Practice Tips

Use these 10 Practice Tips to improve your playing!

1) That special spot

Having your own place to practice away from distractions is key to a good practice session. You need to have room for your music stand, your case, and a chair if you play cello.

2) Warming up

Playing an instrument is a physical activity just like sports. Use the warm-up exercises that your Mrs. Saul gives you to get yourself ready to make the most of your practice session.

3) What is your goal?

During your lesson we usually mark specific places in the music to practice. That's why you always need a pencil- so you can make markings that will make your practice sessions more effective, and to remind you what to do at the next lesson or rehearsal so we don't have to go over it again.

4) Don't put off until later what should be done today- no procrastinating.

It's easier to put off practicing something that we know is hard. If you leave it until the night before, then you most likely will not learn it in time for the next lesson or rehearsal. The best time to practice something is the same day as the lesson or rehearsal while it is still fresh in your mind. That way you can make the most out of your time.

5) Don't start at the beginning every time.

If you hit a spot in the music that gives you trouble, don't go back to the beginning and start again. Isolate the problem and practice that part. It could be three notes, or one measure and several measures. Remember- don't practice it until you get it right; practice it until you stop getting it wrong.

6) Music is more than the notes

What time period is your music from? What does that terminology in the foreign language mean? What is the composer trying to convey in the music?

7) Write it down

Do not be afraid to write things in your music. Circle the hard spots for practice later. Mark in the fingering when to shift. Do you keep missing a dynamic? Circle it!

8) Listening

Look up the listening links that Mrs. Saul provided. Listen to the tone quality, intonation, rhythm, phrasing and dynamics, etc. of the performers. Try to copy them.

9) Record yourself

Playing the music, making sure you have correct posture, identifying and isolating difficult passages, and trying to keep everything going at the same time can be mind-boggling. Try recording yourself and then go back and listen for just one or two things at a time. Establish new goals based on what you heard in the recording.

10) Reward yourself

Congratulate yourself on a job well done because finding the time to practice, getting through the practice session and making yourself work on the hard stuff can be tough. Tell yourself that what you did was important and worthwhile. You may even want to get yourself a treat (within reason of course!)