Home Practice: How To

Home Practice - A Parent’s Guide

To increase skill, children must practice at home. Learning an instrument is not all about talent - it is more about persistence!  I see your child(ren) 2 - 3 days a week, and while we do make progress, proficiency requires consistent home practice.  If your child practices frequently, they WILL excel!  I recommend at least 5 days of weekly home practice for approximately 30 minutes each day. 

Short story...
Many children (even myself when I was younger) learned to play one song and played it repeatedly. Playing a song the child is comfortable with contributes to their performing abilities but doesn't help them grow. To improve, they must be challenged. As we learn new songs in class, they are instructed to circle and review the material at home.

You can help your child practice by providing a distraction-free environment, asking questions about what they’re practicing, and encouraging them! 

Lastly, don't use practice as a "punishment."  This is something that they wanted to do and signed up to do.  We want to make sure they are practicing and putting in the time without being forced.    

Setting Up a Space for Successful Practice

Whenever possible, your student should practice in a space that has: 

1. Minimal distractions

2. Well-lit

3. A supportive chair they can sit on (not a couch or bed)

   • sitting on or leaning over the bed/other furniture to practice can cause your student to develop muscle problems and pain.  Additionally, those who play wind instruments will not be able to gain enough air support to properly play their instrument. 

4. A stable surface for the case, such as the floor

5. Music stand/pencil

6. Instrument in good working order at all times.  Make sure you have obtained a good quality instrument for your child(ren).  A poor-quality instrument can be difficult to play and can frustrate a child.  This may cause them to want to quit. 
   
   

The Process of a Practice Session

Warm-Up: Preparing the mind for playing the instrument

Band Instruments

1. Buzzing (brass instruments)

2. Long tones

3. Tonguing

4. An easy song (no more than one minute)

String Instruments

1. Pizzicato

2. Finger patterns

3. Scales

4. Bowing exercises

        Assignment

1. Go to the song most recently assigned

2. Try to play through it without stopping - Where did you make a mistake?

3. Pick one or more of the below practice techniques to improve.

• • 1. • Clap & count using the Eastman system

       • Say the note names

       • Pretend to Play (finger & say the notes)

       • Chunking (play only one measure at a time slowly)

       • Slow down (so you have time to think)

       • Repeat the above steps until the song sounds the way it should 

Final Tips

1. Encourage your child(ren) to play for family and friends, but not forcing him or her to play for others when he/she does not want to.

2. Praise your child(rens) efforts.

3. Reiterate the concepts of self-discipline, responsibility, commitment, and teamwork that being in a band or orchestra teaches.

More resources can be found on our instrumental music website. 

Feel free to email Mr. Dignen at tim.dignen@pgcps.org if you have any questions!

Home Practice - Another Take
(written for orchestra students, but can be applied to band students)

Ever since you first picked up your stringed instrument  and learned how to squeak out "Mary Had a Little Lamb,"  you've heard the word "Practice."   But why?  And how? Glad you asked.

Why should I practice?

"Practice makes perfect."  Bull-hockey.  Practice makes improvements, but that doesn't sound as cool.  Honestly, practicing can be hard because you often don't see a lot of results in one practice session.  It's consistent, focused practice that actually gets steady results.  Hopefully, you're in orchestra at least in part because you want to get better at playing your stringed instrument.  Well, practicing on a regular basis is what will get you moving in the right direction. You'll also realize that there is no pinnacle; there's always something new to learn and something to improve.  That's why music is a lifelong interest for so many people.

How do I make myself practice more?

Generally, the two biggest obstacles to practicing are time and motivation.

1. Time. Students are generally very busy, particularly the type of intelligent, active students that tend to participate in orchestra. Time management becomes a big issue: you have to make time to practice.

• Set Priorities.  There's never enough time in a day to do everything you need and want to do.  Is improving on your instrument important to you?  Hopefully, it is.

• Set up a schedule for yourself.  Make practicing a part of your daily routine.   Orchestra has homework like any other class: practicing.   Make it a part of your homework time.  It's usually the most fun part of your homework, anyway.

• Set up expectations.  "No excuses: 30 minutes every day."  "No TV or video games until I've practiced."   "If l can bow this passage correctly by the time I finish, I get a cookie."

