Hopper Orchestra

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Daily practice is the lifeblood of our orchestra program. You must practice in order to reinforce concepts covered in class and to develop the necessary skills on your instrument to become a top-notch musician. A big part of learning to play an instrument is self-discovery.

 

At Hopper, students are expected to take their instruments home EVERYDAY. You will never have a day where you don't have something to work on. The only excuse for not taking your instrument home is practicing before or after school here in the orchestra room.

 

Have a practice system:

Warm-up Time: Play through the warm-up exercises introduced in class. Don't just go through the motions! LISTEN to what is coming out of your instrument and BE INVOLVED in trying to make it better!

 

Building Time: This time should be spent working on specific practice assignments (lines from the book, scales, music from orchestra, etc.). Try to make at least one thing perfect every day.

 

Performance Time: This time is dedicated to performing musical works selected by you. Make time to play music that you enjoy.

 

Practice Hints:

1. Choose a room that is quiet and free of distractions...no TV or radio.

 

2. Be sure to use proper seating and playing position.

 

3. USE A MUSIC STAND.

 

4. Use a metronome.

 

5. Break down hard passages into SMALL segments.

 

6. Practice at a SLOW tempo.

 

7. Gradually increase tempos.

 

8. Practice for results, not just to "put in time."

 

9. Realize that there are some things you can fix in one practice session while other things may have to develop over time.

 

10. Play for your parents. Let them see and hear what you are doing in class.

 

11. At the beginning of each practice session, determine what your main goals are so that you don't lose focus.

 

12. Keep a record of your practice time including date practiced, minutes practiced, your goals, and what you accomplished.

 

How much do I practice?

In order for a student to progress on an instrument at the expected rate, a regular practice routine must be followed.

 

Not everyone will progress within the same amount of time, but here are some general guidelines:

 

• A beginner in the first six weeks of study should practice about 20-25 minutes per day. A beginner should increase this time to 30-45 minutes per day starting in the second six weeks.

 

• A second or third year player should plan on practicing at least 30 minutes per day, but, preferably, more like 45 to 60 minutes. This may be broken up into two sections (for example, 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon).

 

• Occasional days off are fine, of course, but in order to maintain consistency, a student should practice at least five days a week. Taking more than 2 days off in a row should NEVER be allowed!

 

• It is better to practice in 30-45 minute "chunks" on a daily basis than it is to practice for longer periods on just one or two days per week.

 

As mentioned above, the student should have a plan and make sure his or her practice is "focused" and not done simply for the sake of putting in time on the instrument.