Happy Fall!
We’re a month into our 2022/2023 orchestra season, and enrollment is still growing! It’s been a great month of getting to know each other, learning how to play in a group, and being challenged with exploring new skills and new musical styles. If you’d like to join the orchestra, it’s not too late – register today or drop us an email if you have questions!
Quick Reminders:
- There are NO rehearsals on Monday, October 10th, but there IS a rehearsal this Thursday, October 13th.
- There will be NO rehearsal on Monday, October 31st, for the Fiddlinists group only.
Tips for Creating a Practice Routine
Choose a good space for practicing
Whether it’s a corner of your living room, your bedroom, or a dedicated music room, staying focused and building good practice habits is easier if you always practice in the same place.
Keep the essentials handy (and distractions far away)
Try to keep your practice space free of distractions, like pets, other people, the TV, or your cell phone. But keep your instrument, your music, and essential practice tools readily accessible so you don’t have to go looking for them when you’re ready to practice (or when it’s time to leave for rehearsal!).
Make a schedule
Choose a time of day that works best for you, whether that’s first thing in the morning, right after school, or in the evening. And be honest about which days of the week you’ll be able to practice on, and how long you can stay focused. You’ll be more successful (and happier!) if you make a realistic plan that you can stick to, rather than trying to squeeze your practice into five minutes here and there. Keep a practice log, and reward yourself for meeting your goals!
Do you have a pencil? (And is it sharp?)
Here are a few things to keep in your practice space – and it’s even better if you have a music bag to keep everything in, so that you’re always ready to go to your lesson or rehearsal!
- a sharpened pencil (or two)
- a good quality eraser that doesn’t smudge
- a few paper clips and binder clips
- a tuner
- a metronome
- removable/repositionable sticky notes & translucent sticky tabs
- a notebook
- a solid but portable music stand
- your sheet music and your instrument!
Don’t forget your Bow Buddy, mute(s), and any other extra items that you are using, and it’s also a good idea to have spare strings on hand!
