“Mastery, not minutes.”

1. Prepare

Empty your mind of any negativity toward practicing. Relax, practicing should not be stressful. Remember, Playing your instrument is fun! Think “I get to play my instrument” rather than “I have to practice.” Decide what you want to accomplish for this session. Set small, attainable goals, even just a few measures is fine, and write them down on your practice log. Be specific!!

2. Warm-up

Athletes stretch to warm up their muscles and prevent injury. Musicians do the same using different muscles. Here are some good warm-ups:

• Long Tones - Hold each note in a scale for 12+ seconds. Keep your tone steady. Rest between each note as long as you play the previous note.

• Scale(s) - Use the “All-State” pattern. Play a different scale each day.

• Lip Slurs - Brass and percussion players.

• Chromatic Scale - Woodwind and percussion players.

• Rudiments - Snare drum players.

• Rest for about 5 minutes before going to the “maintenance” step.

3. Maintenance

To maintain your skill, briefly play through some things you taught yourself yesterday or previously learned in class.

4. Advancement

Teach yourself new material. It’s OK to sound bad at first. If you sound great, it should be in the “Maintenance” section. Because you can only process a few bits of new information at a time, larger pieces of music should be learned in smaller chunks. Do no more than four measures at a time, GO REALLY SLOW, and use this 5-Step Process.

1. Clap and count the rhythm out loud.

2. Using the first note of the passage you are working on, play a “single-note” version while counting the rhythm in your head.

3. Say the letter name of every in your head while you play each note for two counts.

Use your fingering chart to look up any notes you don’t know.

4. Air play. Try to count the rhythm in your head.

5. Play the music. Do this step three times.

Your goal is progress, not perfection. If no progress is made after step 5, divide the section into a smaller chunks (try two measures). Make progress, even if it is just two notes. Mistakes are a part of the process. Everyone makes LOTS of them. When all the notes and rhythms come easily, start looking at the symbols around the notes. Tempo, dynamic markings, 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. Have fun!

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.