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| Helpful Hints |
| The first few weeks of learning to play a band instrument are especially important. Good practice habits need to be established at home from the the beginning and a parent(s) or guardian(s) can H E L P. H elp to set up the best possible practice facility.The area should be well-lit and free from other distractions, and should accommodate a straight chair and a music stand. If a CD player is available, the student will be able to play along with the Standard of Excellence Accompaniments CD which comes with the Standard Of Excellence Book. Newer versions of this book come with interactive CD which, when loaded onto a computer, will provide your child with practice aids including a tuner, a metronome, and even the ability to take playing tests at home and e-mail the results to the director. E stablish a regular time and routine for practice session. A thirty minute daily practice schedule is adequate. Students should begin with warm-up exercises, and then move into the assigned material. Troublesome parts should be isolated and worked out before the entire song / exercise is repeated. Students should end the practice session with a few favorites, just for fun! L isten enthusiastically to your child's practicing. Recognize his/her efforts with a comment such as, "I really liked the sound of the low tones on the piece." You are the audience your child will most appreciate. P articiipate in our three-way partnership: parent(s) / gardian(s), students, and teacher working together to make band an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Start by reinforcing your child's practice routine. Acknowledge his/her home practice time on the Practice Record Booklet. Enjoyment in playing a band instrument and a desire to practice come with success: success is the result of dedicated practice. Together, we can guide your child on the road to those great rewards. |