"PRACTICE ONLY ON THE DAYS THAT YOU EAT"

When to Practice

• Stick to a daily routine that you, your family, and your friends will respect

• Practice at approximately the same time every day in 30-minute intervals

• Practice at a time when you are mentally and physically alert

• Practice at a time when there are no distractions

Where to Practice

• Practice in a place free from TV, phone, stereo, other people, etc.

• Practice in a place where you can hear yourself play (like a bathroom!)

• Practice in a place where you feel comfortable

Equipment

• For good posture, use a chair with a straight back and no arms

• Use a music stand; also for good posture

• Use a mirror to view hand body and embouchure position

• Use a metronome to develop good rhythmic coordination

• Rely on a cassette recorder to hear what you really sound like

What to Practice

• Start with warm-ups: long tones, lip slurs, scales, etc.

• Play through your band music: concert music, method book, etc.

• Work on your private lesson music as assigned by your teacher

• Learn and refine your solo & ensemble music

• Do sight reading; use any music you can find

• Choose other music you like (only after everything else is finished)