Behind the Instrumental Music Department Practice Routines
We all have busy complicated lives with numerous commitments and distractions. Students are here at COCOSPA are here because they chose to attend a performing arts school. Adhering to a schedule or structure, is paramount to their success as an instrumental major at a rigorous institution.
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Being a successful musician requires that one acquires a base of knowledge and skills on their instrument that allows one to speak the universal language of music. These skills cannot be learned overnight or at the last minute. Musical skills are not like academic skills where cramming, can get one to pass a test the next day. Also unlike academics, one has to plan in order to obtain an environment conducive to practice. Practicing drums 11pm at night unless you have the space is impossible.
Musical skills are much like sports skills, in that they require muscle memory that is acquired over time. These skills are then in turn performed, with an ensemble which is much like playing team sports. If all these skills are looked at as a whole, they can appear daunting. This is where it is essential to have a practice routine.
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Practicing should be structured and developed with goals in mind. Whatever ones' goals are, one must work with a teacher to structurer a routine in order to get there as effectively as possible.
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If students do not practice, they hold back the rest of the group. An ensemble is only as good as it's worst player.
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Routines allow you to schedule yourself time for other activities whether they are leisurely or working towards academic/professional goals.
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Every great musician has developed some kind of a routine.
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I personally use a routine and will even take lessons with other professionals to monitor what and how it is I am practicing in order to fine tune things I cannot observe in myself. This is where it is important to acquire a great teacher. At the MS, HS level, even prodigious students have a teacher guiding them through practice materials.
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Please contact me and let me know if you need help with either finding a teacher, or to connect you to a teacher within our staff who can help. It is impossible for me to give one on one instruction to every instrumental student.
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These routines are designed to help guide students through what they need to know on their instruments which relates to repertoire handed out in class, and to basic skills needed on their instruments in general.
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We will do the best we can with making instructional videos and exercises whilst utilizing pre-approved videos already found on the internet.
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Routines will also be populated with exercises , etudes, transcriptions etc.. found in numerous traditional method books. By privy, this will inform our students of pedagogy through the lens of their instrument.
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