Warm-Up: Prepare your body and your instrument for a quality practice session by doing some breathing exercises, buzzing on the mouthpiece (brass only), and playing LONG tones or a series of warm-up exercises from class. About 10% of your practice session should be spent warming up.
Target Time: Focus on ONE main concept or skill that is new or particularly challenging for you near the beginning of your practice session so that your mind and body are fresh and ready to learn. Target that concept or skill by drilling SMALL CHUNKS with a high level of concentration. Repetition plays an important role here. Playing test preparation, new sheet music, new scales, and new notes or rhythms are all examples of TARGETS to focus on during this portion of your practice session. About 75% of your practice session should be dedicated to target time.
Technique Time: Choose ONE performance technique to review in every practice session. Examples of techniques to polish during this portion of your practice session include breath control, articulation, dynamics, tone quality, and fingerings/slide positions. Technique is a challenge for your BODY instead of your mind and the muscles in your mouth and hands need this time to build muscle memory, coordination, and dexterity. About 10% of your practice session should be dedicated to technique time.
Wrap-Up: Enjoy the fruits of your labor during your practice wrap-up by playing something fun that does not necessarily require a great deal of concentration. During your wrap-up you may choose to play your favorite line in the band book or piece of sheet music or give a small concert for someone in your house. About 5% of your practice session should be dedicated to your wrap-up.