Resources for Practicing

If I told you that you could learn your instrument in a year just by playing in class twice a week...well, that would be a lie. Even when learning the basics of an instrument, it is important that you work on it everyday. Will it be tough, yes, even professionals lack motivation at times. Is it rewarding, absolutely! Below some tips and tools to use:

1. Set up a space where you are not distracted...(also a dedicated time).

2. Work on content we have worked on in class.

3. Do a warm-up to make sure you get a good and steady tone.

4. Start slow to make sure you play accurately.

5. If you are struggling, break the song/passage up into chunks and build up those chunks until you can play the whole song/passage.

6. If you still do not know note names, write them in, but push yourself to leave one note name unwritten or erase when you have it memorized.

7. When you are accurate and comfortable playing your music, increase the speed until it is at performance speed. Make sure you can play it at that speed at least five times without making mistakes.

8. Play something you enjoy playing either at the end of your daily practice or once a week as a reward for practicing daily.