How to Practice
Home Practice
Daily individual practice is highly important to your success in learning a new instrument. Therefore, I have outlined some successful habits below.
How to Practice
Daily practice time is essential for student success in band. All band students should spend a minimum of 20 minutes each day in individual practice. Daily practice time is homework for band. The guidelines below will help to organize your practice time. Remember, practice time is to be spent practicing, not watching the clock. If you do wish to use some type of time recording device, use a stopwatch.
Practice in the same place each day. Be sure there are no distractions.
Begin with long tones. Concentrate on producing a pleasing sound. Think about your breathing. Produce a steady and controlled air stream. You should love your sound. It is yours and no one else's. No two musicians have the same tone. Always make sure that your tone is clear and beautiful.
Spend time on scales. Play them slowly at first and then work for speed. Work from your method book each day. Try to stay several lines ahead of the class. Work for accuracy and be sure to play everything on the page.
Practice in front of a mirror to check your embouchure, hand position, and posture.
Practice your music. Work on the parts that you cannot play. Practice them slowly at first and then increase the speed. Work one measure at a time for difficult parts. Once you are able to play a measure five times without mistakes then you can increase the tempo. The same goes for the entire exercise.
Pay careful attention to details such as correct notes and fingerings, rhythms, key signatures and accidentals, signs and symbols, dynamics and articulations.
End by playing something just for fun.
Swab woodwinds thoroughly, empty water from brasses and return instrument safely to the case.