Practice Tips
Practicing your instrument is an integral expectation of you as a member of your ensemble and absolutely necessary for you to become a better musician and valuable contributing member to your group. This page is dedicated to helping you succeed. Parents: This info is for you, too! Check out a great article on how parents can support their students through private lessons here.
General Handouts & Resources
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The Truth About Practice
OK, we admit it. Let's be honest. The word "practice" is a dreaded word by music students everywhere!
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"Practicing consistently was always a challenge for me. I knew I had to practice but I would sometimes get too lazy, procrastinate, and tell myself, 'I'll practice tomorrow.'"
- Manna |
However, similar with homework and at-home studying, the benefits and results make practicing crucial in any student's musical studies. There are no shortcuts, miracle tricks, or quick fixes to becoming a great musician or a great group. It's all a result of dedication, consistency, and effective time invested by you!
To understand the importance of personal practice time, continue reading the following student testimonials below from Redwood music alumni:
To understand the importance of personal practice time, continue reading the following student testimonials below from Redwood music alumni:
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"I didn't like practicing, and I convinced myself that I didn't have much time to.
"However, I found that the more I practiced, the better I got. The better I got, the more I enjoyed playing and the more I wanted to practice." - Elizabeth "Practice, Practice, Practice. I learned that results come from perseverance." - Max |
"I had trouble maintaining my embouchure, having good tone, playing high notes, and keeping my fingers even to play all the correct notes at the right time/rhythms. Also, it was hard for me to find consistent time to practice, because of all my other work.
"Over time, I practiced continually and got private lessons. My musical abilities got better and better. I learned that practice helps a lot, and that you should find help when you need it." - Dorothy |
"When I was beginning on the clarinet, I found it very difficult to find time to practice, since I wasn't used to practicing.
"After the first few weeks of 6th grade, I realized that I wanted to become really good at the clarinet. This motivation, inspired by listening to great musicians, led me to want to practice with a private teacher. I realized that if you are determined to do something, you can find time and a way. So, I did. Now I have a regular routine of practicing. After all of my homework gets done, I will practice for an hour or two (depending on the load of homework). If for some reason I don't find time to practice on a day of the week, I make up for it by practicing an hour longer another day, preferably Saturday. Having a private teacher also really helps motivate you to practice. Since you don't want to let your teachers down, you practice."
- Suneel
"Honestly, I had a lot of trouble having the dedication to practice. Wrongly, I was uncommitted to both my musical welfare, as well as the collective band's betterment. I completely disregarded every facet of respect. In those days, I was irresponsible, immature, and infantile in my negligence. Each day, taking out my instrument, though the simple three pieces easily slipped into each other's grooves, was a tiresome ordeal. Yet, my refusal to practice was fueled by my lack of confidence. I could never fluff my notes to resemble the tufts of cotton so many other musicians in my band could evoke. I wished - I yearned for the day where my staccato was like a string's pizzicato - light, yet with a certain body. I dreamed of the day when my sixteenth notes could sprint with incredible speed, yet could coincide perfectly with the "chks" of the metronome. Little did I know that without practice, there would never be even a slight possibility of maturing. So, in essence, I was setting myself up for failure - complete failure.
"The inducement that spurred me to practice - to want to amount to more than just a member of the band - was student role models. When I first saw this roll model, my future idol, I thought he was nothing more than a new kid, who was a year older than me. But, as the year progressed, his incredible musical talent became more and more apparent to me. Not only was he an outstanding player, his skills only reinforced by his acceptance into numerous private symphonies, but he was humble, and aided me in my playing. Coincidentally, in this same stage of awe, Mr. Jow initiated [an emphasis on the importance of consistent practice]. With the combination of my role model's wonderful inspiration, and Mr. Jow's urging, I began to dust off my instrument in the evening. The result was infinitely rewarding. Yet, upon reflection, if the two had not polymerized, I wonder who would have been able to foster the same spirit of self-motivation that I received. I wonder where I would be today if I had not been empowered to strive for more. In summary, band helped me to develop a dream to want to be better."
- Nihar
"After the first few weeks of 6th grade, I realized that I wanted to become really good at the clarinet. This motivation, inspired by listening to great musicians, led me to want to practice with a private teacher. I realized that if you are determined to do something, you can find time and a way. So, I did. Now I have a regular routine of practicing. After all of my homework gets done, I will practice for an hour or two (depending on the load of homework). If for some reason I don't find time to practice on a day of the week, I make up for it by practicing an hour longer another day, preferably Saturday. Having a private teacher also really helps motivate you to practice. Since you don't want to let your teachers down, you practice."
