Practice Tips for Orchestra
The hardest thing about playing a string instrument is intonation (playing
in tune!) This is even a challenge for some adult players, so always
be sure you are listening very carefully to what you are playing. Use
these tips and suggestions to help you improve your skills and enjoy more
success!
3 Essential Things needed for Practice:
1) Music Stand 2) Pencil 3) Your music
Beginner Level
1. Make sure your bow is properly rosined and tightened!
2. Play some long notes on open strings and check your right hand
position. Also be sure to place the bow correctly on the string, and
draw it across with even speed and pressure.
3. Now work on your assigned lesson in your book. Be sure to
keep checking your left hand position and listen for intonation!
4. Play each song at least 3 times. Each time, try to improve
something: your sound, intonation, hand position, or tempo.
5. Write down your practice minutes in your book so that the teacher
can check it!
Middle Level
1. Begin with a scale. Play a different scale each day (D Major,
G Major, C Major - all the scales you know.)
2. Check your left and right hands for correct position.
3. Check your bow hold, speed, and placement on the strings for your
best possible tone.
4. Work on your newest assignment, correcting mistakes as you hear
them. Be sure to listen for intonation, dynamics, correct rhythms and
tempo, and bowing.
5. Try adding a metronome to your practice routine! Start slowly
and increase your speed on scale studies. When you become used to moving your
fingers quickly, faster songs seem less difficult!
6. Play some familiar songs to end your practice session. Then,
record your practice minutes on your Practice Journal.
7. If you are not taking private lessons already, this may be an excellent
time to start. Now that you are a little better at playing, taking a
weekly private lesson can give you some extra music to work on and allow you
to concentrate on exactly what YOU need to improve upon! You may ask
your school instructor for a list of private teachers.
Advanced Level
1. If you have made it this far, you are probably going to continue
playing your instrument through your senior year of high school, or maybe
even in college! Your commitment level should match your ability level,
and therefore, you still need to practice and keep up your skills!
2. Continue doing a short warm up session, using scale studies.
Try playing them using different rhythms and increasing the tempo.
3. Make sure you are playing musically, using correct style,
dynamics, phrasing, and bowing.
4. Challenge yourself with more difficult pieces and styles.
You may purchase additional books and music to give you new things to practice.
The more difficult a piece is, the higher your skill level will be once you
have mastered it, even if it takes months!
5. Look for opportunities to play with others in small ensembles.
Perhaps start a quartet of your own, and rehearse a repertoire of songs to
perform. There will always be numerous events and activities that will
request music: awards ceremonies, weddings, school events, and community functions.
Get out there and play!
Related Links:
Summer
String Camps - click on Fiddle Links, then Fiddle Camps
Music Home Page
/ Pine-Richland School District
Home Page / Elementary Music
/ Middle School Music / High School Music /
Music Faculty / Student
Resources / Parent Resources
