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| 570 colchester drive oswego, il, 60543 630.636.2721 rmaxwell0515@oswego308.org |
| Professional Private Instructors Flute Dr. Cate Hummel, 428-3278 Melanie Matthew, 551-1472 Shawn Maxwell, 773-842-7052 Lynda Carr, 630- 978-7437 Oboe Laura Neisler, 217-819-0187 Judy Schneider, 385-2426 Bassoon Kim Richter, 369-5679 Clarinet Shawn Maxwell, 773-842-7052 Erin Roller, 630-347-1983 Anne Marie Rosza, 773-802-0043 Saxophone Shawn Maxwell, 773-842-7052 Cornet/Trumpet Gene Arnold, 630-554-0231 James Kanabe, 630-988-0375 French Horn Rachel Maxwell, 630-636-2721 Susan Ozsvath, 630-551-4231 Trombone Andy Rozsa, 773-484-6701 Jim Felts, 554-8294 Baritone Kevin Harrison, 816-805-2922 Andy Rozsa,773-484-6701 Jim Felts, 554-8294 Tuba Kevin Harrison, 816-805-2922 Percussion Walt Schneider 385-2426 |
| How to Practice Practice Makes Perfect??? - No! Practice makes permanent! Every good musician knows that regular practice is a must, but did you know that careless practice can actually make you worse? Before you tell your parent or you teacher that you have decided not to practice, think about the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and HOW of practice that will help you play better and enjoy music more. Who? YOU! Good practice involves your mind, your body, your emotions, and the music. Your parent or teacher may be able to force you to spend time playing the notes, but only YOU can focus your mind and your feeling on the sounds you are producing, so that the music you play is beautiful and expressive. What? Practice that progresses toward perfection will include: Warm-ups Review of scales, etudes, or pieces you have already learned Your new assignment Something you really love playing, or just for fun ( maybe even make up a piece on your own) When? Dr. Suzuki said, "Only on the days that you eat!" The best plan is to make practice a part of your daily routine. If you know you will practice at a certain time every day, it will happen with very few exceptions. How? This is a VERY important question! Many students practice by playing straight through a piece or other assignment (often as quickly as possible) as if they were at a recital, then go on to the next thing, no matter what happened. Money won`t buy better playing, but well spent practice time will. Here are some hints for getting the most for your practice "dollar." Set goals to try to accomplish in each practice session Be sure you know what the passage should sound like Work on the most challenging spots first Break the music down into small sections (How do you eat an elephant? - One bite at a time!) Repeat the passage many times AFTER you get it right Before you end each practice session, play the entire piece, and enjoy! |

| Message To Parents: experience is an investment in your child`s future. In making it possible for your child to play a music instrument, your are providing the opportunity for self-expression, creativity, and achievement. Numerous studies indicate that parental attitude, support and involvement are important factors in a child`s ability to successfully learn to play and enjoy music. Benefits For your child, music participation enhances: * Problem Solving * Self-Expression *Coordination *Memory Skills *Self-Confidence *Concentration *Poise and much, much more! How You Fit In Always keep in mind that your support is a key element in your child`s success with music study. Music achievement requires effort over an extended period of time. You can help your child by: * Providing a quiet place in which to practice * Remaining nearby during practice times as often as possible * Scheduling a consistent, daily time for practice * Praising your child`s efforts and achievements What To Do To give your child the best possible support, you should: * Encourage your child to play for family and friends. * Offer compliments and encourage regularly. * Expose your child to a wide variety of music, including concerts and recitals. * Encourage your child to talk with you about his or her lesson. * Make sure your child`s instrument is always in good working order. * Allow your child to play many types of music, not just study pieces. * Listen to your child practice, acknowledge improvement. * Help your child build a personal music library. * Try to get your child to make a minimum two-year commitment to his or her music studies. What Not To Do Your child`s progress will be greatly enhanced if you: * Don`t use practice as a punishment * Don`t insist your child play for others when they don`t want to. * Don`t ridicule or make fun of mistakes or less-than-perfect playing. * Don`t apologize to others for your child`s weak performance. *Don`t start you child on an instrument that is in poor condition. *Don`t expect rapid progress and development in the beginning. If your child loses interest In the event your child loses interest in his or her music studies, don`t panic. * Discuss the situation with your child to determine why their interest is declining. * Talk to your child`s music teacher to see what might be done to rekindle their enthusiasm. * Encourage your child to stick with lessons for an agreed to period of time. * Offer increased enthusiasm. |
| Perseverance and resilience are two of the greatest traits we can instill in students to insure their future success in all areas! |


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