Welcome to Beginning Band!

Regular home practice is an important component of success in learning to play a musical instrument. Practicing helps reinforce musical concepts covered in lessons, and is necessary to help develop endurance, finger dexterity, musical tone, rhythm, and music reading skills.

How Much Practice Is Required?

We recommend three to four practice sessions per week, for 10-15 minutes per session.

Sound Innovations Method Book

Beginning Band Students will be using the Sound Innovations Method Book - Book One. Students will receive a book free of charge from Montauk School. In the event the book is lost, the replacement will be up to the students family.

A Few Tips For A Great Practice Session:

1) Start with a good “warm up” before jumping in on your weekly assignment. Playing long tones or buzzing on the mouthpiece (brass) are good warm up exercises.

2) Spend most of your time practicing the assignments, but try to always end by playing something FUN!

3) Try to find a quiet place to practice where you can concentrate without distractions.

4) It may help to designate a regular time for practicing – after dinner, after finishing homework, etc.

5) Parents – try to be encouraging, even though it might be trying at times to listen to a beginner practice…it will get better soon, we promise!

6) Never use practicing as a form of punishment!

7) Keep in mind: students can earn "extra credit” by performing for friends and family, making up a song, practicing together with someone, or completing other activities such as:

• Watching an instrument video on You Tube featuring a student's chosen instrument

• Attending a concert featuring a student's chosen instrument

• Practicing with music note flashcards

• Playing an online music note-reading game

• Practicing with the MP3 Accompaniment CD in the back of the method book, or watching a video from the enclosed DVD.