Dan McCarty Middle School Band  

Five Steps to Develop Good Practice Habits

 

1. Start small! Intervals of 15 to 20 minutes of practicing are practical. If you cannot practice for that long, it is ok! Start with 10 minutes and gradually add to your practice time. 10 minutes of productive practice is better than an hour of distracted practice! Do forget to log what you did on the online practice record.

2. Take care of your instrument!  It is difficult to practice efficiently on an instrument that is not taken care of. If you do not know if your instrument is broken, ask your band director. If it is an instrument issue, repair it and then keep it in good condition. Put it back in the case correctly. Swab it out. For brass instruments, give it a bath every few months and make sure you keep valves oiled properly. If you have questions about your instrument, ask your band director.

3. Keep your music organized! How can you practice if your music is strewn around your room/ living room/ car/ who else knows where? Keep your music in your binder with your name on it. Keep a pencil in the binder to use to mark your music.

4. Metronomes and tuners are essential! A metronome is used for keeping your rhythm in check and a tuner is used for keeping your intonation in check. You need both correct rhythm and intonation to make beautiful music. Both are available for free online or as apps.

5. Fun and metal fundamentals! You must practice fundamentals. Begin with a short warm-up before working on musical selections. The most successful musicians will tell you that fundamentals are absolutely essential for success. Practice scales, play long tones and work out of your method books. If you have questions about where to start and what is appropriate to your level of playing, ask your band director.