Band Practicing
Students will keep track of how often and how many minutes they practice each week. Parents are encouraged to monitor their child’s practice sessions and a parent or guardian signature is required for each week of practice.
A minimum of 4 times a week is expected (on separate days). In addition, any student who logs more than 120 minutes during the week will receive extra credit.
Private lessons are also strongly encouraged and can be counted as practice time.
Practice Techniques
1. Check your instrument thoroughly to make sure it is in proper working order.
2. Begin with a warm-up. Some good warm-up techniques are as follows:
- Long tones are the best way to develop embouchure, proper tone, and centered pitch. Brass and Flute players should also include lip slurs on the mouthpiece during their warm-ups.
- Warm-up your fingers by playing exercises in your book or scales; slowly at first and then increase the tempo.
- Practice your lesson or band parts. Be sure to work on specific sections that are troublesome for you. Playing through an entire piece and then putting it away is very unproductive. Work out problem spots slowly. Repetition is the key. Work one section at a time. If you are having trouble with a specific section, talk to your band director or private instructor for help.
3. After practicing, clean your instrument and wipe any fingerprints off the outside lacquered areas with a polish cloth. Cleaning your instrument daily or after every use is the best way to ensure that it is always in proper working order.