Finding time to practice can be difficult, especially considering the number of activities and interests that pull you in one direction or another.  If you only practice "when you have time," then it will rarely happen.   Deliberately make it part of your routine.  Remember, though, that it needs to be realistic, or you'll just end up frustrated.

2. Motivation.  Sometimes it's hard just to get motivated to practice.  When you're tired, not feeling well, busy, or would rather be doing other things, it's easy to just blow it off.  That quickly becomes habit, and soon you're never practicing.

• Create a Practice Environment.  Take your instrument home every day, even if you don't think you'll have time to practice.   Make it part of your habit.   Have a music stand set up in your room, reminding you to practice.  Turn off the TV and radio, so that you're not distracted and more able to focus.

• Set Practice Goals.  If you have something to work for, you're more likely to actually practice.

• Other Factors: Private lessons can be a great practice motivator.  You have individual accountability when you know your instructor will hear you play by yourself each week.  You will also get a greater variety of music, including some great solo repertoire. A higher quality instrument can also motivate you to practice more.  A superior instrument makes you sound better, and you'll like listening to your improved sound on your "new toy."  (Also, try naming your instrument based on its "personality")

***The key to practicing is making it part of your routine.  Once practicing is a habit, you'll begin to see results in your playing.***

So now you should be able to set up a regular practice schedule for yourself.  You've finally got some time alone, just you and your instrument.  Now what do you do?  Great question.

What should my practice session look like?

Don't just get out your instrument, play some music, goof off a little, then pack up.  Maximize your practice time.  You can divide your session into the following sections:

1. Scales.  It's always a good idea to start off your practice session with a scale.  Memorize your scale and fingerings, so you can focus on your posture, how you hold your bow and instrument, tone production, and intonation.  When reading difficult music or rhythms, it's easy to ignore the basics.  Scales give you that opportunity.  Besides, music is based on scales, so the better you can play your scales, the better you'll be able to play music.  You can also vary your scales with different bow styles (e.g. spiccato, martele).

2. Technique/ etudes. Etude literally means "study."  It is a written exercise that focuses on improving a specific aspect of playing your instrument.  It can be shifting, a certain bowing style, vibrato, or any number of other issues.  Class technique books have some etudes and technical studies, but most will come from a private instructor.  This time in your practice session can be used to deal with an issue you would like to improve in your own playing.

3. Repertoire. This is the entree of your practice meal.  It can include any music you are currently working on: orchestra music or solo literature that you are learning.  Don't waste time playing straight through all of your music, though.  Plan your session so that you actually improve.

• Practice what's difficult.  It's a lot more fun to play what we can already play well.  It also makes you feel good about your playing.  However, it doesn't help much.   Spend your time working on what you can't play as well, even though it's sometimes more frustrating.  If you keep working at it, you soon will be able to play it and feel even better about yourself. (HINT: mark your music by lightly putting brackets around the lines you need to work on.  Then you won't waste time later trying to figure out which sections you need to practice)

• Practice with a plan.  If you have difficulty getting through an entire passage, break it up into more manageable chunks. Once you can play them individually, put the section back together.  If you have difficulty playing a fast passage, slow it down.   Using a metronome, play it at a manageable tempo, go back, and try to play it slightly faster.   Keep increasing the tempo until you start having trouble, then stop.   Come back to it tomorrow, and you'll be able to get to a faster tempo. If you have difficulty with just one aspect of a section (e.g. bowing), isolate that problem.  Fix it by itself, then put it back into context.  Get creative in fixing spots.

• Keep it interesting and fun.  When playing a passage repeatedly, try different rhythms and bowings to keep your brain  interested.  If you start to get frustrated with yourself (or the music), walk away.  Come back to it later.  You won't learn anything when you're upset.  When you return to that section or issue, try approaching it with a different plan.  If you know what and how to practice your repertoire, your practice will be much more beneficial.

4.  Something Fun.   End your practice session with something you enjoy.  It can be playing by ear, writing your own music, playing with the radio, improvising, or playing some of your favorite tunes.   This gives you something to look forward to and can often improve your playing, as well.

"Practice smarter, not harder."   It's cliche, but it's true.  If you have an intelligent plan, you can get much more out of your practice session.