Where we apply what we know and work beyond our comfort level.
BOYLE CO. MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND
No Homework! We Practice!
I will state first, the picture you see above will not happen to students because of band. I am fully aware of the demands put on students. I will not allow band to get in the way of good grades and extracurricular activities!!!
Why do we practice? It's obvious. We practice so we can get good at playing an instrument and so students can enjoy playing music at a high level with others. That should be the whole reason a student wants to join band.
How will practice make a student better? Part of practice is about learning how to play notes and rhythms. But that's the easy part of learning to play an instrument. When you play an instrument, you not only have to understand how to do it; you also have to physically do it. We call it motor skills. Practicing helps physically improve the strength we need to get a great sound and improves the coordination we need.
Each week students will be required to turn in a practice log for a grade. The log keeps track of how much they have practiced each week. Time practiced will not be graded; simply turning the log in is the grade. The log will help me determine why a student may not be doing well on playing tests done each week. I need you to be honest. If you didn't practice, DON'T LIE. Lack of practice will show up in class anyway.
This brings me to my final point. Generally, a student's success in band is determined by how much CONSISTENT practice is done at home. If a student is getting bad grades on playing tests, he or she probably isn't practicing at home. This causes a student to dislike band not want to continue the following year. I don't want that to happen. It wastes the money and time invested, but worse, the student misses out on the opportunity to be a musician for life.
Suggested Practice Time
Minimum of 4 days a week, Minimum of 15 minutes each day
You are missing the point of practice if you only practice once a week for 60 minutes.
Great example: Let's assume a runner trained one month to finally achieve the goal of running a mile in under 6 minutes. The runner then decides to reward himself by sitting on the couch and eating junk food for the next month. Do you think that runner will be able to run a mile in under 6 minutes after the month layoff? NO. Twenty years experience and studies back this up!
Partnership
Learning to play an instrument and read music is a three-way partnership that includes the teacher, student, and family. Each member of the partnership has a responsibility. Families at home are an integral part of good practice and success in band. Parents may become active members of this relationship by providing the following:
1. Patience, when reminding the student to practice daily.
2. Encouragement, as the going gets rough. Some things are learned easily, others require intense and repeated application. Parental sympathy and understanding are important.
3. Favorable practice conditions:
a. Schedule a regular practice time.
b. A quiet room, away from noise and distracting activities, is best.
c. Keep instrument in top condition with all necessary equipment.
d. Never use practice as a punishment.
e. Have a music stand to put music on. It's no fun and incorrect to play the instrument with bad posture.
f. Provide them with a metronome and tuner. (Found on the links page for free).
4. Parental supervision on occasion:
a. Remind your child to practice slowly and carefully.
b. Remind them to practice in short sections.
c. Remind them to practice standing / sitting with good posture.
d. Remind them to use a metronome and tuner.
5. Signing and taking note of the practice log.
6. Praise for work well done.
How to Practice
Learning to play a musical instrument can be fun and satisfying. It does not happen at once, however. Patience should be a student's new middle name. Be prepared for occasional frustration and "plateaus". Consistent practice and a dash of "stick-to-it-ness" will be the key to the door you are trying to open!
Think of "playing" as going straight through the music one or several times over. "Practice" on the other hand has a focus. This focus includes:
1. Playing a regimented and beneficial warm up (long tone, lip slurs, scales, etc...).
2. Knowing what you need to practice for class, performance, or playing test.
3. Using the free online metronome to keep a perfect, steady beat as you practice.
4. Knowing the problem spots you need to practice.
5. Working from a slow tempo to the required tempo (use the metronome).
6. Working out the music from small sections to larger sections (i.e. 2 measures at a time, then 2 more measures, then put those 4 measures together).
7. Playing the selection from beginning to end as a wrap up.
8. Using the free online tuner to tune yourself.
9. Using a pencil to mark music where problems occur or reminders are needed.