Tips for Parents​ ​and​ ​Students​ ​(​HELP) 

H​elp​ ​to​ ​set​ ​up​ ​the​ ​best​ ​possible​ ​practice​ ​facility.​ ​The​ ​area​ ​should​ ​be​ ​well​ ​lit​ ​and​ ​free from​ ​other​ ​distractions​ ​and​ ​should​ ​accommodate​ ​a​ ​straight​ ​chair​ ​and​ ​music​ ​stand.  

E​stablish​ ​a​ ​regular​ ​time​ ​and​ ​routine​ ​for​ ​practice.​ ​Students​ ​should​ ​begin​ ​with​ ​some warm-up​ ​exercises​ ​(long​ ​tones​ ​and​ ​scales),​ ​move​ ​into​ ​the​ ​assignment​ ​and​ ​isolate difficult​ ​passages.​ ​These​ ​passages​ ​can​ ​be​ ​played​ ​slower​ ​with​ ​different​ ​articulations​ ​to help​ ​resolve​ ​technical​ ​problems.​ ​Students​ ​should​ ​end​ ​practice​ ​time​ ​with​ ​a​ ​piece​ ​they know​ ​and​ ​enjoy​ ​playing​ ​for​ ​fun. 

L​isten​ ​enthusiastically​ ​to​ ​your​ ​child’s​ ​practicing.​ ​Recognize​ ​his/her​ ​effort​ ​and​ ​make positive​ ​comments.​ ​Remember,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​the​ ​audience​ ​your​ ​child​ ​will​ ​most​ ​appreciate. 

P​articipate​ ​in​ ​our​ ​three-way​ ​partnership:​ ​Parent,​ ​student,​ ​and​ ​teacher​ ​working​ ​together to​ ​make​ ​band​ ​an​ ​enjoyable​ ​and​ ​lifelong​ ​experience.