Ever since you first picked up your stringed instrument and learned how to squeak out "Mary Had a Little Lamb," you've heard the word "Practice." But why? And how? Glad you asked.

Why should I practice?

"Practice makes perfect." Bull-hockey. Practice makes improvements, but that doesn't sound as cool. Honestly, practicing can be hard because you often don't see a lot of results in one practice session. It's consistent, focused practice that actually gets steady results. Hopefully, you're in high school orchestra at least in part because you want to get better at playing your stringed instrument. Well, practicing on a regular basis is what will get you moving in the right direction. You'll also realize that there is no pinnacle; there's always something new to learn and something to improve. That's why music is a lifelong interest for so many people.

How do I make myself practice more?

Generally, the two biggest obstacles to practicing are time and motivation.

1. Time. High school students are generally very busy, particularly the type of intelligent, active students that tend to participate in orchestra. Time management becomes a big issue: you have to make time to practice.

• Set Priorities. There's never enough time in a day to do everything you need and want to do. Is improving on your instrument important to you? Hopefully, it is.
• Set up a schedule for yourself. Make practicing a part of your daily routine. Orchestra has homework like any other class: practicing. Make it a part of your homework time. It's usually the most fun part of your homework, anyway.
• Set up expectations. "No excuses: 30 minutes every day." "No TV or video games until I've practiced." "If l can bow this passage correctly by the time I finish, I get a cookie."

Finding time to practice can be difficult, especially considering the number of activities and interests that pull you in one direction or another. If you only practice "when you have time," then it will rarely happen. Deliberately make it part of your routine. Remember, though, that it needs to be realistic, or you'll just end up frustrated.

2. Motivation. Sometimes it's hard just to get motivated to practice. When you're tired, not feeling well, busy, or would rather be doing other things, it's easy to just blow it off. That quickly becomes habit, and soon you're never practicing.

• Create a Practice Environment. Take your instrument home every day, even if you don't think you'll have time to practice. Make it part of your habit. Have a music stand set up in your room, reminding you to practice. Turn off the TV and radio, so that you're not distracted and more able to focus.
• Set Practice Goals. If you have something to work for, you're more likely to actually practice.
• Other Factors: Private lessons can be a great practice motivator. You have individual accountability when you know your instructor will hear you play by yourself each week. You will also get a greater variety of music, including some great solo repertoire. A higher quality instrument can also motivate you to practice more. A superior instrument makes you sound better, and you'll like listening to your improved sound on your "new toy." (Also, try naming your instrument based on its "personality")

***The key to practicing is making it part of your routine. Once practicing is a habit, you'll begin to see results in your playing.***

So now you should be able to set up a regular practice schedule for yourself. You've finally got some time alone, just you and your instrument. Now what do you do? Great question.

What should my practice session look like?

Don't just get out your instrument, play some music, goof off a little, then pack up. Maximize your practice time. You can divide your session into the following sections:

1. Scales. It's always a good idea to start off your practice session with a scale. Memorize your scale and fingerings, so you can focus on your posture, how you hold your bow and instrument, tone production, and intonation. When reading difficult music or rhythms, it's easy to ignore the basics. Scales give you that opportunity. Besides, music is based on scales, so the better you can play your scales, the better you'll be able to play music. You can also vary your scales with different bow styles (e.g. spiccato, martele).

2. Technique/ etudes. Etude literally means "study." It is a written exercise that focuses on improving a specific aspect of playing your instrument. It can be shifting, a certain bowing style, vibrato, or any number of other issues. Class technique books have some etudes and technical studies, but most will come from a private instructor. This time in your practice session can be used to deal with an issue you would like to improve in your own playing.

3. Repertoire. This is the entree of your practice meal. It can include any music you are currently working on: orchestra music or solo literature that you are learning. Don't waste time playing straight through all of your music, though. Plan your session so that you actually improve.

• Practice what's difficult. It's a lot more fun to play what we can already play well. It also makes you feel good about your playing. However, it doesn't help much. Spend your time working on what you can't play as well, even though it's sometimes more frustrating. If you keep working at it, you soon will be able to play it and feel even better about yourself. (HINT: mark your music by lightly putting brackets around the lines you need to work on. Then you won't waste time later trying to figure out which sections you need to practice)
• Practice with a plan. If you have difficulty getting through an entire passage, break it up into more manageable chunks. Once you can play them individually, put the section back together. If you have difficulty playing a fast passage, slow it down. Using a metronome, play it at a manageable tempo, go back, and try to play it slightly faster. Keep increasing the tempo until you start having trouble, then stop. Come back to it tomorrow, and you'll be able to get to a faster tempo. If you have difficulty with just one aspect of a section (e.g. bowing), isolate that problem. Fix it by itself, then put it back into context. Get creative in fixing spots.
• Keep it interesting and fun. When playing a passage repeatedly, try different rhythms and bowings to keep your brain interested. If you start to get frustrated with yourself (or the music), walk away. Come back to it later. You won't learn anything when you're upset. When you return to that section or issue, try approaching it with a different plan. If you know what and how to practice your repertoire, your practice will be much more beneficial.

4. Something Fun. End your practice session with something you enjoy. It can be playing by ear, writing your own music, playing with the radio, improvising, or playing some of your favorite tunes. This gives you something to look forward to and can often improve your playing, as well.

***"Practice smarter, not harder." It's a cliche, but it's true. If you've got an intelligent plan, you can get much more out of your practice session.***