Practice Strategies

Below is a list of various practice strategies. Use this as a guide on different ways to get better at 
your instrument and your music! ​Happy Practicing! 

Strategy  Description  Action 

● Play each section very slowly.
Slow motion. Slow it ● Go for accuracy and try to get every note exactly
1 SLO’ MO’ down. Get it right. right.
● Speed it up little by little once you get the hang of it!
● Break each section down into 1 or 2 note pieces.
2 CHUNK IT!  Break down the music
into smaller parts.
● Once you play these two notes right, add 1 more,
and then 1 more….
● A pencil can save you hundreds of hours of
frustration.
Get that pencil out and
3 Pencil Power!  write stuff in!
● Write in things to remember what your director told
you.
● Keep a pencil in your band binder.
● Play each section through five times without ANY
Play each section
mistakes.
4 FIVE TIMES BEATS THE GRIND!  through five times ● If you mess up, go back and start all over
perfectly before going on. again...and again…and again…

THINK IT, SEE IT, For those times when you ● Baby bro is sleeping and you can’t practice?
● On a road trip in the car for 10 hours?
5 can have your music out ● Get out your music and speak some of your
DO IT! but not your instrument! rhythms and finger through your part on a pencil.

Go on to something you ● Frustrated?

● We all get to this point.
do well then come back
6 FORGETTA ’BOUT IT!  to the challenging
● De-stress by going back to something you can play
really well and once you feel good again, hit the
section. challenging sections.
● Maybe you’re not the next contestant on Idol or the
Voice, but singing the passage out loud as if no one
Sing it loud and sing it
7 IDOL AUDITION  proud!
is listening will make you better faster!
● Try to sing the exact same pitches as your
instrument.

SIMPLE THOUGHTS  Sometimes it helps to go

● Slow down your brain.
8 REALLY ARE  back to the basics – so it
might be time to break it
● Break everything down into its smallest part.
Success comes quickly this way.
SIMPLE!  down!
Get on your computer, or ● Listening to yourself on a recording is a great way
your ipod, or anything to hear what’s REALLY coming out of your
9 RECORD YOURSELF that records and have a instrument.
recording session! ● Plus you can send it to your friends and family!

M. Gupta REV 6.12.20

 Practice Strategies
Play in time with a
10 Metronome  metronome helps you
learn how to play in time
Embrace your inner
Slytherin and hiss
11 Hisssss & Finger  through the rhythms and
finger through your
music.
“Listen” while you  Use recordings and
12 follow along with your
work  music
Count using the smaller
13 S-u-b-d-i-v-i-d-e  divisions of beats
● Search for “online” metronome
● Turn up the volume on your Chromebook OR use
earphones/ buds
● Select a speed
● Turn it on
● Count out loud to start ex ( 1 + 2 + 3 + [take in a
deep breath on beat 4] play)
● Remember you can make the tempo slower and
increase it a “click” at a time as you learn the music.
● Hold your instrument so you can finger through the
music
● Use fast air to make a “sssssss” sound
● Use your tongue to separate any notes that are
articulated
● Vary your airstream as you articulate staccato,
tenuto, marcato and accented notes
● Use the recordings provided by your teacher and
listen to the music
● As you listen, try to follow along with your
instrument in hand
● See if you can keep up with the recordings
● Listen for qualities that you admire and listen for
mistakes
● Look at the time signature
● Make sure you’re always counting to the
appropriate number of beast in each measure
● Make sure you are counting precisely in time (use a
metronome to help you!)
● When possible subdivide down to the eighth note
(or 16th note if you’re feelin’ fancy!)

Take your mouthpiece off ● Make sure you have a reference pitch for the first
note you’re about to buzz
and buzz your part.
14 buzzzzzzzz it  Buzzing your part will
● Take off the mouthpiece and buzz your part
● Use enough air so that the notes you are buzzing
increase your flexibility. are the correct partials
Scales are the foundation ● Make sure to look at your key signature

Scales 
of your playing. The ● Practice scales with the correct fingerings
15 more comfortable you are ●
●
Practice as many octaves as you can
Practice scales with different articulations- just for
with scales, the easier
your music will be. the fun of it!

● Sit up tall
● Take a deep breathe- below your belly

16 looooong tones  Helps your overall tone

production
●
●
Keep your embouchure steady as you start playing
Pro-tip: it doesn’t have to be loud! The softer you
play the easier it is to maintain a longer long tone.
● Don’t cheat. : )

M. Gupta REV 6.12.20

 Practice Strategies
● Make sure are playing with well supported sounds
● Don’t tune at the beginning of your practice...wait
until your instrument is warmed up
use a tuner to help you
17 Stop, Drop and TUNE achieve your bestest
● Make adjustments on your instrument
● Flat = push in
sound ● Sharp = pull out
● More advanced players: certain notes can be
played in tune by adjusting your embouchure

M. Gupta REV 6.12.20