Page 1 of 1

How Much Do You Practice A Week--And What On?

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:12 pm
by BGRtumpet
How many hours a week do you practice individually (not counting school groups, or outside groups--though you can list them if you like)?

And what do you spend that time on......fundamentals (long-tones, scales, intervals etc.), etudes, music form a band, improv?


For Me: During school I get about 7 hours a week (an hour a day). That is about 75-85% fundamentals or etudes, with the rest split between improv/school music.

I spend an additional 15min a day or so on music theory/arranging/composing (one of those three depending on how I feel).

I know this is far more than a lot of people at my high school so I was curious how other schools practiced.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:35 am
by guardthepiccolo
When I was in HS I was definitely not the most notable for practicing. I'd practice a few times a week when I felt like it. Life was so consumed by all of the band activities that really I didn't want to spend even more time practicing. Plus, I lived in an apartment and would get in trouble for practicing, so it was quite discouraging.
Now at SJSU I try to practice at least an hour a day. Last semester was tough because I was so busy, but I'm cutting back on some things so I will have more time to practice.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:01 pm
by azn_zeratul
whenever i feel like it -_-;; so thats like.. uhhh... yeah :)

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:22 pm
by Bandmaster
I remember when I was in college back at Cal Poly SLO when we had William Revelli as a guest conductor one year. He told us a story about a close friend that was a concertmaster for a world renouned orchestra. He friend said

"If I don't practice for one day I can tell.... If I don't practice for two days my conductor can tell.... But if I don't practice for three days my wife can tell."


Even though I am no longer a student and I am not a professional, I still try to practice a half hour to an hour five days a week.

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:31 pm
by BGRtumpet
Hahahaha yeah I love that quote......
You could tell cause half our jazz band was erm not-at-par so to speak getting back from break this last week.

Kinda to explain why I was asking.....At a trumpet forum this question came up and even among High-school player I was waayyy out-practiced--but I feel like as an academic student I can't really be expected to do more. So I thought I'd ask other marchers what they do..... :?

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:59 pm
by Jsaxm
Even as a teacher I still find time to practice. Usually I will do this before school or during my prep period. I even play in band with my kids sometimes to help them out with style and to give them a good sound to model after. When all you do is teach all day it is nice to pick up your horn and produce a sound that is pleasing to your ears, haha!

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:52 pm
by supermutant
Quote to an unamed California Highway Patrolman:
"every moment that I'm not practicing, someone somewhere is practicing, and when we meet in an audition, I'm afraid that he/she will beat me." 8-)