- Suneel
"Honestly, I had a lot of trouble having the dedication to practice. Wrongly, I was uncommitted to both my musical welfare, as well as the collective band's betterment. I completely disregarded every facet of respect. In those days, I was irresponsible, immature, and infantile in my negligence. Each day, taking out my instrument, though the simple three pieces easily slipped into each other's grooves, was a tiresome ordeal. Yet, my refusal to practice was fueled by my lack of confidence. I could never fluff my notes to resemble the tufts of cotton so many other musicians in my band could evoke. I wished - I yearned for the day where my staccato was like a string's pizzicato - light, yet with a certain body. I dreamed of the day when my sixteenth notes could sprint with incredible speed, yet could coincide perfectly with the "chks" of the metronome. Little did I know that without practice, there would never be even a slight possibility of maturing. So, in essence, I was setting myself up for failure - complete failure.
"The inducement that spurred me to practice - to want to amount to more than just a member of the band - was student role models. When I first saw this roll model, my future idol, I thought he was nothing more than a new kid, who was a year older than me. But, as the year progressed, his incredible musical talent became more and more apparent to me. Not only was he an outstanding player, his skills only reinforced by his acceptance into numerous private symphonies, but he was humble, and aided me in my playing. Coincidentally, in this same stage of awe, Mr. Jow initiated [an emphasis on the importance of consistent practice]. With the combination of my role model's wonderful inspiration, and Mr. Jow's urging, I began to dust off my instrument in the evening. The result was infinitely rewarding. Yet, upon reflection, if the two had not polymerized, I wonder who would have been able to foster the same spirit of self-motivation that I received. I wonder where I would be today if I had not been empowered to strive for more. In summary, band helped me to develop a dream to want to be better."
- Nihar
Ten Tips
So now that we understand the value and importance of practicing, what now? The most important thing to remember is that a commitment to practice in middle school is often one that must be made by both student and parent. Here are ten tips to help you get started.
1) Supplies: The following items are crucial to effective practice sessions:
2) Goals: Practice is about setting goals to build good playing habits, tone, technical facility, and music reading, not about "racked up" time. Remember the old saying "quality over quantity" as far as practicing is concerned! Students should always practice with a goal in mind and work toward that goal. If your goal does not concern the beginning of a piece of music, then you don't need to play through the beginning of that piece. Go right to the part that you find difficult and start working from there ("Practice what you can't play"). Set up a practice log and keep track of your goals, what challenges still exist, and when you make progress!
3) Time: Set up a consistent practice schedule to be followed with dedication. Always start by playing long tones and scales correctly to warm up both your tone, your instrument, and your concentration. As students develop in proficiency, practice time should be increased from a minimum of 20 minutes toward a goal of 60 minutes (this is the average amount of time that it usually takes students to achieve a goal when practicing effectively. A couple shorter practice sessions throughout the day might be more effective for some students than one long one. Practice time may also be recorded in a student's practice log. Just remember: Consistency is key!
4) Place: There should be a dedicated location for a student to practice free of distractions (TV, computers, cell phones, gaming devices, etc.). Each time a student is distracted during a practice session is a moment that they lose some of the immediate progress that is made.
5) Chunking: Practice music in small parts. Break it down, isolate specific measures and rhythms and work on mastering just those few notes before going on. If you are having trouble with just two notes, then master those two notes. No goal, no matter how small, is insignificant! If something is still challenging, play the rhythm on just one note before trying to all all of the pitches. Add the notes back in once you are comfortable with the rhythm.
6) Slow Down: "What does typing on an iPhone and practicing music have in common? Learn accuracy first, then speed." Remember: It's not a race! We all learn at different speeds and paces. Here is where the metronome comes in handy. Slow the tempo on the metronome down much slower than you want to and play your goal passage following the tempo. Once you can do this six times in a row, increase the metronome's tempo by a few clicks. Do not go faster until you can play something at least three times in a row perfectly. After all, every time you play something incorrectly, you are actually practicing how to perform it wrong!
7) Celebrate Your Victories: Practice is only rewarding when we can recognize when we have done a good job. Reward yourself and recognize when you have improved! There is always progress to be made, but the small accomplishments are just as important as the large ones in the grand scheme of things. But then remember, figure out your next goal and keep going! As Steve Jobs once said: "If you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what's next."
8) Private Teachers: We always strongly recommend that a student take lessons from a private teacher for many reasons, all of which pay dividends down the road. Private teachers give music students an extra edge through one-to-one attention and individualized instruction that allow them to truly excel on the complex skill of playing a musical instrument. Additionally, they serve as an invaluable resource in accelerated student improvement, and keep them consistently accountable in their progress. You can find a list of private teachers on our General Documents page.
9) Teacher = Resource: Still having trouble or need an answer to a question? Use your music teachers as a resource. We don't expect you to be perfect. That is why you are a student, and we are here to help!
10) Mantras: Remember these top practice tips:
1) Supplies: The following items are crucial to effective practice sessions:
- A music stand facilitates proper viewing and encourages appropriate playing posture.
- A sturdy chair with a flat seat helps develop correct posture (the back of the chair is insignificant, as a student should not be resting their back on the chair while playing). Better yet, students should practice standing up!
- A pencil allows students to mark their music as necessary to help them correct mistakes.
- A metronome provides a steady beat for students to follow while practicing and is critical for appropriate development of pulse.
