How to practice at home

Welcome to Band! Your student has begun the journey of learning to play a musical instrument. Playing music can be fun, rewarding, and fulfilling activity enjoyed throughout life. Participating in music can lead to special opportunities, like travel and performances around the world, and even college scholarship and career options. But all of this requires practice. The biggest factor that will contribute to your child’s success in Band is time spent practicing. This Parent Info Sheet will answer your questions about why practice is necessary, and how you can help your child practice at home.

Why does my child need to practice at home?

• Practice at home is not just about a grade, it is about building skills. Without practice at home, your child is more likely to fall behind and become discouraged. The weekly Practice Time Card assignment is intended to help students organize and manage their time. Practice is Band homework.
• Learning to play an instrument also involves learning to read music. Reading music is like learning a new language, and this is something that must be practiced. Beginners start with very simple lessons, and these lessons must be mastered and understood to make progress. When students fall behind, it is usually because they have not learned to read music well.
• Practice at home gives students at opportunity to try out new skills at their own pace. This process of self-discovery allows students to experiment with music reading, hand and finger position, and making sounds without the fear of playing wrong notes in front of others.
• Every quarter, students will be required to play performance assessments (playing tests). We will work on the tested material in class, but students must practice at home to master the skills.

What does an appropriate practice space look like at home?

• An appropriate practice space at home should be quiet, warm, and with good lighting. Students should be able to practice without interruption from others, and with no screens (television or phone).
• In Band class at school, your student sits on a comfortable chair with music held on a music stand. At home, your student should sit on a firm chair (like a kitchen chair, not on a couch or bed) with music held or propped up at face level. A folding metal music stand can be purchased online for less than $15, like this one.
• Your student should always have their band folder, which includes all the materials they need to practice, including the 5-Note Foundations band book, any sheet music we are preparing for concert, a Practice Time Card, and a pencil.

What does practice at home sound like?

• Even if your child is playing in another room with the door closed, there is a lot you can know about their practice by what you can hear.
• In Band class at school, every lesson begins with a warm-up. Warm-ups help get musicians focused and develop basic skills. Your child should try to replicate this warm-up at home. This includes hand and body stretching, breathing exercises, and rhythm and scale exercises.
• Playing an instrument is fun, and so after the warm-up students should play something easy and familiar for the joy of hearing themselves make good music. This can include songs from the 5-Note Foundations band book, sections from concert sheet music, or other music and resources they find online. From time to time, ask your child to perform their favorite song for you.
• Most of the time spent practicing should involve working on and improving new skills and concepts. You should hear a lot of repetition of simple music sections. Practicing involves making mistakes and learning how to fix them. Hopefully, by the end of the practice session, you will hear improvement, with longer music sections played from beginning to end.
• A good practice session should last 20 minutes or more. The required minimum practice time is 100 minutes each week (more is always better). This is the least amount of time suggested for students to maintain skills and make progress. Anything less may result in your student falling behind.

Why does my child need to have good school attendance and participate in class?

• While musicians can learn a lot by practicing individually, there are many skills that can only be learned by playing with a group.
• Learning good habits and routines: Being a musician is more than just making sound on an instrument. Students learn the process of learning, from setting up their instrument, to organizing their materials, to listening and paying attention in class.
• Learning from others: Band students learn to play their instruments in a class with other beginners. This means that everyone is experiencing the same challenges and successes at the same time. Working in this group setting helps build confidence and team spirit.
• Learning to be a band: A band is like a team, and just like a sports team that learns to work together to make plays and win games, musicians must learn to work together to make music and perform excellent concerts. Students benefit from seeing and hearing each other play music well – such as playing correct notes and keeping a steady beat – and this can only happen in class.
• Learning from the teacher: The teacher provides instruction, assessment, and guidance to help students learn to play their instruments correctly. This includes teaching students strategies that they can use to make learning easier and faster, especially strategies for reading music. All of the strategies learned in class can be used in practice at home, too.

Why does my child need to attend evening concerts, and why do I need to be there?

• In American public schools, we have a strong tradition of performing for the community in evening concerts. Everything that we learn in class is focused on the skills necessary to play excellent concerts for you!
• Performing is more than just good music, though. Learning to perform requires learning to prepare ourselves: to prepare our skills, to prepare our emotions, and to prepare our appearance. Students are asked to dress nicely in black and white clothing. It is very important that your child participate in these events to learn and experience these skills (and to get a grade, too). It is important for you attend, because they need your support, encouragement, and love.