Practice.  This is something that all band directors tell their students,  but how many people really know how to practice.  Most people want to practice what is easy for them or what is fun to play.  That is all well and good, but it really doesn't make us any better.  An instrumentalist is sort of like an athlete; you're really not going to get any better if you don't push yourself.

I many times hear parents and students say that all they hear coming from the "practice room" is blips and squeaks.  But it takes all those "sounds" to reach the final product.  Those "blips & squeaks" are like blobs of paint on an artist's palate;  they don't look like much until the artist blends them together on a canvas to take the form of his subject. 

I also hear people say that they practice everyday during rehearsal, but that's not practice.  Practice is each individual working out their own part:  learning all the rhythms, fingerings, etc.  Rehearsal is all the individuals coming together to "polish" and reach the final product.

One of the best ways to ensure successful practice is to develop a routine, then stick with it!  Listed below are 5 questions that all musicians should ask themselves to help them practice successfully.

1. Where do I practice?
2. When do I practice?
3. What do I practice?
4. How long do I practice?
5. How often do I practice?

1.    Where do I practice?   Talk to Mom and Dad.  Maybe the best place for you to practice is your bedroom, basement, kitchen, barn, dad's office or wherever you can setup your studio.  Try to make this a place that you always practice, and keep your instrument, music, stand and pencil there at all times.

2.    When do I practice?    Try to establish a set practice time that you can use on an everyday basis.  Check out your schedule:  ball practice, piano lessons, swimming pool, or parent's work schedule.  You may not be able to practice the same time everyday, but if you "schedule" your practice sessions, they will more likely be easier to make time for.

3.    What do I practice?    First, establish a warm-up routine.  It can be similar to how you warm-up in band, but be sure to include technical exercises that work the fingers rapidly, lip slurs (brass), and percussionists should do rudiment work.  You can find these types of warm-ups in your technique book, especially those that are specifically designed for your instrument.  Those exercises are usually labeled "For (your instrument) Only" or "Something Special".

Scale Studies should be included in every practice session.  This serves two purposes.  First, scales represent key signatures.  If a song that you are working on is in a certain key, work on that scale.  Second, many songs move step-wise or scale-wise is rapid passages.  If you know the scale, you can play those rapid passages.

Next, work on the parts of songs that you are having trouble with.  Don't start at the beginning on all music and try to play it all the way through.  Mark your "trouble spots" with a pencil, and work on those.

Finally, if you have time left, play fun stuff, things that you can already play well.  Soon, you'll find that those sections that you once disliked you'll suddenly love to play, since now you can!

4.    How long do I practice?    30 minutes.  Beginning students may have trouble playing that long, so either break it up into two 15 minute sessions or keep practicing everyday to build up the endurance to last for 30 minutes.

Older students might be able to go longer, but everyone can work 30 minutes of practice into their schedule.

5.    How often do I practice?    Almost every study that I've ever read agree that repetition of practice is more important than length of practice.  That's why I suggest only 30 minutes at a time, but for 6 days a week.  That may seem like a lot to some, but I have found that this is one of the most successful combinations.

If you can't practice 6 days a week, try to practice at least 4 or 5 days every week.

I think that if everyone use these guidelines to develop their practice routine, success will be evident.  Playing a musical instrument is very rewarding when you can actually play it.

Now, stop reading this and go practice!!!!