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Try to practice every day. Even if you are very busy, 15-20 minutes of focused practice
will work wonders. Practice more when you can (weekends, vacations, etc.) |
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Break up practice sessions into small time increments. Several hours of playing can
be physically and mentally draining. Practice for 15-20 minutes, take a break, STRETCH, get some water, then go
back. This keeps you mentally "in the game" and also helps avoid injury. |
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Find a quiet spot to practice. No TV, no radio, no outside disturbances. |
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Remember to stretch - right after warming up, during practice breaks, and after you
pack up. This assists flexibility and dexterity and will help avoid injury. |
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If possible, listen to a recording of the piece you are working on (your school or
public library may hold CDs and tapes of familiar works). This helps get the sound of the piece in your ear, and
may keep you from making some rhythm/pitch errors. |
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Learn your part slowly, allowing the notes and the shape of the phrases to really
sink in. |
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Once you are familiar with the notes, use a metronome to set a steady tempo. |
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If you are having difficulty with a passage that has a lot of notes, work slowly,
then use different techniques to "trick" your fingers into learning them. These may include: using different
rhythms, changing the bowing, playing the passage backwards, etc. Be creative! By using different thinking techniques,
you are learning the passage better. Also, use a metronome. Start slow, then click the tempo up two notches, play
it again. Do this until you can play the passage at or above tempo. |
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If possible, use a tuner (a mechanical drone that sustains a pitch) to hone intonation. |
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Sing your part, so you know how you want it to sound. Play and sing at the same time. |
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Spend some time away from your instrument with the music. Be able to hear the notes
in your mind. |
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Visualize images of the music - what "color" is the music? Is it describing
something? Does it tell a story? Sounds strange, but it works! |
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Record yourself. Listen to the tape. Write comments, make corrections and record
again. |
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Keep a practice journal. Write short- and long-term playing goals. Reflect on daily
practice sessions. Compose strategies to meet your goals. |
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Have a practice routine. Don't stop thinking, but always include the following in
your practice sessions: Warm-up (may include long, slow bows, scales and arpeggios, etc.), Technical exercises
(shifting, vibrato, etudes), and Repertoire (orchestra music, solos). |
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Practice should not equal drudgery. Find ways to make it fun and interesting. Dancing,
walking and/or singing while playing not only break monotony, but also help avoid tension. Create your own improvised
melodies on scales and chords. Learn your favorite song by ear. Remember why you started playing in the first place. |
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And finally, always remember that your teachers are there to answer questions and
help solve problems. If something comes up that you just can't get, ask your orchestra director, private teacher,
or section leader. |
