Practice Tips
Where?
What?
All Students:
Maintenance
- Quiet place without distractions
- Chair that supports good posture
- Music Stand (when possible)
What?
All Students:
- Brief warm-up - similar to class
- Review exercises from book learned in class
- Preview at least the next two or three exercises for tomorrow
- Practice scales
- Prepare music for upcoming performances
- A small amount of practice every day is much better than a large amount once a week.
- A daily routine is extremely important.
- Students are encouraged to play other music outside of class, but it should not be counted as practice time for class.
- Times entered on practice records should reflect actual playing time on instrument.
- No matter what grade your child is in, 100 minutes of practice per week is really the minimal requirement. Some students may desire or need more time.
- Good Posture - sitting up straight, feet flat on the floor - like you see at concerts
- Good Embouchure
- Firm corners (of lips)
- Flat cheeks
- Flat chin
- Fast air
- Good posture - standing up straight, feet flat on the floor - like you see at concerts
- They can practice all percussion parts on a snare drum, practice pad, or bell kit. (Just because you don't have a bass drum or crash cymbals - for example - at home doesn't mean your child can't practice their part.)
Maintenance
- Your child has been taught how to keep their instrument clean and how to perform routine maintenance on it.
- To reduce repair costs for you, please encourage the appropriate steps needed to keep an instrument in good working order.