Practice Expectations

Every student in the PHMS Orchestra program is expected to practice every day. This means that violin and viola students will need to take their instruments to and from school each day. Cello and bass students need a home instrument to practice on.  

The amount of time each student practices will depend on their personal musical goals. Students that wish to be in, for example, advanced orchestras, leaderships chairs, continue music in high school and/or college, will need to practice more than others. 

Ways to Help Your Student

• Make practice time a part of your student's daily routine. Ex: At these times every day is practice time. 

• Students need to have an agenda. Why are they practicing? They need a goal. Ex: I am working on intonation (playing in tune) in this passage.

• Playing is not the same as practicing... they should be working on small sections and perfecting them instead of playing through the entire piece.

• Violin and viola students need to practice standing up, not sitting.

• Students should not be sitting on the sofa on the bed while practicing.             

• All students should be using a music stand while practicing.

• Encourage your student to practice in front of a mirror to assess their technique.

• If students sound good practicing, they are not practicing... They should sound good at the end of their practice session.

• Video record your student practicing to allow themselves to hear and see their playing from an audience perspective.

• Efficient practice for a smaller amount of time every day will help students get better faster, as opposed to practicing for a longer time one day of the week.

• Every student should be practicing with a metronome at home.

• Students should practice in a quiet place without distractions.