Parent s Guide For The Young Musician s Practice Experience

Transcription

1 Marc Whitlock

2 Parent s Guide For The Young Musician s Practice Experience The Environment of Practice This is the first step a parent must take to ensure a successful practice session The Sounds of Practice 1 There are several sounds that you should be hearing when your child is practicing Parent Practice What can you do to assist your child? Helpful Tools Tools that can truly enhance your child s practice experience The Sounds of Practice 2 What you should NOT hear Online Resources Online links that can help you and your child achieve!

3 The Environment of Practice 1) Relaxed and quiet Similar to studying any other academic subject, practicing an instrument is a mental process. The practice environment should be as similar to a library as possible, except that your child can make lots of good sounds here.

4 The Environment of Practice 2) Correct Temperature The temperature range of degrees is needed for the wind instrument to have the best chance to play in tune, with a temperature of 72 degrees being ideal.

5 The Environment of Practice 3) Sturdy Chair and Music Stand It is vital that the child s practice space allow them to sit or stand in the same position they do in band class. A sturdy chair is important to help them sit in the correct posture. The child should never have to bend over to read their music, and a practice stand will allow the student to view their music exactly as they do on band class.

6 The Environment of Practice 4) Use a Mirror It is imperative that students always check their embouchure to ensure it is being formed correctly, as this concept will be covered in class and illustrations often occur in the beginning of most band method books. A locker mirror or other small mirror on their music stand will work well.

7 The Sounds of Practice 1) The Beeping of a metronome There is NO better tool for tempo control! For home practice, students should use a metronome 95% of the time. This will help them keep steady tempo. Tempo Standard Timing Technical Control Consistency Ensemble Practice

8 The Sounds of Practice 2) Counting and Clapping Counting out rhythms (like learning to read words) and then combining those rhythms with steady tempo will help your child develop motor skills and learn the concept of simultaneous responsibilities. Please make sure your child is counting rhythms aloud Use the 1, 2, 3, 4 system Basics In Rhythm is a wonderful resource! Add clapping to counting Use 1 e + a for complex rhythms Use a metronome

9 The Sounds of Practice 3) Note-naming Students should be saying the note names out loud while reading the staff lines of music for class. This should also be done with a metronome, and ultimately, while fingering or positioning the notes being spoken. Start by learning/reviewing the musical alphabet, and here are two great Note Trainer is a fantastic resource, and it s free! resources: Note Trainer and Musictheory.net Say the notes names out loud in time with rhythm Add fingerings while singing the notes or counting the rhythms to promote simultaneous responsibility. Let s practice an example on the next slide:

10 The Sounds of Practice 3a) Application of Note Naming Review the notes and rhythm Say the notes names out loud with rhythm using a slow to moderate tempo Add fingerings to note naming Finally, use air and finger to practice consistency, then play music full out Practicing a little each day will ensure greater ability!

11 The Sounds of Practice 4) Essential Sounds Breathing: Air exercises, Breathing Gym, number system of breathing Stretch and Flap (for brass players) Using mouthpiece/headjoint: Students should be working on their sound with Breathing Gym is the best lung development program out there! just the mouthpiece, mouthpiece and barrel, or head joint. This sound might be slightly irritating (especially with beginners), but it is crucial to their development of correct embouchure and tone quality. They should work for a steady sound that does not waver. Use long tones to achieve this goal.

12 The Sounds of Practice 4) Long Tones The first sounds a student should make on their assembled instrument should be long and smooth tones. This will greatly enhance tone quality over time. Their tone quality is one of the most important aspects of learning their instrument during the early years. Remington s and Flow Studies really help tone quality! Again, they should work for a steady sound that does not waver. Playing into a tuner with an open and relaxed sound, and keeping the needle perfectly steady can REALLY help achieve this.

13 The Sounds of Practice 2 This is what the parents should NOT hear! Just the Music? Silence.

14 PARENT Practice What can you do to assist your child? Make every attempt to ensure you are helping your child practice the correct way, with a good quality instrument, emulating the band program s philosophy and regimen. All parents can help their child practice by doing any or all of the following: Create A Healthy Environment Being involved is a great way to promote high quality learning! Scheduled Times Performances At Home Ask Questions Observe Your Child Practice The quality of daily home practice time directly impacts their playing level on their instruments!

15 Helpful Tools Tools that can truly enhance your child s practice experience Most importantly, your child must have a quality horn with supplies, as these and other tools can help your child s practice experience to be the best it can be: Cleaning Care Kit Valve Oil Tuning Slide Grease Soft Cloth Mouthpiece Brush Flex Brush or Snake Other Tools Metronome Pencil Mirror Wire Music Stand Practice doesn t make perfect, PERFECT practice makes perfect!"

16 Online Resources Online links that can help you and your child achieve! Band Instrument Care - Online Metronome - Woodwind Fingering Charts - Brass Fingering Charts - MORE Fingering Charts - Music Theory practice and lessons - Percussion Rudiments - WAY MORE percussion stuff -

17 Online Resources pg. 2 Online links that can help you and your child achieve! Music Racer - SpeedNote for Keyboard - Theta Music Trainer - Breathing Gym - Instrument Care and Maintenance - SmartMusic practice system (the very best) - SmartMusic Videos for help - There are many other sites that can help. Be sure to talk with your child s music teacher for additional sources.

18 Mr. Marc Whitlock currently serves as the band director for Discovery Middle School in the Plymouth-Canton school district in Canton, Michigan, which consists of over 220 students in grades 6 through 8. Class offerings include two brass classes, two percussion classes, two woodwind classes, and three concert bands, and have opportunities to perform in chamber ensembles, percussion ensembles, and other small instrumental groups throughout the year. He has also been a band director at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas, and Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois. During his time as a high school band director, his bands have earned 14 state championships, and three Bands of American Grand National Championships. His bands have also performed for the Presidential Inauguration and the Music For All National Concert Band Festival. Other honors include being selected to represent the state of Michigan in the School Band and Orchestra magazine special edition, 50 Band Directors Who Make A Difference, instructing selected performers for the NBA All-Star game, the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and was a founding staff member of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He has received certificates of commendation from Plymouth High School, the state of New Jersey, the state of Kentucky, Outstanding Young Men of America, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society of Education, and Who s Who Among America s Teachers. Mr. Whitlock was formerly the brass manager for the Tony and Emmy award winning Broadway production of Blast! Mr. Whitlock has been actively involved in the drum corps activity since 1980 and has been in demand as a specialist/clinician for many corps, such as the Blue Stars, Cadets, Carolina Crown, Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, Star of Indiana, and most recently with the Madison Scouts. Mr. Whitlock has performed as a clinician, adjudicator, visual designer, percussion arranger, wind arranger, and/or music instructor across the U.S. and Europe, and is also an adjudicator for ISSMA, MSBOA, DCI, MCGC, and Bands of America/Music For All. Contact Info Marc Whitlock whitlock1@gmail.com