Titusville Intermediate School

Practicing Tips and Expectations

What you practice is more important than how much time you practice! I expect that all students come to their next lesson with the assignment prepared: practiced enough so that the music flows with few hesitations.  The key is to focus on the task. “Messing around” on the instrument might be fun, but it is not practice. Improvement from week to week is what counts.

Practicing Guidelines for Advanced Band

Practice Guidelines for Beginning Band

Effective Practice Strategies

Count It, Say it, Move It, Play It

1. Count It: count and clap the rhythms out loud

2. Say It: say the letter names of the notes

3. Move It: move your fingers, slide, or sticks while saying the letter names or rhythms

4. Play It!

Use a Metronome

Slow down the music and use a metronome to keep a steady pulse. As you get more confident, turn the metronome up one or two beats at a time.

Break it Down!

Break the music down into smaller chunks (one or two measures at a time). If you still have trouble playing these small chunks on their own, slow it down and “count it, say it, and move it” before playing!

Start at the End

Rather than starting at the beginning, learn your song starting with the last measure.

Play It Backwards

Challenge yourself by slowing down the pulse and playing or saying the letter names backwards!

Record Yourself

Use your Chromebook or smartphone to record yourself playing what you’re working on to see if it sounds like what you see on the page

Other Practice Tips:

• Make it a part of your daily routine: figure out which days and times work best for your schedule and try to use that time to practice each week

• Have a dedicated practice space: try to find a quiet place with little distractions where you can focus and do your best

• Practice with a friend: get together with your friends and practice your band and lesson songs!

• Perform as often as possible for your family or friends!