Why is home practice important?

Daily practice is the lifeblood of our learning! You must practice in order to develop the necessary skills on your instrument to become a top-notch musician. A big part of learning to play an instrument is self-discovery.

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Students should practice EVERYDAY. You will never have a day where you don't have something to work on.

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Have a practice system:

Warm-up Time: Play through the warm-up exercises introduced in lessons. Don't just go through the motions! LISTEN to what is coming out of your instrument and BE INVOLVED in trying to make it better!

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Building Time: This time should be spent working on specific practice assignments (lines from the book, scales, music from band, etudes, solos, etc.). Try to make at least one thing perfect every day.

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Performance Time: This time is dedicated to performing musical works selected by you. Make time to play music that you enjoy.

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Practice Hints:

1. Choose a room that is quiet and free of distractions...no TV or radio.

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2. Be sure to use proper seating and playing position.

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3. USE A MUSIC STAND.

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4. USE A METRONOME.

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5. Break down hard passages into SMALL segments.

 

6. Practice at a SLOW tempo.

 

7. Gradually increase tempos.

 

8. Practice for results, not just to "put in time."

 

9. Realize that there are some things you can fix in one practice session while other things may have to develop over time.

 

10. Play for your parents. Let them see and hear what you are doing in class.

 

11. At the beginning of each practice session, determine what your main goals are so that you don't lose focus.

 

12. Keep a record of your practice time including date practiced, minutes practiced, your goals, and what you accomplished.

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How much do I practice?

In order for a student to progress on an instrument at the expected rate, a regular practice routine must be followed.

 

Not everyone will progress within the same amount of time, but here are some general guidelines:

 

A beginner in the first six weeks of study should practice about 15-20 minutes per day. A beginner should increase this time to 30 minutes per day starting in the second six weeks and possibly increase after that.

 

Occasional days off are fine, of course, but in order to maintain consistency, a student should practice at least five days a week. Taking more than 2 days off in a row is discouraged.

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It is better to practice in 30-45 minute "chunks" on a daily basis than it is to practice for longer periods on just one or two days per week.

 

As mentioned above, the student should have a plan and make sure his or her practice is "focused" and not done simply for the sake of putting in time on the instrument.