Practice Tips

Practice

Students are expected to practice.  Those who practice will perform better on their playing tests, their performances, and will have an overall satisfaction with themselves and each rehearsal.

Tips on How to Practice

“Practice does not make perfect, it makes permanent.  Perfect practice makes perfect.”

“Infinite patience produces immediate results.”

Practice is easy and extremely productive when you know how and why you are practicing.  Two things that are essential are time and patience.  Follow some of these suggested guidelines and you can maximize the results of your/your child’s practice time.

• Find a comfortable place to practice that is free from distractions.
• Find a time to practice that is consistent and stick to it!  It is important to balance practice time with other school homework so that you can accomplish everything and not become overwhelmed.
• More important than “how long” you practice is “how” you practice.  We will work on how to practice in class.
• Don’t immediately start to play each song!  Try parts or all of this formula:  Clap the rhythm while counting, say the letter names while fingering (or say the letter names while faking hitting the notes if you are playing bells), hiss air while fingering, and finally play the instrument.  If you follow this formula your first time playing each song should be a good one!
• Go slow at first.  Everything is easier slower.
• Practice in short phrases.  One or two measures at a time, or even smaller if needed.
• Repeat each section a number of times, playing slightly faster each time.
• Progress is made in slow increments over long periods of time.  Practicing 90 minutes on only one day out of the week does not produce the same positive results as practicing 15 minutes everyday during the week.
• Parents-Listen to your children.  Music should be shared and they love to hear your encouragement!
• A wise teacher once said, “Only practice on the days you eat.”