Practicing


Practicing is an important part of being a musician! Just like how you work on your multiplication tables to improve at math, or how basketball players always practice their free throws, your instrument needs the same amount of dedication!

For Band and Chorus students, Mr. Goguen recommends 60 minutes of practicing at home every week. This breaks down to less than 10 minutes per day! Practicing will help reinforce what we have worked on in class and will help strengthen the muscles you need to play!

But HOW do I practice?

First, find a space that you will be productive in while you practice.

This means:

    • A separate room, if possible, away from your family

    • Few distractions

    • Having what you need

        • Instrument

        • Music

        • Music Stand

        • Device with a metronome and access to recordings

Please note:

  • You can find what Mr. Goguen recommends for Metronomes, and other helpful practice tools, in the Resources tab.

  • All recordings of current Band songs can be accessed through your child's Google Classroom.

Steps and Options for Practicing

Step 1: Make sure you have everything you need from the above section

Step 2: Warm-up

  • Focus on proper breath support and sound production on your instrument

  • Slower songs/longer notes are better than faster

  • Softer is better than louder as you warm-up

  • Early songs in the Standard of Excellence book are great options! (#1-88)

Step 3: Pick Your Focus

  • Try to be specific about what you are working on before practicing.

  • Simply running through each piece once is NOT effective practicing.

  • Maybe focus on a section of each song, or dynamics, or the feel of a piece.

  • Giving yourself a targeted goal will let you know if you are improving!

Step 4: Work!

  • Practicing does NOT always need to involve playing.

  • You can keep a steady pulse and speak through the rhythms. (Use a metronome from the Resources tab!)

  • You can "Wind Pattern" and finger along with your music. (Keep that steady pulse!)

  • You can play through the part you are focusing on - either with a recording or without.

Step 5: Assess

  • After each play-through, assess your playing.

  • Are you being successful with your focus?

  • Are other issues showing up (e.g. not knowing notes/rhythms)?

  • Once you have assessed your playing, try the section again - even if everything was perfect! Then reassess.

Step 6: Reflect

  • After a few times playing through your music, reflect to see if you are improving.

  • If you are not - try to figure out what you need to do. If you are trying to work on dynamics, but are making mistakes with notes, consider turning your attention to the notes.

  • If you are improving - consider if you are happy with your improvements, and if so, move on to another section or piece of music.