- A tuner is the only way that students may practice long tones and self-assess their intonation, or pitch accuracy.
- A CD player allows students to play along with the CD's included in their books. This is not only helpful in allowing them to hear an ideal sound for their instrument, but it also gives them the opportunity to play along with a steady accompaniment, making their practice environment more engaging.
- A practice record or some sort of dedicated notebook (even a planner) in which musicians write down goals helps track their progress and stay dedicated to both their practice schedule and goal-setting.
2) Goals: Practice is about setting goals to build good playing habits, tone, technical facility, and music reading, not about "racked up" time. Remember the old saying "quality over quantity" as far as practicing is concerned! Students should always practice with a goal in mind and work toward that goal. If your goal does not concern the beginning of a piece of music, then you don't need to play through the beginning of that piece. Go right to the part that you find difficult and start working from there ("Practice what you can't play"). Set up a practice log and keep track of your goals, what challenges still exist, and when you make progress!
3) Time: Set up a consistent practice schedule to be followed with dedication. Always start by playing long tones and scales correctly to warm up both your tone, your instrument, and your concentration. As students develop in proficiency, practice time should be increased from a minimum of 20 minutes toward a goal of 60 minutes (this is the average amount of time that it usually takes students to achieve a goal when practicing effectively. A couple shorter practice sessions throughout the day might be more effective for some students than one long one. Practice time may also be recorded in a student's practice log. Just remember: Consistency is key!
4) Place: There should be a dedicated location for a student to practice free of distractions (TV, computers, cell phones, gaming devices, etc.). Each time a student is distracted during a practice session is a moment that they lose some of the immediate progress that is made.
5) Chunking: Practice music in small parts. Break it down, isolate specific measures and rhythms and work on mastering just those few notes before going on. If you are having trouble with just two notes, then master those two notes. No goal, no matter how small, is insignificant! If something is still challenging, play the rhythm on just one note before trying to all all of the pitches. Add the notes back in once you are comfortable with the rhythm.
6) Slow Down: "What does typing on an iPhone and practicing music have in common? Learn accuracy first, then speed." Remember: It's not a race! We all learn at different speeds and paces. Here is where the metronome comes in handy. Slow the tempo on the metronome down much slower than you want to and play your goal passage following the tempo. Once you can do this six times in a row, increase the metronome's tempo by a few clicks. Do not go faster until you can play something at least three times in a row perfectly. After all, every time you play something incorrectly, you are actually practicing how to perform it wrong!
7) Celebrate Your Victories: Practice is only rewarding when we can recognize when we have done a good job. Reward yourself and recognize when you have improved! There is always progress to be made, but the small accomplishments are just as important as the large ones in the grand scheme of things. But then remember, figure out your next goal and keep going! As Steve Jobs once said: "If you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what's next."
8) Private Teachers: We always strongly recommend that a student take lessons from a private teacher for many reasons, all of which pay dividends down the road. Private teachers give music students an extra edge through one-to-one attention and individualized instruction that allow them to truly excel on the complex skill of playing a musical instrument. Additionally, they serve as an invaluable resource in accelerated student improvement, and keep them consistently accountable in their progress. You can find a list of private teachers on our General Documents page.
9) Teacher = Resource: Still having trouble or need an answer to a question? Use your music teachers as a resource. We don't expect you to be perfect. That is why you are a student, and we are here to help!
10) Mantras: Remember these top practice tips:
- "Excellence is not an act but a habit."
- "Practice what you can't play." - Larry Teal
- Don't waste your time just playing music. Practice it! ("Break it down, slow it down...")
- Be organized and use your time wisely. Watch the clock!
- "Repetition is the beast of excellence."
- It's not mastered until you can play it perfectly six times in a row.
Finally, we highly encourage investing in SmartMusic software, a fantastic music learning tool that is quickly gaining popularity for its immediate feedback and interactive and individualized learning opportunities for students. Our method books are one of many downloadable items that is included with a yearly subscription.
We hope that this information has proved helpful to making your practice sessions more effective, more focused, more meaningful, and more enjoyable. Be sure to check out the downloads above for more specific information. There are detailed handouts on practice techniques and marking music, a "Practice Poster" to put up near your practice area to remind you of appropriate practice habits, a fantastic article with more perspective on practicing, specific pointers for working on tuning, and a handout for parents to better support students in their journey toward musical improvement and excellence. All of these items and information are designed to work together to yield the most effective results possible.
Good luck!
We hope that this information has proved helpful to making your practice sessions more effective, more focused, more meaningful, and more enjoyable. Be sure to check out the downloads above for more specific information. There are detailed handouts on practice techniques and marking music, a "Practice Poster" to put up near your practice area to remind you of appropriate practice habits, a fantastic article with more perspective on practicing, specific pointers for working on tuning, and a handout for parents to better support students in their journey toward musical improvement and excellence. All of these items and information are designed to work together to yield the most effective results possible.
Good luck!
