8 PRACTICE

HACKS F O R
MUSICIANS

caleb hudson
hudsontrumpet.com
 HACKS PAGE TWO
NICE TO MEET YOU
Welcome, and thanks for checking out my 8 Practice Hacks Packet, which
is a more in-depth version of my YouTube video! If you're here, you are
looking for ways to make practicing more effective, efficient, and
enjoyable. There are no shortcuts to meaningful growth. The pursuit of
mastery in any art form requires diligence, creativity and perspective.
These "hacks" are very useful for cultivating these skills. I tour full time
with Canadian Brass, perform as a soloist around the world, and teach
trumpet at the University of North Texas College of Music.

The following are tools I use regularly

-- in fact, my students do as well.

Be sure to keep checking

hudsontrumpet.com/sheetmusic
to see an updated list of my
compositions & arrangements as well
as tips & methods.

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube

channel and hit the notification bell
for more content like this.... and
better!

ALL MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND AT

kit.co/hudsontrumpet

Caleb hudson HudsonTrumpet

hudsontrumpet.com
PRACTICE HACKS Grab a Dry-Erase Sticky Note .
Write your top three musical goals with a
dry-erase (or wet-erase) marker. These goals
can be musical and/or technical.
Examples: Improve tonguing speed; better
posture; gentle phrase endings
Adhere 4 velcro squares on the back.
Slap it to your case interior.
When you open your case every day, your
top goals will be there waiting for you!

Keep this notebook in your case at all times.

Make a list of your monthly goals. They can
range from performing for family to
presenting a solo recital or taking a
professional audition. Try to always have
goals in mind for the following 3 months.
Organize your entire weekly practice
schedule by listing the times you plan to
practice each day. Use an erasable
pen/pencil to allow yourself flexibility.
Organize your daily practice into purposeful
sessions with specific goals. On the
opposite page, keep detailed practice
notes. ALL MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND AT
kit.co/hudsontrumpet
 HACKS PAGE FOUR
Take a dry-erase marker (or permanent) and
write musical variables on your dice: dynamics on
one, tempo on another, keys, articulation, scale
quality, etc.
If there are any empty spaces on a dice, write
“wild,” giving you the element of choice.
Incorporate this into any aspect of your
practicing. I enjoy using this method for scale
work. For example, I might roll a combination
such as: C# Dorian, staccato, fortissimo, at
quarter note = 116.
This approach forces you to address certain
variables that you might unknowingly neglect.
Also, it's FUN.

Use the TONAL ENERGY app for an

enhanced practice experience.
It includes a tuner, metronome, recorder, 4. APP ATTACK
tonal analysis, & variable speed playback.
Other nerdy features includes harmonic
analysis, non-equal temperaments (just
intonation), and limitless tuner calibration.

ALL MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND AT

kit.co/hudsontrumpet
 HACKS PAGE FIVE

Use the ANYTUNE app.

5. loop
PRO TIP: Practice your
repertoire by fragmenting into
small excerpts. Use ANYTUNE
to start SLOW and loop an
excerpt, resting in between
each attempt. Use the rest as
an opportunity to focus on your
goal for the next repetition.
Import your audio track and enjoy the
variety of features.
You can playback in any key and any speed.
You can also choose a section of the audio to
loop over and over again. Even more, you
can customize how it plays the loops. My
favorite is the timed loop, in which it rests in
between playbacks, allowing me to play the
excerpt in between.
There is even a function that increases the
speed incrementally each time, allowing you
to progress with minimal disruption.
I also LOVE to use this app for memorization.

Organize your practice sessions into 25

minute segments and use a timer
Before you start, be sure to have specific,
attainable goals in mind
Concentrate with intense focus during this
timed session
When the timer goes off, be sure to REST,
even if you want to continue. Depending on
the nature of the session, I like to rest at
least 10-15 minutes between two sessions.
After two consecutive sessions, I prefer to
rest at least 60 minutes. This is especially
important for brass players. However, if
possible, frequent and short session bursts
are highly effective. ALL MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND AT
kit.co/hudsontrumpet
 HACKS PAGE SIX

I cannot recommend this ENOUGH!

PRO TIP: Share your videos
easily with a trusted teacher,
friend or colleague. Critique,
Analysis and Support from
other trusted sources is so
important.
Create a google photos album dedicated to
your practicing. Use it to upload regular practice
videos (upload images as well if that is useful).
Label your videos with keywords that refer to
the repertoire and/or concepts & discoveries
that were prevalent. Google automatically dates
the entries and organized by date.
The most useful aspect of this is the potential to
see your own growth. Sometimes it is very
difficult to see the progress we make because
of the incremental nature. This "Vid Vault" is a
great way to see improvement plain as day.

The GO KIT is for the EVER-PREPARED,

ALWAYS-READY musician.
I keep this little pack in my case at all times.
Inside: Erasable Pens, Pentel Pencil, Expo
Marker, Post-it Tabs, mini toothbrush,
toothpaste, Compact mirror, and ear plugs.
I also keep the notepad and practice dice in my
case.

ALL MATERIALS CAN BE FOUND AT

kit.co/hudsontrumpet