Band Room News

Week of May 30

Thanks to all of you for a wonderful school year! Please be sure to take home your instruments (and play a bit!) this summer. If you are interested, check out our Summer Lessons Registration. See you in August! 

-Mrs. Baldwin


Practice Tips & Tricks Helpful tips for Band Parents

Set up a time for practice in your fall-schedule that includes 10-25 minutes per day of instrument practice. This may need to be modified as sports & activities change.

Possibly before dinner, after completing a certain subject of homework, or on specific weekend days/times

Be sure it works for your family and is flexible

Note: the band room is open for practice everyday before school at 7:30am.

Help your child to follow the schedule.

Most students will NOT always want to practice. This is normal!

I remember my Mom fighting with me (now a career musician) to practice my trumpet. Once my trumpet was out, I enjoyed it and played more. It’s okay to push! The passion and desire will come, just not immediately.

Give your band student positive feedback on their practice progress at home. This is HUGE! They won’t want to practice if they think that they don’t sound good or aren’t making progress. Progress is often slow, but it all adds up over time!

Set up mini-concerts for students to perform for families, friends, animals, you name it! Performing helps make practice fun AND helps them to hone their skills in a comfortable environment.


Practice Tips for Students Pick the time & days you will practice Find a quiet place in your home to practice (distraction-free) Practice with good posture, including using a music stand and chair! Practice your assignments from band, sheet music, and anything fun. A general recommendation is 10-15 minutes per session, but can be as long as 30-minutes.



Recommended Practice Routine

1. Warm-up slow with long-tones and other warm-ups from class.

2. Set 3 small goals for your practice session.

3. Work carefully & efficiently on each piece. Go back to fix mistakes, don’t play past them.

4. Reflect on your practice, and set new goals for next time!

5. Be patient and use as many practice tools as is necessary to help with tough material.

Tackling Something Tough

1. Choose a small segment of a piece – no more than 2 measures

2. Write the rhythm below a tricky passage

a. Double check your writing to be sure it fits the time signature

b. Count and clap the rhythm aloud

c. Play the rhythm on one pitch

d. Play the rhythm on the pitches originally marked – tongue everything

e. Play the rhythm with correct articulations

f. Play the passage with correct dynamics


3. Slow it down and check the details

a. Key signatures, time signatures, and accidentals

b. Notes, rhythms, tempo, articulations

c. Dynamics and phrasing


4. Speed it up, record yourself, and listen!


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