Practicing Guide

P – Prepare: Plan what you are going to work on during your practice session and what you want to acheive. When you have your plan in place, make sure you warm up before you start. You should warm up both your body and your instrument, similar to a warm up before any physical activity.Stretching, breathing exercises, scales, or playing warm up selections in your band book are great ways to warm up for your practice session. 

R – Routine: Devleoping a regular practice routine that works for you and remaining consisitent, will help you achieve your goals. Try setting aside a day and time in your weekly schedule to dedicate to practicing your instrument. This way, you can't say you are too busy because you already have the time set aside! 

A – Atmosphere: Choosing where to practice is equally as important as what to practice. Try to find a place where you can concentrate without distractions when possible. If you are consistent with your practicing atmosphere it can become part of your routine. If you are able to practice at home, your bedroom may be a good practicing location. Practicing outside when the weather is appropriate can also be an enjoyable and calming experience. If you are unable to practice at home, let your teacher know and they may be able to arrange for some individual practice time at school. 

C – Condense: Break your practicing down into small manageable chunks. Decide on one skill or concept to focus on, or work on one short musical phrase at a time. This will help you focus and achieve better results faster. Practicing more often in shorter amounts of time can also help with your focus and concentration. Even short practice sessions of 10-15 minutes can be productive!

T – Take Your Time: Patience is key when learning to play an instrument. It is not a race! You are learning so many new things at once and they all take time to develop. When you are practicing, playing at a slower tempo will help your brain process information and better develop your playing technique. Do not get discouraged if you cannot do something right away. Keep trying, and ask your teacher for guidance. 

I – Identify Issues: Pay attention as you play and identify any issues that may come up along the way. These could be areas to work on during your next practice session, or maintenance issues with your isntrument that you may need to address. You can use resources on this website to help address some issues on your own, or ask your teacher as needed.

C – Connect (Value & Transfer™) Using your previous knowledge and applying it to new situations is an important part of your individual practice. Extending the use what you have learned in band class class in new and creative ways during your practice session will help you become a leader in your own learning. You are in charge of your learning and the options are endless. Be brave, take risks, make mistakes and learn from them. Embracing exploration, curiosity and creativity during your practice sessions equals more fun AND more learning along the way!

E – Evaluate: After each practice session, take a moment to reflect on what went well, what you still need to work on, and set goals for the next time you practice. Celebrate your achievements and be proud of your progress. Remember that taking the time to practice can be an achievement in itself!