WHAT TO PRACTICE

• During each practice sessions, you should practice everything that is covered in class and/or being prepared for an upcoming performance. This  includes scales, exercises and etudes, concert pieces, method book, and solo literature.

• Give yourself a few minutes at the end of your practice time to play something fun, to improvise, or to compose a new piece. Practice can be fun as well as hard work!

WHEN TO PRACTICE

• You should plan to practice outside of class at least five days per week for at least the minimum time assigned. 

• Whether that is first thing in the morning, when you first get home from school, after dinner... do what works best for your schedule. 

• The expected amount of time given to practice varies from 15-20 minutes per session for beginning students up to 45-60 minutes per session for advanced players. In general, you should spend whatever time is necessary in order to be able to proficiently play the assigned literature for the next rehearsal. 

• Set a timer to ensure you are spending enough time practicing. Break your overall time into smaller sections so you don't get bogged down. 

• Make practice a priority with equal weight as other activities and responsibilities.

• Put your practice time on the calendar and stick to it! If you miss a day during the week, plan to make it up on the weekend.

WHERE TO PRACTICE

• Practice should take place in a quiet, well-lit, and comfortable area. It should be interruption-free (no phone, no TV, no computer, etc.).

HOW TO PRACTICE (Strategies to keep it interesting!)

Practice accurately.

• When you get something correct, repeat it several times to build muscle memory.

• Can you play it seven times in a row with no mistakes? Then play it again!

• Play it until you can't play it wrong!

Start in a different spot each time.

• Avoid always starting at the beginning.

• Choose different sections or phrases to work on; practice them out of order.

Practice the most difficult passages first.

• Save playing the whole piece until the end.

Practice backwards.

• Play the last measure, then the last two measures, then the last 3 measures, etc.

Break difficult technical patterns down to the smallest division.

• Start with one note, then two notes, then three, etc.

• Make sure you know the sound and name of the pitch you are trying to achieve.

• If shifting, clearly determine both the starting and landing spot on the fingerboard. If you simply guess, you will inevitably miss the mark! 

Use the correct fingering, bowing, articulation, and dynamics every time.

Slow down!

• If you want to be able to play a passage fast, you must first be able to play it accurately at a slow tempo.

• Use your metronome to measure your progress.

• When you can play the passage accurately, speed it up incrementally.

• If you stumble, slow it back down again.

Practice regularly rather than cramming for the passoff assignment!

• You will get further in your musical development by regular practice in shorter increments than in spurts of practice intermittently.

• Instrument practice is like physical exercise – over time you become conditioned and the things that were once difficult become attainable!

Practice with MakeMusic

• The metronome will help you to play with a steady beat.

• Hearing the other parts will help you to learn how your part fits in.

• Having a pitch reference will help you to work on your intonation (tuning).

• Toward the end of your session, try recording one passage of music. Listen back to evaluate what still needs work in your next session.

POSTURE & SETUP

• Back straight.

• Feet placed properly.

• Instrument in correct position.

• Arms & wrists elevated.

• Correct bow hold vs. grip.

• Bow perpendicular to the string and leaning slightly toward the scroll.

• Left hand fingers curved with correct placement of thumb.

INTONATION | each note tuned to the correct pitch

• Left hand finger spacing (are you using the correct finger pattern?)

• Use tips of fingers vs. cushy part.

• Good contact of fingers with the fingerboard

RHYTHM | How long does each note last relative to the pulse (beat)

• Note durations

TONE | what it sounds like (smooth, crunchy, scratchy, full, rich)

• Weight + Speed + Placement = Good Tone

  • Weight of right arm on bow

  • Speed of bow

  • Placement of bow on string

• Movement of right arm/hand - relaxed and flexible

DYNAMICS | how loud or soft

ARTICULATIONS | how to play individual notes

EXPRESSION | interpreting the music

• going from 2 dimensions to 3 dimensions

• phrasing (like writing an essay - communicating a thought or idea)