Tips For Practicing

 

Practicing is the most important thing you can do in band to improve.  Spending time developing new skills will set the groundwork for success on your instrument into the future.  Here are some things you want to think about when practicing...

 

Time - It takes time and repetition to master new skills.  You are also dealing with muscle development, so cramming all your practice into one day will not be beneficial to you.  Once regular lessons begin we stress that students practice 4-5 times per week to see improvement. 

 

Quality practice - Only perfect practice makes perfect.  If students let themselves do things incorrectly while they practice, those things will become habits.  Make sure you are doing things correctly while you practice.  Practice time does not include putting the instrument together/taking it apart, bathroom breaks, or seeing what kind of interesting sounds you can produce.  To see improvement practice needs to be focused on the concepts and skills assigned in the homework assignments.

 

Break things down - While practicing homework lines I always encourage the students to take the music in small managable sections that they can master and then reassemble to create the entire line. 

      Practice 1-2 measures at a time

      Clap the rhythm of the measure so you know how long each note should be

      Say the names of the notes in the measure in time

      Finger the notes on your instrument in time

      Play the measure with the correct articulation (tonguing)

      Do these steps with the next small section and then work to put them together

 

Remember your posture - Always make sure you are sitting up straight or standing while practicing.  This will keep your mid-section from being squished and allow you to breathe properly.  Using a music stand helps tremendously with this!

 

Make sure it sounds right - Use the CD included with your book or look up the songs online.  Make sure what you are playing is the same as what you hear.  This will let you know if you are playing a wrong note or not making the right sound on your instrument.

 

Remember that playing your instrument is fun, but practicing is hard work.  Nothing worth doing is always easy! :)