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 voice 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 sing!
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
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 Chorus songs can be accessed through your child's Google Classroom.
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 while singing.
Make sure to vary your range while warming up.
Think back to some of our warm-ups we use in school!
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 singing.
You can keep a steady pulse and speak through the lyrics. (Use a metronome from the Resources tab!)
You can solfege along with your music. (Keep that steady pulse!)
You can sing through the part you are focusing on - either with a recording or without.
Step 5: Assess
After each run-through, assess your singing.
Are you being successful with your focus?
Are other issues showing up (e.g. not knowing pitches/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 singing 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 pitches, consider turning your attention to the pitches.
If you are improving - consider if you are happy with your improvements, and if so, move on to another section or piece of music.
