Practicing Tips

Helpful Ways to Practice

In order for students to be successful in band, they should be practicing at home at least 5 days per week.  You have probably heard the typical saying, “Practice makes perfect.” However, I believe that practicing the right way and with consistency allows the most positive outcome.  So, my saying is, “Perfect practice makes perfect.”

The following is a list of guidelines that students can follow to ensure that they are getting the most out of each practice session: 

• Count all rhythms. 

• Clap all rhythms.

• Name notes and do the proper fingering of each note as you go along. 

• Do the fingerings/positions in the proper rhythm.

• Sizzle the piece (you should still be doing fingerings/positions in the proper rhythm).

• Play each individual measure and then begin to combine measures two at a time.

• Look for all important markings (dynamics, style, tonguing, slurring, etc.).

• Continue to put measures and sections together until you can play the entire piece.

Another important key to successful practicing is to make sure that students are in a quiet/secluded room with a chair, music stand, and metronome/tuner while they practice.  Perfect practice can only be done when they can truly focus on the task at hand! 

**Parents: the more you encourage your child to practice, the more habitual their practice efforts will become.  Show them that you are interested in their progress and listen to their end results once a week if possible.