Work Smarter, Not Harder!
How to Practice Effectively
Practice does not have to be long, tedious, and unproductive. Here are some practicing tips and strategies to make the time you spend much more useful.
Why should you practice?
To get better!!! Every person is individual. Not everyone will grasp every concept at the same rate. This means you must practice the things you cannot do well. If you’re practicing the things that you do well, then you still have the same problems in the music.
You will also have practice records. These will count towards your quarterly grade.
When should you practice?
At least 30 minutes a day. Schedule your practice time for the same time of day if it is possible. This may be when you do homework, or before bed. This may have to change during the year because of your personal activities, but the more consistent your schedule, the more your progress you will personally make.
Where should you practice?
Again, this is individual. It should be in a place where you can be by yourself; where you will not be disturbed. This place should be the same everyday.
The Different Purposes to Practice
- Pitch Accuracy (The Right Notes)
- Rhythmic Accuracy (The Right Rhythms)
- Technical Accuracy (Getting the Correct Fingers/Sticking)
- Tempo Accuracy (Focusing on the correct speed that is written)
- Musical Expression (Dynamics, Style Markings, etc…)
A Time Breakdown Based on a 30 Minute Practice Session
Warm-up 5-7 minutes
Part(s) of music that need work (your goal) 20 minutes
Cool down 3-5 minutes
Warm-up (5-7 Minutes)
This is where you are beginning to use the muscles that can improve your playing. If you do not warm them up, you could cause damage to them.
Stretches
o Winds – Stretch the fingers.
o Brass – Buzz with and without the mouthpiece.
o Percussion – Stretch the wrists and arms.
Breathing Exercises
o Inhale, Hold, Exhale
o Inhale, Hold, Sip
o Inhale, Hold, Buzz
Long Tones – a pitch that is held for a long time and slowly changes dynamics from softest to loudest to softest. Use
a variety of pitches (both high and low) to help your dynamics on all ranges.
Brass Only – Lip Slurs between the same and different slide/valve positions.
Articulations – Choose a comfortable pitch and slowly begin to articulate. Focus on where the tongue contacts the
reed/back of the teeth. Then begin to speed up to a speed slightly faster than comfortable.
Strikes on the Drum/Bar – Strike drum head repeatedly in the same spot with the same hand. Be sure to make the
same repeated motion each time. Then, begin to alternate your hands, focusing on evenness and then slowly speed up.
Part of Music That Needs Work (20) Minutes
This is the music that is your goal for the practice session. Choose only 1 or 2 selections or parts of music that need the most work. For each selection of music, choose the purpose or reason of practicing. By choosing the purpose of practicing, you are choosing your personal goal of the musical selection.
The Different Purposes to Practice
Pitch Accuracy – Focusing on the correct pitches (notes) of the music.
o Slow down – Work on the pitches that are not changing cleanly. (Am I adding a note? Am I playing exactly what it is written?)
o Put it back together – Put the problem part back together
Rhythmic Accuracy – Focusing on the correct rhythm of the music.
o Work one Measure at a time – Focus on each measure and then put multiple measures together.
o Work one Phrase at a time – Focus on the phrase once you are able to put each individual measure together.
o Use a metronome – there is a free one on the website www.metronomeonline.com
Technical Accuracy – Focusing on the correct style markings.
o Slow down – Focus on playing the correct style markings at a slow tempo.
o Work one idea at a time – Focus on the markings in a single spot for consistency.
o Work on the change – Focus on the different styles and physically changing between them.
Tempo Accuracy
o Slow down – Play the selection of the music correctly at a slow speed.
o Play slightly faster – Play the selection a little faster 3 times in a row.
o Slightly speed up – Begin to speed up after playing the section correctly 3 times at the new tempo.
Musical Expression
o Break it down – Play a section of the music with the correct dynamics, style, and both.
o Work the changes – Play more than one section and focus on the change in dynamics or style for accuracy.
o Put it all together – Play the entire selection for complete execution of dynamics, style, and the changes you have applied.
Cool Down (3 minutes)
This is where you use the same type of stretches to expand your range and ability. Use the same exercises in the warm-up category.