What to Practice

Mastery not Minutes

1. Prepare

   Empty your mind of any negativity toward practicing. Relax, practicing should not be stressful. Make your mindset “I get to play my instrument” because PLAYING is fun. Decide what you want to accomplish today. Set small, attainable goals (just a few measures are fine) and write them down in detail on your practice log in the appropriate box.

2. Warm-up

   Just like athletes, musicians need to stretch and warm up the muscles we use:

   •   Long Tones – Hold a note perfectly steady for at least 12+ seconds. Try for 5-12

        different notes. Rest in between for the same number of seconds you played.

   •   Lip Slurs or Pop-ups – Brass players switch from one note to a higher one using the

        same fingerings. Do not pause or use the tongue past the first note. Woodwinds

        switch notes using the same fingerings first without the register/octave key then

        “pop-up” by adding that key. Percussion switch from one note to the next higher one

        of the same letter name (Bb-Bb; C-C)

   •   Scales - Choose one, some, or all scales we learn in class.

   •   Thirds – Play a scale skipping every other note (up and down).

   •   Chromatic Scale – Advanced. Play as many notes as possible from your fingering

        chart in order (up and down).

   •   Sticking Exercises & Rudiments - Drums. Focus on your grip and an even sound.

3. Maintenance

   Maintain your skills by playing what we learned in class. Think of it as “review.”

4. Advancement

   Teach yourself new material or improve a part with which you struggle. It’s OK to sound bad. When it sounds good, put it in “Maintenance” next time. Let your brain focus on a few bits of information at a time. Play in small chunks of four measures or less. Go VERY SLOW and use this 5-Step Process.

1.   Clap and count the rhythm out loud.

2.   Using the 1st note of the section, play a “single note” version of the rhythm with lots of confidence.

3.   Learn the notes. Sing or say the letter names of every note while using the correct fingerings (or finding them on the bell set). Use your fingering chart to look up any you don’t know. Then play each note slowly for two counts. Keep your eyes on your music, not your instrument.

4.   Air play the notes and rhythm together until you’re confident you have it right. Sing it in your head.

5.   Play the section slowly three times. Make it better each time. Increase speed as needed.

   Your goal is progress, not perfection. If it still doesn’t sound good after step 5, repeat the process using smaller chunks (try two measures). Mistakes are part of the process. Everyone makes LOTS of them. If it sounds good today, move it to “Maintenance” tomorrow and start looking at the symbols around the notes. Tempo, dynamics, phrasing, breath marks, and articulation help the music come alive.

5. Improvise and/or play something YOU pick out just for fun!

   Make something up. Play any notes you want, any speed you want, any volume you want. Try to convey an emotion. Find some fun pieces that YOU really want to play: Movie themes, T.V. themes, famous melodies, and pop music are just a few ideas. Have fun!