The most important thing about practicing is to-- MAKE SURE YOU DO IT!! The second most important thing is to make sure you have a plan! Schedule your practice time into your daily life. Have a goal to make yourself sound better every time you practice! Here are the steps: 1) Set up your music stand so you don't have to twist, turn, wiggle, or strain your eyes. 2) Set an egg timer for 20 minutes. 3) Play on your mouthpiece alone first. Make sure you get the right sound! (If you aren't sure what the "right sound" is...ask your teacher at school!) 4) Put your mouthpiece in or on your instrument and play it the same way you did on step three. DON'T PLAY YOUR MOUTHPIECE DIFFERENTLY WHEN IT'S ON YOUR INSTRUMENT! 5) Practice your assigned lines and count how many mistakes you made. 6) FIX YOUR MISTAKES!!!! 7) AFTER you work on your assignment, play things that are fun. Make sure you play the fun songs AFTER you practice your assigned lesson.