Many of my students are traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday, which necessitated a plan for make up lessons. This year, I decided to present a master class entitled “How to Practice” as a group make up lesson. Here’s what I passed out to my students. I hope you find this helpful for your own students. Feel free to copy it if you’d like. It’s currently geared toward percussion students, but 5 minutes of editing could make it applicable to any instrument.
Step One: Ask “Why Am I Practicing?”
Clarity is the key to effective, efficient practice. Every time you pick up a pair of drumsticks, ask yourself “what am I trying to accomplish?”. Be as specific as possible. Here is a list of potential reasons to practice (not all inclusive):
To work on a specific technique
- To work on a specific piece of music
- To explore a certain style of music
- To work on speed
- To work on endurance
- To increase your independence (one limb or four)
- To improve your sight reading
- To prepare for a specific performance
- To work on showmanship
- To relax
- To have fun
It’s perfectly okay to go into a practice session with the intent to relax and have fun. Playing your favorite songs and just messing around can be a great way to relieve stress. Make sure, however, that you’re aware you’re practicing to have fun and not to “get better.” [···]
