Practice Daily for Best Results!!!
The Practice Rules
Using a metronome and a tuner can really benefit a students' ability to practice the correct notes and rhythms on their own!! You can get these at any music store for as little as $15 each.
Daily Routine (Yes...daily!)
Time Break Down: (20-30 minutes every day! At least! Some students practice 1 hour everyday.)
----- 15% - Warm-ups/Long Tones/Scales/Tuning
----- 25% - Technical Studies (Etudes & Studies)
----- 45% - Practice your difficult parts
----- 10% - "Fun & Easy" Stuff
----- 5% - Warm-down
1. Practice EVERYDAY for Progress & Results
2. Assemble your instrument carefully
3. Lubricate & Clean your instrument regularly
4. Always play Warm-ups first
5. Band - Play Long Tones to condition and warm-up your embouchure (Use a metronome!)
6. Play scales & exercises to limber your lips and/or fingers (Go slowly at first, then increase the speed in even increments - Use your metronome!)
7. After playing warm-ups, practice your assigned lessons or music parts. When unable to play a particular section or phrase, stop. Then make up an exercise out of that difficult part. Take it in small bits & pieces , even as small as 2 notes if you are having problems with that.. Play it slow perfectly 5 times then speed up accordingly playing it 5 times perfect in a row before speeding it up. After you have reached your goal tempo, then play it a little faster than what you need. When you get to playing it at the perfect tempo, it will be a lot easier.
8. Always practice for results!!! Don't just run through your part without fixing anything! It's more fun to play music well and practicing will make this happen!
9. After you have worked on the more difficult sections, and if you have time left over, you can fun through some of that "fun" or "easy" music.
10. When finished playing your instrument:
- Woodwinds - dry the inside of your instrument with your cleaning swab
- Brass - Empty the water and wipe off the instrument
- Strings - Clean the rosin dust off your strings and instrument. Loosen bow!
11. Carefully return your instrument to its case. Do not leaving it sitting out. Place your instrument next to your backpack so you do not forget it for your rehearsal the next day.
Always:
- Practice with good tone quality
- Practice with expression & style
- Practice at a regular & consistent time every day
- Sit on the front of your chair, using a properly adjusted music stand and good posture! (Don't play without the proper furniture/set-up)
- Play in front of a mirror, occasionally, to view proper posture and hand/embouchure placement
- Never store anything in your case that doesn't belong there! It can send your instrument to the repair shop for unnecessary repairs!
- Divide and conquer your music! Practice difficult measures over slowly at least 5 times perfect, then increase the speed ever so slightly! Use a metronome if possible.
- Daily Practice in smaller increments will further a students abilities far better than many minutes/hours on one day!
Practice Daily for the Best Results!!