Tips to help make home practice more fun and rewarding!!
- Don’t put it off!! Just do it! Everyone tends to put things off from time to time. This can become a bad habit. Take the first step and you will enjoy feeling the success of learning something new, increasing your musical ability and overcoming procrastination!
- If you make a mistake, make a good one! Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect. When you are home practicing, and you make a mistake, think about what went wrong, and then correct it. If it sounded funny, laugh; then correct it. We learn from our own mistakes as long as we think back and work to correct them.
- How long should I practice? Try for at least 20 minutes everyday!You may become tired after only 5 or 10 minutes during the first few weeks of practice. If this happens split your practice time into four – 5 minute sessions or two – 10 minute sessions. When you feel able, try for full 20 minute sessions.
Remember last minute preparation doesn’t work! Daily practice is essential for optimum success!
- Think like a musician! This is the first step in learning to play any instrument. From day one, tell yourself, all musicians practice because they want to increase their abilities for themselves and the group…And playing an instrument can be a lot of fun!
- Know the goals of the week! Always review what concepts or new ideas were learned in the weekly lesson. This can be done by reading through handouts or assignment pages even before the instrument is put together!
- Challenge yourself! Use your practice time wisely. Choose areas you feel OR Dr. Benson assigned that need work. Plan to increase your skills on at least ONE of these areas by the end of each practice session!
- Practicing does not replace other activities! Just because you chose to play an instrument does not mean you need to give up something. You may need to adjust times or use your time more wisely, but try not to totally eliminate something you are interested in. These activities are important too!
- When should I practice? Try to pick a specific time each day and stick to it! Get yourself into a steady routine and you will feel more success because this time is only for practicing!
- Where should I practice?? Avoid noisy places! Pick a place that is quiet so you can focus and concentrate! Avoid the television, computer, stereo and video games, etc. These will only distract you from reaching your goals!
- Be prepared!! Keep all materials for practicing ready in one place, so they can be found when it is time to begin a practice session or time to pack up for your weekly lesson at school!
- Use a music stand!! This will be your most valuable tool besides the instrument or your body! It will ensure your music and body will be at the proper height, positions and locations for optimum success! Most bad habits that beginning musicians develop are because they did not use a music stand during home practice sessions!
- Practice slowly! If something is too difficult to play at a fast speed, slow down!Practice slowly, with a steady beat several times before increasing the speed. When your brain and muscles are comfortable, they will let you know when it is time to go faster!
- Clap It, Say It, Count It, Name & Finger It, Play It!::These are all good techniques to use when a section of music or a new song is a real challenge!
- I don’t have my instrument so I can’t practice! ::This is false! Practicing without the instrument isn’t the best way, but it can be done in a pinch! Practice fingerings on a pencil. It sounds silly but it works! You can also name and finger music, clap and/or count rhythms or tell yourself what different musical symbols mean. These are all forms of practicing. When you get back to your instrument, review what you worked on without it! You’ll be surprised with your progress!
- I’m frustrated, confused, or angry! This happens to everyone from time to time. Just put the instrument down, take a break and come back to it after you’ve had a chance to think about what might be going wrong. We all get frustrated. It’s not the time to give up; just take a break!
- What if I don’t understand something?:: This doesn’t mean you’re stupid, just uninformed or new at it! It’s O.K. Look it up in yourbook. Ask another person learning an instrument. Ask Dr. Benson. He is here to help. One of the best ways to learn is to ask!
- Don’t put it off!! Just do it! Everyone tends to put things off from time to time. This can become a bad habit. Take the first step and you will enjoy feeling the success of learning something new, increasing your musical ability and overcoming procrastination!
- If you make a mistake, make a good one! Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect. When you are home practicing, and you make a mistake, think about what went wrong, and then correct it. If it sounded funny, laugh; then correct it. We learn from our own mistakes as long as we think back and work to correct them.
- How long should I practice? Try for at least 20 minutes everyday!You may become tired after only 5 or 10 minutes during the first few weeks of practice. If this happens split your practice time into four – 5 minute sessions or two – 10 minute sessions. When you feel able, try for full 20 minute sessions.
Remember last minute preparation doesn’t work! Daily practice is essential for optimum success!
- Think like a musician! This is the first step in learning to play any instrument. From day one, tell yourself, all musicians practice because they want to increase their abilities for themselves and the group…And playing an instrument can be a lot of fun!
- Know the goals of the week! Always review what concepts or new ideas were learned in the weekly lesson. This can be done by reading through handouts or assignment pages even before the instrument is put together!
- Challenge yourself! Use your practice time wisely. Choose areas you feel OR Dr. Benson assigned that need work. Plan to increase your skills on at least ONE of these areas by the end of each practice session!
- Practicing does not replace other activities! Just because you chose to play an instrument does not mean you need to give up something. You may need to adjust times or use your time more wisely, but try not to totally eliminate something you are interested in. These activities are important too!
- When should I practice? Try to pick a specific time each day and stick to it! Get yourself into a steady routine and you will feel more success because this time is only for practicing!
- Where should I practice?? Avoid noisy places! Pick a place that is quiet so you can focus and concentrate! Avoid the television, computer, stereo and video games, etc. These will only distract you from reaching your goals!
- Be prepared!! Keep all materials for practicing ready in one place, so they can be found when it is time to begin a practice session or time to pack up for your weekly lesson at school!
- Use a music stand!! This will be your most valuable tool besides the instrument or your body! It will ensure your music and body will be at the proper height, positions and locations for optimum success! Most bad habits that beginning musicians develop are because they did not use a music stand during home practice sessions!
- Practice slowly! If something is too difficult to play at a fast speed, slow down!Practice slowly, with a steady beat several times before increasing the speed. When your brain and muscles are comfortable, they will let you know when it is time to go faster!
- Clap It, Say It, Count It, Name & Finger It, Play It!::These are all good techniques to use when a section of music or a new song is a real challenge!
- I don’t have my instrument so I can’t practice! ::This is false! Practicing without the instrument isn’t the best way, but it can be done in a pinch! Practice fingerings on a pencil. It sounds silly but it works! You can also name and finger music, clap and/or count rhythms or tell yourself what different musical symbols mean. These are all forms of practicing. When you get back to your instrument, review what you worked on without it! You’ll be surprised with your progress!
- I’m frustrated, confused, or angry! This happens to everyone from time to time. Just put the instrument down, take a break and come back to it after you’ve had a chance to think about what might be going wrong. We all get frustrated. It’s not the time to give up; just take a break!
- What if I don’t understand something?:: This doesn’t mean you’re stupid, just uninformed or new at it! It’s O.K. Look it up in yourbook. Ask another person learning an instrument. Ask Dr. Benson. He is here to help. One of the best ways to learn is to ask!