How To Practice

GENERAL TIPS FOR PRACTICE:

• Slow, focused practice is best. Always start practicing something slow, then gradually work to get it faster.

• a METRONOME is your best friend!

• Don't bore yourself! Make it a game, reward yourself, and celebrate conquering passages. Don't forget to add variety to your practice!

• Start with small chunks, then gradually add more.

• Practice a variety of things: fundamentals, lyrical melodies, fast/fun melodies, etc.

• Always practice the unknown or the hard parts first, THEN reward yourself with something you can already play well.

• Use YouTube for ideas and models of professional playing.

• PRACTICE UNTIL YOU CAN'T GET IT WRONG! :)

HOW TO WORK THROUGH CHALLENGES

Identify if the problem is rhythm, fingers, or articulation;

then ISOLATE THE PROBLEM!

RHYTHMS

• Check the time signature!

• Isolate the problem rhythm and figure out how to count it.

• Group beats together, always making sure you have the correct number in each measure. Use a pencil to mark the beats with hashes.

• Count aloud the passage with numbers. Pencil in the counts

• "Tah," "Tee," sizzle, or clap the rhythms multiple times.

• Play just the rhythm on one note.

• Reincorporate the notes with the rhythms

FINGERS

• Check the key signature!

• Look up unknown notes/fingerings in the back of your lesson book.

• Pencil in the names of trouble notes.

• Try "key clicks": practice moving fingers from note to note deliberately enough to "click" the keys.[woodwinds only]

• Finger the notes while saying their names - with and without rhythm.

• Play the correct notes slowly without rhythm until comfortable.

• Play passage slowly with correct notes and rhythm until fingers are comfortable.

• Practice small chunks at a time to build coordination.

• Gradually increase practice speed until you are up to speed.

ARTICULATION

• "WIND" the passage with correct tonguing: big breath, use just air without instrument to hear the articulation you are producing.

• Think about the beat as being in your tongue.

• Cut the slurs/ties short if they are before a tongued note.