•  Some Thoughts on Practicing...
     
    Practicing is a vital component of musicianship. No one becomes an expert at anything without consistent and meaningful practice. Here are some useful tips for successful practicing:
     
    How often should I practice?
    Students are required to practice as long as it takes to be able to successfully play their weekly assignment. The keys are consistency and quality over quantity! Practicing a little bit every day is going to be more effective than practicing for a long time on only a few days of the week. Given the busy schedule of many middle school students, I recommend the following strategy:
    • 15-20 minutes of practice, 4-5 days a week
    Weekly practicing can be flexible - not every day needs to be the same. But following this planning strategy, students should be able to successfully perform their assignments. If a weekly practice routine is approached mindfully, students will see significant gains!
     
    What should I practice?
    Practice routines should be organized as follows:
    1. Warm up (5 minutes) - Students will have specific warm up exercises for their instruments
    2. Weekly assignment (10-20 minutes) - This can include exercises in the lesson book, band music, etudes, etc.
    3. Extra music in need of practice (5-10 minutes) - This can include band music not currently assigned, NYSSMA solos, etc.
    How do I practice difficult music?
    Difficult music simply needs to be broken down into pieces. Try this step-by-step strategy:
    1. Isolate a "chunk". This could be 4 measures, 1 measure, 2 beats, 3 notes, etc. It's any specific thing that's difficult to play.
    2. Clap or count the Rhythm. When we stop worrying about the notes, the rhythms become clearer.
    3. Say and finger the Notes. When we stop worrying about the rhythms, the notes become clearer.
    4. Play. Very slowly at first (*If you hesitate, you're going too fast). Don't go faster until you can play it 3x in a row correctly. When we understand the rhythm and the notes separately, they become clearer together.
    What other kinds of strategies could help me practice?
    There are a variety of strategies you can use to help you with a variety of challenges. Some of those which I find to be most helpful include:
    • Practicing at a slow enough tempo so that you can play without hesitating.
    • Tapping your foot and/or using a metronome to help keep the tempo.
    • Focusing specifically on the most difficult section(s).
    • Clapping/counting the rhythms without playing.
    • Saying/fingering the notes without playing.
    • Practicing a difficult part over and over again until you can play it right every time. 
    Final Thoughts...
    Practicing can be fun! It's not about perfection - it's about growth! Keep track of how much you're improving. You'll soon realize that you can play a lot of things that you couldn't have played before. Also, try to perform as much as you can! Perform for your family and friends, put on mini concerts, and share your music with the world!