Archived under: Horn study, Performance & Playing, Pet Peeves | Seven Deadly Sins of horn playing
On Practice Logs and Practice
I recently saw posted on Facebook a question about practice logs. Some area band directors here use these and the parents that I know of several junior high students do make their students practice. But in my own teaching with somewhat advanced students I have never used them. The bottom line being just like your dentist can tell if you are flossing any horn teacher can tell if students are practicing.
I would like every student to practice hard every week. I know that some weeks they can’t for a variety of reasons. This I get but what still surprises me is some students think they can tell a teacher that they did something – practice – when they clearly don’t at all sound like they did. What the student is really saying is either
- I didn’t practice but I think if I tell you I practiced I hope you won’t notice that I am lying and that you might not get mad at me or
- I just don’t have time or talent to get better on the horn; playing horn well is just not that important to me.
Either way it is not good. And sliding by with little white lies can become a lifetime habit. You can tell other people you practiced that tricky spot in the piece but if you don’t sound like you took care of business and worked out your part they won’t trust you or your abilities.
In that light maybe the practice log is a good idea with young students, getting the parents involved and keeping everyone honest. It is a good question but certainly sounding like you did not practice your part is one to add to the Seven Deadly Sins of Horn Playing.
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