Planning

As you practice, it is important to have clear goals.

Try this: The magic sentence

Here is what I call the magic sentence,
" I have X minutes and I want to work on A, B, and C."
This sentence, said thoughtfully at the beginning of a practice session, can work wonders in your playing. It helps you to intelligently allocate your time. It also helps to maintain a certain sense of urgency to your efforts. Rather than aimlessly wallowing in one randomly chosen etude after another, you should have a clear notion of: (1) what you want to achieve, (2) why that goal is important and (3) how much time you can budget for that goal on this day.

Setting Specific Goals

Just as you plan each practice session, you should have a plan of your week's practice. Once a week, have a "meeting" with yourself. Think about your progress from the last week. Plan out in detail what you wish to achieve in the next week. For big results, set small goals. In other words, don't choose lofty, vague goals that can't be translated into specific practice efforts. Here are some examples of good weekly goals:

• Learn to play the F-sharp minor and G minor scales at quarter note=96 over two octaves. Play them accurately without hesitation and with minimal tension in the slide arm.
• Circle problem passages in the Ewazen Sonata and play them slowly without the tongue. Alternate between slow and fast versions. Be able to play them three times in a row, no misses.
• Work on tuning in the keys of B major and D-flat major. Emphasize consistent placement of scale degrees 1 and 5.
• Transcribe two choruses of J.J. Johnson's solo from Blues in the Closet. Be able to play along with the recording without hesitating or tensing up.
• Get together daily with someone to play slow scales in tune. Play scales in perfect fifths.
• Work on buzzing mouthpiece below low B-flat with more core to the sound.
• Run straight through the first movement of the Casterede Sonatine without stopping. Tape yourself and check rhythm on the tape. Imagine you are performing the piece.

Once you have set these goals, you may want to write them in shorthand on a some grid paper (seven-column accounting paper works well, too). Write the goals vertically on the left-hand side. On the top, write each day. If you work on a certain goal a lot one day, place an X for that goal. If you work on it a little, just use a check mark. As the week progresses, notice what areas are receiving less attention. Strive for a balance between the different goals you have set.

Printable Practice Log