Member Practice & Preparation Guide

 
 
 

Use this guide to:

Increase musicianship

Be better prepared for rehearsals and performances

Increase your confidence and reduce stress

Heighten your focus on the musical issues

 

To improve technique, practice:

Chromatics, major and minor scales

Technical etudes

Remingtons

Base pattern/roll exercises

To develop tone and strength, practice:

Long tones with dynamics

Flexibility exercises (registers, lip slurs)

Embochure / mouthpiece buzzing exercises

Percussion stroke, roll, accent exercises

 

Rehearsal Best Practices

  • Isolate difficult passages, breaking them down to the small elements to guarantee success; practice within the context of the broader piece and your part’s role in the piece

  • Go “beyond the notes” - articulation, expression, style

  • Make musical decisions - dynamics, vibrato, breath/phrasing, creativity

  • Listen to the repertoire, professional performances or other ensembles who have performed the piece

  • Set aside time outside of weekly rehearsal for your practice

  • Opt for shorter, more focused sessions

  • Practice slowly, focus on precision, isolate small sections to focus on

  • Use a metronome, progress in small increments, work up to tempo

  • Minimize mistakes, focus on consistent fingerings through repetition