Practice Session Structure

Practice Session Structure

Tips and tricks for effective practice!

Set a goal for your practice session. Ask yourself:

• What are you having trouble with?

• What do you want to sound better?

• What do you want to be able to do?

• And many other great questions!

Open Ended

What is your goal for today's practice session?

What's the problem? Find it and isolate it!

• Find a rhythm, a measure, a line, or a technique that is giving you trouble.

• Repeat it over and over many times.

• Practice slowly first, then gradually build up the speed on your metronome.

Open Ended

What is the first problem you will isolate today?

Repetition is key!

Keep repeating your problem spot until you can play it correctly 3 times in a row!

For difficult technical passages...

try changing up the rhythms! Here are some basic rhythm changes that you can use to make tough spots seem easier.

Try to come up with your own!

Practice isn't always fun or easy.

Playing an instrument and learning music takes hard work! Just like a sport or subject, you have to work hard to play hard. However, if you keep to these practice guidelines and stick with it, you'll have mastery in no time!

End with something fun!

Take the last 10 minutes of your session to play fun things you like with your instrument! You can play old music you enjoy, or you can play fun things that we aren't doing in orchestra.

Open Ended

What is something fun that you can do with your instrument at the end of your practice session today?

Structure your sessions!

• Stretch before you begin!

• 5-10: Warm up and scales

• 10-15: Solos/Etudes/Beginner songs

• 10-15: Orchestra/Class music

• 5-10: Fun stuff!

• This is just an example. Adjust times to whatever YOU need!