Practice Information

Practicing at home, or learning/reinforcing the skills introduced in the classroom, is a requirement of band.

Parents, please make sure that your student is practicing at home at least 3-4 times a week; this is the minimum time needed to be prepared in the classroom (consider how long it may take to complete math homework and put that much time in on the instrument learning/reviewing the band music).

Practicing should include:

#1) A warm up of some sort (lip slurs, long tones, octave warmups, etc).

#2) Scale work (major scales, 1-121-exercise, arpeggio warmups, etc).

#3) Pick a spot that needs work in your band music and work on that isolated area....SLOW careful work is more beneficial than trying to play it up to tempo without success.

#4) Play though the band music up to tempo, including the spot that you worked on in step #3 to judge progress (make notes on what you still need to work on for your next practice session).

#5) Cool down- play some of your favorite tunes, longest held note contest, try learning a song by ear.

Practice Help from HHS: https://sites.google.com/a/student.hudson.k12.ma.us/caron/practice-tips

According to the Student/Parent Handbook, "students should expect homework in each course an average of 3 to 4 times per week for approximately 20 – 30 minutes per subject." The expectation is that students/parents will spend this time playing his/her instrument at home.

Mrs. Drapeau is available at least once a week after school for extra help sessions: Wednesday every week and Mondays by appointment.

Information about practicing for parents: http://www.nafme.org/wp-content/files/2015/08/Learning-to-Play-Tips-for-Parents-of-Elementary-Musicians.pdf

How to practice video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8GoKFRJXyk