Embedded Files
How Much Practice Is Required?
While there is no specific practice requirement for Grade 4 Band, students are encouraged to find time at home to share the music being learned in school, and to spend time playing music that they find enjoyable.
Regular home practice is an important component of success in learning to play a musical instrument. Practicing helps reinforce musical concepts covered in lessons, and is necessary to help develop endurance, finger dexterity, musical tone, rhythm, and music reading skills.
“BAND-JITSU” Practice System
This year, our grade 4 band members are using a practice system we call “Band-Jitsu.” Similar to the colored “belt” ranking system used to identify progress in the martial arts, band students have been working through a sequence of musical skills and pieces to help motivate and guide their individual practice.
Throughout the school year, students will work through the requirements for the White, Yellow, Orange, Red, Green, Blue, Brown and Black “belts” (the “belts” are colorful zip-ties students can attach to their instrument case handles).
On each printed Band-Jitsu Belt Practice Sheet (see attached), students may also be given a set of “Weekly Practice Goals” to work on before starting on the requirements for each Belt. The weekly practice goals are not typically recognizable melodies, but scales and other musical exercises that help to develop playing technique and endurance. Students should fill-in one star (on the upper portion of the sheet) each time these skills are shared at home during the week.
We spend time together each week in band class working through the material listed for each Band-Jitsu Belt practice sheet. In order to earn their Belt, students are challenged to work through the required steps listed for each skill or song. Performing these steps (“touch and say note names,” “sing and finger”, etc.) help students to reinforce practice strategies that foster musical independence, as they learn to develop the skills needed to decipher notes and rhythms, and to play new songs on their own.
**Please see the attached BandJitsu Practice Sheets and Sample Completed BandJitsu Practice Sheet.
Sound Innovations Method Book
4th and 5th Grade Band Students will be using the Sound Innovations Method Book - Book One. The book is available locally through K&C Music or you may order online:
A Few Tips For A Great Practice Session:
1) Start with a good “warm up” before jumping in on your weekly assignment. Playing long tones or buzzing on the mouthpiece (brass) are good warm up exercises.
2) Spend most of your time practicing the assignments, but try to always end by playing something FUN!
3) Try to find a quiet place to practice where you can concentrate without distractions.
4) It may help to designate a regular time for practicing – after dinner, after finishing homework, etc.
5) Parents – try to be encouraging, even though it might be trying at times to listen to a beginner practice…it will get better soon, we promise!
6) Never use practicing as a form of punishment!
7) Keep in mind: students can earn "extra credit” by performing for friends and family, making up a song, practicing together with someone, or completing other activities such as:
Watching an instrument video on You Tube featuring a student's chosen instrument
Attending a concert featuring a student's chosen instrument
Practicing with music note flashcards
Playing an online music note-reading game
Practicing with the MP3 Accompaniment CD in the back of the method book, or watching a video from the enclosed DVD.
Page updated
Report abuse