How to Motivate Students to Practice

Often it is apparent that a student is eager to participate in the band program, but has trouble keeping up with regular practice. The recommended time is 20 to 30 minutes each day. Here are some suggestions on getting more out of your time:

1. Set a regular time for practice each day. i.e. right after school, before or after dinner, etc.
   
   
2. Find a place where you can practice without interruption. i.e. spare room, basement, bedroom, etc.-any place where the student can go at the same time every day.
   
   
3. Set small goals. Playing one measure or one line of music correctly is better than playing an entire page incorrectly. Bite off small bites that you can chew!
   
   
4. Set the music a little lower than eye level, as you do with a computer screen. A music stand is best.
   
   
5. Practice with a friend. The Yamaha, Standard of Excellence and many other "band method" books are written so that all instruments can practice and play together.
   
   
6. Listen to professional performers who play your instrument. Click Here for recommendations of good players to listen to on tape or CD.
   
   
7. Have a more experienced friend or relative tutor once in a while.
   
   
8. Private instructors can be very helpful for students who want to learn at a faster pace or might need additional lessons. A list of qualified teachers is usually available at your school.
   
   

These few steps should provide the student with the tools that they need in order to become an outstanding band participant!

MIDI Files for Improv. Patterns

Links to Web Sites with MIDI Files

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Altissimo - the extreme upper register of the saxophone or other woodwind instruments. On saxophone, it is sometimes referred to as the "Third Octave".

Diaphragm - the muscle (or group of muscles) in the stomach area which help push air out of the lungs. For example: Try putting your hand on your stomach and cough. You should feel your stomach muscles tighten when you cough. This is your diaphragm working naturally.

Diaphragmatic Breathing - simply put, breathing from the diaphragm.

Diaphragmatic Support - simply put, supporting the sound of a note with the muscles of the diaphragm. A supported note will have a full, steady tone. An unsupported note can sound unsteady and often it is hard to play in tune.

Embouchure - the way you set your facial muscles around the mouth to play a musical instrument. A correct embouchure setting and breathing from the diaphragm should result in a good tone.

Oral Cavity - the area inside your mouth. Try saying different vowel sounds like A, E, I, O to feel how the tongue position changes. When the tongue moves to a different spot in the mouth, the oral cavity changes as well.

Symmetric Scales - scales of limited transposition, such as Diminished and Whole Tone scales which are used in improvisation. There are only 3 Half/Whole Diminished scales and 2 Whole Tone scales, however they can be used to play in all 12 keys. You can cover a lot of ground by learning only 5 scales and the corresponding patterns!

*The above definitions are not from a dictionary, but worded just the way I would describe them in a private lesson. This is the way I think of the terms, but it may differ slightly from the actual meaning.

Contact me if anything seems unclear or incorrect. Hey, I'm a sax player, not a doctor. :-)