30 AND 40 PIECE

CHALLENGE
Dear Music Teaching Friend,

Thank you for downloading the 30 and 40 Piece Challenge charts from ComposeCreate.com. I hope you are as excited as I am
about your students learning new pieces, being exposed to new styles, improving their reading abilities, and making progress,
because those are the things we see happen when you challenge your students in this way!

I want to give full credit for this amazing incentive idea to Elissa Milne, and Australian composer and piano pedagogy. Her thought-
provoking blog should definitely be on your reading list and can be found here: https://elissamilne.wordpress.com/ The creation of
these charts is done with her blessing!

How to implement:
For further reading on how implement this program, see these blog posts on both Elissa’s and the ComposeCreate website:

https://elissamilne.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/the-hal-leonard-australia-40-piece-challenge-2013-suggestions-for-getting-started/

https://elissamilne.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/where-did-the-40-piece-challenge-begin/

http://www.composecreate.com/take-the-30-piece-challenge/

http://www.composecreate.com/30-piece-challenge-new-charts-cards-and-checklists/

Above all, remember that this challenge exists to help students learn more styles of music and more music in general. Therefore, it is
imperative that you give them not only challenging music, and music at their level, but also music below their level so that they can
learn it well and quickly and get that sense of accomplishment and progression.

Reward suggestions:
Of course, being able to play a large volume of music in different styles in a beautiful way is the
best reward. But students do not always notice how good this makes them feel in the moment. So, do not hesitate to also consider
giving them “in the moment” external rewards so that eventually, they will arrive at the place where playing beautiful music IS the
reward. It will come, I assure you, but here are some effective suggested incentives in the interim:
• 10 pieces - a sweet treat (candy bar, ice cream cone coupon, etc.)
• 20 pieces - erasable gel pens (the best ones are made by Pilot Friction and are wonderful tool for
students to use at home while they are practicing. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!)
• 30 or 40 pieces - a $5 or $10 gift card to Target or Amazon or some other popular shopping
destination. Some teachers also love to give trophies or ribbons out to those that have reached the
goal, and the public recognition is very valuable in motivating others.

How to use the charts:

Here are the charts in the order they appear in this document:

1. The Grid - Write students names on this chart and display in a prominent place in your studio. When students have polished a
piece, they can place an X or a sticker in the boxes.

2. The Student Chart - These can be placed in students notebooks. When a piece is introduced, they write it down on this chart and
then place an X in the box to the right of each name when it is polished and complete.

3. The Stamp Card - This is an optional card you might choose to use if you have contacted local business and they have agreed to
reward your students with something special (like an ice cream cone or cup of coffee) if they bring in their stamped card. When a
student polishes a piece, simply rubber stamp the corresponding number on their card.

What is the different between the 30 and 40 piece challenge?

Nothing except for the number of pieces. Elissa Milne started this as a 40 piece challenge, but I
have adapted it for U.S. teachers to be 30 pieces because of the shorter school year. Choose whatever works best for you!

Happy Teaching!

Sincerely,

Wendy Stevens, M.M., NCTM

www.ComposeCreate.com

Please note: For the red charts, there are only 30 piece challenge charts.
 NAME 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
Remember: End Date: 1. Music must be at least 16 mm. long.
PRACTICE SMARTER, 2. Music may be of all kinds of levels and styles!
NOT LONGER! 3. Music must be learned properly and above all, MUSICALLY!
 30 PIECE 30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 1 6 11 16 21 26

2 7 12 17 22 27 2 7 12 17 22 27

3 8 13 18 23 28 3 8 13 18 23 28

4 9 14 19 24 29 4 9 14 19 24 29

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30

30 PIECE 30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 1 6 11 16 21 26

2 7 12 17 22 27 2 7 12 17 22 27

3 8 13 18 23 28 3 8 13 18 23 28

4 9 14 19 24 29 4 9 14 19 24 29

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30
 Congratulations
has completed the 30 piece challenge!

Teacher Date

30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
© 2016 by Compose Create LLC
NAME 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
1. 21.
2. 22.
3. 23.
4. 24.
5. 25.
6. 26.
7. 27.
8. 28.
9. 29.
10. 30.
11. 31.
12. 32.
13. 33.
14. 34.
15. 35.
16. 36.
17. 37.
18. 38.
19. 39.
20. 40.

