Practice Guidelines for Students

It’s how you practice that counts:

Incorrect habits are sometimes more easily developed than correct habits.  All habits are difficult to change, so think when you practice.  Avoid simply going through the motions.  Remember, proficiency on your instrument comes through development of coordination, just like any athlete.  Patience is a virtue for the ambitious musician.

  1. Warm up correctly.  Each instrument should have a separate warm up for home practice that differs from the full band warm up.  Use a mirror (and tuner if available) and concentrate on tone quality and embouchure during the long tone warm ups.
  2. Set a goal for the practice session.  Don’t practice just to “pass the time” but don’t try to do too much in one sitting.
  3. Isolate a problem or a section in a piece of music.  It may be a rhythm, a measure, or a line of music.  Repeat it over and over many times - just like shooting baskets.  Practice it slowly at first, and then gradually build up the speed using a metronome.  Before you finish the practice session, play the difficult measures with the rest of the line or exercise.
  4. Correct repetition of a problem area reinforces muscle memory.
  5. In difficult technical passages, change the rhythms and articulations in the practice session to develop even, accurate, fluid technique.
  6. Practice involves learning and reinforcing areas that are difficult for the student.  Practice, therefore, is not always fun because you must play music that you have not yet mastered.  Try to end each practice session with something that is fun to play and that has already been mastered.
  7. Structure your practice session to get the most benefit out of your time.

Example of a Structured Practice Session:

Time    Material Practiced

10        Warm up and Daily Drill:  long tones, scales, arpeggios, lip slurs, etc. to work on tone, breath control, embouchure, technique, tonguing, etc.

10        New Material and assignments:  All Region Etudes, band music, solo, etc. to develop new technique, increase range, and extend abilities.

10        Previous and continuing material:  Improvement of finger dexterity, tonguing, tone, musicality, etc.

5          Personal music choices for enjoyment at the end of practice.

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35        Total Practice Time

The practice sessions will vary depending on assignments and time constraints. The more consistent you are with practice time, structure, and climate, the better your results will be. Efficient use of time is important in your busy schedule!