All students should be practicing a minimum of 100 minutes per week (20 minutes on 5 days). In order to achieve maximum results, orchestra members should divide up their practice time to accomodate the following categories in this order: 1)Tune 2)Scales 2)Lesson Book 3)Orchestra Music When practicing the scales, concentrate on your posture, left and right hand positions, intonation (playing in tune) and tone (good sound). This will get you "warmed up". Try practicing scales with the tuner! Practice in front of a mirror! You'll see if your posture is incorrect! When practicing in the lesson book, make sure you still have good posture and playing positions. Check to be sure you are playing the right notes and rhythms and that your fingers are STILL in tune! The orchestra music uses all of the notes that the lesson book teaches you. The scales and lesson book assignments get your brain and body warmed up and ready to play the orchestra songs. Practice for QUALITY not QUANTITY! If you are having difficulty with a section of music, STOP AND WORK ON IT! Break it down to a measure at a time if you need to! 1)count the rhythms 2)say the note names in rhythm 3)say and finger the note names in rhythm 4)play it slowly with a metronome 5)gradually increase speed