Practice Routines for Musicians

Downloadable Practice Routines -> Poster
Productive Practice Tips -> Poster

Playing outside of class/lesson time can be difficult (time, place. etc.) for musicians, but is truly the key to self-improvement and mastery. Even with limited time, understanding how to establish a productive practice routine and will get you there.

(This routine fits a 30 to 60 minute practice session)

Putting Structure to Independent Practice Routine

Adjust times proportional to the time you have. Don’t skip a decent warm up ever.

I. WARM UP

🎵 (5 to 10 minutes) Try to cover each item, even if it’s just 1 exercise.

Long Tones (mid range notes, mid-low, to mid-high)
Tuning (through different ranges)
Embouchure (overtones)
Fingers (Scale patterns – chromatic, major-minor, arpeggios)

🎼 GOAL: Loosen embouchure/reed, center tone in each range, tune.

II. TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT

🎵 (10 to 20 minutes) Choose one a week and concentrate mostly on that area.

Tone (Long tones, tuning w/tuner)
Flexibility (Overtones, intervals, articulation challenges – wide slurs)
Range (practice in ranges not normally covered -low/high)
Tonguing (Varied articulations -consistency)
Technique (fingers/slides – speed in all keys)

🎼 GOAL: Breath control, endurance, muscle memory, mastery in all areas.

III. PREPARED PIECES

🎵 (10 to 20 minutes) Use this time to rehearse performance pieces.

Performance pieces (concert repertoire)
Playing assessment pieces
Recital/audition material

🎼 GOAL: Be productive! Work on improving weaknesses instead of playing through music you’ve already mastered.

IV. SIGHT READING

🎵 (5 to 10 minutes) Play through something you haven’t played before.

In a variety of styles, difficulties, time and key signatures.
- This is when songbooks, method books, or 1st Place Etudes are useful.

Practice Routines for Musicians