40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
Remember: End Date:
1. Music must be at least 16 bars long.
PRACTICE SMARTER, 2. Music may be of all kinds of levels and styles!
NOT LONGER! 3. Music must be learned properly and above all, MUSICALLY!
 40 PIECE 40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36

2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37 2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37

3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38 3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38

4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39 4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

40 PIECE 40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36

2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37 2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37

3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38 3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38

4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39 4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
 Congratulations
has completed the 40 piece challenge!

Teacher Date

40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
© 2016 by Compose Create LLC
 NAME 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

30 PIECE!
CHALLENGE
Remember: End Date: 1. Music must be at least 16 mm. long.
PRACTICE WISER, 2. Music may be of all kinds of levels and styles!
3. Music must be learned properly and above all, MUSICALLY!
NOT LONGER!
 30 PIECE 30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE WISER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE WISER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 1 6 11 16 21 26

2 7 12 17 22 27 2 7 12 17 22 27

3 8 13 18 23 28 3 8 13 18 23 28

4 9 14 19 24 29 4 9 14 19 24 29

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30

30 PIECE 30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE WISER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE WISER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 1 6 11 16 21 26

2 7 12 17 22 27 2 7 12 17 22 27

3 8 13 18 23 28 3 8 13 18 23 28

4 9 14 19 24 29 4 9 14 19 24 29

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30
 Congratulations
has completed the 30 piece challenge!

Teacher Date

30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
© 2016 by Compose Create LLC
NAME 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
1. 21.
2. 22.
3. 23.
4. 24.
5. 25.
6. 26.
7. 27.
8. 28.
9. 29.
10. 30.
11. 31.
12. 32.
13. 33.
14. 34.
15. 35.
16. 36.
17. 37.
18. 38.
19. 39.
20. 40.

40 PIECE!
CHALLENGE
Remember: End Date:
1. Music must be at least 16 bars long.
PRACTICE SMARTER, 2. Music may be of all kinds of levels and styles!
NOT LONGER! 3. Music must be learned properly and above all, MUSICALLY!
 40 PIECE 40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36

2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37 2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37

3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38 3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38

4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39 4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

40 PIECE 40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36

2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37 2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37

3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38 3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38

4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39 4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
 Congratulations
has completed the 40 piece challenge!

Teacher Date

40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
© 2016 by Compose Create LLC
 NAME 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15
16.
17.
18.
19.
20
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
Remember: End Date: 1. Music must be at least 8 mm. long (16 if you have taken piano long)
PRACTICE WISER, 2. Music may be of all kinds of levels and styles!

NOT LONGER! 3. Music must be learned properly and above all, MUSICALLY!
 30 PIECE 30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE WISER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE WISER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 1 6 11 16 21 26

2 7 12 17 22 27 2 7 12 17 22 27

3 8 13 18 23 28 3 8 13 18 23 28

4 9 14 19 24 29 4 9 14 19 24 29

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30

30 PIECE 30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE WISER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE WISER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 1 6 11 16 21 26

2 7 12 17 22 27 2 7 12 17 22 27

3 8 13 18 23 28 3 8 13 18 23 28

4 9 14 19 24 29 4 9 14 19 24 29

5 10 15 20 25 30 5 10 15 20 25 30
 Congratulations
has completed the 30 piece challenge!

Teacher Date

30 PIECE
CHALLENGE
© 2016 by Compose Create LLC
NAME 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
1. 21.
2. 22.
3. 23.
4. 24.
5. 25.
6. 26.
7. 27.
8. 28.
9. 29.
10. 30.
11. 31.
12. 32.
13. 33.
14. 34.
15. 35.
16. 36.
17. 37.
18. 38.
19. 39.
20. 40.

40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
Remember: End Date: 1. Music must be at least 16 bars long.
PRACTICE SMARTER, 2. Music may be of all kinds of levels and styles!
NOT LONGER! 3. Music must be learned properly and above all, MUSICALLY!
 40 PIECE 40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36

2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37 2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37

3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38 3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38

4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39 4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

40 PIECE 40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!
CHALLENGE
PRACTICE SMARTER, NOT LONGER!

1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36 1 6 11 16 21 26 31 36

2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37 2 7 12 17 22 27 32 37

3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38 3 8 13 18 23 28 33 38

4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39 4 9 14 19 24 29 34 39

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
 Congratulations
has completed the 40 piece challenge!

Teacher Date

40 PIECE
CHALLENGE
© 2016 by Compose Create LLC