How to Have an Effective and FUN Practice Session
- Focus- Find a quiet space and time where you can give your full attention to playing and listening. Practice SLOWLY and perfect the details.
- Set Goals- Choose an area that you need to improve such as tone, rhythm, articulations, sticking, dynamics. Choose to practice things that challenge you in that area and notice when you make improvements. Celebrate the small victories! Keep track by downloading the practice log.
- Have a plan- Get started just like in class, work towards your goals, and enjoy your time with your instrument. I recommend you split your time equally into the following categories:
- Long tones and Technique Warm up
- Assignments and/or Upcoming Concert Music and/or Playing Assessments
- Sight read music you enjoy for FUN! (if you need help finding some ask Ms. Garner)
- Use the tools available to you- Get a metronome to work on keeping a steady beat. Use a tuner to make sure you are playing in tune. Listen to recordings and seek out players that are better than you to imitate and ask questions. Record yourself and listen back to hear even more. Free resources HERE!
- Set a stopwatch- When you begin practicing set a stopwatch, not a timer. If you practice for small amounts over a long period of time you will make MANY more improvements than if you practice a long amount only a few times. So set out for ten minutes and you may find that you enjoy it and want to continue longer! If so, let the stopwatch keep going until you reach your satisfaction for the day, and if you're done after ten minutes that's okay too... A little bit at a time is all it takes if you are persistent!
Suggested Links
http://www.musictechteacher.com/music_quizzes/music_quizzes.htm
http://www.themusicinteractive.com/TMI/The_Music_Interactive_-_Classroom_Apps.html
http://www.bandblast.com/
http://www.themusicinteractive.com/TMI/The_Music_Interactive_-_Classroom_Apps.html
http://www.bandblast.com/
Practice makes permanent!
The year-long homework assignment of all band and percussion students is to practice at home the assignments given in class. Make sure you manage your time to practice in order to be able to demonstrate mastery of objectives on playing assessments in order to receive full points. All 6th-12th grade students may submit practice records for extra credit.
Photo used under Creative Commons from F. Berkelaar