Practice Tips

For helping your musician achieve success in practice

1. Give your musician a place to practice. Allow them to play uninterrupted in a quiet place that is accommodating and comfortable.

2. Expect them to practice in a regular manner with quality work. It is a wise thing to discuss music often with your child, as well as to set aside time in the day designated solely to practice. This schedule should be firm but flexible to changing events. For the Debut and Academy musicians, students should practice at least half an hour a day, five to six days a week. For Conservatory musicians, students should practice 45 minutes to an hour per day. It should be understood that additional musical involvement (i.e. private lessons, school) may require more practice time. Being in SOGO is a responsibility, and we expect the musicians to put in the necessary time to adequately learn and prepare their music. Sometimes orchestra parts will be difficult enough to require outside help. It should also be noted that the quality of practice is valued, not the quantity.

Additionally, it is a smart decision to play classical music in the musicians’ environment as much as possible because it acts as a catalyst for successful learning as well as interest in the arts. Classical King FM 98.1 in Seattle (streaming online at King.org) is a great source of classical music. Saturday evenings King FM offers NPR’s “From the Top”, a showcase of young talent in America.

3. Be aware there are different ways to practice. Musicians can break down pieces by aspect, and learn and work on those aspects separately. Additionally, practice can include studying a part, studying music theory, and so on. When possible, buy recordings of current pieces so the musician can listen and understand the composition of the piece. Auditory learning is essential to becoming a better musician, and will assist in the success of practice.

4. Keep open communications about practicing. Rehearsing can involve a lot of emotions, positive and negative. Thus, it is necessary to be open to talking about it as much as the student wants. Understand where your musician is coming from. They can feel a lot of pressure from rehearsals, peers, school, etc. Understand that you are there to help your musician succeed, not to force them. Sometimes, you will need to find out what motivates your musician, but at the same time, by practicing, your student is showing self-motivation, as well as maturity.

~Compiled by Student Board