lessons.

Why this works:

• Students learn the game with their teacher in the first lesson, so they feel confident playing it at home.
• They get to share their learning with family—teaching their parents and siblings reinforces what they’ve learned.
• It sets the tone that games are an important and regular part of music lessons!

This small gesture can make a huge difference in how students view their music education—it’s something fun, exciting, and engaging from day one.

2. Let Students Check Out Games to Take Home

Another great way to keep students engaged is by letting them “check out” games to take home, just like they would borrow a book from a library.

When a student loves a game they played during their lesson, they have the option to take it home for the week to continue practicing and playing with their family.

Why this works:
✔ It keeps students excited about learning—if they love the game, they’ll want to play it again.
✔ It encourages extra practice—music theory becomes a fun part of their routine.
✔ It builds confidence—they get to be the teacher at home, reinforcing their knowledge by explaining concepts to family members.

This works especially well for competitive students who enjoy playing against family members and pushing themselves to get better. It also helps with student accountability, since they’ll return to their lesson already familiar with the game and ready to apply their knowledge.

And remember—music theory games count as practice time! Whether it’s a digital game or a printable game, students are still reviewing key concepts and strengthening their skills.

3. Host Monthly Music Game Days

For 2025, a new idea we’re implementing is hosting dedicated music game days—giving students a chance to practice and review music theory concepts in a social, hands-on setting.

Here’s how it will work:
🎶 All students—private lesson and group class students—can attend.
🎶 The studio will be set up with multiple game stations, each focusing on different music theory concepts.
🎶 We’ll have a mix of digital and printable games:

• Two large-screen TVs will display BOOM Decks for digital music theory games.
• Three printable game stations will allow students to interact with physical game materials.
  🎶 Students will rotate through five game stations over two hours, ensuring they get a variety of review opportunities.

Why this works:
✔ It makes theory social and interactive. Students learn best when they’re having fun with others!
✔ It provides structured review time. Repetition in different game formats reinforces learning.
✔ It helps students stay engaged. A classroom-style setting with rotating activities keeps energy levels high!

We’ll be sharing more about how these events go, but we’re excited to see how this new approach to review and engagement benefits students.

Making Music Theory Fun, Engaging, and Effective

Games aren’t just for filling time in lessons—they’re a valuable teaching tool that keeps students engaged, helps them retain concepts, and makes learning feel effortless.

💡 Whether it’s giving students their own game, letting them check out games, or hosting game days, these small changes can make a huge impact on motivation!

Do you use games in your music studio? Let us know your favorite ways to use them in the comments!