Practicing:
Practicing is the required homework for Orchestra. Practicing at home is how you prepare for class rehearsals, group lessons and concerts. The more effort you put into your practicing at home, the faster you will see progress and growth!
♫ All students should practice 5-6 days a week.
♫ Beginners should work towards 15-20 minutes per practice session, while more advanced students should work towards 30+ minutes per practice session.
♫ If you are very busy, it is better to practice for a little every day, rather than skip several days and try to do a 'cram session' the day before your lesson.
♫ Try to create a routine for your practicing. Find a time of the day that works for you and try to make it your habit to practice at the same time every day!
♫ Students should work on concert music, lesson materials and fun stuff! Listening to recordings, watching (relevant!) youtube videos, playing with friends or performing for family members all count as practicing!
♫ Set yourself up for success- if possible, create a practice space that is free of distractions. Make sure you are using a music stand and a proper chair so you are practicing with your best posture possible.
♫ Beginners should work towards 15-20 minutes per practice session, while more advanced students should work towards 30+ minutes per practice session.
♫ If you are very busy, it is better to practice for a little every day, rather than skip several days and try to do a 'cram session' the day before your lesson.
♫ Try to create a routine for your practicing. Find a time of the day that works for you and try to make it your habit to practice at the same time every day!
♫ Students should work on concert music, lesson materials and fun stuff! Listening to recordings, watching (relevant!) youtube videos, playing with friends or performing for family members all count as practicing!
♫ Set yourself up for success- if possible, create a practice space that is free of distractions. Make sure you are using a music stand and a proper chair so you are practicing with your best posture possible.
How to practice:
1) Survey the music for rhythms, notes, key signature, tempo, sharps/flats, etc.
*Decide: "What are my goal(s) going to be for this piece of music?"
2) Select a small section to focus on to start. You will expand the practice area as you master each section.
3) Clap/count any tricky rhythms. Use your METRONOME for rhythmic accuracy.
*Check out the Tools and Links tab to the right for a free online metronome!
4) Pizzicato the piece very slowly! (Even if the piece is meant to be bowed). This will let you focus on notes and rhythm without worrying about the bow.
*Use a METRONOME to stay steady and accurate at this slower tempo!
*Repeat this step 10 times.
5) Pizzicato the piece again up to tempo.
*Continue to practice with your METRONOME!
*Repeat this step 10 times.
6) If the piece is meant to be bowed (arco), then play the piece very slowly with the bow.
*Try "shadow bowing" to focus on bow distribution (how much bow you need)
*Try playing the bow on the open strings, with string crossing, to focus on the right hand without worrying about right hand notes.
*Put it all together-left hand and right hand! (Still using your METRONOME, of course!)
*Repeat 5-10 times, both hands
7) Play the piece again, very slow, focusing on adding in the decorations- articulation, dynamics, slurs, temp changes, etc...
*Repeat this step 5-10 times, depending on the length of song. If it is a short song, then do it more times!
8) Play the piece again up to tempo. Repeat this step until you are able to play the song (as written) without stopping!
*If you hit a spot that you keep making a mistake at, isolate that spot until you feel more successful and then put it back into context.
*Repeat this step 5-10 times, depending on the length of song.
What do I do during my practice time?
A: Warm-up. Begin with finger exercises that are scale centered.
B: Problem solve. Use slow, careful practice to eliminate mistakes.
C: Personalize. Add dynamics, increase tempo, go beyond the notes. Remember, you are
D: Variety. Switch the order. Try something by memory. Keep it interesting.
E: Fun finish. End with a favorite.
*Decide: "What are my goal(s) going to be for this piece of music?"
2) Select a small section to focus on to start. You will expand the practice area as you master each section.
3) Clap/count any tricky rhythms. Use your METRONOME for rhythmic accuracy.
*Check out the Tools and Links tab to the right for a free online metronome!
4) Pizzicato the piece very slowly! (Even if the piece is meant to be bowed). This will let you focus on notes and rhythm without worrying about the bow.
*Use a METRONOME to stay steady and accurate at this slower tempo!
*Repeat this step 10 times.
5) Pizzicato the piece again up to tempo.
*Continue to practice with your METRONOME!
*Repeat this step 10 times.
6) If the piece is meant to be bowed (arco), then play the piece very slowly with the bow.
*Try "shadow bowing" to focus on bow distribution (how much bow you need)
*Try playing the bow on the open strings, with string crossing, to focus on the right hand without worrying about right hand notes.
*Put it all together-left hand and right hand! (Still using your METRONOME, of course!)
*Repeat 5-10 times, both hands
7) Play the piece again, very slow, focusing on adding in the decorations- articulation, dynamics, slurs, temp changes, etc...
*Repeat this step 5-10 times, depending on the length of song. If it is a short song, then do it more times!
8) Play the piece again up to tempo. Repeat this step until you are able to play the song (as written) without stopping!
*If you hit a spot that you keep making a mistake at, isolate that spot until you feel more successful and then put it back into context.
*Repeat this step 5-10 times, depending on the length of song.
What do I do during my practice time?
A: Warm-up. Begin with finger exercises that are scale centered.
B: Problem solve. Use slow, careful practice to eliminate mistakes.
C: Personalize. Add dynamics, increase tempo, go beyond the notes. Remember, you are
D: Variety. Switch the order. Try something by memory. Keep it interesting.
E: Fun finish. End with a favorite.