Practice Tips!

Practice slowly, learn quickly. Practice quickly, learn slowly.

1. Do not expect your child to practice on their own without being reminded! This is completely normal! Even my mom had to tell me when to practice and I often resisted practicing! If you don't have to tell your child to practice, you are very lucky!!

2. Schedule a consistent practice time. This helps keep your child accountable!

3. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Keep your young musician from stopping early!

4. Start with the hard parts! Never start from the beginning of a song. Towards the end of their 20 minutes, they can start to play through the whole song. Repeat these small, tricky measures over and over starting slowly and gradually increasing tempo. Don't practice until you play it right. Practice until you can't get it wrong!!

5. They should always be able to say they are better at something by the time they are done practicing. Even it they are only better at one measure or even one note, they improved!

6. Lastly, practice does not make perfect. Practice makes progress.

How to Practice Tough Music:

1. Set a Goal

Always approach a practice session with a goal in mind. It can be anything from "I will play measure #1-8 with no mistakes" to "I will hold my bow correctly the whole time." Focus on your goal and work to accomplish it as you practice. Don't settle for less than your best!

2. Remember the 5 Steps to Success!

1. Establish a tempo and steady beat

2. Clap and say the rhythm out loud

3. Clap and say the note names

4. Say the note names and pluck the notes

5. Play the music

3. Break it down

Instead of plowing through a whole piece of music and calling it a day, it is WAY better to focus intensely on a very small section of the music that is difficult for you. Spend your time on the parts you need the most work on. When you are playing, what is the hardest part for you? Focus on that part of the music and SLOWLY go through the 5 steps to success. Try this 5 times slowly. Once you can do that, move on to playing it 5 times at the normal speed. Then, move on. Go to the next part, or play something you know you can do well that makes you happy.

4. Take a short break

Sometimes, practicing can be frustrating. It helps to take a short 5 minute break, drink some water, lie down, and then come back to it! Always try to approach your practicing with a fresh mind!

5. A few minutes is better than nothing

We all have days that become very busy with sports, homework, family events and all kinds of activities. Even if you only have 5 minutes to practice, those are still valuable minutes that can help you become a better player! Consistency is so important. If you practice really hard one day but don't practice again for a few days, you will forget everything you learned. That's why it's so crucial to practice every day. So, even if you only have 5 minutes, pick up your instrument and do your very best to make them count!

6. Helpful resources

Listen to your music. If you are feeling confused, one of the best things to do is listen to a recording of the music that you are playing. You can go the Essential Elements Website to listen to your assignment and listen to recordings of your orchestra music that I have provided on the 4th and 5th Grade Orchestra pages.

Use a metronome. If you are having trouble with your rhythms, turn on the metronome to a slower tempo and start saying your rhythms out loud, then move it to your instrument. Don't have a metronome? Click HERE.

Practicing Guidelines

How much to practice: To make the most progress and have the most success, students should be practicing 20-30 minutes each day. It helps to make practicing part of a daily routine by finding a set time that your child will practice every day.

Practice space: Find a place at home where your child won't be distracted by the tv, electronics, or siblings to practice in. Every student must use a music stand to help develop proper posture. Cellists, violins, and violas may sit in a chair to practice, but not on the sofa or on a bed. Posture is so important because slouching causes bad sound and can even lead to injury.

Practice sheets: Every day, students are required to fill in the amount of minutes they practiced on the practice sheet. At the end of the week, they must have a parent sign their sheet. On the day of their lesson, students must bring the practice sheet to school. I will be reviewing practice sheets and occasionally writing comments about student progress for parents to see. In the event of a lost practice sheet, you may print another sheet out HERE. Or, use a blank piece of paper to record the minutes.

Encouragement: Be sure to offer praise and encouragement to your child. They have decided to challenge themselves and do something extra in addition to their academics, which is not something everyone does! Sometimes they need gentle reminders to practice. Practicing can be like pulling teeth if approached with a negative attitude. You can motivate them by showing interest in what they are doing. Ask them to play some of their music for you, or show you how the instrument works. Try to help your child view practicing as a positive activity.

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