What does your practice routine look like?

Here are the important musical concepts that should be a part of your focus (in no specific order):

A metronome should be used the entire time!  Start slow and build up.

Metronome Link

Tuner Link

• Tone/Embouchure work

• Note identification/accuracy

• Fingering accuracy

• Rhythmic accuracy

• Intonation

• Articulation

• Dynamics

• Blend

• Warm-up exercises: scales, arpeggios, thirds, b.e. #1 and #2

• Intervals 

• Triads

• Seventh Chords

• Chromatics

• Full range of instrument (low-high)

• Longtones

• Overtones (subtones)

• Sight-reading

• Improvisation

• Class song

• Standard of Excellence method book

• Ear training

• Transcription

• Playing by ear

• Emphasis of playing exercises in 12 keys (around the circle of 4th's)

• Memorization

Examples of what a session might look like:

30/45/60 min practice session -

• 5/7.5/10 min longtones

• 5/7.5/10 min scales

• 5/7.5/10 min rhythms

• 5/7.5/10 min standard of excellence

• 5/7.5/10 min class song

• 5/7.5/10 min misc. studies 

This example can absolutely be altered to fit your current level.  Again, this is just a simple example.  You may want to include more challenging items from the list above if you're finding that you're not challenged enough with this routine.  Challenge yourself, put in the time, identify and strengthen your weaknesses!