WBMS Orchestra

James Barket, Director

www.jamesbarketweb.net/WBMS.html

Dear Parents;

 

Practice is very important for your child’s progress in orchestra.  I would like you to help your child form a regular practice schedule. All students should have the appropriate volume of Essential Elements (6th—vol. 2, 7th & 8th vols. 2 & 3) and each student should purchase a book of melodies—preferably one that has at least 20-30 melodies. Here are some examples, but your child is not limited to these: Suzuki Method (several volumes of traditional melodies); Strictly Classics (two volumes of traditional melodies); Beautiful Music for Two String Instruments (four or five volumes of great duets). This should be the bulk of your child’s practice. I will send home practice music periodically as well. All students should be practicing a minimum of 90 minutes per week.

 

Please sign below to verify that your child has worked out this weekly practice routine with you. Please have your child return this form to me. I appreciate this!

 

This is a general outline for a good 30-minute practice routine.

 

1.        Warm-up with scales (Go over all scales in the book—try to do a different one each day)

A.      Play long tones and listen for intonation and check position for both left and right hands. Is bow always T-shaped to string? Is left wrist pulled out straight? Are left-hand fingers curved? Are both left and right hands relaxed and flexible?

B.       After scales, play something that you know well and that you like. But do this only for a few minutes and check your position.

                                (Warm-up should be about 5-8 minutes)

 

2.        Go over material that is difficult.

A.      Make certain that you practice coordination! Know you fingering cold and work out all shifts and string crossings. In general, this is how things should work: Your left-hand notes should be in place first. Next your bow should engage the string, and finally the bow pulls. Practice fast passages slow with quick preparation! Work out tricky bowings and rhythms with bow alone on an open string.

                (This should take about 10-12 minutes)

 

3.        Review selected material.

A.      This should include some of the difficult material you worked on the day before and today. In addition, you should end your practice with a piece that you like and that demonstrates your best playing. Do not end practice with the same piece every day, however.

                (Review should take about 8-10 minutes)

Your individual practice routine may differ from this, and you are not limited to 30 minutes. However, the above is intended to serve as an outline to help those who may not be practicing as efficiently as they could.

 

Practice Verification

 

                 My child                                                                has a set practice schedule that I monitor, and my child practices regularly!

 

                 My child                                                               has not completed the practice requirements

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                               

Parent Signature                                                                                   Date