You Need To Work

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´Begin with the end in mind.µ - Steven Covey
Practicing can be like studying for a class. Some don·t study at all. Some
put in the time, but because they aren·t organized, they don·t learn as
much as they could. The key is to work with a clear purpose in mind to
accomplish your goals.If you don·t approach your practice time with a
good idea about what you want to accomplish, chances are you will be
spinning your wheels when you practice.
The most important aspect of practicing takes place in your mind before
you ever play a note. You must know what you want to accomplish
before you begin. If you don·t have a good idea about what you want to
get done before you play, you will be unfocused and unproductive during
your practice session.
My General Practice Method
My basic practice method is very simple. After a good warm-up, it

involves three steps:
1. Play the large segment
2. Work on the small problem areas
3. Put it all together by playing the large segment again
For example, if your goal is to learn the first 16 measures of an etude or

solo, apply this three-step model to that task:
GOAL: LEARN FIRST 16 MEASURES OF A CHOSEN ETUDE OR

SOLO
1. Play the entire 16 measures, even if you have to stop several

times. With a pencil, put a bracket around every difficult passage
as you go. Mark the notes you miss. It doesn·t matter how many
times you have to stop. This step is for you to evaluate where
you need to work.
2. If there are many areas that require work, break the large area
above into 8 measure or 4 measure segments«the size doesn·t
matter.|n this step, the most important thing is to fix problems
from step 1, whether you fix one problem or several. It is better to
set smaller goals and achieve them than to overwhelm yourself
with too much to do! So, go back to these areas you have
bracketed and work on them very slowly until you can play them
well. Then you are ready to take that passage a bit faster.
Continually increase your tempo until you have arrived at the
performance tempo. You are now ready to tackle the next difficult
spot, working it very slowly and gradually making it faster.
**Never be afraid to go slowly. If you are having trouble with a spot,

you will not gain any ground going too fast. But if you slow it
down, you will soon have the trouble spot mastered.
If you can·t master a certain problem, ask an expert like your band
director or a clarinet teacher for advice. Often, they can give you
the piece of information you need to keep going further (like a
different fingering).
3. When you have successfully solved all of your difficult passages

in this 8, 16, or 32 measure segment, you are ready to put it all
together. Play the entire segment at your goal tempo. |t doesn·t
have to be perfect, just ° than before!If it doesn·t work out,
go back to step 2 and work on the areas in question. If you play
the entire segment well, make sure and go back a few times;
repetition cements your work into your brain!
This simple model can be applied to most issues in which you are
working.
TECHNIQUES FOR TECHNIQUE
Sometimes certain technical passages are too difficult to master just by

slow repetition. I recommend changing the rhythms of those sections into
´dottedµ rhythms. In changing rhythms for practice purposes, we train
our fingers at very slow tempos to make quick movements between notes.
In duple time, there are the two dotted rhythms I recommend:
(long, short/long short)
(short, long/short, long)
In triple time, these are the two dotted rhythms I recommend:
(long, short, long/long, short, long)

(short, long, long/short, long, long)
OTHER TOOLS
metronome: Though not completely necessary, a metronome is a very

valuable tool to use while practicing. You can buy your own for a
reasonable price at the music store or you can use one for free on the
internet! Type in ´free metronomeµ on any search engine and see what
comes up.
Recorder: Though not completely necessary, a recorder allows you to

critique your practice session by listening to it later.
TIME MANAGEMENT
I suggest you practice in 10-15 minute segments. Take a few moments

between segments and begin again. This keeps the mind fresh.
SUMMARY
Begin your practice session with a goal in mind, such as, ´My goal is to
play measures 1-16 excellently.µ Make sure that all of your work is a
function of your goal for that practice session.

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´Begin with the end in mind.µ - Steven Covey

My General Practice Method

My basic practice method is very simple. After a good warm-up, it

1. Play the large segment

2. Work on the small problem areas

3. Put it all together by playing the large segment again

For example, if your goal is to learn the first 16 measures of an etude or

GOAL: LEARN FIRST 16 MEASURES OF A CHOSEN ETUDE OR

1. Play the entire 16 measures, even if you have to stop several

**Never be afraid to go slowly. If you are having trouble with a spot,

3. When you have successfully solved all of your difficult passages

TECHNIQUES FOR TECHNIQUE

Sometimes certain technical passages are too difficult to master just by

In duple time, there are the two dotted rhythms I recommend:

(long, short/long short)

(short, long/short, long)

In triple time, these are the two dotted rhythms I recommend:

(long, short, long/long, short, long)

metronome: Though not completely necessary, a metronome is a very

Recorder: Though not completely necessary, a recorder allows you to

I suggest you practice in 10-15 minute segments. Take a few moments

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